With its dual functions of rhythm and melody, the electric bass guitar is a staple in most genres of popular music. Its role varies between different acts – sometimes the bass is buried deep in the mix, the glue holding everything together, like Gary Tallent in the E-Street Band. Other times, the bassist is the main attraction, an extroverted player providing solos and melodic leads.
Here are ten bass players who make me sit up and take notice. Presenting, in alphabetical order:
Bootsy Collins
Bootsy Collins started his career as a teenager in James Brown’s band, playing classic funk jams like ‘Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine’. Moving to Michigan, Collins joined forces with George Clinton in Parliament and Funkadelic. He developed a signature look, playing a customised star bass, and using a Mu-Tron III envelope filter which gave his bass a distinctive funk tone.
Larry Graham
Larry Graham served as bassist for Sly and the Family Stone before branching out with his own band, Graham Central Station. He’s credited for inventing bass slapping, which he refers to as “thumpin’ and pluckin’ ”. He’s also the uncle of Canadian rapper Drake.
James Jamerson
Jamerson was a member of the Funk brothers, the session musicians who played on Motown’s 1960s hits, and he anchored 30 Billboard #1 singles. Coming from a jazz background, he helped to expand the vocabulary of the bass guitar, which previously filled a simple role in pop music. According to Wikipedia; “many of Jamerson’s bass-lines relied heavily on chromatic runs, syncopation, ghost notes and inversions, with frequent use of open strings.” One of his most famous tracks was Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ – Jamerson was intoxicated at the time, and recorded while lying on his back.
Carol Kaye
Carol Kaye was a bass player in the Wrecking Crew, a pool of LA session musicians who played on 1960s Los Angeles hits. The Wrecking Crew formed as musicians for Phil Spector’s ground-breaking Wall of Sound, and later played on records by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, and Ike and Tina Turner. As well as serving as a trail blazer for women in a male dominated field, Kaye is notable for her bass lines of the fantastic mid-1960s Beach Boys albums. She also commented that, working 15 hour days in the 1960s, she was “making more money than the President”.
Geddy Lee
I’m not a huge fan of Rush, as I don’t always enjoy Neil Peart’s lyrics or Geddy Lee’s vocals, but Lee’s a monstrous bass player. Lee modelled himself on Cream’s Jack Bruce, another immensely talented front-man for a power trio, and carried a heavy burden for the group, particularly live where he handled keyboards and bass pedals in addition to his duties as lead vocalist and bass player.
Graham Maby
Joe Jackson is a sophisticated, ambitious songwriter, and it’s a tough gig being his bass player. The original Joe Jackson Band was designed with Graham Maby’s bass as the lead instrument, and he excelled – I love his octave lines on ‘Steppin’ Out’. Maby’s also popped up as a sideman for other acts I enjoy, like Freedy Johnston and Marshall Crenshaw, and his bass work is always memorable but never domineering. Intriguingly, his Wikipedia page lists one of his professions as “proofreader”.
Paul McCartney
The Beatles started with three guitarists, and after Stuart Sutcliffe left the group Paul McCartney was assigned to bass. He started simple, but as the group’s material became more complex, McCartney’s playing blossomed – James Jamerson’s work at Motown was an influence on McCartney’s expanding bass vocabulary. His melodic, creative lines on Beatles’ songs like ‘Something’ are pieces of beauty.
Jaco Pastorius
Weather Report’s Jaco Pastorius was the leading exponent of the fretless bass He popularised the instrument after modifying a Fender Precision bass, removing the frets and replacing them with wood strips. Pastorius started by learning upright bass, but his instrument cracked in the humidity of Florida. Like his personality, his playing was extroverted, using harmonics and lines inspired by Cuban music and R&B. He also anchored Joni Mitchell’s late 1970s albums, like Hejira, with his fluid, expansive lines.
