Top Three Bassist

[VJay]

Ox

Ox

and

Ox.

Fuck everyone else.

And most importantly...

Up McCartney's ASS!!

[BonzoEqualsGoodStuff]

I think Flea is far and away the best. The Chili Peppers 80s stuff was so bass driven and it was incredible how dominant he was. Their recent turn towards more of what John Frusciante invisions has downplayed Flea's abilities SO much. I think it's making people forget how amazing he is.

The bass solos he does live are amazing, too. I was so impressed when I saw them a few years ago.

[Sunray782]

What?! No one likes Bill Wyman!?

[Reggie29]

What?! No one likes Bill Wyman!?

Does he still play or has Mandy taken too much out of him?

[Swede]

From some of the same ol' names that keep popping up in this thread one might get the distinct impression that all anyone listens to here is "classic rock".

I don't think that's the reason why most names are from way back, but as someone said, the bass today often get lost in the mix. In the early 70's the sound was quite dry and the bass was more present. Like the old Stax-recordings for example, with "Duck" Dunn and David Hood, which both were excellent bassists (and Hood still is).

But of course, there are a couple of "current" bassists that I think is very good, like Mani of The Stone Roses and Kenny Håkansson of The Hellacopters.

[Mattmc1973]

^ Yeah, I mean listen to "Dear Prudence" by The Beatles, the bass lines are amazing and right in front in the mix.

[eagle87]

"I was never a bass player. I've never played anything. I play guitar a bit on the records and would play bass, because I sometimes want to hear the "sound" I make when I hit a string on a bass with a pick or my finger; it makes a different sound than anybody else makes, to me. But I've never been interested in playing the bass. I'm not interested in playing instruments and I never have been."

- Roger Waters

"To say that Roger Waters is a great bass player would be utter blindness, or actually unbelievable deafness. He was a capable, efficient bassist and one of rock's best composers. The reason his style of playing interests me is his way of fitting the bass parts into the songs: riffs like the slow, very simple CwtAE, the bass intro of "Pigs (Three Different Ones)" help to build the mood, the atmosphere only Pink Floyd has. On the other hand, the bass playing on his solo albums doesn't quite come out in the same way as he seems to put all of his energy into writing songs all by himself."

- Jerome Melancon, bassist who transcribes Roger's bass parts for a Roger Waters tribute site!

damn... there is lesson

[Charles_Obscure]

^ Yeah, I mean listen to "Dear Prudence" by The Beatles, the bass lines are amazing and right in front in the mix.

Absolutely. Paul had some of the most melodic and inspiring bass lines. Those kind of lines that brings a smile on yoour face instantely.

My favorite must be on Michelle. It's like velvet for your ears!

I'll add some to my list:

Bootsy Collins

Cliff Burton

Steve Harris

Geddy Lee

And all Zappa's bassist through the years!

[dragster]

- JPJ

- Jaco Pastorius

- Cornick / Glascock (J. Tull)

[Jahfin]

Notice I said some of the names mentioned, not ALL.

...and when did R.E.M. ever have a "classic rock tilt"? They're the very definition of alternative. In fact, they're largely credited with pioneering the genre that was later tagged with that name. Sure there's hints of the Byrds and even the Beach Boys harmonies in their sound but they're much more steeped in the approach of artists such as the Velvet Underground, Patti Smith, Television and many far less conventional artists. "Classic Rock" they are not.

While I certainly enjoy McCartney's knack for crafting pop songs, I have never thought of him as one of the world's best bass players. A good bass player yes but definitely not in the same league as Geddy Lee, Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool or any of the other virtuosos mentioned.

[Mr.Kite]

I like very much the bass line of Hey Bulldog, It isn't with his loved "Hofner", and shows the brightness of Rickenbacker bass too. Paul, is maybe the great composer for me too...

[Suz]

Check out Jonesy

[eagle87]

So after all this discussion, the Top Three will be something like that:

1° John Paul Jones

2° James Jamerson

3° John Entwistle

--------------------------------

4° Flea

5° The Ox

What do you think?

[Kashmir330]

JPJ

Roger Waters

Bill Wyman

[JethroTull]

I've just finished 4 days of research and song analysis and came up with the following CORRECT answer.

