Best bass guitarist

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Im thinkin' Mike Watt from Firehose right now.

Ol' Bootsy also has a special place in my heart.

Now YOUR turn!

― David Allen, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 02:51 (twenty-one years ago) link

Jon & Alex, recently ex-Luttenbachers.

― Dave Fischer, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 02:57 (twenty-one years ago) link

Azita Youssefi.

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 03:21 (twenty-one years ago) link

Mick Karn.

Flame on,
TMFTML
http://intonation.blogspot.com

― TMFTML (TMFTML), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 03:24 (twenty-one years ago) link

the guy from heaven 17!

― chaki (chaki), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 03:32 (twenty-one years ago) link

the late Bernie Edwards,...or the late Jaco Pastorius,...or perhaps the mighty Sting,...how about Tony Levin or Larry Klein or Tracy Ann Wormworth?????

― meg, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 03:37 (twenty-one years ago) link

"mighty" sting?

― chaki (chaki), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 03:39 (twenty-one years ago) link

carol kaye

there is no other answer.

― gygax!, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 04:45 (twenty-one years ago) link

Living or dead?

Living is probably Les Claypool...

...but his bands suck.

― JM, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 05:07 (twenty-one years ago) link

Colin Meeder!

(Well, it could, if I ever heard the dood play.)

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 05:16 (twenty-one years ago) link

he invented emo

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 05:18 (twenty-one years ago) link

Are we talking rock or jazz?

― paul cox (paul cox), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 05:22 (twenty-one years ago) link

I say Paul Mcartney, and not just because he wrote songs, I like his bass playing. Its never bassic, always ornate and clever

― Mike Hanle y (mike), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 05:32 (twenty-one years ago) link

Simon Gallup got me into The Cure, and thus into music, and thus here to ILM and every life-changing decision I've made since my 17th birthday. So I guess I'd better say him.

Kim Deal ROXOR!!! tho...

― Charlie (Charlie), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 05:35 (twenty-one years ago) link

Watt would be my first answer. hm...Mike Mills used to do some neat stuff. Bruce Thomas from the Attractions definitely deserves a mention.

― Al (sitcom), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 05:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

uhm...GEDDY LEE

but some other greats include:

Geezer Butler
Robbie Shakespeare
Holdger Czukay
Chris Squire
etc etc etc

― geeg, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 06:03 (twenty-one years ago) link

larry graham

and, even though i know it will be a pimple on my fledgling ILM rep, chris squire.

― mike (ro)bott, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 06:19 (twenty-one years ago) link

All in very different ways: Charles Mingus, Robbie Shakespear, Bruce Foxton, Peter Hook, Barry Adamson, Youth, Darryl "The Munch" Jones (originally worked with Miles Davis before being poached by Sting, now playing with Rolling Stones, where I can only imagine he restricts himself to only using the little finger on each hand to replicate anything that Bill Wyman was capable of playing).

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 10:04 (twenty-one years ago) link

Paul -- I invented emo jazz. Thanks for asking.

The greatest living bassist is Stomu Takeishi. The greatest bassist ever was Scott LaFaro. I am the 43rd best bass player in Frankfurt am Main. Thanks for asking.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 10:13 (twenty-one years ago) link

chaki nailed it first time :)

― Jeff W, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 10:44 (twenty-one years ago) link

Mingus would have smashed a bass GUITAR, never mind play one!

OK, some suggestions: Jack Bruce, Peter Hook, Holger Czukay, Jah Wobble, Barry Adamson, Mark King (no don't laugh), James Jamerson, Hugh Hopper, Steve Swallow, I suppose we have to say McCartney, John Entwistle, Kim Gordon, Al McDowell (Prime Time/Contortions), Bernard Edwards, Bill McCormick, yes OK Bootsy, but definitely NOT Laswell. And don't forget Sketch out of Linx (also on 23 Skidoo's "Coup").

That enough to be going on with?

As far as DOUBLE bassists go, my list would be DJ Martian-like in its size.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 10:48 (twenty-one years ago) link

Waco Jaco was prob. the best I can think of. No mention for Flea here though - is that on account of his band or his playing?

― Roger Fascist (Roger Fascist), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 11:18 (twenty-one years ago) link

Obviously James Jamerson.
And as well as Bootsy, also Sweet Charles Sherrell from the JBs.

