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To 10 All Time Bass Players

by Steven Wagenheim
22 replies
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Bass players just get no respect. Nobody ever mentions them.

Well, here's my top 10 list of bass players.

1. Chris Squire (Yes)
2. Mike Rutherford (Genesis)
3. Greg Lake (King Crimson)
4. Werner Frangenberg (Triumvirat)
5. Helmut Kollen (Triumvirat)
6. Jon Camp (Renaissance)
7. Dave Hope (Kansas)
8. Geddy Lee (Rush)
9. Gary Strater (Starcastle...R.I.P)
10. John Entwistle (The Who)

Ever hear Chris Squire's bass solo on "Hold Out Your Hand" from his solo
album? Just amazing.

Okay, you're turn.
  • Profile picture of the author Liquification
    Don't have 10 but, I'd add Paul McCartney, Sting and Flea
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  • Profile picture of the author Calvin
    What about Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzie) and Bootsy Collins?

    Your list is kinda heavy on the prog rock, don't you think? Actually, if I thought about it, my list would be too. But I sure wouldn't leave out Phil and Bootsy.
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    • Profile picture of the author ConcordeWarrior
      Charlie Mingus
      Ron Carter
      Ray Brown
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Originally Posted by Calvin View Post

      What about Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzie) and Bootsy Collins?

      Your list is kinda heavy on the prog rock, don't you think?
      There's a reason for that...these guys can play.

      Most rock bassists are just filling in because of the nature of the music.

      Think about your typical rock song by the Stones or Beatles or whoever.

      The bass is really just filler in most cases.

      With prog rock, these guys have the freedom to do things that you
      just can't do in a typical rock tune. So if they are great players, you'd
      never know because they don't get the chance to shine.

      Make sense?
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      • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
        Hi Steven

        Gotta go with you on Greg Lake, Chris Squire and John Entwistle.

        I'd add Jaco Pastorius (probably the greatest bassist), Jack Bruce and Jean-Jacques Burnel with an honorable mention to Stanley Clarke.

        Actually, my fave was Gaye Advert, but I guess this thread is about musicians



        Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Motley
    Flea from rhcp
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    Stanley Clarke
    Willie Dixon - The first "popular" bassist to go electric, as well as the most recorded musician in history.

    I don't really need anyone else on my list.
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  • Profile picture of the author Calvin
    I love prog rock myself. I was just making an observation.

    You make a great point. There may be a lot of very good bass players out there, but unless they are actively playing a style of music which allows them to shine, the world might never know how good they are.

    This also cuts both ways, however.

    I would have to argue with you about placing Greg Lake so high on the list, and John Entwistle so low on the list.

    Entwistle's playing is normally on prominent display in any Who song, but when I listen to anything by King Crimson (when Lake was a member) I am not normally "drawn" to the bass, nor do I even really notice it. I'm too busy trying to figure out what Fripp is doing to his poor guitar.

    Even in ELP, most of the bass parts are backed up by Keith's left hand. I would go so far as to suggest that if it is an instrumental, Greg Lake could stop playing altogether and it would be difficult to notice.

    Without question he was in some very good, even great bands. But a better bass player than John Entwistle? I don't think so.

    And before you make the argument that he must have been a good bassist in order to even be in such great groups, remember that Ringo was the drummer for the Beatles!

    Now if you really want a great bass player, who plays with a great group, try Jordan Anderson, principle string bassist for the Seattle Symphony.

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    • Profile picture of the author Lawrh
      Jack Bruce, in his Cream days he was the best. Probably still is.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ken Shorey
    Felix Pappalardi from Mountain
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  • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
    Cliff Burton and Verdine White.

    Everyone else is commentary.
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    • Profile picture of the author Hasan Barbary
      James Jamerson.

      Motown? The Funk Brothers? HELLO?!?!
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  • Profile picture of the author Jared Alberghini
    Les Claypool


    Flea


    Geddy Lee

    (one of my favorite rush tunes, Closer To The Heart):

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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    I'm a fan of rock from the 1950s until today, and all of the artists mentioned are quite deserving.

    I would only make one addition...Tony Levin.

    Mainly with latter day King Crimson, but has played with Peter Gabriel and John Lennon, among others.

    Rock on!
    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author John M Kane
    Jaco Pastorius way ahead of any in my book
    Stanley Clarke
    Charles Mingus too,maybe would have been #1 if more of a "rocker"
    and a nod to Tal Walkenfeld as she is bound to only get better and I figure Jeff Beck has a better sense of talent than I.
    Anything with Edgar Meyer also is a great joy to hear.
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    • Profile picture of the author TimPhelan
      He's #1 on my list because he rocked and wasn't a "rocker". "Rockers" are way, way over rated.

      Originally Posted by John M Kane View Post

      Charles Mingus too,maybe would have been #1 if more of a "rocker".
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  • Profile picture of the author solardave
    What. No Jack Bruce?
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    • Profile picture of the author Greg guitar
      Here are 10 of my faves:

      Jaco Pastorius (Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, solo artist)
      Gary Willis (Tribal Tech)
      Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck and the Flecktones)
      Dave Carpenter [RIP] (Allan Holdsworth)
      Jeff Berlin (Allan Holdsworth, solo artist)
      Charlie Haden (Big band leader)
      Hadrien Feraud (John McLaughlin)
      Dominique Di Piazza (John McLaughlin)
      Dave Holland (Miles Davis, Jack DeJohnette, Pat Metheny)
      Richard Bona (solo artist)
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  • Profile picture of the author John-K.
    In no particular order...

    M'shell Ndegeocello
    Stuart Zender (Jamiroquai)
    Fred Thomas, Ray Brundidge & Bootsy Collins (James Brown)
    Chris Wood (Medeski Martin & Wood)
    Chuck Rainey (everybody)
    Marcus Miller (everybody else)
    John Paul Jones (Zeppelin)
    John Myung (Dream Theater)
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  • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
    Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

    Bass players just get no respect. Nobody ever mentions them.

    Well, here's my top 10 list of bass players.

    1. Chris Squire (Yes)
    2. Mike Rutherford (Genesis)
    3. Greg Lake (King Crimson)
    4. Werner Frangenberg (Triumvirat)
    5. Helmut Kollen (Triumvirat)
    6. Jon Camp (Renaissance)
    7. Dave Hope (Kansas)
    8. Geddy Lee (Rush)
    9. Gary Strater (Starcastle...R.I.P)
    10. John Entwistle (The Who)

    Ever hear Chris Squire's bass solo on "Hold Out Your Hand" from his solo
    album? Just amazing.

    Okay, you're turn.

    Steven, I had the pleasure of standing right in front at a Yes and Gentle Giant concert in Vancouver in 1976, and I stood in awe watching Chris Squire and Steve Howe in action. Chris Squire is awesome!
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