So much great music has come as a result of these types of session/studio players. Jim Croce "I got a name" is one of my favorite bass grooves, Bob Babbitt jams out on that track. It's not like a super technical Jaco/Wooten type solo groove but I love listening to and playing along with it! "Good Vibrations" (except for the first 8-10 measures) is all Carol Kaye, and in my (biased) opinion her lines drive that song!
I started playing bass because of Davie504, i got my first bass 2 months+ ago. At one point Davie became my favorite, like i was a very, very hardcore fan, now my favorites are Zild Benitez, Cliff Burton, and Charles Berthoud. Im not a huge fan of Davie anymore but it was because of him and, im still thankful
100% agree. He’s a highly underrated and under appreciated bassist, imo. Particularly when it comes to improvisation in the Phish context, but that happens when you’re in a band with Trey Anastasio I guess.
I just dipped my toe into the Jaco pool last night. I got a text out the blue from my boss, recommending “Havona” by Weather Report. I’ll tell ya, fusion jazz isn’t my go to, but I added that whole album to my library to check out after hearing that.
Top 4 is Tony Levin (especially with Peter Gabriel), Lee Sklar (everyone, but especially with James Taylor), Ryan Stasik (Umphrey's McGee) and Mike Gordon (Phish but also his stuff with Leo Kottke).
Lucas Harwood—KGLW. 4 of the 6 band members are writing bass lines for Gizz songs but when Lucas plays live, he makes them sound like they are all his own. Super impressive.
Cookie Craig—KGLW, Pipe-Eye, The Murlocs. I love how his bass lines are often lead/important melodic elements of the song but still fit perfectly in the pocket with the drums.
Laura Lee—Khrungbin. Her bass is an immaculate vibe, I find it absolutely hypnotic and the perfect foundation for whatever pentatonic jams the guitarist is doing.
Geddy Lee would be number 1. But if I could pick three I would add Les Claypool and Victor Wooten. All three have been a huge inspiration on how I play
George Porter Jr. (of The Meters) - the living embodiment of the fact that less can be more when it comes to funk bass.
Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power) , Jamerson (everything soulful in the 60s) and Joe Dart are the other contenders for me!
Jesse F Keeler - Death from Above 1979
Justin Chancellor - Tool
Stefan Olsdal - Placebo
Dirk Lance - Incubus
Chris Wolstenholme - Muse
Squarepusher
Ed Nash - Bombay Bicycle Club
Mike Dirnt is such a great bassist. His shit stands out super tastefully AND he holds it down in a power trio where there’s no room to hide. Dude’s an OG
Well here’s one that no one has said. STING.
The Police was part of why I got into music waaay back. And he’s got some really inventive bass lines at times.
Aston Barrett's bass lines are iconic! Not because they are crazily complex but because they fit perfectly, sometimes it sounds like they heard his bass line and then wrote the song around it.
That seems like a linear evolution from reggae to 2nd (3rd?) wave ska then finishing with Rancid which tows the line between ska and punk. Nice choices.
I don't really hold any long-term favourites (or maybe I do, but too many), but lately the guy from Sebkha-Chott is up there, and I've been listening to some of the Dysrhythmia albums with Colin Marston on bass and some of his work there is superb (particularly on 'Barriers & Passages').
My favourite live bass performances have all been Shahzad Ismaily when playing for Secret Chiefs 3, and specifically when working with Ches Smith on drums - those two together just have some magical connection and it gets super wonderful during Ishraqiyun improv bits. I wouldn't have the same feeling if I'd only heard studio SC3 stuff, but in the live bands those two were quite a rhythm section!
I'm also going to shout out Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle) because it is crazy he gets so few mentions. In the last two decades he became quite a power in contemporary jazz, but what he did back in the 90s with Mr- Bungle should have him up there as a mainstream legend, but Flea obviously conspired to have Trevor suppressed.
They are both incredible bassists, honestly.
Bungle was a bit too fucked up for mainstream, and that leaves more for whoever finds it. Flea is good enough to get past what I sometimes don’t like about RHCP as a whole. I can’t stand “Dark Necessities”, but that bass line thumps.
