Best Rock Bassist - Nomination Thread

Diana Hignutt · Oct 30, 2009

I have learned my lesson (the hard way), so this time we'll start by making nominations. Two (2) mentions will get bass players nominated for a poll thread. So, who are these great unsung heros of rock. Here's some:

Geddy Lee - Rush
Chris Squire - Yes
Chris Wolstenholme - Muse
John Paul Jones - Led Zeppelin
Geezer Butler - Black Sabbath
Mike Dirnt - Green Day

Okay, so who else?

Bubastes · Oct 30, 2009

Flea - Red Hot Chili Peppers

RG570 · Oct 30, 2009

Geddy Lee (come on, there's no contest, really)
Sean Malone
Tony Levin
Chris Squire

I wonder how long it'll take for the perfunctory John Myung mention to appear . . .

Diana Hignutt · Oct 30, 2009

Bubastes said:
Flea - Red Hot Chili Peppers

I second Flea - I thought of him while I was waiting at the printer at work, and was going to add him to my list, but you beat me to it. Good pick.

Diana Hignutt · Oct 30, 2009

RG570 said:
Geddy Lee (come on, there's no contest, really)
Sean Malone
Tony Levin
Chris Squire

I wonder how long it'll take for the perfunctory John Myung mention to appear . . .

How did I forget Tony Levin. That guy rocks.

Millicent M'Lady · Oct 30, 2009

Nick Oliveri. Some of the dirtiest, sleaziest bass ever committed to CD. Pity he's a bit of an eejit but I suppose, you can't have everything...

Tzalaran · Oct 30, 2009

Bella Fleck - really amazing blues bassist
Les Claypool - not a fan of his music, but the guy can flat out play bass.

Hector Graziani - the bassist for '40 below summer' is my personal favorite right now.

William Haskins · Oct 30, 2009

geddy lee
roger waters
cliff burton (posthumous honor)
jack bruce
dave blood (posthumous honor)

SirOtter · Oct 30, 2009

Bootsy Collins

blacbird · Oct 30, 2009

I'm surprised Haskins didn't also mention:

John Entwistle (deceased)

So I will:

John Entwistle (deceased)

caw

Diana Hignutt · Oct 30, 2009

blacbird said:
I'm surprised Haskins didn't also mention:

John Entwistle (deceased)

So I will:

John Entwistle (deceased)

caw

I'd have seconded Mr. Entwistle for you.

RG570 · Oct 30, 2009

I wonder if Jaco Pastorius can fit into the rock bassist category. He did a Joni Mitchell album, and that's rock, so maybe he does.

What about session players?

Stanley Clarke is incredible. But then he might be too jazz for this.

ChunkyC · Oct 30, 2009

Diana Hignutt said:
How did I forget Tony Levin. That guy rocks.

Tony Levin is a killer player. He'd be my pick. (saw him live with Peter Gabriel -- in-freaking-credible)

Tzalaran said:
Bella Fleck - really amazing blues bassist

Bela Fleck is an amazing musician who plays guitar, banjo, his own creation the banjitar, and who knows how many other instruments, but to the best of my knowledge he's not what you'd call a career bassist let alone a rock bassist, so I don't think he would qualify here.

KTC · Oct 30, 2009

Jaco Pastorius. Hands down. LOCK THREAD. No need to discuss further.

ChunkyC · Oct 30, 2009

(waits patiently to see if anyone has the balls to nominate Wolfgang Van Halen)

benbradley · Oct 30, 2009

RG570 said:
I wonder if Jaco Pastorius can fit into the rock bassist category. He did a Joni Mitchell album, and that's rock, so maybe he does.

What about session players?

Stanley Clarke is incredible. But then he might be too jazz for this.

Clarke has surely done more rock/pop than Jaco did, and Joni Mitchell is IMHO more folk-and-jazz than rock.

Session player: I wonder how many hit songs James Jamerson of Motown's "Funk Brothers" played bass on, compared to, say, Paul McCartney.

benbradley · Oct 30, 2009

KTC said:
Jaco Pastorius. Hands down. LOCK THREAD. No need to discuss further.

The question is not, of course, whether he's tbe best bassist ever, but whether he is to be be considered a ROCK bassist.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14578299
Well, it says he was with Blood, Sweat and Tears, maybe that's enough...

dolores haze · Oct 30, 2009

Flea. I love his funky punky style.

Steve Harris of Iron Maiden is a fave, too.

KTC · Oct 30, 2009

benbradley said:
The question is not, of course, whether he's tbe best bassist ever, but whether he is to be be considered a ROCK bassist.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14578299
Well, it says he was with Blood, Sweat and Tears, maybe that's enough...

He could do anything...rock too. he was a virtuoso.

BardSkye · Oct 31, 2009

I second Steve Harris.

waylander · Nov 1, 2009

Roger Glover
Jack Bruce

robeiae · Nov 1, 2009

Second on Geezer Butler.

If I was forming a rock band from the ground up and could select any bassist--when they were in their prime--I'd pick Butler. I wouldn't even think twice. Drummer? Guitarist? Vocals? I'd struggle with all of those: too many possibilities. But not here.

poetinahat · Nov 1, 2009

Mick Karn, of Japan, and Dalis Car. Also did wonderful fretless work for Gary Numan and as a solo artist. Undulating wizardry.

dolores haze · Nov 1, 2009

Seconding Mick Karn.

Throwing Bruce Foxton of The Jam and Stiff Little Fingers into the mix.

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 1, 2009

Billy Sheehan.
Les Claypool (and great music, too.)
Paul McCartney?
John Myung.
Jack Casady.

Best Rock Bassist - Nomination Thread

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