I'm wondering with some bassists whether they get slightly more plaudits for their bass playing because they do other stuff so well. I'm thinking, for instance, is Charlie Mingus really the best jazz bassist out there (or is he just the best composer?).
Likewise, how good are Holger Czukay, Willie Dixon, Barry Adamson? I'm not knocking any of them, just asking the question.

― James Ball (James Ball), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 11:22 (twenty-one years ago) link

Mick Jones, too. And Michael Dempsey.

― jon (jon), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 11:24 (twenty-one years ago) link

Apart from Carol Kaye, obviously...

David J.

― kate, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 11:27 (twenty-one years ago) link

Right, missed the guitarist bit. That takes LaFaro out. Replace with James Jamerson.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 11:29 (twenty-one years ago) link

I would say Mingus was the best jazz composer, but my favourite jazz bassist would have to be Charlie Haden. Emotion AND technique.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 11:56 (twenty-one years ago) link

Personally I'd have included Barry Adamson on my list even if he'd retired immediately after recording The Correct Use Of Soap.

― Stewart Osborne (Stewart Osborne), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 12:02 (twenty-one years ago) link

Lately I'm thinking Watt too - Can't think of anyone that's a close second. (That's currently playing anything, that is... Entwistle, Bruce, Wobble might otherwise be mentioned.. )

Maybe Tony Levin, if he actually played a bass.

― dave225 (Dave225), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 12:19 (twenty-one years ago) link

Living: Mani
Dead: Entwistle

― Aaron W, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 13:16 (twenty-one years ago) link

I second...third Carol Kaye. She answers all of the messages on her board personally!

― Jez (Jez), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 13:41 (twenty-one years ago) link

ahem - randy baran? what is pete doing on carol kaye's message board??

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 13:44 (twenty-one years ago) link

Mani - good call Aaron.

Not only a great bass player, he's a top red. Spotted several times in Barcelona with Bez on the night of the European Cup Final.
Sorry, is that a bit off-topic?

― James Ball (James Ball), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 14:03 (twenty-one years ago) link

nicky wire.cos he is underrated.motormouth.writes good/rubbish lyrics.and a good house-band.cheeers

― gibson ES 355 (gibson ES 355), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 17:25 (twenty-one years ago) link

Bernard Edwards, Jane Munro, Chris White.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 17:30 (twenty-one years ago) link

I'm a Yank so football is a bit beyond me, but I do appreciate this quote from Mani after he was seen on TV in the front row of a match: "I got caught spitting on the tele by my mam at a United v Leeds game. She was disgusted and said, 'there's nothing big or clever about spitting young Gary'."

― Aaron W, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 17:34 (twenty-one years ago) link

charlie haden, mike watt and simon fell.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 17:54 (twenty-one years ago) link

not necc. for technical ability, but for contribution to overall band sound: Tina Weymouth

― zebedee, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 18:09 (twenty-one years ago) link

Michael Henderson's my fave - for his playing on On The Corner, Get Up With It, Dark Magus, Agharta & Pangaea but most especially "Calypso Frelimo". next would probably be George Porter.

best live bassist I've heard is Richard Bona.

― Paul (scifisoul), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 18:10 (twenty-one years ago) link

Clint Conley and Tony Maimone for playing and Tracy Pew for looking good.

― dan (dan), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 18:34 (twenty-one years ago) link

Gina Birch! Sara Lee!

― Douglas, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 20:51 (twenty-one years ago) link

What, no mention yet of Jean-Jacket Burnel? Better brush up your martial arts skills & watch your backs, folks!

Actually, Jaco.

― briania, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:02 (twenty-one years ago) link

Agree completely with Stomu Takeishi (try Henry Threadgill's Where's Your Cup? for evidence) but how about some love for Tim Brown out of the Boo Radleys? The very definition of good solid playing...and even managed a credible bass solo on "Wilder."

― Matt C., Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:09 (twenty-one years ago) link

Bernard Edwards, Bootsy, Entwistle, Weymouth - but no one has mentioned Donald 'Duck' Dunn, disgracefully, or Leroy Hodges. I sometimes feel like the only soul fan here!

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:11 (twenty-one years ago) link

how about some love for Tim Brown out of the
Boo Radleys?

Hey, I'll go with that -- friendly guy too!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:15 (twenty-one years ago) link

Hasn't there been a bassists thread already?

Anyway, my faves:
Janik Top
Bernard Paganotti
Alain Ballaud
Ryuichi Masuda
Tatsuya Miyano
Rick Danko
James Jamerson
Billy Nelson
George Porter Jr.
Colin Moulding

― dleone (dleone), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:16 (twenty-one years ago) link

Oh, yeah: Prince.

