# Best Pecussion Bass Combo **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 26, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143 "2016-04-26T01:03:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/1 "2016-04-26T01:03:51Z")
Not to hijack [Dante G’s thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=791322) anymore than I have, I was wondering… The bass and drums are the theme of a song in most cases. Stand in the shadows and give the band their due. I know it doesn’t seem fair in most bar-bands. Everyone wants to be a star. I nominate [Carter Beauford on percussion](https://youtu.be/OyBgXxmpwCs). ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/2 "2016-04-26T03:48:07Z")
The single greatest bass-percussion combo in history, IMO, is clear: Mike Watt (bass) and George Hurley (drums) from Minutemen (and fIREHOSE). ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/3 "2016-04-26T04:57:00Z")
Ron Carter (bass) Tony Williams (drums) ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/4 "2016-04-26T07:26:53Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Ron Carter (bass) Tony Williams (drums) Win. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/5 "2016-04-26T08:01:31Z")
Like the linked bass line thread, I’m gonna have to go with the Wright/Wrong brothers. NOMEANSNO - [Metronome](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXUjeftjl2A). Just the brothers, focusing on rhythm. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/6 "2016-04-26T08:51:18Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > The single greatest bass-percussion combo in history, IMO, is clear: Mike Watt (bass) and George Hurley (drums) from Minutemen (and fIREHOSE). Thank you! I was ignorant of this. I am very impressed. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/7 "2016-04-26T08:56:05Z")
> [@scabpicker](#): > > Like the linked bass line thread, I’m gonna have to go with the Wright/Wrong brothers. > > NOMEANSNO - [Metronome](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXUjeftjl2A). Just the brothers, focusing on rhythm. OMG. that has to be the Marshall I leaned my head against during my teen-years, which is why I am deaf. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/8 "2016-04-26T09:03:33Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Ron Carter (bass) Tony Williams (drums) Awesome with Herbie Hancock. Dang, you guys are going to keep me up all night listening to tunes. I love it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/9 "2016-04-26T13:35:13Z")
John Entwistle and Keith Moon ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/10 "2016-04-26T13:42:07Z")
For me, it’s Bonham and Jones that make Zep great. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/11 "2016-04-26T13:52:12Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > John Entwistle and Keith Moon Yes - and to be more specific : [Can you see The Real Me!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5z0MuKxfZc) ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/12 "2016-04-26T14:24:07Z")
Scott Rockenfield (drums) and Eddie Jackson (bass) of Queensryche. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/13 "2016-04-26T14:47:35Z")
Lotsa awesome rhythm sections around, to name a few: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Mike Watt (bass) and George Hurley (drums) (and fIREHOSE). (aside - at a Firehose gig Hurley and I exchanged shirts - I got his Big Black tee, and he got my yellow and white “My First Bells” tee.) > [@scabpicker](#): > > the Wright/Wrong brothers. NOMEANSNO indeed (if you’d grown up in his hood, **Scabpicker** , hopefully you wouldn’t have tried to sound like him, like too many bassists around here tried, unsuccessfully) * * * Bruford/Squire aaaa heck Lee/Peart Fripp/Wetton (King Crimson) Rey Washam/David Wm. Sims (Rapeman) scads of metal mentions and these crazies from Japan: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kziodu90LpQ/hqdefault.jpg "RUINS- LIVE at The Japanese New Music Festival - Fireside Bowl 101999 - Chicago, IL Part #1") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kziodu90LpQ) ---
**Author:** ![Mllz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Mllz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mllz)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/14 "2016-04-26T15:31:26Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > The single greatest bass-percussion combo in history, IMO, is clear: Mike Watt (bass) and George Hurley (drums) from Minutemen (and fIREHOSE). Hard for me to argue with this sentiment; Watt/Hurley definitely had the biggest impact on _my own_ approach to rock of any bass/drum combo. Though with them making up 2/3 of a trio–and Mike Watt being practically a co-frontman in both bands–they do go way beyond the traditional backline duties. Shouldn’t discount them from the conversation in any way as far as I’m concerned–nor Entwistle/Moon, who have a similar dynamic within the Who–but it’s a very different concept than having the bass and drums working in tandem to lock in the groove and drive the song. And of course, Watt/Hurley and Entwistle/Moon could both do _that_ effectively too–it just wasn’t required of them as much in the context of their music. My favorites not yet mentioned, all of which are more on the backline-groove, song-driving-battery tip: Bruce Thomas/Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello and the Attractions) Duck Dunn/Al Jackson Jr (Booker T and the MGs/Stax Records House Band) Aston “Family Man” Barrett/Carlton Barrett (The Wailers) Tina Weymouth/Chris Frantz (Talking Heads) ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/15 "2016-04-26T16:14:21Z")
[ul] [li] Dave Weckl and John Pattitucci[/li]Steve Gadd and Anthony Jackson AL Foster and Marcus Miller Lenny White and Stanley Clarke Kermit Driscoll and Joey Baron Phil Collins and Mike Rutcherford Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian [/ul] Good enough for now. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/16 "2016-04-26T17:44:19Z")
Oh, thought of another one: Mani & Reni of the Stone Roses. ---
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/17 "2016-04-26T18:34:20Z")
Zigaboo Modeliste and George Porter Jr. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/18 "2016-04-26T22:19:59Z")
This would never qualify as “greatest” but is a favorite of mine: When listening to the isolated instrumental track of **She Loves You** , I’m always impressed by how tight Ringo and Paul were. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/19 "2016-04-26T22:39:53Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > This would never qualify as “greatest” but is a favorite of mine: When listening to the isolated instrumental track of **She Loves You** , I’m always impressed by how tight Ringo and Paul were. Oh, Paul and Ringo are definitely up there for me too. ---
**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2016, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143/20 "2016-04-26T23:09:54Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > The single greatest bass-percussion combo in history, IMO, is clear: Mike Watt (bass) and George Hurley (drums) from Minutemen (and fIREHOSE). Hell, it might be Watt and _anybody_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-pecussion-bass-combo/753143.md?page=2)