Top 100 Greatest Bassists of All Time (In My Opinion)
The most underrated member of a band is, almost without fault, the bass player. Then again, the reason why a band’s sound works or not will typically be the ability of the bass player.
Hidden behind the greater crowd-pleasers of a band, the singers, lead guitarists and drummers, the bassists are supposed to be the clear-headed ones who keep everything together. And, indeed, some of them belong to the conversation when mentioning the top musicians of all time.
But who are the greatest among them? Who are the bass players that deserve to be diligently studied, musicians hoping to reach the greatest heights?
What do I even know about bass playing? Well, I play bass guitar in the gothic-rock band Tapetum Lucidum XIX, and have played bass across more than 50 of my own solo singles. I have also reviewed more than 5.000 artists on Alt77 alone and have written over 4.000 music pieces for the site. I’d like to think that I can provide an insider’s perspective on the matter.
I don’t claim that it was easy, and don’t suppose anyone will take it as gospel. However, after a lot of thinking, these are, in my view, the 100 greatest bassists of all time, the kings of the groove, the lords of swing. Here’s who made the list.
The Top 100 Greatest Bassists of All Time
1. John Entwistle (The Who)
John Entwistle always insisted that fans knew he was not a bassist, but a bass player. Why was the distinction so important? Well, I suppose, it was a badge of honour. The Who, after all, was peculiarly designed as a rock group where the bass guitar and the drums were, for the most part, the lead instruments.
Listen, I am not ashamed to say that, as a kid, I confused Entwistle’s bass sound for a six-string electric guitar. But I am sure that he would’ve wanted it that way. And to Pete Townshend and the rest of the band’s credit, they allowed their bass guitarist (Entwistle always made this distinction over the bassist to shine).
He could back up the bravado, though. His right hand was responsible for a lot of the magic, using four of his fingers to pick, tap and attack the strings. He was also an innovator of hardware and sound, co-inventing roundwood bass strings and being one of the first bassists to split his sound for clean and distorted tones.
Entwistle could certainly pull off amazing bass leads. However, even more importantly, he managed to integrate all of them within an incredible catalogue of songs, contributing a few of his own contributions along the way. John Entwistle was a one-of-a-kind bass guitarist.
2. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
In the dictionary, under the term “modest”, there ought to be a picture of John Paul Jones. A colossally capable musician, blessed with both skill and good taste, Jones nearly always accepted the role of “secret weapon.”
There’s a danger, however, in only speaking of John Paul Jones as an assistant to Jimmy Page’s composition. Turn your Zep albums over and glance at all of the songwriting credits Jones received. Listen to songs like “Stairway to Heaven” or “Bring It On Home” and try to strip them of the bass lines and keyboard parts and notice if they still make sense.
John Paul Jones was both reliable and, at times, truly inspired. I am a fan of his cool demeanour and willingness to let his bandmates shine. But, I’m also a fan of his imaginative playing and encourage everyone to seek out his solo work and non-Zep collaborations.
Jones has always dedicated his life to music. Even in the late 1960s, his ability to bring an R&B sensitivity to rock music and the way he could hook with John Bonham showed great experience and understanding, I think.
But, I believe, that Jones also sharpened his control of the bass, his multi-instrumentalist approach and his producer ears as his career progressed.
And, if you’re still not convinced of Jones’ greatness, just pick up a bass guitar and try to play through with most of Led Zeppelin’s early blues-rock numbers. I consider John Paul Jones to be one of the true bass guitar greats.
3. Flea (the Red Hot Chili Peppers)
Flea is to the bass guitar what Slash is to the lead guitar. He is the modern face of the instrument. It’s as simple as that.
I play bass guitar and, believe me, it’s hard to make this instrument look sexy. I’ve always appreciated the way that Flea draws attention to himself through both his playing and antics.
But just what makes Flea a great bassist? It’s an almost singular combination of punk aggressiveness and jazz precision. His slap and pop funk sound is legendary. His use of ghost notes and syncopation helps to give the music dynamism.
And the way he has grown as a melodic bass player has greatly contributed to RHCP’s success, in my opinion. Playing, for example, the bass parts for “Soul to Squeeze” always makes me appreciate Flea’s extraordinary ear for composition.
What does one have to do to achieve that? Sure, a great image doesn’t hurt. Passion for the music plays a big part. But it’s Flea’s ability to know when to move from bone-crushing mayhem funk links to minimalist grooves that helps to set him apart.
4. Jaco Pastorius (Weather Report)
Serious bassists, those who study scales and love jazz, talk of Jaco Pastorius the way that Italians talk about saints. And, indeed, the man’s approach to the instrument was that of a poet trying to squeeze out beauty from every line.
I admit that Jaco Pastorious and his fame were mysteries to me for a long time. No, as a rock fan, I failed to get it. But what was required, I found, was paying close attention to the texture of his playing.
Jaco’s style was also highly innovative. He was one of the first famous embracers of fretless bass, revolutionised the use of artificial harmonics, and his complex, rhythmic ghost notes make him an almost impossible-to-copy bassist.
It was his daringness, of course, along with incredible technique and almost supernatural ear for pitch and feel for groove, that had already made Pastorius a legend by the time of his tragic passing. His death, and the fact that there are only so many recordings of the man, have helped turn him into a bona fide myth.
5. Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
Most kids end up playing bass in their high-school band because they are the lousiest musicians of the bunch. For Paul McCartney, it was the complete opposite. He was the only one of the young Beatles, Liverpudlians playing Hamburg dive bars, who could play all of the instruments.
I’ve always loved The Beatles. When I need inspiration or feel tired of music, I still seek out The Beatles. And McCartney’s melodic, groovy bass lines are a huge component of the band’s sound and the writing itself.
McCartney was always the best musician in The Beatles. He’s often been the top musician in his solo bands as well. His use of fluid, walking bass lines, his rhythmic pick technique (which proves that not all great bassists use their fingers to pluck!) and his understanding of what notes complement the chords of the song, make him a fantastic bassist.
McCartney picked up the bass because nobody else in The Beatles could handle it. And, from Day 1, he never played the parts you’d expect to hear. Instead, on nearly every song, he’s been able to create melodic, groovy bass lines that enhance the power of each composition.
6. Chris Squire (Yes)
It was, I suppose, the very first time that I heard a bass guitar play leads and not be terrible at it. Listening to early Yes albums as a kid was a mind-blowing experience. And in that lies part of the magic of Squire’s and his band’s playing. While notorious for the ambitiousness of their compositions, the music of Yes managed to break through and be enjoyed even by non-musos.
When I was a teenager, “The Yes Album” was my favourite record. I played the vinyl in an almost endless loop. But I couldn’t tell many people. Yes was never a very cool band.
I love the myth about arguments within Yes. Where other bands bickered over money, women and drugs, Yes found over musical theory and note selection.
