Blog: Top 10 Influential Bassist

[BlueTalon]

Re: Blog: Top 10 Influential Bassist

My list is easy, it doesn't even go to ten. My early formative bass playing occurred 35-30 years ago. The guys that really influenced me at that time were:

Geddy Lee -- Rush
Roger Waters -- Pink Floyd
Mars Cowling -- Pat Travers Band
Joe Macre -- Crack the Sky

To a lesser extent,
John Paul Jones -- Led Zep


I listened to other music, of course, but those were the ones I spent hours upon hours trying to figure out and emulate.
More recently, I would include:

Les Claypool -- Primus
Norman Watt-Roy -- Ian Dury (R.I.P.) and the Blockheads


That is only my personal story. I have a lot of appreciation for others who paved the way and shared incredible skills with us, but they didn't influence me directly like the ones I named.

 

[dg27]

Re: Blog: Top 10 Influential Bassist

Robbie Shakespeare.

 

[Kais]

Re: Blog: Top 10 Influential Bassist

Glad to see Jaco on there.

I'm also gonna say Myung and Chris Wolstemholme should be added to the list. Dream Theater is full of great musicians, but the problem is you only hear about two maybe three of them, Petrucci, Portnoy before the departure, and sometimes Rudess or Sherinian, but Myung is one of those bassists who's playing stupidly fast and articulate, he's just not heard to often.

I get that. I think those two are more of an underrated bass players list. I should write that one.

As much of a fan I am of Chris and John, I would have to disagree with either of them being on this list as others have also said. Chris is really amazing and probably my favorite bass player right now, and John is definitely a top talent. But Geezer Butler and Geddy Lee would deserve to be on the list waaaaayyy before imho.

 

[dg27]

Re: Blog: Top 10 Influential Bassist

My list is easy, it doesn't even go to ten. I spent hours upon hours trying to figure out and emulate...I have a lot of appreciation for others who paved the way and shared incredible skills with us, but they didn't influence me directly like the ones I named.

I agree with this in terms of the concept and I also wouldn't have a list of ten. There are lots of players I have admire greatly, but never tried to emulate: Graham Maby and Bruce Thomas come to mind.

I think a lot of people simply listed their favorites or who they perceive may have influenced others (which is fine, but I don't think was the intent of the OP).

I also believe it's important to consider that one can have a profound influence without necessarily being a great player: Paul Simonon comes to mind in that context.

Even though I don't play reggae even close to most of the time, guys like Robbie S taught me that knowing when not to play is as important as knowing when to play. The music is often in the silence.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Blog: Top 10 Influential Bassist

I think a lot of people simply listed their favorites or who they perceive may have influenced others (which is fine, but I don't think was the intent of the OP).

I also believe it's important to consider that one can have a profound influence without necessarily being a great player.

+1. Good points.

 

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Blog: Top 10 Influential Bassist

I think a lot of people simply listed their favorites or who they perceive may have influenced others (which is fine, but I don't think was the intent of the OP).

Exactly. Granted, any time you list ANY "Top Ten" list, it's going to be largely based on the opinion of the person making the list. That's why I put up my disclaimer at the beginning (which I'm sure many didn't read).

I also believe it's important to consider that one can have a profound influence without necessarily being a great player: Paul Simonon comes to mind in that context.

That's a biggie. When I was getting into playing rock (because unlike many on this board, I started out as a classical/jazz bassist and picked up the electric only at the behest of the jazz band director), I was greatly influenced by Cliff Williams of AC/DC. Many would scoff and laugh at that, but he locked in that steady pattern and really moved the song, with only quarter and eighth notes on the root. It was a big lesson in simplicity to this cocky jazzer. But again, because he's not up there in terms of chops with others, he's immediately discarded and considered a poor player.

 

[jtougas]

Re: Blog: Top 10 Influential Bassist

^THIS^

One of the essential qualities to a good bassist is being able to keep the clock. Doesn't matter if their chops aren't 16th notes - keep the clock, anchor the groove, and play on.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Blog: Top 10 Influential Bassist

One of the essential qualities to a good bassist is being able to keep the clock. Doesn't matter if their chops aren't 16th notes - keep the clock, anchor the groove, and play on.

Yes, the qualities of a 'good' bass player. But a great bass player has to do more than that.