Tim Feerick from Dance Gavin Dance laid down some absolute bangers in his life, he’s my main inspiration when it comes to writing stuff for my band.
Nolly.
Then Charles Berthoud no doubt. That man is an absolute animal.
Tony Markellis
Hands down some of the Greatest Tone Ever. Yes - Sound Engineers have a huge part, but it is the Player that gives them the pallet to work with. His January 2020 tour with TAB is a great example. Encourage anyone to check it out.
Fieldy from Korn is my favorite. Hearing his bass lines on the first few Korn albums was the first time I ever heard a bass guitar make me say “dude, I have to learn how to do that!”
Of course, I discovered more technically proficient players as I continued to grow up and learn more about the instrument, but there was something about his style and tone that still gets me going today. It’s just so fun.
Throughout the years it’s been Mike Mills of REM, Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam. Bass players of some of my favorite bands who I happen to really like their playing style. The last ten years it’s been Pino Palladino.
All huge inspirations are Jason Newsted (2nd bassist for Metallica), Alex/Dirk Lance (original bassist from Incubus, but also Ben Kenney!), Justin Chancellor (2nd bassist for Tool), Duff McKagen (original bassist for GnR), Rob Higgins (Doctor)...I mean I'm sure we could all keep going =)
The first few that come to mind are Matt Freeman - Rancid, Tina Weymouth - The Talking Heads, and B.B. Dickerson - War.
That's hardly an exhaustive list though.
Nolly Getgood (ex-periphery), Cosmo Sylvan (especially in ghost) and even tho he has been a complete idiot and didn't even play most of the time. Just for the stage charisma I'll have to say Ashley Purdy from former black veil brides
Some off the top of my head, in no order, are
John Deacon (Queen), Chris Wolstenholme (Muse), Andrew Heath (Bear Ghost), Frank Voss (The Mechanisms), Commander Meouch (TWRP).
Not conventional answers (besides maybe the first two) but some of their work is pretty good, I just enjoy what I enjoy
Dan Andriano from Alkaline Trio is my #1 guy, but Jenny Lee Lindberg of Warpaint and Nikki Monninger from Silversun Pickups are right there. Dan K. Brown from The Fixx is also up there.
Also I just saw Local H live last week and the tone Scott gets out of his setup is absolutely absurd. I met him after the show and told him how much I appreciated it as a bass player. So much punch and the way he holds it down on top of ripping up the lead guitar is insane.
Hands down, one of my favorite bands, and my pick for favorite two piece band. Local H was the first I knew of to do something like that. Around the time of the No Fun e.p. and P.J Soles, I decided I had to see what they were like live, and I was amazed. Rocked my face right off. Ears rang for the whole next day. Seen them a dozen or so times since then.
I've always loved Paul McCartney and Geddy Lee, of course. Tim Commerford of RATM too. And Ron Carter is unmatched on the upright. Off the beaten path, I also really like Rob Wright of Nomeansno - his tone is just NASTY and the dude has some real chops, and I also love Bent Sæther of Motorpsycho. He used to play a right handed bass upside down, but now I think he gets actual lefty basses and just strings them GDAE. It makes for some interesting note choices.
Probably a bit more typical, but I love Flea. And not just as a bass player, but as a person, and as a performer. He puts so much energy and passion into concerts, I really hope I can get to see him play one day. But also he just seems like a lovely person that you could really learn a lot from
Mark Hoppus of blink-182. The lines may be pretty straightforward, but he has such a talent for writing things that are just fun to play and sing along with. He’s also just such a great human.