Was Chris Squire the very best musician in this group that remained stellar throughout its incarnations? Perhaps. Squire’s use of symphonically-inspired phrasing, his pick-and-thumb strike of the strings and his innovative use of effects pedals are just some of the things that made him a fantastic bassist.
His technique was faultless. But, I think, it’s the sounds that Squire managed to get out of the bass guitar that really set him apart. It’s no wonder that Les Claypool, in a recent interview, called the tone heard on “Roundabout” the greatest he has ever heard.
7. Bootsy Collins
There was always a suspicion, I would imagine, that the best rhythm-merchants were playing funk, R&B, disco and plain old dance music. But it was Bootsy Collins who proved it.
In fact, Collins was such a star, drawing the crowds’ attention both with his funky bass lines and his funky sense of style, that the likes of James Brown and George Clinton felt upstaged.
It’s hard not to enjoy Collins’ playing, as well as his stage persona. I didn’t discover most of the music with which he’s been involved until later in life. But when I did, it still made me feel like a teenager.
Bootsy was a star from the get-go! Apart from his charisma, it was his rhythmic consistency (getting on “the one”), his aggressive palm muted style, and his use of enveolope filters and various effects, helped to make him a legend.
Yes, there are numerous ace players in funk music, but there’s only one Bootsy Collins.
8. Cliff Burton (Metallica)
Cliff Burton was a highly dedicated musician. How can you tell? Just find online tracks that isolate Burton’s bass on early Metallica tracks. Not only is the bass sound sticking out as much as both the lead guitars. And, not only are the techniques used highly complex. The songs are played with a manic intensity that few metal musicians have ever been able to match.
In a band filled with ambitious young musicians, Burton always knew he was the best. I can’t help but appreciate his confident approach that was built on competence. While I am merely a casual fan of Metallica, Burton’s bass sound always stuck out to me.
That bass sound, the riffs and the grooves are essential to the band’s early material. His three-finger picking, the way he applied his music theory knowledge to thrash metal, and his brave string bending, along with the use of wah-wah and fuzz effects, helped to create ‘Tallica’s rellentlsy aggressive sound.
Burton’s sad passing in a road accident, and all of the recordings he didn’t get to make, only helped to create a standard for all heavy metal and hard rock musicians. I know that Burton deserves a place on the list of the greatest bassists of all time.
9. Carol Kaye
Carol Kaye, without much fuss or self-promotion, made some of the greatest contributions to recorded music across the past century. The great bass guitarists were the go-to session players for the likes of Phil Spector, Quincy Jones and, especially, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.
I loved Carol Kaye’s playing and, for many years, didn’t even know her. That’s because Kaye, I later found, was the musical glue holding together some of the records that I’ve always deemed to have the best sound.
And, make no mistake about it, Kaye was an innovator. Her use of hard-plastic guitar picks turned this into a studio standard. The use of felt-pad damping did as well. And her improvisational skills and use of chordal counter-melodies have made her sound highly imitated.
All of this meant that Kaye’s name was not always featured on the records on which she played. But as students of pop music began asking questions, her name always popped up. Whoever wanted the best always knew to call Carol Kaye. That is why she deserves to be hailed as one of the greatest bass guitarists of all time.
10. Les Claypool (Primus)
Les Claypool specialised early on in two very rare things – highly eccentric lyrics and enormously expressive bass playing. This allowed Claypool and his band, Primus, to create a real niche for themselves.
Oh, I knew Les Claypool from my very first few years of being aware of rock music. Claypool’s on-stage character, as well as his playing, made him a star. Much like Flea, he made aggressive bass playing seem as cool as playing lengthy guitar solos or doing drum solos.
You probably already know his strengths. Claypool’s percussive right-hand slap and his left-handed tapping are some of the most famous techniques in all of rock bass playing. But his use of chords and his complex, strange strumming strategies (influenced by punk and flamenco) add another layer to the Primus leader’s playing.
It was just that once people started to get over the weirdness of the band’s lyrics, many opted to focus a whole lot more on Claypool’s playing and on the fact that few, if anyone, could truly copy it. A real gem of a player, Claypool is one of the true bass guitar greats.
Top 11 – 20
11. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
Geezer Butler was a natural! So, were his bandmates in Black Sabbath!
Butler was young and inexperienced when he switched from guitar to bass. Yet, playing with his fingers and writing memorable riffs from the off, it’s clear that he had a particular calling for the instrument.
While his style is highly influential, many of his imitators try to cut corners. You won’t get to play Geezer’s parts without diligent study or outstanding talent. That’s why he is one of the greatest bassists of all time.
12. Geddy Lee (Rush)
Power trios accept early on that each member of the band will need to do a lot of heavy lifting! There is, after all, a lot of sonic real estate to fill up. For Rush, this was the challenge that had driven the band’s career.
Geddy Lee, in many ways, is the group’s main creative engine. Although he also sings and occasionally plays keyboards, it’s his percussive bass playing style and his complex rhythmic parts that best showcase his tremendous ability as a musician.
13. Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
Steve Harris runs the show in Iron Maiden! In fact, he designs the show. Those complex adventure songs that his band plays, however, have one thing in common: they begin with a riff played by Harris on bass.
Within the band setting, Steve Harris uses the bass to build up pace and create excitement. He is known for playing machine-gun-speed sixteenth notes or melodic parts.
Band leader, songwriter, and esteemed bassist, Harris has had an amazing career!
14. Jack Bruce (Cream)
Jack Bruce was one of the first superstar bass players. He was also a member of the first supergroup, Cream. And, for rock audiences, at least, he was the first bassist to be allowed lengthy solos on stage.
And while Bruce also sang well and wrote songs, his greatest contribution to rock music was standing up to and matching Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton. Skilled and boastful, Jack Bruce is one of the great bass players.
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15. John Wetton (King Crimson, Asia, UK)
John Wetton, tactfully, quietly, has been at the heart of some of the biggest art-rock groups of all time. Even more impressively, these sophisticated rock ensembles have been rare commercially viable breakout stars.
As a bass player, Wetton has always been a sound technician. But he’s also been a tasteful player. He prefers playing with a pick and adding melodic lines on his Fender Precision bass.
John Wetton is an underrated musician and, to my mind, one of the greatest bassists of all time.
16. Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead, Hawkwind)
Lemmy Kilmister wasn’t just a great innovator for heavy metal. And he wasn’t simply a fantastic figurehead for the rock n’ roll lifestyle. Since his debut with spaced-out psych band Hawkwind, Lemmy worked to develop a distinctive bass playing style.
Often, that bass sound was meant to replace the rhythm guitar. Lemmy played chords more than most bassists. And, his tone was drowned in distortion.
Listening to Kilmister’s isolated bass tracks, it’s clear that he was one of the greats!
17. Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, David Lee Roth, The Winery Dogs)
Billy Sheehan is to heavy-metal-adjacent bass guitar what Steve Vai or Joe Satriani are for lead guitar. He’s a bona fide virtuoso. He’s the man who can, practically, play anything on his instrument. And, boy, is he flashy, too!
All of these qualities on their own are quite something. All of these together are unique. This is why Billy Sheehan has been asked to partner with lead guitarist Paul Gilbert in Mr Big, with Steve Vai in David Lee Roth’s band, or with Ritchie Kotzen in The Winery Dogs. Billy Sheehan is a heavyweight champ of bass playing!
18. Sting (The Police)
Is there anything that Sting can’t do? What an annoyingly talented man! I’ve already had to add him to our list celebrating the best singers and best rock artists of all time.
Most impressively, perhaps, is the fact that Sting is a singer with global hits who happens to play bass proficiently. In fact, he’s one of only a few on the list to do this.
Sting’s bass skills come from playing in a jazz combo early in his life. However, his ability to incorporate reggae and rock grooves into his playing helped refine his skill. He’s one of the most impressive bassists and music stars overall!
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19. Eric Avery (Jane’s Addiction)
I don’t do well with repetition. And it takes something very special for me to like the same musical phrase being played over and over again. However, I can listen to an Eric Avery bass riff played on a constant loop all day long.
With Jane’s Addiction, Avery became a master of groove and repetition. It’s also his fantastic tone and phrasing that helped the band become one of the first great alternative-rock bands. Eric Avery is one of the top bassists in that genre.
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20. James Jamerson
James Jamerson revolutionised bass playing in the 1950s and, for the most part, used only one finger to do it. Jamerson approached playing on blues, Motown soul and rock n’ roll records in the same way that a jazz bass player would approach a piece of music. His improvisational skills were legendary.
Using his Fender Precision bass and plucking with his index finger, which he nicknamed “the Hook,” Jamerson became one of the most influential bass guitarists ever.
Top 21 – 30
21. Tony Levin (John Lennon, Peter Gabriel, King Crimson)
“Do all the basics well each time, and you’ll always have a job!” That’s what you and I have heard a million times. But it is the philosophy that has helped Tony Levin enjoy one of the greatest careers of any bassist on our list.
Starting his education on upright bass, mastering the basics, and adding fretless bass and Chapman Stick to his repertoire, Levin has been the player whom muso rock stars call upon when the quality of the groove becomes essential.
22. John Deacon (Queen)
I hesitated adding John Deacon closer to the top of the list. However, that’s mainly because Deacy is more than a bass player, and even more than just a quarter of Queen.
Deacon is also an established songwriter, contributing genuine hits to Queen. And within the framework of this iconic stadium-rock act, he brought the basics, choosing just the right notes that suited the song.
Highly professional and a great team player, John Deacon is the kind of musician you’d be lucky to have join your band, even if he’d never make eye contact with you or bother to learn your name.
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23. Larry Graham (Sly and the Family Stone)
Sly and the Family Stone, for a brief moment, reached some colossal musical heights. The band was provocative, stylish, and ambitious.
And while the plan was Sly Stone’s creation, the groove was integral to the band’s appeal. A good part of that rhythm work results from Larry Graham’s playing.
Graham, essentially, brought slap bass, the “thumping and plucking” sound, into the mainstream (possibly even invented it). And his bass lines, live or in the studio, powered the songs. Later, he became a soul-pop star on his very own.
Every funk bass player who followed Larry Graham owes him a degree of credit.
24. Greg Lake (Emerson, Lake & Palmer)
Greg Lake, as a member of ELP, ushered in a new era of stadium gigs and rock band musical excesses. And, as the bass-playing frontman of the first prog-rock supergroup, Lake was forced to bring his best on a nightly basis.
The more amazing thing is that Lake had become a bass player only by necessity when he joined King Crimson. His acoustic guitar playing and singing, of course, are arguably just as famous.
Greg Lake, for the most part, plays the bass like a guitarist, adding melodic, striking lines to his playing. And experience has the habit of stacking up. At his best, Lake could’ve jammed with one of the bass players on this list.
25. Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order)
Numerous music fans will talk at length about how much Joy Division’s music has touched them. When they do that, they are most likely referring not just to Ian Curtis’s tortured lyrics. They are also talking about the iconic, emotionally-tinged bass parts.
The greatness of Peter Hook lies in his creation of countless memorable bass riffs. The majority of them do not require colossal chops to play either. That’s not the point! They are integral to the songs, the foundation for some of the most iconic post-punk songs. Hook is a fantastic bass riff composer!
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26. Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones)
Bill Wyman, like other bassists on our list, stood back and held together one of the biggest rock bands on the planet. Yes, if you weren’t listening carefully, it was easy to forget about him, what with the theatrics of Mick Jagger and Keith Richard.
However, Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts brought the swing and a real jazz sensibility to The Rolling Stones. Their skills allowed the band to transition from blues to pop, disco, or funk.
His contribution was felt, especially once Wyman decided to depart. Nowadays, the fans finally speak of Bill Wyman as one of the true great rock n’ roll bass players!
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27. John Taylor (Duran Duran)
Jealous ’80s hard-rock fans tended to mock Duran Duran, even questioning their musical abilities. That’s unfair, and especially for John Taylor.
Sure, Duran Duran started out as a punk-rock band obsessed with fashion. Yes, the youngsters could hardly play their instruments at first. However, John Taylor always knew what he wanted to sound like – Chic’s Bernard Edwards mixed with Sex Pistols’ Glen Matlock.
This resulted in a funky, percussive bass sound that is at the heart of most of the band’s hits, yet never sticks out oddly. John Taylor’s bass lines are among the ones I regularly warm up with before playing my own music. If that’s not an endorsement, I don’t know what is!
28. Kim Deal (Pixies)
Kim Deal, beyond being a monument of cool, shows that to have a great band, you have to get lucky with the right band members.
Deal was never a bass virtuoso and, likely, never concerned with technique. Her greatest initial skill was finding a way to fit into the combustible mix of Pixies songs.
Those songs encouraged a certain kind of eccentricity in her playing and backing vocals. Famous alt-rock songs like “Hey,” “Gigantic”, or “Gouge Away” are, essentially, built around her bass playing that is precise, melodic and, most importantly, makes you want to sing along with the playing.
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29. Roger Glover (Deep Purple)
It mustn’t have been easy for Roger Glover. He was, after all, surrounded in Deep Purple by virtuoso musicians who all wanted their opportunity to shine.
The challenge was thus twofold: be good enough for Deep Purple and inconspicuous enough not to step on anyone’s toes.
That’s how Roger Glover developed a hard-driving, precise sound. It’s a kind of proto-heavy-metal tone designed to be played on car radios. It’s no wonder that Glover has had such a marvellous, lengthy career!