1. McCartney

2. The Ox

3. JPJ

Special props to Nick Lowe. I saw a video of the Nickster on VH1 Classics several years ago. I forgot the song, but Nick was performing solo, playing the BASS and singing his song. Is that cool or what?

[LednyrdZepnyrd]

Andy Fraser.

AMEN!!!

Im not a bassist, but i love ANDY FRASER, hes the best, no question, JPJ is 2nd.

[boogie]

30 years of research, jpj, gezeer, paul....

[dragster]

gezeer

YAY!!!!

[yahyoubetcha]

1 Gary Thain - Uriah Heep

2 Chris Squire - Yes

3 Paul McCartney

[Electrophile]

From some of the same ol' names that keep popping up in this thread one might get the distinct impression that all anyone listens to here is "classic rock".

And if that's the case, so what?

[Reggie29]

Notice I said some of the names mentioned, not ALL.

...and when did R.E.M. ever have a "classic rock tilt"? They're the very definition of alternative. In fact, they're largely credited with pioneering the genre that was later tagged with that name.

When John Paul Jones agreed to work with them, thats when.

Coincidently, prior to Automatic For The People I thought REM were just an ordinary band playing ordinary music.

Alternative to what?

Didn't REM supposedly sell out to commercialism?

Who credited them with pioneering the genre?

I must have missed that meeting!

You need to lighten up on the aggression mate.

Cheers.

[Jahfin]

And if that's the case, so what?

It would indicate to me that folks don't listen to much music outside of their safety boundaries, in which case I would think they might wanna expand those boundaries being this is already 2008 and all but to each their own. Some like living with their heads buried in the sand.

[panglos]

I listen to current and older music and believe the time of virtuoso bass players has passed. Not to say someone won't come to the fore in the future, but the best rock bassists were in the 1960's and 1970's.

Those who play for just songwriters or a combo of non-virtuoso's don't shine like Jack Bruce, Chris Squire, Victor Wooten or Les Claypool. I can't think of one NEW original bassist that even comes close to these established players.

[Jahfin]

Notice I said some of the names mentioned, not ALL.

...and when did R.E.M. ever have a "classic rock tilt"? They're the very definition of alternative. In fact, they're largely credited with pioneering the genre that was later tagged with that name.

When John Paul Jones agreed to work with them, thats when.

How did John Paul Jones doing the string arrangement for four songs suddenly lend their sound a "classic rock" tilt? If it did, I certainly don't hear it.

Coincidently, prior to Automatic For The People I thought REM were just an ordinary band playing ordinary music.

When were Chronic Town, Mumur, Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction, Life's Rich Pagent, Document, Green and Out of Time ever considered "ordinary"? Hell, they didn't even get played on commercial radio with any regularity until at least Document when they had their first number one hit with The One I Love. I'm not sure how you define "ordinary" but I wouldn't use it to describe any of those records or even R.E.M. in general. Are you sure you're not thinking of another band?

Alternative to what?

To everything else that was on the airwaves when they first came out with the single Radio Free Europe in the early 80s.

Didn't REM supposedly sell out to commercialism?

No, they didn't. In fact, they, along with Neil Young are among the very few artists who have yet to allow their songs to be licensed for commercial use. Years ago when approached by Bill Gates to use It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) for a commercial promoting Windows, they flat out refused millions of dollars for the offer. The Rolling Stones took him up on it though and allowed him to use Start Me Up.

Who credited them with pioneering the genre?

Most anyone with any knowledge of music. From some of your comments here I gather you must know very little about R.E.M. When they came out with the Chronic Town EP in the early 80s they pretty much kicked the door wide open for the alternative movement and all that followed (for better and for worse).

You need to lighten up on the aggression mate.

Cheers.

And you need to do a little research before making such generalized statements about a band you obviously know so very little about. I'm not being aggressive, I'm just calling it like I see it. If you're going to say a band like R.E.M. has a "classic rock tilt", at least be able to back it up with some facts. John Paul Jones doing the string arrangements for four songs on Automatic didn't suddenly cause them to have a "classic rock" sound. "Classic Rock" itself is pretty much a meaningless term anyway.

[panglos]

I mentioned them as examples and yes, they're as good as Entwistle and JPJ. Different but high caliber.

You arent suggesting Squire or Jack Bruce are nearly as good as Entwistle or JPJ are you?? I think not. But of course Yes and Cream to me are not in the same league as Zeppelin and the Who.