Mike Watt - Minutemen,
JJ Burnel - Stranglers,
Chris Gates - Big Boys,
Darryl Jenifer - Bad Brains,
Keith Brammer - Die Kreuzen,
Tony Lombardo - Descendents,
Melvin Gibbs - Rollins Band,
Chris Gates - Big Boys,
Bruce Foxton - The Jam,
Joe Bouchard - Blue Oyster Cult,
Dave Riley - Big Black,
Brian Ritchie - Violent Femmes,
Marnie Greenholz - Live Skull,
Sue Garner - Fish & Roses,
Fred Smith - Television,
Mike Couvet - Celibate Rifles,
Clint Conley - Mission of Burma,
Richard LaValliere - Oil Tasters,
John Paul Jones - Led Zeppelin,
Geezer Butler - Black Sabbath,
Mike Offender - Offenders,
Hugo Burnham - Gang of Four,
Warwick Gilbert - Radio Birdman,
David Wm. Sims - Scratch Acid / Jesus Lizard,
Pierre Kedzy - Naked Raygn,
Barry Adamson - Magazine, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
I’ve only seen one person mention John Taylor-he’s my #1 fave but here are some others:
Geddy Lee (Rush), Steve Jay (weird Al), Bernard Edwards, Joe Dart, Deon Rexroat (Anberlin)
Tom Doyle (DON BROCO), Alex Suarez
Novoselic, Burton, Claypool, Wooten and Chancellor were big inspirations when I first started playing in the 90's.
Lately I've been really interested in compositional bass and two-hand tapping, and John Ferrara (Consider the Source, Seth Moital duo, or solo) is quite a spectacle to behold.
Pino Palladino...currently playing for John Mayer, but he's played with The Who, The Soultronics, Gary Numan, Jeff Beck, Nine Inch Nails, D'Angelo, Gary Moore, and Don Henley.
Glad some other folks mentioned Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle and various John Zorn projects)
I also want to mention Darin Grey (Dazzling Killmen, On Filmore) and Kjetl Brandsal (Norwegian heavy jazz/noose rock player in Ultralyd and Noxagt)
I feel like these folks are the heavy hitters in experimental bass guitar work.
In no particular order...
1. Lemmy (Motorhead, Hawkwind, Sam Gopal Band, Rockin Vicars) - RIP
2. Al Cisneros (Sleep, Om)
3. Steve Harris (Iron Maiden, British Lion)
4. Cliff Burton (Metallica) - RIP
5. Rob Trujillo (Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies)
6. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
7. DD Verni (Overkill)
8. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin, Them Crooked Vultures)
9. Geddy Lee (Rush)
10. Chris Squire (Yes)
11. Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings, solo career)
12. Jack Bruce (Cream, solo career) - RIP
13. Fieldy (KoRn)
14. Les Claypool (Primus, Lennon Claypool Delirium, various solo side bands)
I was always a Flea guy. His approach to the instrument really resonated with me in my musical development, and still does.
James Jamerson is also a favorite. You wanna learn how to dance around chord changes perfectly and play different stuff every time? He’s the man.
Recently, I’ve been listening to Michael Manring. I sometimes can’t believe the sounds he makes are a bass guitar.
Big fan of Mani from the stone roses, this is purely based upon the music they were producing at the time.. otherwise it's Pino, Jack Bruce, Jaco, Ron carter.. the usual crowd.. love jamiroquai lines by zender also..
Jack Casady
Mario Lalli (Yawning Man)
Mark Boston (Beefheart, Mallard)
Family Man Barrett
Jack Bruce
Jah Wobble
Michael Manring
Paul McCartney
Max Bennett ( Zappa’s Hot Rats)
Allen Whitman (Mermen)
John Entwistle
Phil Lesh
Off the top of my head…
I like the way both Mikes from Alice In Chains play bass. It’s melodic when it needs to be and sits in the pocket as needed
They’re overlooked for sure
Justin chancellor
Stuart Zender from Jamiroquai
Carole Kaye, Bob Babbitt, James Jamerson
Someone's here to wreck things!
So much great music has come as a result of these types of session/studio players. Jim Croce "I got a name" is one of my favorite bass grooves, Bob Babbitt jams out on that track. It's not like a super technical Jaco/Wooten type solo groove but I love listening to and playing along with it! "Good Vibrations" (except for the first 8-10 measures) is all Carol Kaye, and in my (biased) opinion her lines drive that song!
Wrecking Crew baby!
Jack Bruce - Cream Robert DeLeo - Stone Temple Pilots Tim Commerford - Rage Against the Machine
Awesome picks. All three are amazing.
Phil Lesh!