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30. Carlos Dengler (Interpol)
Carlos Dengler is, I admit, the bass player whose sound and riffs I enjoy the most of anyone on this list. And it should be noted that I’m not even a very big Interpol fan.
Apart from the stylishness he contributed to the group’s look, Carlos D. is a rare example of a bassist who shapes his group’s sound.
Looking to tap into that delightful moodiness of “Turn On the Bright Lights?” Just play the isolated bass parts.
Influenced in equal parts by The Cure’s Simon Gallup and Duran Duran’s John Taylor, Carlos Dengler is one of the greatest, newish bass players in the world! And he stopped playing the damn thing after recording a couple of dozen songs.
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Top 31 – 40
31. Mike Watt (The Minutemen)
Mike Watt has come a long way from being a musician who, by his own admission, thought that tuning up was a preference rather than a requirement, to becoming one of the single greatest bassists in alt-rock and punk.
Watt’s style, essentially, prioritises flash and volume. In The Minutemen, his job was, essentially, that of lead guitarist. In fIREHOSE he showcased the bombastic qualities of his playing. And, when asked to tour with The Stooges, he brought a real rumbling bass sound to the affair. One of the greats!
32. Thundercat
Thundercat is the modern bassist superstar. Just what recommends him for this position? Let’s see! It’s the flawless technique that was great when he was a teenager, but keeps improving. It’s his good taste whether playing jazz, soul, metal or hip hop.
But, it’s also the fact that he makes time to play with artists as diverse as Kendrick Lamar to Suicidal Tendencies, while being a bona fide pop star himself. Thundercat is a true original and already a great bass player!
33. Tina Weymouth (Talking Heads)
A great groove isn’t just something you’re born with or the result of supernatural technique. It can be what imagination and daringness help to create. That’s the case with the always stylish Tina Weymouth.
Weymouth wasn’t merely a pioneer for being a girl playing in a band born out of the punk-rock wave. Along with the drummer (and husband), Chris Frantz, she is responsible for wacky, hypnotic grooves that defined Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club. Weymouth is one of the most clever musicians on this list.
34. Dee Dee Ramone (Ramones)
Dee Dee Ramone was to rock music what an engine is to a Formula 1 car. The bassist brought power and energy to the Ramones, as well as to his short solo career. His band simply wouldn’t have moved without his contribution.
However, Dee Dee also brought a wild sense of imagination to most of the early Ramones songs he wrote. His playing style, while deeply minimalist, also proved extremely influential, and you can hear it in practically every punk bassist’s style.
35. Marcus Miller
Ah, finally a musician’s musician! Marcus Miller isn’t, perhaps, a household name, but he is held in incredible esteem by fans of jazz fusion and modern bass playing.
There’s little that Miller can’t do. In his teens, he became a successful songwriter, singer, and session player. He collaborated with jazz icons Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. And, he even had time to develop a now-famous signature bass model. Miller remains a vital part of jazz bass playing.
36. Michael Anthony (Van Halen)
In my opinion, Michael Anthony is unfairly marginalised in discussions of Van Halen’s influence. Sure, with so much ego in the band, it was hard, sometimes, for Anthony to get the attention he deserved. Of course, his recorded bass parts were occasionally hijacked by Eddie van Halen.
However, just listen to Michael Anthony’s contribution to Van Halen’s live career, and you’ll notice a musician at the top of his ability! Anthony is one of the great bass playing contributors.
37. Charlie Haden (Ornette Coleman)
During the 1950s, the great American jazz combos challenged each other in the way that the U.S. and the Soviets later disputed space exploration.
Ornette Coleman was, perhaps, the most daring of the bunch. And, to turn his vision into reality, he needed the extraordinary skills of Charlie Haden.
Haden had the ability to translate difficult musical concepts into palatable, highly melodic double-bass parts.
Haden’s career also saw his work with the likes of Keith Jarrett and Pat Metheny. His contributions remain deeply respected among the jazz intelligentsia.
38. Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus’ career is invariably tied to the evolution of jazz music itself. And his virtuoso ability on the upright bass is, without question, tied to the evolution of bass playing as a whole.
All of that skill certainly came in handy. Mingus is one of the greats of bebop, a jazz style that prioritises skill and speed. Studying Mingus’ work may be a challenge for many, but it is a rewarding one.
39. Donald “Duck” Dunn (Otis Redding, Booker T. & the M.G.’s)
The right or wrong groove will entirely change a song. And, because he always could lock into the right rhythm, Donald “Duck” Dunn was one of the greatest session bass players of all time.
Known for his work on records released by Stax, as well as for his vital contribution to Booker T. & the M.G.’s, Dunn’s bass playing is the stuff of legend.
40. Mike Dirnt (Green Day)
Green Day started out as three-chord punk-rockers. But, if you haven’t noticed, the group’s been going for a while. And to Mike Dirnt’s credit, his ability on the bass has only improved every step of the way.
In fact, Dirnt is, at this stage, something of a bass-playing virtuoso carefully choosing the right notes to complement the band’s punk singalongs. Mike Dirnt is a great musician and well-deserving of a shout-out on this list.
Read more:
- Green Day Albums Ranked from Worst to Best
- “Basket Case” Song Meaning Explained
- “When I Come Around” Song Meaning Explained
Top 41 – 50
41. Bill Black (Elvis Presley)
Bill Black is not one of the greatest bass players of all time just because his playing happened to be on the biggest recordings of the 1950s, although this helped his reputation immensely.
Black’s exciting, percussive upright bass playing helped to create the blueprint for rock’n’ roll. His slap style continues to be influential in rockabilly and psychobilly, with those genres permanently indebted to it.
42. David Hood (Muscle Shoals Studio session player)
It is said that the best bass players are the ones who learn to serve the song instead of serving their own ego. This is certainly true of David Hood, the Muscle Shoals session player who was involved in some of the greatest recorded music.
Along with The Swampers, Hood’s perfect bass lines can be heard on legendary records by everyone from Percy Sledge and Bobby Womack to Rod Stewart and James Brown.
43. Matt Freeman (Rancid)
I play bass guitar. I hope I play well and can become great. However, I doubt I can ever reach anything close to the level attained by the sensational Matt Freeman.
One of the greatest bassists in punk-rock, Freeman is something of an unsung hero. His lines are melodic, but percussive. His playing is sometimes the backbone of the song, and other times the main focus.
44. Tim Commerford (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave)
Tim Commerford was a bedroom player before joining Rage Against the Machine. However, from the first notes played on stage, Commerford, along with drummer Brad Wilk, distinguished themselves as one of the best, most copied rhythm sections in rock.