Dominique: good call on Colin Moulding. I think it's funny that he's always saying that his bass playing is shit, but he's really quite good. He seems to be similarly low-self-esteem about his songwriting. Shame, although if he had any ego whatsoever he would have punched Partridge in the mouth and split long ago. And I'm a fan.

― Matt C., Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:20 (twenty-one years ago) link

I think Moulding is an excellent bass player. I read once that Pink Floyd actually asked him to tour with them as their bassist, but he declined. Very McCartney-esque in places, but with better time, and always in the pocket. Sort of like the English Danko.

― dleone (dleone), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:22 (twenty-one years ago) link

A little reggae shout-out to Aston "Familyman" Barrett. And if we're going to talk about Bootsy, we'd better also mention Billy "Bass" Nelson and Cordell Mosson, who contributed heavily to the P.Funk sound and don't get anywhere near the respect that the amazing Bootsy does. And that bassline on "Flashlight" is Bernie Worrell on synthesizer. Does that count? Because that's the fuckin' epitome.

― Matt C., Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:31 (twenty-one years ago) link

''Hasn't there been a bassists thread already?''

yes but its always guitar this and guitar that. lets have another one on bassists, just for the sake of it.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 21:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

A few more good ones not mentioned...

Peter Hook*
Dave Allen (Gang of Four)
David Wm. Sims (Jesus Lizard)
Joe Lally (Fugazi)

(*Somewhere around these parts is a thread with someone dropping some hate on Peter Hook's style...I think he is a cool and unique bassist.)

While not technically proficient...Kim Deal and the way the bass line was used in the Pixies definitely was copied by hundreds of bands.

As for technique, there are many jazz guys that could blow out lines.
Stanley Clarke etc, but they are all pretty much secondary to Jaco when it comes to the electric.

I love the way Jaco plays on "Coyote" by Joni Mitchell, which is a good song for someone that isn't into the jazz fusion to check out his playing.

This past summer saw this local guy at a new music night do an interesting set of ambient music using a fretless electric and a series of digital delay pedals. It was similar to some of the frippertronic tricks that Fripp uses, but using a fretless bass it was a much more warm, soft, deep trance enducing sound. Much more interesting than some of the noise and bizzaro improv groups at the same show.

― earlnash, Wednesday, 30 October 2002 23:14 (twenty-one years ago) link

Naomi Yang

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Wednesday, 30 October 2002 23:39 (twenty-one years ago) link

The Bass Thing surely, that's what he was put on this earth to do.

― nebbesh, Thursday, 31 October 2002 00:28 (twenty-one years ago) link

Ah, bless. May Rob rest in peace.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 31 October 2002 01:30 (twenty-one years ago) link

Zak Sally

― A Nairn (moretap), Thursday, 31 October 2002 01:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

WOW LOOK! It's Dave Fischer! Amazing!

Um.. not mentioned: Jaco Pastorius

― Ian Johnson (orion), Thursday, 31 October 2002 02:43 (twenty-one years ago) link

the dude that played bass for The Field Mice was pretty good

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Thursday, 31 October 2002 02:51 (twenty-one years ago) link

mick elborado, sean o'reilly, john christoffels

― unknown or illegal user (doorag), Thursday, 31 October 2002 03:56 (twenty-one years ago) link

As several above, mainly for apt contribution to band's style: Kev Hopper of Stump.

― OleM (OleM), Thursday, 31 October 2002 09:39 (twenty-one years ago) link

at the risk of opening myself to much ridicule, I quite like the guy from duran duran, although I can't remember his name...john taylor, mebbee? also the oft-mentioned barry adamson, and definitely gerald calhoun from the Kashmere Stage Band.

― webcrack (music=crack), Thursday, 31 October 2002 21:09 (twenty-one years ago) link

Two more: Martin Blunt. Will Carruthers.

― Chris Barrus (xibalba), Friday, 1 November 2002 02:31 (twenty-one years ago) link

I thought this thread asked for bass guitarists specifically to cut out all those upright players who I could go on about forever.

My favorite electric players are probably James Jamerson, the guy from Happy Apple, and Duff McKagan, whoooo!

― Jordan (Jordan), Friday, 1 November 2002 07:38 (twenty-one years ago) link

Jordan you ruler - a mention for Mr. Duff 'Rose' McKagan = a grey morning in London not so bad after all.