Chris Squire
Yes enjoyed a talented pool of musicians, especially the most lauded lineup which recorded Fragile and Close To The Edge in the early 1970s. But Chris Squire was the lynch-pin, his extroverted bass lines often providing the focal instrumental point. Squire played a 1964 Rickenbacker, and split the low and high frequencies into different amps, allowing him to distort the high frequencies and providing a lead tone that cut through the band’s sound.
Bruce Thomas
Thomas was Elvis Costello’s bass player in the early years of the Attractions – the relationship with Costello soured after Thomas wrote a thinly veiled memoir, The Big Wheel, where his boss was referred to as “the singer”. But during his tenure in the Attractions, Thomas was a phenomenal player. He was able to handle Costello’s complex songs and constant genre changes, shining on genres as diverse as the new wave of This Year’s Model and the soul of Get Happy!!!
It’s noticeable that all these bass players emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. Did I leave out any of your favourites? Any suggestions for more recent bass heroes?
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Entwistle is the obvious guy missing here but it’s great you recognize Bruce Thomas for the great player he clearly is. Just started playing bass myself. Andy Fraser from Free is great also carl Radle (?) who played In derek and the dominoes – check out the live album. Going into the 80s Peter hook from new order/ joy division and jah wobble were really influential at the time and mark king from level 42. The 80s was largely synths and slap bass so best forgotten really. I,ll leave it someone younger to mention flea haha
I always hear about Andy Fraser – I have one Free album (Fire and Water) and need to spend more time with it. I like Peter Hook a lot and I appreciate Entwistle – just not enough room for Entwistle and Flea,
I thin Fire and Water is THE Free album, try Mr Big
Excellent choices, particularly Carol Kaye an
Oops, premature liftoff. As I was about to say, I saw the title of the post and dived in to point out you’d missed Graham Maby, but behold: he’s there. If all he had ever done was Geraldine an
Just off the top of my head – Jack Bruce, John Entwhistle, Sting, Flea, Stanley Clarke, John Paul Jones, Berry Oakley, Chris Squire, Jack Casady, Duck Dunn, John Deacon, Charlie Haden, Will Lee, Charles Mingus.
Is that your favourite list, or things I was missing? I did have Squire on mine.
Both I guess. From your list I would add in Jaco, Graham, McCartney, Thomas. The rest I won’t dispute but don’t know their work in enough depth to comment.
I looked at a few lists while I was compiling mine, and Bruce Thomas never made it. I think a bunch of excellent bass players emerged in the British punk/new wave movement – someone else has already mentioned Peter Hook, Colin Moulding was on my shortlist, I like Paul Simonon a lot, but their bands don’t have the same mainstream appeal as classic rock so they don’t make lists as often.
All those guys I mentioned are not some random list but like you, guys I really dig listening to. I saw Stanley Clarke a while back. The Thomas guys (no relation) in the Attractions were a potent force. Listen to “Lipstick Vogue,” sometime, a song you probably know as I recall you featured EC before.
Oh, dammit. And Jamerson. Been listening to Motown my whole life. So a good chunk of your list
Oops again (left arm in a sling, struggling a bit here). If all he had ever done was Geraldine and John he would still have been worth including.
I actually heard him first on the records of Freedy Johnston, a 1990s American singer-songwriter. I always liked the bass work on those, and didn’t realise the Joe Jackson thing until later.
And I now see you got Squire. Good on ya.
Kim Deal, Geezer GZR Butler, Kim Gordon, Lemmy, Jo Bench, Steve Harris
I did consider Harris – I like his bass work a lot. Kim Deal’s great for the Pixies with her combined package of bass and backing vocals.
Geddy is tops!
Geddy Lee Weinrib, OC
Nice list. Quite the education! Glad Geddy was noted. One I thought of was Victor Wooten.
THIS.
Glad you enjoyed the educational aspects. I don’t know Bela Fleck and the Flecktones at all, but his name certainly came up a lot when I was looking at other lists – definitely a consensus respected more recent bassist (although he still debuted in the 1980s, so not that recent….)
Great list…Chris Squire and Jaco Pastorius are two I admire a lot. One guy that I’ve listened to in the past few years is Les Claypool with Primus.
