Favorite Bassists Directory

Ariel · **Joined:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 12:19 am **Posts:** 1392

Post your top 10 favorites here! If you don't have an order for 'em, that's cool too. I'd like this to maybe become something of a discussion thread too, a 'hey you like x dude? what's his best shit I should check out?' kinda thing. If top 10 doesn't work, feel free to do a top 15 or something (or top 11 like I did in the drum forum :wink:

) but top 10 is preferred.

Please put in parentheses, after the name, the relevant bands they've been in. Cheers! I'll keep a running list of people's personal lists here in the first post.

Negative Creep · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:21 pm **Posts:** 11729

1. Jack Bruce (Cream)
2. John Entwistle (The Who)
3. Chris Squire (Yes)
4. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
5. Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings)
6. Geddy Lee (Rush)
7. Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
8. Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane)
9. Roger Glover (Deep Purple)
10. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)

Yeah I know, but I haven't heard an awful lot of Jamerson. Though I love his classic bassline on Jackie Wilson's Higher And Higher.

Mr.Chirpsky · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2012 4:06 pm

I don't really have a personal top ten but I have long been amazed that it seems it is often the bassists that are the greatest innovators in rock and other genres, though many of the most innovative do not rank very high as instrumentalists. Such include Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Brian Wilson, Scott Walker, Geddy Lee, Sting, John Paul Jones, Jack Bruce, Charles Mingus, Steve Harris, and the list goes on and on.

Something about being a bassist seems to really put the artist inside the music - or maybe it's just that, their instrument being less demanding, they are freed up to put their creative energies into composition, or maybe, given that their talent lies in composition, they get stuck playing the bass. But as often as not, the great innovators are also very good instrumentalists on the bass, and frequently on other instruments as well.

Negative Creep · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:21 pm **Posts:** 11729

Mr.Chirpsky wrote:

I don't really have a personal top ten but I have long been amazed that it seems it is often the bassists that are the greatest innovators in rock and other genres, though many of the most innovative do not rank very high as instrumentalists. Such include Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Brian Wilson, Scott Walker, Geddy Lee, Sting, John Paul Jones, Jack Bruce, Charles Mingus, Steve Harris, and the list goes on and on.

Something about being a bassist seems to really put the artist inside the music - or maybe it's just that, their instrument being less demanding, they are freed up to put their creative energies into composition, or maybe, given that their talent lies in composition, they get stuck playing the bass. But as often as not, the great innovators are also very good instrumentalists on the bass, and frequently on other instruments as well.

Welcome to the forum. :cheers:

Btw, if you look at our Greatest Rock Bassists list, you'll see that Geddy, Jack, and McCartney are rightfully pretty high.
Especially Jack Bruce. He is certainly my favorite, with Squire a close 2nd.

Anyway, hope to hear more from you on ddd.

StuBass · **Joined:** Mon Oct 11, 2010 7:06 pm **Posts:** 794

Hi Cherpsky...I was gonna reiterate Creeps point that several of your favorites rank quite high on the DDD Greatest Rock Bass Guitarists list (except for Mingus who was an upright jazz player). Personal favorites are just that, while the rankings on the Greatest list are based on discussions pertaining to the criteria laid out (Impact, Innovation, Influence, Creativity, Technical Skill, and Versatility).

That said...welcome to the Bass forum...

D.J. · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 10:33 am **Posts:** 725

I think it'd be interesting to have single threads for each of the greatest bassists (and drummers for the drummers forum) including links to their best or more interesting basslines/performances just like we have on the guitarists forum.

Negative Creep · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:21 pm **Posts:** 11729

I've been thinking that too! Not sure the mods would go for it though...

Ariel · **Joined:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 12:19 am **Posts:** 1392

Nah. Might go for a 'best performances by greatest bassists' comp thread though, if people want to...

Bones · **Posted:** Tue Aug 28, 2012 1:02 am

1. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
2. Jack Bruce (Cream)
3. John Entwistle (The Who)
4. Chris Squire (Yes)
5. Geddy Lee (Rush)
6. Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
7. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
8. Sting (The Police)
9. Roger Glover (Deep Purple)
10. Colin Greenwood (Radiohead)

Negative Creep · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:21 pm **Posts:** 11729

Ariel my good man,
How about that 'Bassist's Essential Works' thread? I think it'd be cool myself.

Ariel · **Joined:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 12:19 am **Posts:** 1392

Na but come to think of it probably not a bad idea to put "essential works" under the bassists in the greatest bassists thread.

Ariel · **Joined:** Sun Oct 10, 2010 12:19 am **Posts:** 1392

Rock N Herbs wrote:

1. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
2. Jack Bruce (Cream)
3. John Entwistle (The Who)
4. Chris Squire (Yes)
5. Geddy Lee (Rush)
6. Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
7. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
8. Sting (The Police)
9. Roger Glover (Deep Purple)
10. Colin Greenwood (Radiohead)

Good list. Especially props for including Roger (Waters). Mind recommending me some good Colin performances? I'm on the fence about whether he should make it in the top 100 or not

Same with Sting...

Bones · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:26 am

Ariel wrote:

Rock N Herbs wrote:

1. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
2. Jack Bruce (Cream)
3. John Entwistle (The Who)
4. Chris Squire (Yes)
5. Geddy Lee (Rush)
6. Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
7. Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
8. Sting (The Police)
9. Roger Glover (Deep Purple)
10. Colin Greenwood (Radiohead)

Good list. Especially props for including Roger (Waters). Mind recommending me some good Colin performances? I'm on the fence about whether he should make it in the top 100 or not

Same with Sting...

In order of each of their best ten.

Sting
1. The Bed's Too Big Without You - The Police
2. Driven To Tears - The Police
3. Spirits in a Material World - The Police
4. So Lonely - The Police
5. Message in a Bottle - The Police
6. Can't Stand Losing You - The Police
7. Roxanne - The Police
8. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic - The Police
9. De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da - The Police
10. Synchronicity II - The Police

Colin Greenwood

1. Body Snatchers - Radiohead
2. Paranoid Android - Radiohead
3. Planet Telex - Radiohead
4. Anyone Can Play Guitar - Radiohead
5. Palo Alto - Radiohead
6. Nude - Radiohead
7. Creep - Radiohead
8. Just - Radiohead
9. Jigsaw Falling Into Place - Radiohead
10. Just Go To Sleep - Radiohead

Bones · **Posted:** Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:52 am

I also suggest you add Eric Wilson from Subime. His best performance is on "Date Rape", and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana, who's best performance is "Lithium".

Negative Creep · **Joined:** Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:21 pm **Posts:** 11729

Novoselic has some great lines, and a great sludgy sound, but I wouldnt consider him all that great overall.

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