― Roger Fascist (Roger Fascist), Friday, 1 November 2002 09:53 (twenty-one years ago) link

Most of my favourites have already been mentioned except Verdine White. I heard David Liebman on "Private Passions" a couple of years ago and he chose EWF's "The Way of the World". I can still remember the incredulity in the voice of Michael Berkeley (plummy-toned, classical-buff BBC presenter) after they played the track: he simply said "the bass player's a genius". Word.

― ArfArf, Friday, 1 November 2002 10:33 (twenty-one years ago) link

The late Tracey Pew deserves a shout, nasty dirty bass-lines.

― stevo (stevo), Friday, 1 November 2002 10:58 (twenty-one years ago) link

I'm gonna have to go with:

Les Claypool
Larry Graham
Stanley Clarke
Jaco Pastorius
Victor Wooten
Jimmy Prall
Norwood Fisher
James Jamerson
Doug Wimbish
Chris Wood
Michael Henderson
and of course Bootsy Collins

― Nickalicious, Friday, 1 November 2002 21:57 (twenty-one years ago) link

eleven months pass...

The coolest bassist is Katie from "School Of Rock" HANDS DOWN.

― alex in montreal, Monday, 13 October 2003 03:45 (twenty years ago) link

A thread this long about bassists and only one mention of reggae? Good god, man.

Lloyd Brevett
Aston "Familyman" Barrett
Leroy Sibbles
Robbie Shakespeare
George "Fully" Fullwood
Earl "Flabba" Holt
Clinton Fearon
Boris Gardiner
Lloyd Parks

― oops (Oops), Monday, 13 October 2003 04:02 (twenty years ago) link

Holger Czukay!

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 13 October 2003 11:14 (twenty years ago) link

Not mentioned enough:

Chris Squire
Tony Levin

Not mentioned at all:

Alex James (of Blur)

― JP Almeida (JP Almeida), Monday, 13 October 2003 12:34 (twenty years ago) link

...add Tina Weymouth and Rick Danko

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 13 October 2003 12:39 (twenty years ago) link

...and obviously Bootsy, Skeet Curtis, Larry Graham

― Dadaismus (Dada), Monday, 13 October 2003 12:42 (twenty years ago) link

Bob Weston, Ellie Erickson, Youth, Joe Lally, Robert Skakespeare (although he's just as often rubbish).

PJ Harvey, but she cheats and uses a keyboard.

Timbalan, Dr Dre and Aphex Twin also cheat, but sound great.
Goldfrapp too.

― mei (mei), Monday, 13 October 2003 15:49 (twenty years ago) link

I was going to say Pete Farndon. And then I thought: he played great bass parts, but nowhere near the talent of Stanley Clarke.. Which is what I would say about most of the bassists mentioned here.

― dave225 (Dave225), Monday, 13 October 2003 16:02 (twenty years ago) link

Doug McCombs in Eleventh Dream Day. Not nec in Tortoise. I like the way he plays rock.

― scott m (mcd), Monday, 13 October 2003 16:42 (twenty years ago) link

My favorite most-underrated-evah-bassist:
http://www.followmearound.com/images/colin/c009.jpg

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 13 October 2003 16:54 (twenty years ago) link

(also: wtf with that face he's making!?!)

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 13 October 2003 16:55 (twenty years ago) link

hes always so happy and jumpin on stage i like him too. is gene simmons an awful player? i cant tell.

― Pablo Cruise (chaki), Monday, 13 October 2003 17:36 (twenty years ago) link

Gene Simmons is only awful when he's not playing bass.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 13 October 2003 17:52 (twenty years ago) link

Billy Sheehan, man, his chops are insane.

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 13 October 2003 18:43 (twenty years ago) link

http://www.globalbass.com/archives/oct2001/billyreach.jpg

― Mark (MarkR), Monday, 13 October 2003 18:45 (twenty years ago) link

God I hate the concept of "chops". Of course I love Les Claypool. WTF I ask myself?

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 13 October 2003 18:58 (twenty years ago) link

http://www.hackers.demon.co.uk/hair.net/beards.gif/mutton.JPG

― oops (Oops), Monday, 13 October 2003 19:01 (twenty years ago) link

Nikolai Fraiture of the Strokes has the best basslines I've heard in a long time. I'd put him just above McCartney and just below Jamerson for holding down a pop song and busting out amazing, unexpected bits. Mike Watt has always been tops for me, but you can't really compare him to those guys because he just owns the songs he plays on. He's always in a trio taking up a sizable portion of the overall sound. Same goes for another one of my faves, Brian Ritche of the Violent Femmes.

