10 Spot -- Bass in the Face.
I'm sitting here, bass guitar in hand, fiddiling around. I may play 6 different instruments, but I consider myself a bassist at heart. If I got first dibs on an instrument, I would pick up the ole 4-string over the 6-string, drum kit, sax-o-ma-phone, keyboard, or brass knuckle (aka, my trumpet). The bass is essential to any complete piece of music. Without it, there is no backbone for the harmonies to lean against. Without it, there is no kick or bite or any sort of punch up to it at all. The bass is absolutely necessary if you want to get your point across at all. And it's more than just foundation. It can be the rock of any song and still flip the fuck out and hold it's own. Hell, it can even challenge the guitars and vocals for supremacy when the time calls for it. Naturally as a song writer and a true bassist, I had to have a lot of influence in my steady learning progression. So here are my 10 favorite bassists, and biggest influences to my bass playing and writing career.
#10
John Entwistle (the Who)
Arguably the first great revolutionary bass player of rock history. He derived a lot of his skilled playing style from jazz musicians, as many early bassists did. But Entwistle turned it out and made it crafty, doing more work than his melody counterparts in his band. He went against the grain, writing complicated lines to fit behind Pete Townshend and his riffs. Entwistle never phoned it in in any of his songs. He never settled for just matching the guitar line, going the extra mile, even on the Who's lesser than stellar songs. Sadly, Entwistle was rarely ever noticed. He was hidden behind Keith Moon's monster drummings and erratic off-stage drunken antics, Pete Townshend's masterful strumming, and Roger Daltry's paltry vocals. Seemingly the only people who recognize Johnny are the bass players appreciating their heritage. People like me. The day John died, I was just beginning bass and was pretty unfamiliar with most of the Who's stuff. But even then, I recognized that the world lost a great bass player. And from there, I learned of his legacy. Miss you, Johnny Ent.
Basstacular: "My Generation", "Pinball Wizard", "Who Are You", "Won't Get Fooled Again"
#9
Nick Oliveri (Queens of the Stone Age, Mondo Generator)
Oliveri's raucous playing and rampant distorted setting became a staple to QotSA's sound prior to his getting axed out of the band. Truth be told, I actually fell in love with Oliveri's badass basslines before I did Josh Homme's unmistakable greatness. His bass parts, greased with dirty distortion, throbbed against the guitarlines Homme planted, and combined exceedingly well with whatever drumline came with it. Oliveri's work on the first three QotSA albums is highly noticeable and very infatuating for a bassist. It's a true essence of what grunge bass should sound like. On top of that, when he took the mic for lead vocals, he brought the same tenacity he exhibits on his high voltage basslines. When Oliveri was canned after Songs For the Deaf, his absence was very noticeable on the subsequent 2005 release Lullabies to Paralyze. I labeled the album as a disappointment in part due to the fact that the bass parts throughout that album completely lacked all the fire, brimstone, and passion that Oliveri brought. The band hasn't been the same since he left. Oliveri is still around with his new band Mondo Generator. While that project features his killer basslines, it sounds barren without Homme's signature guitarings. To say they need each other is an accurate statement. Nevertheless, Oliveri's crushing dirty basslines are imperative to QotSA's early sound.
Basstacular: "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret", "Mexicola", "A Song For the Deaf", "You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire"
#8
John Deacon (Queen)
Lost in the maelstrom of the awe-inspiring vocals and stagemanship of Freddie Mercury and the raw and unfettered genius of Brian May, John Deacon silently puts together a smooth and euphoric bassline. Countless times, this guy has been written off as one of the "other guys" of th band. But rest assured that Mercury and May wouldn't sound so stunning without this guy and his steady work on bass. Deacon's playing style is very Jekyll and Hyde. A lot of times he's mild mannered, petering out a smooth bassline giving a great foundation for the stars to gush over. But then there are the moments when he just says "Ok, now it's my turn" and just completely sets precedent on the entire song. You can never keep the man who created the best bassline ever off a list of best bassists.
Basstacular: "Another One Bites the Dust", "Under Pressure", "The Invisible Man", "I Want it All"
#7
Reginald Arvizu, aka: Fieldy (KoRn)
You have to give props to those who defy convention creating something new that has never been done before. It's a little far-fetched to call Fieldy a revolutionary. But his style of playing is not one that is typically done in the music world today. Fieldy's set up itself is interesting. He throttles a 5-string--even a 6-string bass on certain songs--detuned so low that it rattles uncontrollably. His popping and slapping on the extra low tuned bass is a massive reason why Korn was the toast of hard rock in the mid 90s. Truth be told, he's always been one of my favorite bassists. So much so that he was one of the reasons I wanted to pick up a bass in the first place.