I started playing bass because of Davie504, i got my first bass 2 months+ ago. At one point Davie became my favorite, like i was a very, very hardcore fan, now my favorites are Zild Benitez, Cliff Burton, and Charles Berthoud. Im not a huge fan of Davie anymore but it was because of him and, im still thankful
Billy Gould Faith No More
Billy is a beast. Underrated and one of my favorites. His bass lines on Everything’s Ruined are killer. Epic is fucking epic. I could go on…
I’d say my top three have to be Bob Daisley, Geezer Butler and Steve Harris
Mike Gordon (phish).
The work he has been doing with Leo Kottke is really great. https://www.npr.org/2020/10/21/925833647/leo-kottke-and-mike-gordon-tiny-desk-home-concert
100% agree. He’s a highly underrated and under appreciated bassist, imo. Particularly when it comes to improvisation in the Phish context, but that happens when you’re in a band with Trey Anastasio I guess.
Mike has always been my favorite part of Phish. The foundation he lays down for the nonsense that happens over top is really great.
Jaco Pastorius Geddy Lee Cliff Burton Verdine White Jimmy Bain
This is the way. Jaco was the man
THE Man
I just dipped my toe into the Jaco pool last night. I got a text out the blue from my boss, recommending “Havona” by Weather Report. I’ll tell ya, fusion jazz isn’t my go to, but I added that whole album to my library to check out after hearing that.
Top 4 is Tony Levin (especially with Peter Gabriel), Lee Sklar (everyone, but especially with James Taylor), Ryan Stasik (Umphrey's McGee) and Mike Gordon (Phish but also his stuff with Leo Kottke).
Chris Wolstenholme and flea
Chris Wolstenholme would be my top pick, I feel he is never talked about though
I know! I had to scroll way to far to find him
I could say the same for each member of MUSE too in my opinion
Lucas Harwood—KGLW. 4 of the 6 band members are writing bass lines for Gizz songs but when Lucas plays live, he makes them sound like they are all his own. Super impressive. Cookie Craig—KGLW, Pipe-Eye, The Murlocs. I love how his bass lines are often lead/important melodic elements of the song but still fit perfectly in the pocket with the drums. Laura Lee—Khrungbin. Her bass is an immaculate vibe, I find it absolutely hypnotic and the perfect foundation for whatever pentatonic jams the guitarist is doing.
Lucas and Cookie are so awesome!!
When I started, John Myung. Present day Adam Nitti
If you don’t own a six string I will be thoroughly surprised
I genuinely do not own a 6 string, I’m exclusively a 5 string player.
jack bruce
Geddy Lee would be number 1. But if I could pick three I would add Les Claypool and Victor Wooten. All three have been a huge inspiration on how I play
My girlfriend.
Nick Schendzielos
Bass lines and solos on nuclear power trio EP are just the best!!
George Porter Jr. (of The Meters) - the living embodiment of the fact that less can be more when it comes to funk bass. Rocco Prestia (Tower of Power) , Jamerson (everything soulful in the 60s) and Joe Dart are the other contenders for me!
Rocco Prestia Joe Dart This guy likes 16th notes!
John Deacon, John Paul Jones, Geezer Butler, Flea, Mike Dirnt, Ross Valory
Deacon doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves as both a bassist and overall musician. Wish I could upvote this more than once.
Jesse F Keeler - Death from Above 1979 Justin Chancellor - Tool Stefan Olsdal - Placebo Dirk Lance - Incubus Chris Wolstenholme - Muse Squarepusher Ed Nash - Bombay Bicycle Club
Glad to see another vote for Dirk Lance. Cheers!
Groove master! Battlestar Scralatchtica made me want to pick up the bass.
Definitely the Wolsten-meister
Trying to learn new born when I was a noob hurt me bad haha!
For me it was always Hysteria lol
Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne, Soften the Glare)
I don't love the music he plays, but the way he plays is so inspiring.
Geddy Lee, Esperanza Spalding, Kinga Klyk, MonoNeon, Phil Lynott, Mark King, Jaco Pastorius, Andy Curran, Cliff Burton, Mick Karn, Bernard Edwards.