― BrianB, Monday, 13 October 2003 19:17 (twenty years ago) link

I once saw this Japanese guy called Kato Hideki playing with Ikue Mori in Death Ambient. He managed to play a 45 minute set of unearthly, indescribable noise without actually plucking the strings at any point, so he gets my vote for the most original bassist I've ever seen.
No-one's mentioned Henry "King Thumb" Thomas from Rockschool yet.

― udu wudu (udu wudu), Monday, 13 October 2003 19:36 (twenty years ago) link

Victor fucking Wooten!

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Monday, 13 October 2003 19:43 (twenty years ago) link

As has been said, Rick motherfucking Danko.

Also, who's the dude who plays fretless on The Blue Mask? That's some sick shit.

Based on seeing Elvis Costello's band The Imposters, Davey Faragher is pretty damn good. I'm not familiar with his Cracker work.

― southern lights (southern lights), Monday, 13 October 2003 21:17 (twenty years ago) link

Mike Watt. Steve Digiorgio. Erick Sermon in hip hop.

― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Monday, 13 October 2003 22:24 (twenty years ago) link

In the genre I love most: Steve DiGiorgio, Lemmy Kilmister, Steve Harris.

― Siegbran (eofor), Monday, 13 October 2003 23:18 (twenty years ago) link

A mention for Mark Sandeman of Morphine.

And a second for Zak Sally.

― Ben Dot (1977), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 01:26 (twenty years ago) link

i have to stump for Bill Laswell here, since we are talking bass playing rather than group leading/album producing etc. the first Last Exit record ought to be testament enough.

Ellie from Erase Errata is pretty awesome as well.

― Dave M. (rotten03), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 01:33 (twenty years ago) link

Whatt??? Nobody mentioned Kendra Smith? She of the fat basslines of Opal? Of the VU basslines of Dream Syndicate? Plus made Peter Hook's basslines better during the only non-embarrassing Joy Division cover EVER released (that being: Heart and Soul) ... what? Is it because she lives on a farm with no electricity? She is the indie Carole Kaye!

― st tremaine cool kid of death, Tuesday, 14 October 2003 07:34 (twenty years ago) link

Jaco Pastorius is my personal favourite, but more because of his compositions, although he was obviously a bass guitar genius.

I like Stanley Clarke's playing more than Jaco's, actually, but Clarke's solo recordings are mostly shite. I love his Return to Forever work, however.

Third favourite of mine is Jamaaladeen Tacuma, who used to work with Ornette Coleman. He's quite original both as a bassist and as a band leader/composer (though he obviously learned a lot from Coleman).

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 10:07 (twenty years ago) link

Gaye Advert.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 10:14 (twenty years ago) link

Hugh Hopper, John Cale and the guy in The Godz

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 10:17 (twenty years ago) link

You know who is the bassist laying down a lot of my favorite low-end lines these days? Pino Palladino. Pretty much any groove on any of this wave of "neo-soul" artist's records (as well as a great deal of hip-hop too) that you bob your head to that aren't 'featuring Raphael Saadiq', it was probably Pino playing bass on it.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 11:28 (twenty years ago) link

there is not enough lemmy luv on this thread. lemmy is great

dada - surely not as in "contact high with the...."?

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 11:31 (twenty years ago) link

You got it Pash. I don't know what it is about the bass playing on that record but I love it - maybe the fact that the guy obviously hasn't a clue what a bass guitar is, let alone the ability to play it

― Dadaismus (Dada), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 13:30 (twenty years ago) link

man, i used to own that rekkid - on esp-disc no less!! I remember going to this hippie party in thee 1980's, where all these stoners were sat in the living room w/acoustic guitars and flutes bumbling away - i should have taped it, the whole aesthetic/vibe was quite similar as you can probably imagine. I traded it for a copy of the lemon kittens album eventually. It's a great artifact (the song titles especially) but i didn't really get into it i must admit.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 14:14 (twenty years ago) link

good call on Pino, nza

― oops (Oops), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 15:17 (twenty years ago) link

Supposedly they've got a Soulquarians (Pino Palladino, ?uestlove, James Poysner) record in the works. I, personally, am stoked.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 14 October 2003 15:45 (twenty years ago) link

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