The Greatest Bassist of All Time

PolarityMan

No love for Jon Stockman? 



This whole gig is one of my favourite bass performances.

Evilmags

Scott Thunes (Zappa )
Jaco
Stanley 
Bootsy
Les Claypool
Carole Kaye (Vidioe of her owning Gene Simmonds is hilarious)

adampeter

Not so sure they're the best, but favs of mine are
Norman Watt-Roy
Flea
Bernard Edwards
guess i like em funky 

SimpleSimon

Entwistle. I heard wont get fooled again today on the radio, i could hear the bass line driving the song along but supporting the melody too. Just a fantastic, natural melodic and powerful player.

olafgarten

I voted Bakhiti Kumalo, mostly because I love the basslines in Graceland.

It was a touch choice between him and Paul McCartney, I am of the opinion that the Bass is not meant to be a solo instrument and both artists refrain from Soloing, and when it is done it is short and sweet.

gilby

Like to throw in a mention for Paul Gray. Not the slipknot Paul Gray but Paul from Eddie and the Hotrods and The Damned, particularly on the Damneds Black album.

Maynehead

This dude... fast forward to 2:30

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xhcie0

Drew_TNBD

Flea.

fandango

Evilmags said:

Scott Thunes (Zappa )
Jaco
Stanley 
Bootsy
Les Claypool
Carole Kaye (Vidioe of her owning Gene Simmonds is hilarious)

Scott Thunes! Indeed. Suited the Zappa way right down to the ground. Did you ever read up how he got to play bass for Frank? Great story and an example of keeping at it.

blobb

steamabacus said:

I had the pleasure of working on a Caravan gig promoted by a friend (at THe Fridge in Brixton if memory serves) -

was that the Ozrics gig? There's an interview with him talking about this gig if you search for it. Oh, and nicely puts Roly Wynne on our list of esteemed bass players. He was something special and a sad loss to the world.

steamabacus

blobb said:

steamabacus said:

I had the pleasure of working on a Caravan gig promoted by a friend (at THe Fridge in Brixton if memory serves) -

was that the Ozrics gig? There's an interview with him talking about this gig if you search for it. Oh, and nicely puts Roly Wynne on our list of esteemed bass players. He was something special and a sad loss to the world.

Yes, probably was. One of a series of gigs put on there by Grob & Jennifer (Sonic Relief Promotions, was it?) I'll look up the interview.

Talking of Roly, I did some mixing for a video from the reformed Damidge recently....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TdRNniB9kg

bobliefeld

Paul McCartney or Harley Flanagan 

Bridgehouse

I've just checked - it's not me.

EricTheWeary

fandango said:

Evilmags said:

Scott Thunes (Zappa )
Jaco
Stanley 
Bootsy
Les Claypool
Carole Kaye (Vidioe of her owning Gene Simmonds is hilarious)

Scott Thunes! Indeed. Suited the Zappa way right down to the ground. Did you ever read up how he got to play bass for Frank? Great story and an example of keeping at it.


[FFS quotes system]

Thunes was the bassist of the era I was listening to Zappa, although I think Arthur Barrow would have been on some of those tracks as well. I don't know the story of how Scott got to play with Frank but I'm glad he did.
Anyway, good call  

Skipped

axisus said:

I don't think there's any such thing as the greatest, there are so many styles and spectrums of influence.

I agree with this.

If I have to pick one today it will be Entwistle.
He was not just playing bass. He was anchoring The Who and giving Keith Moon the freedom to do anything. But not in a dull way - Entwistle was sensational.

DrCornelius

I know he's not 'the best' but Bedders from Madness was the first one where I actually noticed the bassline and followed it as it was interesting. Granted I was about 13 at the time but listening back his bass lines are still memorable 

bingefeller

I dont know a lot about bassists, but Jaco always stood out for me, especially his bassline from The Dry-Cleaner From Des Moines.  

Kebabkid

DrCornelius said:

I know he's not 'the best' but Bedders from Madness was the first one where I actually noticed the bassline and followed it as it was interesting. Granted I was about 13 at the time but listening back his bass lines are still memorable 

They're mini works of art and so melodic and..different. People shouldisten to them in isolation e.g. House of Fun

Wazmeister

McCartney - king ?
Entwistle - The Who
Bedders - Madness
Bruce Thomas - Elvis Costello
Bruce Foxton - The Jam
Danny Thompson - double bass player

All offered melody, craft, skill... and shaped the tone and direction of the songs

richardhomer

Wazmeister said:

Danny Thompson - double bass player

All offered melody, craft, skill... and shaped the tone and direction of the songs

Great call on Danny Thompson - had the pleasure of seeing him live with John Martyn a couple of occasions - not only a great musician but a great raconteur as well.

He crops up in the most unlikely places - like on later Talk Talk albums.

I e-mailed him via his website when John Martyn died to offer my condolences. I got an almost instant, highly personal reply reflecting on his personal and musical relationship with John. A national treasure....