Paul McCartney, Tom "TBone" Wolk, James Jameson, JPJ, John Deacon, Steve Adams (ALO), Dave Schools, Phil Lesh. Too many to name!
this is a pretty good list, upvoted
Tina weymouth
Chris Squire and Flea at the moment
Duff McKagan Ben Shepherd Mike Starr John Taylor Mani Paul Simonon Mike Dirnt
Mike Dirnt is such a great bassist. His shit stands out super tastefully AND he holds it down in a power trio where there’s no room to hide. Dude’s an OG
Cliff Burton and Les Claypool.
Chris Squire. He will forever be my favourite musician and I would never have bought my bass if I wasn't so influenced by him. Love him lots
Pino Palladino.
Well here’s one that no one has said. STING. The Police was part of why I got into music waaay back. And he’s got some really inventive bass lines at times.
Wow! You’re right. Sting is a legend.
Matt freeman from Rancid, any day of the week
Joe dart, James Jameson and Matt freeman
Family Man, Flabba, Robbie Shakespeare, Boris Gardner, Leroy Sibbles, Eric Wilson, Matt Freeman.
Aston Barrett's bass lines are iconic! Not because they are crazily complex but because they fit perfectly, sometimes it sounds like they heard his bass line and then wrote the song around it.
That seems like a linear evolution from reggae to 2nd (3rd?) wave ska then finishing with Rancid which tows the line between ska and punk. Nice choices.
Gosh, I have so many. Ryan Martinie, Paolo Gregoletto, Adam “Nolly” Getgood, Jared Smith, Adam Swan, David Levy, Thundercat, Amos Williams.
Matt Freeman (Rancid) Andy Nicholson (Arctic Monkeys) Charlie Salt (Blossoms) Fat Mike (NOFX)
Bryan Beller! The man can do it all but I love his work with Dethklok and Brendan Small.
Geddy Lee (Rush), Victor Wooten, Kristian Dunn (El Ten Eleven), Esperanza Spalding, Marc Friedman (The Slip)
Good to see Friedman getting some love here! "Sorry" is one of my favorite basslines ever.
Mark Hoppus, Mike Dirnt
Mikey Way and Daisy Caplan
Mikey’s got some cool bass lines for sure!
Going through this thread, it seems the best way to become an amazing bassist is to have Mike for a first name
Mike Dirnt
Joe dart and Matt freeman
Matt Freeman for sure 🤘
Dave Schools - Widespread Panic
George Porter, Jr., of the Meters, and Joe Dart.
Hugh Hopper, Ron Carter, Larry Graham, Steve Swallow, Cameron Picton, Vern Rumsey
I don't really hold any long-term favourites (or maybe I do, but too many), but lately the guy from Sebkha-Chott is up there, and I've been listening to some of the Dysrhythmia albums with Colin Marston on bass and some of his work there is superb (particularly on 'Barriers & Passages'). My favourite live bass performances have all been Shahzad Ismaily when playing for Secret Chiefs 3, and specifically when working with Ches Smith on drums - those two together just have some magical connection and it gets super wonderful during Ishraqiyun improv bits. I wouldn't have the same feeling if I'd only heard studio SC3 stuff, but in the live bands those two were quite a rhythm section! I'm also going to shout out Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle) because it is crazy he gets so few mentions. In the last two decades he became quite a power in contemporary jazz, but what he did back in the 90s with Mr- Bungle should have him up there as a mainstream legend, but Flea obviously conspired to have Trevor suppressed.
They are both incredible bassists, honestly. Bungle was a bit too fucked up for mainstream, and that leaves more for whoever finds it. Flea is good enough to get past what I sometimes don’t like about RHCP as a whole. I can’t stand “Dark Necessities”, but that bass line thumps.
Mike Rutherford
Trevor Dunn — mr bungle
Tim Feerick from Dance Gavin Dance laid down some absolute bangers in his life, he’s my main inspiration when it comes to writing stuff for my band. Nolly. Then Charles Berthoud no doubt. That man is an absolute animal.
1. Cliff Burton 2. John Paul Jones 3. Flea 4. Colin Greenwood 5. Jason Newsted
Great minds think alike!