I don’t know Primus at all, guess I should add them to the list!
They are very different…I’m not the big fan but Claypool is a hell of a bass player
I’m not sure whether to expect something like a rawer Red Hot Chili Peppers, or something more experimental – thoughts?
Oh experimental and humor also…. Since I play bass someone told me about them and him and told me what I told you…”I’m not a fan but listen to the bass.”
One of the oddest videos ever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYDfwUJzYQg
I’d add Cliff Burton and Steve Harris…
Good ideas – I’m not the biggest metal fan, but I generally enjoy both of those bands 1980s’ work.
I do love this type of post!!!……PS where’s Entwistle, think this is the first bass player list where he’s been left off. Not a who fan?
I’m kind of a Who-fan. One strike against Entwistle is that The Who’s songs are generally quite simple in terms of chord structure – much easier job than playing for someone like Elvis Costello or Paul McCartney.
Hmm not so sure about that….but certainly plus one for successfully locking in with the chaos of Keith moon!
Having simple songs and then stamping their musical personalities all over them was a good recipe for them. Would have all fallen apart if they were doing prog epics….
Most stuff in the 60s was harmonically simple…but not so much with the who. Listen to Tommy again…the chorus of 1921 is all over the map…and sparks? a bit of proto-prog for ya!
I think those are the exceptions rather than the norm though – a lot of three chord rockers in their repertoire. And I’d argue that there were some pretty sophisticated songwriters operating in the 1960s – Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Webb, and Rod Argent are all pretty advanced I think.
For me, Pete Townshend was up there with the very best, dare I say ‘sophisticated’ writers of that time… but I have a feeling our tastes may differ on that. I’ll look forward to your Favourite songwriters post….I have to put together my lists. Thoroughly enjoyable stuff!
It’s good to disagree civilly – shows what two New Zealanders can do….
I haven’t started drafting a songwriters post yet – will be a while away. I’m only doing one of these lists a month.
Look forward to it! Ive started a few posts like this then get caught up in the details haha
A very good list. Hard to argue with it, but I’d probably try slit John Paul Jones in there…. his work on with Them Crooked Vultures highlighted just how good he is and it led to me relistening to Led Zeppelin.
But I guess it’d be more recent players that would make my list… John Curley, Steven Avery, and, obviously, Les Claypool took that fretless bass thing and ran with it.
John Paul Jones would have been a good fit for my multi-talented list from last month too – and he still might feature on a keyboard player list sometime. Clever man.
I didn’t recognise the names so I had to Google them – I didn’t know any names of Afghan Whigs beyond Dulli, and I think you meant Eric Avery from Jane’s Addiction?
Curley is incredible. Proper good player. And how could I forget Duff McKagen!?! And Robert DeLeo!
And yeah, Eric Avery is who I am referring to. Had to read my comment back to see what o wrote instead… you can tell I’d been discussing a certain Netflix show before I read your post, huh? Jeez.
This magically cropped up in my YouTube feed. I’ve actually watched this guy in some other videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0P5isBr7uw
It’s interesting how he concentrates on sound – although he doesn’t talk about it a whole lot, must be hard to describe 20 different rock bass players without repeating yourself a lot. Jealous of his views – maybe we should all switch to making videos…
He’s got some really good stuff. Excellent guitar player too.
Rick Beato is a heavy hitter…lots of lots of great stuff on his channel. If you want your mind blown check out his young sons perfect pitch…absolutely incredible
Fantastic list. I’m especially pleased to see Graham Maby included. He has flown under the radar for 40 years but there’s no doubt that he’s one of the all-time greats. I love the fact that behind-the-scenes players like Jamerson and Kaye have gotten recognition for their contributions to so many great records over the last decade or two. Our record collections would be much poorer without them. A few bassists who have already been mentioned in the comments that I would also argue for inclusion on your list: John Entwistle (I think you’re undervaluing just how amazing he was), John Paul Jones (multi-talented, yes, but truly a monster bassist) and John Deacon (the forgotten man in the Queen). You also mentioned Jack Bruce in your Geddy Lee write-up, and he could easily be here.