Commerford, always playing with his fingers, can easily switch between aggressive, distorted riffs and smooth grooves inspired by funk and hip-hop. He is one of the best modern players. Without him, nu-metal and rap-rock wouldn’t sound the same.
45. Mike Mills (R.E.M.)
It was live that R.E.M. earned many of its earliest supporters. And, I think, it was Mike Mills’ energy, good taste, and restraint that helped cement the band’s reputation for live shows.
Mills is not a flashy player. However, he is an astute connoisseur of everything from punk-rock to country. His was the ability to use his bass playing to bring the songs of one of the biggest alt-rock bands together.
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46. Aston “Family Man” Barrett (Bob Marley & The Wailers)
Bob Marley wasn’t just Jamaica’s most famous musical export. He also benefited from the talents of the island’s top creatives. Aston “Family Man” Barrett was the anchor of his band ever since the earliest days of The Wailers.
Essentially, reggae and dub’s characteristic sound and groove wouldn’t be possible without Barrett. He played hypnotic, melodic grooves that were often built around complex rhythmic concepts. Barrett was an innovator!
47. Krist Novoselic (Nirvana)
Contrary to some opinions, Nirvana was a well-rehearsed and ambitious rock band by the time it had turned professional. And, despite his humour and easy-going nature, Krist Novoselic was always the more serious of the band’s members.
Novoselic’s style is, clearly, inspired by early punk rock. His playing is simple, but exact. It gives Nirvana’s songs propulsion and helped them become iconic.
Read more:
- Nirvana’s Albums Ranked from Worst to Best
- “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Meaning Explained
- “Come as You Are” Song Meaning Explained
48. Rex Brown (Pantera)
Before Pantera became a crossover success, and even before it was an aggressive heavy metal band, the group built its reputation on its excellent musical chops.
Yes, the Darrell brothers get most of the praise. However, Rex Brown’s heavy grooves and precise lines place him among the very best in his profession.
49. Paul Simonon (The Clash)
Paul Simonon was an artist and a David Bowie lookalike before he joined The Clash. Simonon also possessed an excellent, eclectic taste for music. He had it all.
While his style was never highly technical, Simonon nonetheless developed a danceable, almost disco-like sense of rhythm that perfectly complemented the choppy guitar lines of “the only band that matters.”
50. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy)
Phil Lynott was a poet and a great band leader. Yes, but he also developed into a very good bass player, one who could handle melodic lines while singing the songs and confidently commanding the stage.
Lynott’s playing always had a groove, a melody, and a clear purpose inside the Irish-American group’s hard-rock songs.
Top 51 – 60
51. Bob Moore (The Nashville A-Team, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison)
Oh, man! There haven’t been many bass players who’ve been more influential on the way the bass sounds on a rock record. Moore didn’t just get to play for Elvis. He established the “Nashville Sound.” A master of simplicity and an impeccable rhythm player, Moore, in my opinion, has easily earned a place on this list.
52. Trevor Dunn (Mr. Bungle)
Trevor Dunn was a member of a group that was, essentially, a musical terrorist organisation. Mr. Bungle didn’t just challenge its audience. It challenged music itself. I listen to this Mike Patton-fronted group when I need a bit of a pick-me-up.
Dunn was the “secret sauce” of the group’s chaotic sound, bringing in funk-spalling, thrash metal picking and avant-garde noise together with his jazz-like precision.
53. John Myung (Dream Theater)
I sometimes have visions of playing as well as John Myung. I then start laughing hysterically at myself. Am I a musician with as much formal training as Myung? No. Have I played for decades for one of the world’s top progressive-metal bands? Also, no.
If, like me, you’re dreaming of becoming Myung, you’d need to master his masterful technical execution, the ability to play a 6-string bass, as well as his two-handed tapping technique.
54. Darryl Jones (The Rolling Stones, Sting)
I’ve only a few fantasies. One of them is being so good at playing the bass guitar that the world’s best musicians feel inclined to call me up. This is what happened to Darryl Jones. In his teens, he was already playing with Miles Davis.
This led to Sting asking for his services when making his debut solo album. And, when The Rolling Stones required a permanent bass player, the jazz-loving Charlie Watts hand-picked Jones. Yeah, what a life!
55. Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience)
In order to understand Noel Redding, I think you first need to realise that he didn’t quite rate Jimi Hendrix. In fact, Redding was initially insulted to be asked to play bass in the Hendrix Experience when he was originally a guitar player.
And, when asked about his time in his subsequent bands, he’d call Hendrix just “some guy who took a lot of acid.” I find that kind of confidence bizarre and sensational.
56. Bernard Edwards (Chic)
I became a bass player later in life. And, initially, I thought I could just play it in the same way that I played lead guitar. I found out that I was wrong once I started trying to play Bernard Edwards’ licks in Chic.
This gave me a new appreciation of how the right bass syncopation makes a song flow and how the right picking hand must be powerful, but loose in order to handle those grooves. Edwards’ bass licks are simply fantastic and, in many ways, the basis for a new kind of chart-topping pop music.
57. Leland Sklar
I look at Leland Sklar, and I think two things: “What a chill dude!” and “What a great beard.” Those, along with his great, tasteful bass playing, made for quite a career. Sklar is one of the all-time great session players appearing on albums by Phil Collins, James Taylor or Linda Ronstadt.
He’s also one of the innovators of the bass guitar itself with his “Frankenstein” model using Precision, Fender Jazz Bass and mandolin parts to extend what the instrument could, literally, be.
58. Joe Dart (Vulfpeck)
For me, Joe Dart’s playing is the Golden Standard of modern bass playing. There’s a video of a girl covering Vulfpeck’s “Disco Ulysses” that I watch and listen to whenever I need a reminder of how much I need to grow as a bass player.
Dart plays funky, insanely precise finger-style bass without slap, but with plenty of ghost notes, groove and precise lock-up with the drums. I love his bass sound.
59. Dave Allen (Gang of Four)
Gang of Four, I suppose, was out to change the world. And, for many people, they did. Dave Allen is one of the architects of that. For all the group’s aggressive, nihilistic post-punk, Allen was one funky bass player.
But his funk was played with the intensity of punk-rock and included great melodic sharpness. You’ll hear Allen’s playing in everything from Flea to Les Claypool to LCD Soundsystem. And all of these artists recognise his influence.
60. Duff McKagan (Guns n’ Roses, Velvet Revolver)
I think that bassists are the one musical element that’s least considered when analysing a rock band. But, I also think that it’s one that makes or breaks a group. Duff McKagan, in my opinion, perfectly epitomises that.
McKagan’s love of Prince and his use of melodic but funky bass lines are what help make an album like “Appetite for Destruction” the ageless hit it is. The fact that he’s continued to improve through the years, on the other hand, is proof of his work ethic.
