# Who are reckoned to be the best rock bassists? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 2, 2001, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076 "2001-11-02T05:30:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/21 "2001-11-02T17:45:32Z")
Ditto on my favorite, **Mike Watt**. Also the South African guy, whose name I can’t be bothered to look up right now, who played on Paul Simon’s _Graceland_. And–not exactly rock, but a most astoundingly talented bassist– **Jonas Helborg** (Might not have gotten the spelling exactly right). He used to play with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. I saw a show in '86 in DC with him and John McLoughlin. Incredible! ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/22 "2001-11-02T17:49:31Z")
**J-I-M-B-O! J-I-M-B-O!** [John Wetton](http://www.johnwetton.co.uk/), of King Crimson fame, is often unfairly overlooked these days. I would like to go on record as saying that I think the _worst_ bassist to find regular employment and some degree of public adulation was Rudy Sarzo. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/23 "2001-11-02T19:21:10Z")
As far as I’m concerned, one man stands alone at the top of the list: PAUL MCCARTNEY! After that, there are a lot of bass players I’ve admired, including… John Entwhistle Ron Wood (he played bass for the Jeff Beck Group in the 60s, and did some brilliant work) John Wetton (especially in his King Crimson Days) Tony Levin (with Crimson, with Peter Gabriel, and as a session man on a host of great records) ---
**Author:** ![octothorpe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b77776/32.png) [@octothorpe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octothorpe)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/24 "2001-11-02T20:29:09Z")
How could you overlook **Donald _‘Duck’_ Dunne** who has played with just about everybody? # ---
**Author:** ![Billy\_Baroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/76d3ee/32.png) [@Billy\_Baroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billy_Baroo)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/25 "2001-11-02T20:44:21Z")
Claypool will rock in Chi-town tonight! I just know the crowd at the Aragon is going to go batshit. I’m just watching the clock from now till 4:30. I saw him earlier this year at Sno-Cor with the Flying Frog Brigade and it was much fun. The Oysterhead tracks remind me of Frizzle-Fry-era Primus (a good thing). Anastasio’s acoustic tune is a keeper too. ---
**Author:** ![DaveX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/96bed5/32.png) [@DaveX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveX)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/26 "2001-11-02T21:01:51Z")
Sorry Sofa King, but it’s common knowledge that Michael Anthony is the worst player in the history of rock on _any_ instrument. 🙂 I’ll second Matt Freeman, and throw Doug Pinnick into the mix… ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/27 "2001-11-02T21:53:57Z")
No one’s mentioned [Carol Kaye](http://www.carolkaye.com) yet? For sheer quantity of work and degree of influence she’s got to be near the top, but since she labored in studio obscurity, rather than playing onstage in high-visibility groups, she’s often overlooked. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/28 "2001-11-02T23:00:05Z")
**DaveX** , I stand corrected. But Mr. Anthony wins a cookie for having a [cool bass guitar](http://www.vhvault.com/~vhbass/Pics/live%2098%20jd%20bass.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/29 "2001-11-02T23:11:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HoldenCaulfield \* > **Give honorably mention to wacky/robotic bassist Geddy Lee from Rush. Everyone in that band _was_ a computer.** Italics mine. Just a quick note. If you are not aware [Rush](http://www.canoe.ca/JamMusicRush/sep24_rush-can.html) is still together. ---
**Author:** ![HoldenCaulfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/22d042/32.png) [@HoldenCaulfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoldenCaulfield)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2001, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/30 "2001-11-02T23:19:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zaphod Beeblebrox \* > \*\*The drummer thread asks “who are the best rock drummers?” whereas this thread makes it too general. Best rock bassists? Jazz bassists? Others? > > I can’t even begin to post my opinion on this one, unless somebody narrows it down a few notches. \*\* I purposely left out a genre because I wanted a wide range of responses. The narrowing comes in here: your favorite and/or your opinion on the most talented. You can narrow it down even more for yourself if you like. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/31 "2001-11-03T01:51:19Z")
I’m gonna chime in and echo a few others and say: Claypool, Flea, Burton and Entwistle. dead0man ---
**Author:** ![spoffy220](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@spoffy220](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spoffy220)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/32 "2001-11-03T06:29:26Z")
Nobody’s mentioned Lemmy from Motorhead yet? For shame. – Spoff ---
**Author:** ![tapioca\_tundra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@tapioca\_tundra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapioca_tundra)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/33 "2001-11-03T14:23:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Demise \* > \*\*Cliff Burton. > > _Cliff Burton_. > > Incredible. \*\* ~~Gotta agree… No one listed could do what this freak did… ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/34 "2001-11-03T17:24:49Z")
Geddy Lee- Rush Tom Drummond- Better Than Ezra Flea- Red Hot Chili Peppers ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/35 "2001-11-03T20:35:19Z")
**Flea** does some astonishing things with his bass. He gets my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/36 "2001-11-03T21:32:45Z")
Thirty four posts and nary a mention of the legendary **Steve Harris**? A God among gods … the most talented musician to walk the heavens and the Earth. I’m disappointed with you all. ---
**Author:** ![SpectBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@SpectBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpectBrain)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2001, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/37 "2001-11-03T23:19:51Z")
Dave Pegg, originally bassist with Fairport Convention and then later toured with Jethro Tull. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2001, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/38 "2001-11-04T06:32:30Z")
Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead) Paul McCartney Arthur Barrow (toured with Frank Zappa in the late '70s) Jack Cassidy (Jefferson Airplane) ---
**Author:** ![Lateralus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@Lateralus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lateralus)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2001, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/39 "2001-11-04T16:47:42Z")
**Justin Chancellor** from **Tool**. Feel free to substitute other members of **Tool** on their respective instruments in threads like this one. ---
**Author:** ![musicguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@musicguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/musicguy)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2001, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076/40 "2001-11-04T22:11:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by spoffy220 \* > \*\*Nobody’s mentioned Lemmy from Motorhead yet? For shame. > – Spoff \*\* Probably for good reason 🙂 Now if this was thread was about loudest bass players, maybe he would rank quite highly [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-are-reckoned-to-be-the-best-rock-bassists/91076.md?page=3)