As a drummer for nearly 45 years I gravitate toward bassists who are part of great rhythm sections & play for the song as opposed to showing off (although I do like flashiness too), so here are some of my favorites:
Tony Butler – Along with Mark Brzezicki, aka Rhythm For Hire and half of Big Country, they were arguably the greatest rhythm section to come out of the ’80s
Tony Levin – His work with Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, John Lennon & billions of sessions makes him one of the all-time greats
Verdine White – Earth, Wind & Fire wouldn’t have been nearly as bouncy & funky without him, and no one has ever looked happier playing the bass
Peter Cetera – His bass work on the early Chicago albums is amazing, but overshadowed by his incredible voice
Doug Stegmeyer – An integral part of the classic Billy Joel band, sadly no longer with us
Dee Murray – An integral part of the classic Elton John band, sadly no longer with us
Noel Redding – Why does no one ever talk about the other two guys in the Jimi Hendrix Experience? I guess their guitarist got most of the attention, eh?
Bill Wyman – The anchor for the Stones on all of their classic albums & tours.
Aston “Family Man” Barrett – I think every reggae bassist not named Robbie Shakespeare has been copying him since 1970
Jerry Scheff – He played with two Elvises (is that the plural of Elvis?). Saw him with Sam Phillips (the female singer, not the Sun Records founder) and he remains one of the three or four best bassists I’ve ever seen live.
Just to clarify my comment about Jamerson & Kaye, of course I meant that they’ve finally gained recognition over the last decade or two for all the great recordings they were a part of from the ’60s & beyond. Before then they were just nameless/faceless studio players to most folks.
Looks like I should have done a 20 list, huh? I didn’t want to focus on classic rock too much, but Jack Bruce probably would have been next cab off the rank.
I did have Maurice White on last month’s list – https://albumreviews.blog/2019/02/05/ten-favourite-multi-talented-musicians/ – but Verdine would have been a good choice for this one. Doesn’t get a lot of recognition (and EWF overall are often a bit overlooked despite getting good reviews and strong sales).
I like most of those guys – Dee Murray’s bass-lines often stand out, and Tony Levin should have at least been in my shortlist. Probably the best known Chapman Stick exponent too.
Thanks for writing in!
Way to hard a question because there are so many. I’ll lay down Jack Bruce because he was the first bassist I was actually aware of. He goes to town on that Cream stuff.
Bruce probably would have been next cab off the rank – especially impressive when he’s the lead vocalist as well.
Exactly. I was listening to Creams live version of ‘Crossroads’ (again). Eric gets all the press on this one but the whole band cooks with Jack laying down some great licks.
A fine post – for me it’s McCartney, the musicality of his basslines, exemplary!
Yes he was very creative. I think McCartney is featuring in his third post this week on my blog tomorrow.
With the amount he’s written/recorded over the years, you could likely feature him 3x per week and never quite get it all done!
Yes, there’s a lot of work to talk about. Although I feel like I’d run out of interesting things to say if I was running an artist-specific blog.
Favorite bass players (in no order)
Jack Bruce (Cream)
John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
John McVie (Fleetwood Mac)
Bob Moore (country guy)
Mel Schacher (Grand Funk Railroad)
Donald Dunn (Booker T. & the MG’s)
Lee Sklar (session guy)
Gordon Emory (country guy)
Charles Larkey (Carole King)
Carol Kaye (session woman)
Paul McCartney (Beatles)
Bernard Edwards (Chic)
John Entwistle (The Who)
Greg Lake (ELP)
Peter Cetera (Chicago)
Not as much crossover as most of our lists. I never notice the bass in Led Zep for some reason, although John Paul Jones is totally a talented multi-instrumentalist.
That guy’s real name is Emory Lee Gordy Jr. Gordon Emory is a local journalist in New York who I mix up their names all the time.
I have heard lots of records Gordy’s played on and recognise the name – he’s on Neil Diamond and Emmylou Harris albums.