Basstacular: "Got the Life", "Blind", "Dead Bodies Everywhere", "Seed", "Somebody Someone"
#6
John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
Never ever leave a rock legend off your Best Of lists. This guy is so essential to the success of Zeppelin, yet people seem to pass him by when they mention the greatest bassists. That's as close to rock and roll sacrilege as you can get. Jones wasn't like Ringo. He wasn't the lucky guy who got to surround himself with geniuses and ride the wave of their efforts. Jones rocked the house and brought so much talent with him every song he wrote. Whether it was a solid-as-a-rock foundation for Jimmy Page to rock over or if he brought down the thunder to make some noise for himself, Jones is a bass master. It takes a great bassist to keep things interesting while a lead guitarist blasts out a riproaring solo, and Jones was superb in that. Add on the fact that Jones was also a master keyboardist/organist and he was a complete package. Jones is a bass god.
Basstacular: "Good Times, Bad Times", "Dazed and Confused", "Lemon Song", "Immigrant Song", "The Song Remains the Same", "Since I Been Lovin You", "For Your Life"
#5
Geddy Lee (Rush)
If you're ever in a discussion about great bassists and you don't mention the name of Geddy, you should be ashamed of yourself. In the world of progressive rock, there is none better. Alex Lifeson is on the other side drilling out poignant clips from his guitar and/or wavy synthesizer lines, and yet Geddy Lee still somehow finds a way to trump him in all his glory. Lee has his bass and amp set in such a way that it transcends just generic rock into some massive wall of badass bassitude. It almost seems like he understands the bass far better than anyone else who has touched the instrument. He knows what it can and can't do better than anyone else. Oh yeah, and he does this all while he sings lead vocals. How 'bout them apples?
Basstacular: "Tom Sawyer", "Subdivisions", "Force Ten", "Working Man", "2112"
#4
Justin Chancellor (Peach, Tool)
In Tool, and Peach prior to that, the bass is not a fundamental aspect that everyone else just plays over. No, the bass in arranged in such a way that it and Adam Jones' guitar are on the exact same playing field. On most of Tool's tracks, the guitar line just would not working without the bassline, and vice versa. Nearly no other band can claim this feat, to have attained a status that the bass and guitar are on the exact same plain of existence. And the man responsible? Justin Chancellor. His basslines are damn near the driving melody itself. There are a number of songs where the ear just gets immediately attracted to the bassline rather than just the guitars or vocals (though those are flat out nice as well). And with the epic length of most of Tool's songs, the fact that Chancellor can command the floor for the entire length is simply stellar.
Basstacular: "Schism", "Aenima", "Forty Six & 2", "Jimmy", "10,000 Days", "Lateralus", "Vicarious", "Third Eye", "Rosetta Stoned"
#3
Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, Steve Vai, solo)
Words do not describe the raw talent this guy has. So I won't even try. Just watch the above YouTube selection and observe the talent of Billy Sheehan. If your jaw doesn't drop, you might just have tetanus.
#2
Tim Bob Commerford, aka: Timmy C. (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave)
It takes a big man to keep up with a guy like Tom Morello. Tom could easily leave any less talented bassist in his wake of obscure sound effects. Timmy C. not only survives, he thrives under Tom Morello and his wah and tremolo pickup solos. With a guitarist as unique as Morello, Tim could never take the easy way out in any song by just matching up with the guitarline. He's always had to create something as if he himself was writing the melody. He's done a potent job at that, creating jumpy cut-throat bass cuts that should be the envy of any aspiring bassist. He clobbers his bass for amazing clarity and frightening bassitude. Timmy C. is one of the most underrated bassists in the history of rock. And don't let the fact that he's from my favorite band sway you into thinking I have a huge bias. It's a bias, but not a large one. Timmy C. is the reason I picked up a bass guitar.
Basstacular: "Calm Like a Bomb", "Fistful of Steel", "Freedom", "Take the Power Back", "Tire Me", "I'm Housin'", "Down on the Street", "Gasoline", "Drown Me Slowly", "One and the Same"
#1
Micheal Balzary, aka: Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
If you didn't see this number one coming, you don't know me very well. Flea has far and away been my favorite bassist for so long that there never will be any other thought of it in my mind. It's a given. There's very little doubt in my mind that when I play, Flea is the biggest influence I have in my sound. And yet, that's all it is is influence. Because there is absolutely zero percent chance I will ever catch him. The man is inhuman. He plays the bass with such resilient force, it's just unheard of. And it's not just noodling and improvising. The man fits such bombastic fits of bassist joy into a swarm of songs. Many times, he'll trump his entire band the entire song. His pop and slap method is orgasmic, and very often imitated. Badly, at that. Flea is on a level all his own. And it's there he will stay. Flea is the God of Bass Guitar. Without question.