Top 61 – 70
61. Chuck Rainey
You’ll notice that many of the bass players on the list are not household names. That’s not by accident. Some of the best bassists were ones fated to background. The great Chuck Rainey is one of the ultimate studio professionals, one who defined 1970s R&B and fusion.
It was Rainey’s ability to turn simple chord progressions into fantastic swing grooves, and his brilliant melodic fills that define his legacy. For proof, check out Steely Dan and and Quincy Jones-produced recordings.
62. Justin Chancellor (TOOL)
Justin Chancellor got the call to be in TOOL just as the band had taken off. What could be skills to help a bassist receive and retain such a high-profile position? While I’m not a TOOL obsessive, as so many are, I’ve always admired Chancellor and drummer Danny Carey’s ability to play heavy prog-metal using odd-meter polyrhythms.
His lead, melodic lines and use of sharp-mid-driven tone help me with my decision to add him to the list of the greatest bassists of all time.
63. John McVie (Fleetwood Mac)
I’ve been trying to learn early Fleetwood Mac during my most recent trip to Britain. It feels only fitting. And, by far, the thing that I find trickiest is working out the grooves. Much of that is due to John McVie’s incredibly catchy but tricky parts, which lead the songs where he wants them to go.
McVie’s sensibilities lie, of course, in old Chicago and Delta blues. However, his ability to bring those sounds to ultra-famous pop-rock is nearly unmatched.
64. Mick Karn (Japan)
I love Mick Karn, and have never been able to touch his sound. I think Karn is one of the most underrated bassists of all time, and think the same about his main band, Japan.
Stylish, trend-setting and possessing an incredible mastery of the fretless Wal bass with which he created expressive, vocal-like bass lines, his rhythmic feel and phrasing make him one of the greats.
65. Mike Porcaro (Toto)
If you want to hear great, sophisticated rock n’ roll, you can look no further than Toto. The hits, like “Africa” and “Rosanna” are all fine and good. But if you dig deeper, you’ll hear exquisite playing.
One of the highlights is the way in which Mike Porcaro, along with his brother and band drummer, Jeff, could lock seamlessly on some of the most complex, yet pleasing-sounding rhythm section sounds you’re likely to hear in all of pop music.
66. Verdine White (Earth, Wind & Fire)
As a teen, I could not appreciate Earth, Wind & Fire. I liked punk and heavy metal. I couldn’t admit to myself that I liked dance music, especially. Nowadays, I cannot live without music that tries to produce those deep grooves.
Verdine White was the driver of a bona fide groove train. His bass lines were melodic, and his precision was legendary. Try and play some of his trademark 16th-note funk grooves, and you’ll see and hear what I mean.
67. Paul Chambers (Miles Davis Quintet)
Miles Davis thought of himself as the best and thus was unafraid to involve other great musicians to surround him. Paul Chambers was part of Davis’ first great quintet. His walking bass lines became a standard ingredient of jazz.
His use of bow on the upright bass became greatly imitated. And, his sound, to my ears, is one of the most pleasant in all of music.
68. Victor Wooten (Béla Fleck and the Flecktones)
Of course, there are some who create their reputation not merely through skill, but also through charisma. Victor Wooten, a bass superstar, is one of those players. Wooten was a revolutionary player, pioneering the double-thumping and using powerful lead melodies and chordal harmonies in his solos. But he is a groove-first bassist, one that all audiences can and have enjoyed hearing.
69. Doug Pinnick (King’s X)
It’s customary to mention the word “underrated” when referring to King’s X, but the cliché exists because this is the truth. King’s X wasn’t just a welcomed bridge between progressive metal and alternative rock.
It was spearheaded by Doug Pinnick’s vision for the band. His bass playing itself is defined by a raw, grungy tone. His use of 12-string bass guitars and a distorted, bi-amped signal, along with the ability to channel funk grooves into heavy rock, make him a modern master.
70. Robert Trujillo (Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Suicidal Tendencies)
A good bassist, I think, doesn’t just hold the sound together, but the whole band. A great bassist is one you can admire even if he doesn’t insist on being flashy. That is, at least, what I tell myself.
Robert Trujillo possesses great skill and speed and can play aggressive metal as much as bone-rattling funk. He’s, however, a team player. I think that it’s the latter that’s helped him earn so many great career opportunities.
Top 71 – 80
71. Ron Carter (Miles Davis Quintet)
Ron Carter was one of the sophisticated gentlemen of jazz, a musician who brought elegance and vision to the double bass.
Carter was not one to fret about speed and tricks. He used his career to share his tone and intonation. He worked on developing an elastic, pulsating sound where chromatic scales and glissandos functioned alongside a grounded groove.
72. Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon was one of the first great blues songwriters. You may know his name from the credits of famous 1970s bands who covered his songs, or borrowed from them.
But it’s also Dixon’s booming double bass, built around a proto-slap-and-pluck technique, that gets him on this list. This sound and playing were the foundations for what rock n’ roll became.
73. Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Trapeze, Black Sabbath)
Nothing that Glenn Hughes did was ever subtle. But that’s the appropriate setting. Hughes’ fame, of course, was being made a member of Deep Purple at the group’s 1970s hard-rock pomp
Famously though, Hughes brought in a funkiness (along with larynx-shredding vocals) that altered the band’s formula.
His bass playing focused on working Motown-inspired, syncopated lines into a hard rock context. And, yes, there are some who still swear by Hughes’ time in Deep Purple as the height of the band’s output.
74. Stanley Clarke (Return to Forever)
Stanley Clarke’s addition to this list will, no doubt, thrill real musos. Yes, jazz-fusion aficionados hold Return to Forever, and Clarke’s work with Chick Corea in the highest regard.
Clarke is a master of many techniques. However, it’s his slap bass style, his mastery of both electric and upright bass, and, especially, his use of the bass as a lead instrument (pioneering the piccolo bass) that are the principal reasons I added him to this list.
75. Rutger Gunnarson (ABBA)
I started playing bass guitar in a band late in my musical journey. Erroneously, I imagined that it was just like playing lead or rhythm guitar. I was soon humbled.
The bass player that I used as a model to learn to play was Rutger Gunnarsson. No, he’s not a household name, although he wouldn’t mind. If you ask me, he’s responsible for some of the best bass playing committed to tape.
The Swede was the primary bassist and arranger for ABBA, one of the great pop creations. His basslines act as secondary hooks behind the vocal lines of the songs. They’re disco-funky, but also feel rooted in classical music. If you enjoy great playing, pay attention to Gunnarsson’s playing!
76. Gail Ann Dorsey (David Bowie)
You don’t get to be the bassist for one of the world’s biggest rock stars without some real musical chops and, likely, social skills. I’ve always been a fan of Gail Ann Dorsey.
Frankly, I feel she led Bowie’s best period as a live performer. Dorsey is a very versatile musician, able to transition smoothly through Bowie’s extensive catalogue. Her bass lines are melodic. In addition, her backing vocals helped to smooth out the band’s sound.