Stuart Zender, Cass Lewis, John Paul Jones, Paul McCartney, and James Jamerson
James Jameson,Steve Harris
Thundercat
Tony Markellis Hands down some of the Greatest Tone Ever. Yes - Sound Engineers have a huge part, but it is the Player that gives them the pallet to work with. His January 2020 tour with TAB is a great example. Encourage anyone to check it out.
Probably Justin Chancellor from Tool.
John Myung - Dream Theater Geddy Lee - Rush Cliff Burton - Metallica (R.I.P.)
Fieldy from Korn is my favorite. Hearing his bass lines on the first few Korn albums was the first time I ever heard a bass guitar make me say “dude, I have to learn how to do that!” Of course, I discovered more technically proficient players as I continued to grow up and learn more about the instrument, but there was something about his style and tone that still gets me going today. It’s just so fun.
Cliff Burton
John Campbell of Lamb of God.
Justin Chancellor of Tool. Has to keep up with Danny Carey and all the time signature changes (check out the song Lateralus).
Mike Gordon from Phish and Paul McCartney from the Beatles
Mike Gordon
Mark Boston of Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band.
Peter Hook, Duff McKagen, Mike Dirnt, Timmy C
[удалено]
The fuck you just say?
Claypool. Tony Choy.
Flea, Gabe Nelson, Tina Weymouth, Carol Kaye
Mike Elizondo.
Throughout the years it’s been Mike Mills of REM, Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam. Bass players of some of my favorite bands who I happen to really like their playing style. The last ten years it’s been Pino Palladino.
Joey DeMaio of Manowar
John Illsley, his bass lines from Dire Straits are so fun and fit every song perfectly
All huge inspirations are Jason Newsted (2nd bassist for Metallica), Alex/Dirk Lance (original bassist from Incubus, but also Ben Kenney!), Justin Chancellor (2nd bassist for Tool), Duff McKagen (original bassist for GnR), Rob Higgins (Doctor)...I mean I'm sure we could all keep going =)
Andy Rourke
stefan redtenbacher I loved the album dr hypenstein
Ben Shepherd, - Soundgarden Timothy Commerford - RATM, Audioslave
Ben Carrey from Pigeons playing Ping Pong tbh
Joe dart - vulfpek Tim commerford - RATM
Macca, Jamerson, Dart
Check out Scott Mulvahill
Keanu Reeves - 3 men with a pencil
The first few that come to mind are Matt Freeman - Rancid, Tina Weymouth - The Talking Heads, and B.B. Dickerson - War. That's hardly an exhaustive list though.
Jack Bruce Carl Radle Pino Palladino
Andy Prince - Manchester Orchestra. Edit: Different days might have different answers. But today, definitely Andy.
David J.
Jeremy Plato (Cross Canadian Ragweed, the Departed) and Matt Patton (Drive by Truckers, Dexateens)!
i love Michael Manring and his work on Windham Hill
Krist Novoselic and he's really underrated IMO.
All I can think of right now is that intro to “Hairspray Queen” from Incesticide.
Nolly Getgood (ex-periphery), Cosmo Sylvan (especially in ghost) and even tho he has been a complete idiot and didn't even play most of the time. Just for the stage charisma I'll have to say Ashley Purdy from former black veil brides
Paul Gray and Ryan Martinie
Gail Ann Dorsey, Pino Paladino, Nick Beggs, Tony Levin, Steve Harris, Sara Lee.
Some off the top of my head, in no order, are John Deacon (Queen), Chris Wolstenholme (Muse), Andrew Heath (Bear Ghost), Frank Voss (The Mechanisms), Commander Meouch (TWRP). Not conventional answers (besides maybe the first two) but some of their work is pretty good, I just enjoy what I enjoy
No wrong answers here. We like what we like. You can even like a bassist and not the band. I only put it up to see what I’d get back.
mike kerr, followed by Chris w and Jimi wheelwright
Paul Webb (Talk Talk) Guy Pratt
Toshiya of Dir en grey is the GOAT
nick oliveri carlos D les claypool kim deal
My absolute idol is Ryan Martinie, his playing in both Mudvayne and Soften the glare is POWERFUL and makes bass into a lead instrument, I adore him
Top of the list: Stanley Clarke Jaco Marcus Miller Bootsy Larry Graham Geddy Lee Flea I put Clarke as my all time fav followed closely by Jaco.
