I’d agree that Paul McCartney is not all that technically proficient and therefore maybe doesn’t belong on this list, but I do really like his ability to change styles and play something that fits the particular song.
I can think of one song he did that really impressed me, though, one that I listen to just to hear the bass line: Rain. The first time I heard it I was really struck by how integral the bass part was to the song, and how much it differed from a “typical” bass line. So is this really good stuff, or do I just need to get out more?
I can’t believe that no one has mentioned Mike Watt of minutemen/firehose fame. One of the most incredibly inspiring bass players of all time. Many of you mentioned Flea as the greatest bass player (I agree he does rock). I believe either blood sugar sex magik or mother’s milk is dedicated to Mike Watt due to his inspirational bass playing.
That’d be Larry Graham, who would definitely be a top name on my list (inventor of funk bass on electric).
Jaco Pastorius is also definitely up there (if not at the top), as are Stanley Clark, Victor Wooten, and Les Claypool. Michael Masterson is also a name that, though somewhat newer in the bass world, really stands out.
Geddy Lee is also up there, but just not as high on my list (my list, mind you) as Pastorius, Clark, Graham, or Wooten.
I’ll second the nomination of Geezer Butler. If you haven’t outgrown that phase already, light up a fat one and put on headphones and pay serious attention to the right channel of Paranoid. Wow.
All-time, though, I have to go with McCartney. Incredibly melodic, with a perfect sense of what to play for each song.
I seem to remember hearing the Paul McCartney played quite a bit of the recorded beatles drum parts though. Guess you could nominate him for both drummer and bassist then. Could be worng but I am pretty sure.
Nah. At most, Paul played the drums on “Dear Prudence,” "Wild Honey Pie " (just a bass drum), and “The Ballad of John and Yoko.” He also played lead guitar on “Taxman,” “Another Girl,” “Ticket to Ride,” and several other songs.
No one’s mentioned him yet, which is an outright crime, so I’lll do the honors and throw out the name of Phil Lesh. A totally original approach to bass playing - he plays like he invented the instrument.
Good observation on 2112. It’s a “guitar” album, if anything. Some suggestions for kick-ass typical Geddy bass playing:[ul][li]YYZ, Moving Pictures album (this is his best work, IMHO. Hell, the ENTIRE Moving Pictures album is Lee at his all time best.);[/li][li]Cut to the Chase, Counterparts album (if only to prove to pldenison that Lee can indeed make a bass line “fit” a song. It GRROOOOOOVES);[/li][li]Red Sector A and The Enemy Within, Grace under Pressure album;[/li][*]Cygnus X-1, Farewell to Kings album (the best Rush song overall, IMHO).[/ul]That ought to give you a good start.
Victor Wooten of the Flecktones deserves to be mentioned at least one more time. The man does things that most bassist don’t dare to dream about. Since he learned to play before he could talk, English is his second language. While he has some great riffs on Outbound, to fully appreciate him, see him live.
Juan Nelson, Ben Harper’s bassist, is also pretty good. And Charlie Hunter. Les Claypool ain’t too shabby.
He has always admired Michael Rhodes, session player extraordinaire. He usually doesn’t do anything flashy (that I know of), just plays the appropriate part for the music and he’s played ALL styles.
We saw him live with a number of people (playing different styles of music: rock, country, jazz) when we lived in Nashville and there didn’t seem to be a style that he couldn’t make his own. Always technically excellent and understated.
I agree with a lot of people that have already been mentioned [Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Flea etc] but I’d also like to throw in Fat Mike from NOFX and Matt Freeman from Rancid.
They may not be as creative as some mentioned, but I think they’re very talented and some of the stuff they play I find absolutely amazing [of course I play bass myself so I can be amazed by the simplest of basslines. ]
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