Best rock bass player (1 Viewer)

[Mr. Know-It-All]

The answer to any of these questions can be found in Motorhead.

In this case I vote Lemmy Kilmister.

Then Flea.

Flea would be good in Motorhead.

 

[SoFresh&SoClean]

Victor Wooten

You're welcome.



Edited to add

You sir, are a man who knows his music. The rest of you shame me.

 

[1-2-many]

Les Claypool! some good examples why..... http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=primus..... Flea, then Burton would be my top three.

 

[Uncle Humuna]

Tough, tough call:

Jaco, Clarke, Wooten, Jones, Levin, Bootsy, Watt, Flea, Claypool, Barrett, Lesh, Entwistle, Jones, Woody.

All deserving of praise.

I had to vote for McCartney though.

No one, no matter how technically superior they were, could write bass lines better than McCartney's.

Take another listen to "Something" and just focus on the bass.

The bass line is as pretty as the melody, yet it fits and doesn't overshadow the melody.

Amazing.

If we include jazz, Ray Brown (w/apologies to Mingus).

 

[blake]

no Kim Deal of the Pixies. :(

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

Mike Gordon.

 

[saintsfan]

Voted for Entwhistle, but James Jamerson, down?

I would actually say it's Jamerson and it might not be close.

 

[saintsfan]

Tough, tough call:

Jaco, Clarke, Wooten, Jones, Levin, Bootsy, Watt, Flea, Claypool, Barrett, Lesh, Entwistle, Jones, Woody.

All deserving of praise.

I had to vote for McCartney though.

No one, no matter how technically superior they were, could write bass lines better than McCartney's.

Take another listen to "Something" and just focus on the bass.

The bass line is as pretty as the melody, yet it fits and doesn't overshadow the melody.

Amazing.

If we include jazz, Ray Brown (w/apologies to Mingus).

That's because McCartney wasn't just a technical robot. He was/is, by far, the best songwriter who ever played the bass, so he brought that element to the instrument.I voted for Entwhistle, but McCartney would have been second on this list IMO.

However the absence of James Jamerson on this list makes me question the person that created the list. IMO, Jamerson is a towering genius who has influenced EVERY bass player since, including the ones on this list.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

James J.

 

[saintsfan]

James J.

Thank you!!!!

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Never heard of Mick Karn until I ran across this old Bill Nelson song from 1983:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8Gqqb3IPmU

 

[PIK95]

Newstead for me.

 

[jon_mx]

My vote is for this guy.

 

[17seconds]

John Taylor of Duran Duran is actually better than some on this list.

 

[grateful zed]

lesh

 

[Amused to Death]

Tough, tough call:

Jaco, Clarke, Wooten, Jones, Levin, Bootsy, Watt, Flea, Claypool, Barrett, Lesh, Entwistle, Jones, Woody.

All deserving of praise.

I like Weather Report and Return to Forever as much as the next guy, but rock music they are not. Voted the Ox for this poll. Levin would have been a great choice as well but I view him more as prog/fusion for his days with Crimson. The Who are the dictionary definition of Rock. Well that and Entwistle just kicks ### on bass.

Coincidentally, drove a co-worker to lunch with me today and I had RTF playing in the car. He had no idea who they were but he did comment on the bass player.

 

[zamboni]

John Taylor of Duran Duran is actually better than some on this list.

I don't know about better, but he's a fantastic player. So underrated. His grooves on "Planet Earth" and "Rio", just for starters, are a joy to listen to.

 

[17seconds]

John Taylor of Duran Duran is actually better than some on this list.

I don't know about better, but he's a fantastic player. So underrated. His grooves on "Planet Earth" and "Rio", just for starters, are a joy to listen to.

Yep. That kind of talent is what makes a bass player to me. You realize after hearing the song dozens of times that it's actually the bassline that makes the song special.

 

[PIK95]

John Taylor of Duran Duran is actually better than some on this list.

I don't know about better, but he's a fantastic player. So underrated. His grooves on "Planet Earth" and "Rio", just for starters, are a joy to listen to.

Yep. That kind of talent is what makes a bass player to me. You realize after hearing the song dozens of times that it's actually the bassline that makes the song special.

Agreed on Taylor also.

 

[DocHolliday]

Sheehan.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Does sleepy disco count as rock?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FJtTtvi_Sc

 

[Tom Skerritt]

Just discovered the band Vulfpeck the other day. More of a funk/soul band, but their bass player is incredible. Joe Dart

Vulfpeck covering Stevie Wonder's Boogie on Reggae Woman.

 

[Apple Jack]

McCartney, followed by Lesh and Ox.

 

[Apple Jack]

Geddy Lee has always been a bit mind-blowing with the complexity of what he's able to play and sing simultaneously.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Stu Hamm (Satriani) is the best I have seen.

Moonlight Sonata solo:

 https://youtu.be/nnq3ZW6OyTI

 

[Buzzbait]

I voted for the Ox but there are lots of worthy options on the list. I'm surprised Sheehan only has two votes and Burton deserves to be on the list. 

 

[soothsayer]

It's only a matter of time before Wolfgang Van Halen is mentioned in this rare air.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

It's only a matter of time before Wolfgang Van Halen is mentioned in this rare air.

Gene Simmons has them all licked.

 

[Tom Servo]

Come on, guys. No one cares about the bass player.

The roadie in charge handing out water bottles gets more chicks than the bass player. 

 

[Todem]

Geddy Lee is simply amazing.

Some other's on this list are also incredible players. But for me Geddy Lee IMO was/is the best rock bassist over the last 40 years. So many incredible bass lines, just so many.