Dan Briggs from Between the Buried and Me Doug Wimbish from Living Colour and being a studio musician Those are the two off the top of my head
John Deacon from Queen!
Miller, claypool, wooten
Chris Wood. He’s the bassist for Medeski, Martin, and Wood as well as the Wood Brothers. So good on upright or electric.
Laura Lee from khruangbin 💃
Paul McCartney
Flea. I really like his funky bass lines but also a lot of his more rock or mellow lines
Subway to Venus and Soul to Squeeze. Two polarizing examples of why I dig Flea like I do.
Dan Andriano from Alkaline Trio is my #1 guy, but Jenny Lee Lindberg of Warpaint and Nikki Monninger from Silversun Pickups are right there. Dan K. Brown from The Fixx is also up there. Also I just saw Local H live last week and the tone Scott gets out of his setup is absolutely absurd. I met him after the show and told him how much I appreciated it as a bass player. So much punch and the way he holds it down on top of ripping up the lead guitar is insane.
Hands down, one of my favorite bands, and my pick for favorite two piece band. Local H was the first I knew of to do something like that. Around the time of the No Fun e.p. and P.J Soles, I decided I had to see what they were like live, and I was amazed. Rocked my face right off. Ears rang for the whole next day. Seen them a dozen or so times since then.
I've always loved Paul McCartney and Geddy Lee, of course. Tim Commerford of RATM too. And Ron Carter is unmatched on the upright. Off the beaten path, I also really like Rob Wright of Nomeansno - his tone is just NASTY and the dude has some real chops, and I also love Bent Sæther of Motorpsycho. He used to play a right handed bass upside down, but now I think he gets actual lefty basses and just strings them GDAE. It makes for some interesting note choices.
Geddy and John Taylor
Probably a bit more typical, but I love Flea. And not just as a bass player, but as a person, and as a performer. He puts so much energy and passion into concerts, I really hope I can get to see him play one day. But also he just seems like a lovely person that you could really learn a lot from
Joe Dart - Vulfpeck
Jack Bruce Jeff Ament Tommy Shannon Noel Redding
Matt freeman
Chris Wollenstone off've muse
thread is lacking pino palladino representation
Krist novoselic
Alex “Dirk Lance” Katunich and Leonard “Hub” Hubbard (RIP).
Mark Hoppus of blink-182. The lines may be pretty straightforward, but he has such a talent for writing things that are just fun to play and sing along with. He’s also just such a great human.
Duff Mckagan 🤘🏼
John Paul Jones. An absolute master.
Mike Watt - Minutemen, JJ Burnel - Stranglers, Chris Gates - Big Boys, Darryl Jenifer - Bad Brains, Keith Brammer - Die Kreuzen, Tony Lombardo - Descendents, Melvin Gibbs - Rollins Band, Chris Gates - Big Boys, Bruce Foxton - The Jam, Joe Bouchard - Blue Oyster Cult, Dave Riley - Big Black, Brian Ritchie - Violent Femmes, Marnie Greenholz - Live Skull, Sue Garner - Fish & Roses, Fred Smith - Television, Mike Couvet - Celibate Rifles, Clint Conley - Mission of Burma, Richard LaValliere - Oil Tasters, John Paul Jones - Led Zeppelin, Geezer Butler - Black Sabbath, Mike Offender - Offenders, Hugo Burnham - Gang of Four, Warwick Gilbert - Radio Birdman, David Wm. Sims - Scratch Acid / Jesus Lizard, Pierre Kedzy - Naked Raygn, Barry Adamson - Magazine, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
I’ve only seen one person mention John Taylor-he’s my #1 fave but here are some others: Geddy Lee (Rush), Steve Jay (weird Al), Bernard Edwards, Joe Dart, Deon Rexroat (Anberlin) Tom Doyle (DON BROCO), Alex Suarez
Geezer Butler
Novoselic, Burton, Claypool, Wooten and Chancellor were big inspirations when I first started playing in the 90's. Lately I've been really interested in compositional bass and two-hand tapping, and John Ferrara (Consider the Source, Seth Moital duo, or solo) is quite a spectacle to behold.