Basstacular: Every single Red Hot Chili Pepper song.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Victor Wooten
Les Claypool
Cliff Burton
Jason Newstead
KB
P-Nut
Roger Waters
#10
Click to viewJohn Entwistle (the Who)
Arguably the first great revolutionary bass player of rock history. He derived a lot of his skilled playing style from jazz musicians, as many early bassists did. But Entwistle turned it out and made it crafty, doing more work than his melody counterparts in his band. He went against the grain, writing complicated lines to fit behind Pete Townshend and his riffs. Entwistle never phoned it in in any of his songs. He never settled for just matching the guitar line, going the extra mile, even on the Who's lesser than stellar songs. Sadly, Entwistle was rarely ever noticed. He was hidden behind Keith Moon's monster drummings and erratic off-stage drunken antics, Pete Townshend's masterful strumming, and Roger Daltry's paltry vocals. Seemingly the only people who recognize Johnny are the bass players appreciating their heritage. People like me. The day John died, I was just beginning bass and was pretty unfamiliar with most of the Who's stuff. But even then, I recognized that the world lost a great bass player. And from there, I learned of his legacy. Miss you, Johnny Ent.
Basstacular: "My Generation", "Pinball Wizard", "Who Are You", "Won't Get Fooled Again"
#9
Nick Oliveri (Queens of the Stone Age, Mondo Generator)
Oliveri's raucous playing and rampant distorted setting became a staple to QotSA's sound prior to his getting axed out of the band. Truth be told, I actually fell in love with Oliveri's badass basslines before I did Josh Homme's unmistakable greatness. His bass parts, greased with dirty distortion, throbbed against the guitarlines Homme planted, and combined exceedingly well with whatever drumline came with it. Oliveri's work on the first three QotSA albums is highly noticeable and very infatuating for a bassist. It's a true essence of what grunge bass should sound like. On top of that, when he took the mic for lead vocals, he brought the same tenacity he exhibits on his high voltage basslines. When Oliveri was canned after Songs For the Deaf, his absence was very noticeable on the subsequent 2005 release Lullabies to Paralyze. I labeled the album as a disappointment in part due to the fact that the bass parts throughout that album completely lacked all the fire, brimstone, and passion that Oliveri brought. The band hasn't been the same since he left. Oliveri is still around with his new band Mondo Generator. While that project features his killer basslines, it sounds barren without Homme's signature guitarings. To say they need each other is an accurate statement. Nevertheless, Oliveri's crushing dirty basslines are imperative to QotSA's early sound.
Basstacular: "The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret", "Mexicola", "A Song For the Deaf", "You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire"
#8
John Deacon (Queen)
Lost in the maelstrom of the awe-inspiring vocals and stagemanship of Freddie Mercury and the raw and unfettered genius of Brian May, John Deacon silently puts together a smooth and euphoric bassline. Countless times, this guy has been written off as one of the "other guys" of th band. But rest assured that Mercury and May wouldn't sound so stunning without this guy and his steady work on bass. Deacon's playing style is very Jekyll and Hyde. A lot of times he's mild mannered, petering out a smooth bassline giving a great foundation for the stars to gush over. But then there are the moments when he just says "Ok, now it's my turn" and just completely sets precedent on the entire song. You can never keep the man who created the best bassline ever off a list of best bassists.
Basstacular: "Another One Bites the Dust", "Under Pressure", "The Invisible Man", "I Want it All"
#7
Reginald Arvizu, aka: Fieldy (KoRn)
You have to give props to those who defy convention creating something new that has never been done before. It's a little far-fetched to call Fieldy a revolutionary. But his style of playing is not one that is typically done in the music world today. Fieldy's set up itself is interesting. He throttles a 5-string--even a 6-string bass on certain songs--detuned so low that it rattles uncontrollably. His popping and slapping on the extra low tuned bass is a massive reason why Korn was the toast of hard rock in the mid 90s. Truth be told, he's always been one of my favorite bassists. So much so that he was one of the reasons I wanted to pick up a bass in the first place.