77. Bruce Foxton (The Jam)
Bruce Foxton is one of my favourite bass players. Why? It’s not just the shiny suits and the excellent haircuts. It’s the fact that I’m forced to hum to the bass line to songs like “Town Called Malice” as we speak.
Foxton was The Jam’s secret weapon and, to my mind, one of the most underrated players on the list. His Motown-like licks and the tone he got out of his Rickennacker make him, in my book, one of the greatest bassists.
78. Paz Lenchantin (A Perfect Circle, Pixies)
Being a world-class bassist is just like any other job. Do it well, and you might get an opportunity to move up the ladder. That’s what Paz Lenchantin has done throughout a career that’s seen her playing for some of the biggest bands in alternative rock.
Why? She doesn’t overplay, sticking to the dark, catchy lines. She’s able to contribute to the orchestration after the songs, and can play several other instruments. And she’s got the punk-rock spirit that bands like Zwan, Queens of the Stone Age or The Silver Jews wanted.
79. Pino Palladino (Jeff Beck, The Who, John Mayer)
If I were in a room with Pino Palladino and asked to jam with him, I’d ask for forgiveness, put the guitar down and just sit in awed silence.
Palladino has created job opportunities for himself by being one of the most proficient, funkiest, most intelligent bass players that are available. His chops on the fretless bass and his deep grooves are legendary. D’Angelo’s debut album and Pino’s contributions are legendary.
80. Phil Lesh (The Grateful Dead)
You don’t get to be one of the musical leaders of the most famous jam band in the world without having something special to you. I admit, for me, it was years before I understood what that thing was.
Finally, I heard it! Phil Lesh turned the bass guitar into a lead instrument. His lines quoted blues standards, but flirted with the avant-garde. His playing was imaginative and had few boundaries.
Top 81 – 90
81. Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick)
Tom Petersson is one of the few people in rock n’ roll whom I truly envy. It’s not just because he looks cool, or plays a Gretsch bass guitar. It’s the fact that he’s spent his entire career in the enormously inspiring Cheap Trick.
He’s also a smashing bassist, the kind without which his famous band wouldn’t merely be as famous.
Petersson, essentially, pioneered the 12-string bass, looking to turn his sound into a resonant rhythm machine. He’s further innovated with the dual-amp riffing. All of this, of course, work to create a sensational wall of sound from the band’s bottom end.
82. Rick Danko (The Band)
Being in a music group for years isn’t merely about being a top musician. That would make it too easy. In my opinion, it has a lot to do with personality, character, and the ability to be liked.
For decades, Rick Danko was a member of one of the top country-rock groups of all time, The Band.
He sang beautifully and, just as nicely played “off-the-beat” bass grooves. He was one of the first major bassists to introduce a fretless instrument. And he let his extraordinary intuition guide it all. I never saw The Band live and this is a thing that saddens me.
83. Robbie Shakespeare (Sly and Robbie, Peter Tosh)
Robbie Shakespeare is a bonafide legend of bass playing and one of the men responsible with turning Jamaican music into an international pop phenomenon.
Part of the famous production duo of Sly *Dunbar) and Robbie, Shakespeare is said to have played on over 200,000 songs.
His rocking reggae bass lines have been sampled endlessly. And, from playing with Bob Dylan to reggae icons like Peter Tosh, his work has helped the songs he has played on move across and over regular genre classifications.
84. Kim Gordon (Sonic Youth)
Kim Gordon is, certainly, one of the coolest characters on this list. Where does this come from? It’s not studied, I don’t think. It’s effortless and translates to her bass playing as much as anything else.
And while Gordon’s never been a virtuoso player, along with Sonic Youth, she’s responsible for some of the most daring, adventurous alternative music made during the 1980s.
Her playing is minimalist retaining that heavy post-punk drive and her Avantgarde intentions have always helped to set her apart.
85. Jerry Scheff (Elvis Presley, The Doors)
I’ve recently acquired a hollow-body guitar which, for me, means that I have to play all of Elvis’ tunes, including the bass parts.
This has made me have a new appreciation for Jerry Scheff. His consistency in keeping those rock n’ roll grooves and clever melodic counterpoints to the vocals are sensational! All of this comes from a love of jazz and classical, sure. But it’s also his powerful work on The Doors’ “La Woman” that solidifies his extraordinary skill to my ears.
86. Tal Wilkenfeld (Jeff Beck, TOTO, Prince)
It’s highly likely that Tal Wilkenfeld is a genius. And it’s more than likely that he talent and intelligence go well beyond music.
Wilkenfeld taught herself to play bass, mostly practicing the instrument in her mind in between school work.
Still in her teens, she was asked to back Jeff Beck, one of the greatest guitar players of all time.
Her ability to react spontaneously, almost always making the right choice, to the other members of the band has earned her gigs with the likes of TOTO or Chick Corea. Wilkenfeld is one of the modern greats.
87. George Porter Jr. (The Meters)
If you’re talking about serious musicians with seriously funky grooves at their disposal 24/7, you need to mention The Meters and the funk pioneer that is George Porter Jr.
Essentially, Porter managed to transfer the syncopated grooves of New Orleans street parades onto pop-punk bass lines for classics like “Cissy Strut” or “Look-Ka Py Py.” What grooves!
His ability to mix speed with silence, as well as his near telepathic understanding with drummer Zigaboo Modeliste, make Porter Jr. an absolute legend.
88. Mike Starr (Alice in Chains)
Mike Starr was a sensational bassist for one of the greatest bands of the 1990s. He’s also something of a mystery, a bass player who didn’t quite get to play up to his full potential.
Still, if you listen to Starr’s aggressive Spector bass sound on Alice in Chains‘ “Dirt” album and to his melodic counter-melodies on songs like “Would?” you’ll doubtlessly join me in calling him one of the greats.
89. Mark Brown (Prince and The Revolution)
Prince was, hands down, one of the finest musicians that pop music ever produced. That’s why, I assume, that to hang with him meant having similarly impressive musician potential.
Mark Brown, known as BrownMark, helped turn Prince’s 1980s backing band The Revolution into international pop gladiators.
Brown was picked when he was just 19 years old. He could play thumb-slapping bass and he could lean into the pop grooves. His tone cut through, but he knew when to lean back. He was a co-architect of the Minneapolis Sound.
90. Nicky Wire (Manic Street Preachers)
Ah, Nicky Wire, what a cool, smart, creative guy! Wire’s always been the engine of the Manics. There’s rarely been a rock musician simultaneously more driven and more ambitious.