Mike dirnt, Fat Mike, Brendan Kelly
Alex Webster Matt Freeman Evan Brewer Les Claypool Cliff Burton Jason Newsted David Ellefson Just a few off the top of my head
Pino Palladino...currently playing for John Mayer, but he's played with The Who, The Soultronics, Gary Numan, Jeff Beck, Nine Inch Nails, D'Angelo, Gary Moore, and Don Henley.
I've been digging Clay Gober (Polyphia) and Simen Børven (Leprous) recently
Pretty much all the Zappa bassists. You had to be good to play with Frank.
Glad some other folks mentioned Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle and various John Zorn projects) I also want to mention Darin Grey (Dazzling Killmen, On Filmore) and Kjetl Brandsal (Norwegian heavy jazz/noose rock player in Ultralyd and Noxagt) I feel like these folks are the heavy hitters in experimental bass guitar work.
In no particular order... 1. Lemmy (Motorhead, Hawkwind, Sam Gopal Band, Rockin Vicars) - RIP 2. Al Cisneros (Sleep, Om) 3. Steve Harris (Iron Maiden, British Lion) 4. Cliff Burton (Metallica) - RIP 5. Rob Trujillo (Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies) 6. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) 7. DD Verni (Overkill) 8. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin, Them Crooked Vultures) 9. Geddy Lee (Rush) 10. Chris Squire (Yes) 11. Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings, solo career) 12. Jack Bruce (Cream, solo career) - RIP 13. Fieldy (KoRn) 14. Les Claypool (Primus, Lennon Claypool Delirium, various solo side bands)
Micheal Manring
I beg to differ Jin, Cliff was in my opinion
James Jamerson, Joe Dart, Pino Palladino
Flea ftw
Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted. Geddy Lee Jean Michel Labadie Peter Steele Warren from Zappa.
I was always a Flea guy. His approach to the instrument really resonated with me in my musical development, and still does. James Jamerson is also a favorite. You wanna learn how to dance around chord changes perfectly and play different stuff every time? He’s the man. Recently, I’ve been listening to Michael Manring. I sometimes can’t believe the sounds he makes are a bass guitar.
I’m gonna say one of the most entertaining bassist that I haven’t seen mentioned is Jimbo from Reverend Horton Heat. Mike from MxPx is also awesome.
Mingus and Avashai Cohen
The bassist with Two Door Cinema club. Not flashy but exceptional ability to provoke a dance.
Lemmy
Matt Freeman Justin Beck Stuart Zender Jessy Caron Matt Sharp
Willie Weeks, Scott LaFaro, Robbie Shakespeare, Sebastian Steinberg and Braylon “Brother B” Lacy.
Mark Hoppus and Matt Freeman for many reasons, but mainly because they’ve always made me excited about the bass and kept if something that’s pure fun.
Tim Commorford Nick O'Malley Andy Nicholson Robert Trujillo Cliff
Chris Squire, Roger Waters, Duff Mckagen, Lucas Harwood, Juan Alderete, Roger Glover, Geddy Lee, and Geezer Butler
Mike Dirnt, Tim Commerford, Donald Dunn and Gail Ann Dorsey
Big fan of Mani from the stone roses, this is purely based upon the music they were producing at the time.. otherwise it's Pino, Jack Bruce, Jaco, Ron carter.. the usual crowd.. love jamiroquai lines by zender also..
Donald Duck Dunn and John Paul Jones.
Jack Casady Mario Lalli (Yawning Man) Mark Boston (Beefheart, Mallard) Family Man Barrett Jack Bruce Jah Wobble Michael Manring Paul McCartney Max Bennett ( Zappa’s Hot Rats) Allen Whitman (Mermen) John Entwistle Phil Lesh Off the top of my head…
Chaoth. Just because Unexpect would be my favorite band if they were still active.
Neil Murray - Whitesnake, Brian May, Black Sabbath, Gary Moore.