Basstacular: "Got the Life", "Blind", "Dead Bodies Everywhere", "Seed", "Somebody Someone"
#6
John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
Never ever leave a rock legend off your Best Of lists. This guy is so essential to the success of Zeppelin, yet people seem to pass him by when they mention the greatest bassists. That's as close to rock and roll sacrilege as you can get. Jones wasn't like Ringo. He wasn't the lucky guy who got to surround himself with geniuses and ride the wave of their efforts. Jones rocked the house and brought so much talent with him every song he wrote. Whether it was a solid-as-a-rock foundation for Jimmy Page to rock over or if he brought down the thunder to make some noise for himself, Jones is a bass master. It takes a great bassist to keep things interesting while a lead guitarist blasts out a riproaring solo, and Jones was superb in that. Add on the fact that Jones was also a master keyboardist/organist and he was a complete package. Jones is a bass god.
Basstacular: "Good Times, Bad Times", "Dazed and Confused", "Lemon Song", "Immigrant Song", "The Song Remains the Same", "Since I Been Lovin You", "For Your Life"
#5
Geddy Lee (Rush)
If you're ever in a discussion about great bassists and you don't mention the name of Geddy, you should be ashamed of yourself. In the world of progressive rock, there is none better. Alex Lifeson is on the other side drilling out poignant clips from his guitar and/or wavy synthesizer lines, and yet Geddy Lee still somehow finds a way to trump him in all his glory. Lee has his bass and amp set in such a way that it transcends just generic rock into some massive wall of badass bassitude. It almost seems like he understands the bass far better than anyone else who has touched the instrument. He knows what it can and can't do better than anyone else. Oh yeah, and he does this all while he sings lead vocals. How 'bout them apples?
Basstacular: "Tom Sawyer", "Subdivisions", "Force Ten", "Working Man", "2112"
#4
Justin Chancellor (Peach, Tool)
In Tool, and Peach prior to that, the bass is not a fundamental aspect that everyone else just plays over. No, the bass in arranged in such a way that it and Adam Jones' guitar are on the exact same playing field. On most of Tool's tracks, the guitar line just would not working without the bassline, and vice versa. Nearly no other band can claim this feat, to have attained a status that the bass and guitar are on the exact same plain of existence. And the man responsible? Justin Chancellor. His basslines are damn near the driving melody itself. There are a number of songs where the ear just gets immediately attracted to the bassline rather than just the guitars or vocals (though those are flat out nice as well). And with the epic length of most of Tool's songs, the fact that Chancellor can command the floor for the entire length is simply stellar.
Basstacular: "Schism", "Aenima", "Forty Six & 2", "Jimmy", "10,000 Days", "Lateralus", "Vicarious", "Third Eye", "Rosetta Stoned"
#3
Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, Steve Vai, solo)
Words do not describe the raw talent this guy has. So I won't even try. Just watch the above YouTube selection and observe the talent of Billy Sheehan. If your jaw doesn't drop, you might just have tetanus.
#2
Tim Bob Commerford, aka: Timmy C. (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave)
It takes a big man to keep up with a guy like Tom Morello. Tom could easily leave any less talented bassist in his wake of obscure sound effects. Timmy C. not only survives, he thrives under Tom Morello and his wah and tremolo pickup solos. With a guitarist as unique as Morello, Tim could never take the easy way out in any song by just matching up with the guitarline. He's always had to create something as if he himself was writing the melody. He's done a potent job at that, creating jumpy cut-throat bass cuts that should be the envy of any aspiring bassist. He clobbers his bass for amazing clarity and frightening bassitude. Timmy C. is one of the most underrated bassists in the history of rock. And don't let the fact that he's from my favorite band sway you into thinking I have a huge bias. It's a bias, but not a large one. Timmy C. is the reason I picked up a bass guitar.
Basstacular: "Calm Like a Bomb", "Fistful of Steel", "Freedom", "Take the Power Back", "Tire Me", "I'm Housin'", "Down on the Street", "Gasoline", "Drown Me Slowly", "One and the Same"
#1
Micheal Balzary, aka: Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
If you didn't see this number one coming, you don't know me very well. Flea has far and away been my favorite bassist for so long that there never will be any other thought of it in my mind. It's a given. There's very little doubt in my mind that when I play, Flea is the biggest influence I have in my sound. And yet, that's all it is is influence. Because there is absolutely zero percent chance I will ever catch him. The man is inhuman. He plays the bass with such resilient force, it's just unheard of. And it's not just noodling and improvising. The man fits such bombastic fits of bassist joy into a swarm of songs. Many times, he'll trump his entire band the entire song. His pop and slap method is orgasmic, and very often imitated. Badly, at that. Flea is on a level all his own. And it's there he will stay. Flea is the God of Bass Guitar. Without question.
Basstacular: Every single Red Hot Chili Pepper song.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
Victor Wooten
Les Claypool
Cliff Burton
Jason Newstead
KB
P-Nut
Roger Waters