And while his initial playing style was based on punk-rock minimalism, he’s learned to bring a real melodic anchor to alt-rock anthems like “A Design for Life,” or “Motorcycle Emptiness” and, with the help of eye-grabbing, retro gear, has helped create a large, resonant sound that’s made the Manics into one of Wales’ greatest eve bands.
Top 91 – 100
91. Steve Severin (Siouxsie and the Banshees)
It’s the intention behind each note that’s the most important, isn’t it? I think so. The bassist’s choice of whether to play a hundred notes other a solitary one, is nearly irrelevant if the intention is not right.
Well, Steve Severin, as a rule plays as little as he can. But, he always seems to choose the right notes. This allows him to play the whole thing again, creating the Banshees’ agonising, hypnotic feel.
Severin was one of the first of the post-punk bassists to put the instrument near the very top of the mix. He was also among the pioneers of a bass style that emphasises metallic tones and avant-garde textures.
92. B. B. Dickerson (War)
You don’t mess around with the groove. And certainly you don’t think of doing that when Morris B.B. Dickerson is handling it.
War was determined to be a multi-ethnic, funk-rock fusing revolution. It already had the great Eric Burdon on vocals. That’s why it needed Dickerson to provide the sunny Latin-funk bass-lines. Those lines were informed by the musician’s extraordinary knowledge of Latin pop music, jazz, R&B, and, yes rock.
His playing is integral to the rise of the “Jam Band Scene” in the U.S. And, beyond all of that, he could sing, too. How lucky can one guy get?
93. Rinus Gerritsen (Golden Earring)
I confess that Rinus Gerritsen’s playing is one of the ones that I personally enjoy the most of anyone on this list. In fact, when I think of powerful, hypnotic bass lines that might make you want to drive all night, I immediately think of this Dutch musician.
What makes him great? He co-wrote and played the bass on “Radar Love” and “Twilight Zone.” Case closed! Roll credits!
94. Matt Bissonntte (Joe Satriani, Electric Light Orchestra, Ringo Starr)
When I was growing up and learning to play guitar, Matt Bissonntte’s name came up in the way that holy men discuss the kind of books that regular seekers have no business knowing.
That’s because Bissonntte was a bass player’s bassist. He was the kind of musician who, like a proper chameleon, had changed, adapted and slipped unto many of the best records made during the 1980s and early 90s.
The bass virtuoso was Joe Satriani’s sidekick for the longest time. He played with the likes of David Lee Roth and Elton John.
And if you ever hear two bass players passionately debating whether it’s Matt Bissonntte or Billy Sheehan who’s better, you’ll know that they mean business. Just refer them to my list while you’re at it!
95. Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree)
Yeah, it took me a long time to get, or even want to understand Porcupine Tree. I find that when it comes to this prog-rock revival, you either fall in love the first time, or stay away forever.
It was, predictably, the individual band members’ masterful knowledge of their instruments that made me give them a chance.
And, yes, Colin Edwin’s playing is just about perfect for the group’s heavy-prog approach.
Edwin’s supremely confident on the fretless bass, an instrument that I find disliking in many other contexts. He can handle complex odd-meter grooves and lock in with drummer Gavin Harrison. And he’s bass tone is always warm and rich in low-register resonance. Yeah, he deserves a spot on this list.
96. Mike Inez (Alice in Chains, Ozzy Osbourne, Slash’s Snakepit)
Mike Inez has had the kind of career that most rock kids, myself included, would kill for. He’s sat inches away from some of the most important musicians in the world. And, all of the time, he’s held his own and brought the goods.
Inez, supposedly, wrote the “No More Tears” bass riff for Ozzy, got to play in Slash’s post-GnR solo band and became Alice in Chains’ bassists since the 1990s.
He does it all with a thick, thumping bass tone, an ability to instinctively understand musical dynamics and, on occasion, a piece of great riff writing.
97. Barry Adamson (Magazine, Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Visage)
Barry Adamson is fantastic, underrated, and has more phone numbers of famous rock stars that a high-end Los Angeles escort.
That’s because Adamson’s playing and presence are all class. He treats playing bass in a rock band in the same way that a great director might treat shooting a picture about the End of Days.
He plays funky, choppy riffs that feel like they should accompany a cataclysm. He plays like a drummer being handed a Fender Precision bass and a pick.
98. Joe Lally (Fugazi)
In the grand ol’ story of rock n’ roll, few bands are more mythical than Fugazi. That’s all, mostly, a result of the group’s commitment and unwillingness to bow down to commercial pressures.
But it’s also, I find, down to the sheer aggressive funkiness of Joe Lally. The bassist brought reggae, dub and funk grooves into the post-hardcore world of Fugazi. Where other punk bassists focused on speed and volume, Lally was more interested in picking the right tones, restraining himself from overplaying, and locking in with drummer Brendan Canty’s percussion patterns.
Lally helped to reinvent what punk music could be, in my opinion.
99. Pete Farndon (The Pretenders)
So much focus is given to Chrissie Hynde’s great writing and pure charisma that, I think, we’re at risk of forgetting just how good The Pretenders actually were.
Pete Farndon was a founding member. He looked like he belonged in a rockabilly band, played like he was a punk and made it all work for, essentially, one of the premier pop groups of the time.
HIs picked bass lines were driving providing the 8th-note pulse the songs needed. He played great, syncopated lines on songs like “Brass in Pocket.” And, his playing was strong enough to make the songs a global sensation.
100. Simon Gallup (The Cure)
One of my jobs as a grown-up, believe it or not, is trying to ape Simon Gallup. I fail every time. You see, I play in a gothic-rock band and handle bass duties. If you’re in my position, there’s no way that Gallup is not your reference point.
Simon Gallup’s bass lines are immensely catchy. But they’re easy to play. And, they’re repetitive. Why, then, do I struggle, so?
It’s the presence and the style. Musically, it’s Gallup’s ability to pound using that heavy pick at the groove with great consistency. Style-wise it’s the way that Gallup works a stage. Add to that the fact that nearly all of his bass lines can be sung and sound brilliantly this way.
Notable Mentions
Top 101 – 110
Richard Davis (Van Morrison)
Anthony Jackson
Steve Garvey (Buzzcocks)
Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
Louis Johnson (Michael Jackson)
Adam Yaunch (Beasie Boys)
Jean-Jacques Burnel (The Stranglers)
Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction, AC/DC, Alanis Morissette)
David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets)
Melissa Auf Der Mar
Top 110 –
Laura Lee Ochoa (Khruangbin)
Scott Shriner (Weezer)
Benjamin Orr (The Cars)
Scott LaFaro (the Bill Evans Trio)
Oscar Alston (Rick James)
Alec John Such (Bon Jovi)
Bobby Valentin
John Illsley (Dire Straits)
Marshall “Rock” Jones (Ohio Players)
Brian Ritchie (Violent Femmes)
Bakithi Kumalo (Paul Simon)
Esperanza Spalding
