BY MIKEY MIGO
When you think about it, or at least when I think about it; the bass in a rock song is the back bone. The drums considered as well, but the vocalist and guitar players are normally more known to the casual fan. They're the ones doing the interviews, on the Hit Parade posters (Is that even a magazine anymore?), and the ones who really get to claim the glory in a live show. How many bass solos do you hear at the normal rock show compared to guitar solos? Not very many, if any at all.
THE BEST BASS PLAYERS OF ALL TIME.
"My Picks of The Groove Masters (Yeah, I used that term)"
It would be insane for me to narrow it down. I like to pride myself that I'm open-minded to a lot of music and have heard a lot music. The truth is that none of us can say we've "heard" everything. We may of have listened to a few songs by this band and that band, but for the majority of it we haven't given it a full listen to be able to say we've "heard" it. Am I sounding crazy or lifting a speech from ‘White Man Can't Jump'? Yeah, probably. Basically, what I'm saying is that outside of our family, friends, and personal favorites odds are you've not really listened to EVERYTHING out there. I know I haven't. So that's my excuse for not making an official Top Ten List. Even if I don't have it on the list and have heard of the band and/or bassist I've simply not been exposed enough to give them a credit.
Bootsy Collins
Parliament
It's hard not to nod your head to Bootsy's work. Especially, Parliament's "Mothership Connection" but it goes on much more than that. When I was a kid, a friend of my parents knew I collected autographs. He brought me over a goofy looking dollar bill with George Clinton's face on it. It was signed by Mr. Clinton and Bootsy Collins. I would go on to lose that great autograph, but since the day I got it I was a life long fan. When preparing a party CD, I think it should be a crime to leave out Parliament. Mostly in part to the groove that Collins provides.
Duff McKagan
Guns N' Roses
Growing up I was into bands like my hometown's Jackson 5 and pop rock stuff like Huey Lewis and The News. At about eleven or twelve, I found music that made me want to rebel. Still, my family didn't really care and even bought me every GnR cassette and CD I've ever owned. To me though, at that time in my life Guns N' Roses were the only real music out there. With being so young I can't really say it was "iconic", but it sure as hell felt that way. I listen back to them now and I am shocked how underappreciated Duff McKagan was.
Geezer Butler
Black Sabbath
Geezer Butler was the first to de-tune his bass in what has become the standard in metal, he was one of the first to use a "wah-wah pedal", and he wrote most of Black Sabbath's lyrics. By those accolades it's hard not to give Geezer his proper dues. At Ozzfest 2005, I got to see Geezer Butler in all his glory perform and rock the stage. Sadly, I barely remember the performance because the next bass player's band listed kicked my ass and made me consume A LOT of alcohol.
Steve Harris
Iron Maiden
Yep. Iron F*cking Maiden. I went to the 2005 Ozzfest to just hang out. I wasn't too much into the line up, but I had access to VIP tickets and couldn't pass it up. Lucky for me, I got to really "hear" the awesomeness of Steve Harris. He's a self taught bass player, who like Geezer Butler is the principle song writer in his band. He's more known for a "gallop" style that's been used and abused many times since. Still, not many do it as good as Steve Harris. Even less do it better.
Justin Chancellor
Tool
Even though he wasn't an original member of the band, he came in 1995 right at the start of Tool's uphill rise as the kings of experimental and progressive metal. I think Justin is the main reason I listen for bass lines in songs now a days. Over the past few years, a Tool song would come on the radio or on a CD and I'd point out to whoever would listen "Check out the bass lines on this song!" Especially the stuff from the past two albums has all been heavy on the bass. I couldn't and refuse to imagine songs like "The Pot" or "Lateralus" without the bass lines behind them.
Roger Waters
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd was and still is one of the most influential bands of all time. Their progressive drive and experimentation is what led to much of the genres and styles that we all love and listen to on a daily basis. When Syd Barrett left the band, Waters took the helm as a lead vocalist, writer, and face of the band. The whole time we continued to be the bass player for the band. His overall influence on music is obviously known, but many forget about his bass playing contributions. His melodic and serene playing was really a huge step forward for music. Recognize.
John Paul Jones
Led Zeppelin
It's hard to believe John Paul Jones started his career off mostly as a session player or "hired gun" until he hooked up with arguably the greatest band of all time. In most cases, just being in a band like this would get you "greatness by association" rights. However, Jones is great because he's John Paul Jones. John Paul Jones is an ingredient of Zeppelin that I think it's fair to say would be the same without him. He never really got himself into the trouble as the other members of the band, but claims he had just as much fun during the touring. So it's a double sided sword. He's the slyest of the band and yet often left in the shadows of Plant and Page. Then again, who wouldn't be in those two's shadows?
Flea
Red Hot Chili Peppers
There is so many times I go out to a Chicago local show and the first thing I notice is that the bass player is ripping off Flea. It's not just his style of strumming and plucking the strings, but his actual physical poses. They'll get low and bob their head in the same motions or they'll lean back and jump around a little. It's really sad and cute at the same time. Yet, it all makes perfect sense. Flea is one of the best and most known bass players from the past twenty years. The guitar position in the band has been a tad bit shaky and the drummer is known (at least to me) to look way too much like Will Ferrell. That leaves Anthony as the front man who owns the show and then there's Flea. He's one of the very few mainstream bass players to get his proper due. Add his performance in "The Big Lebowski" and he's gold. All hail the Flea King.
Les Claypool
Primus
I strategically placed Les Claypool at the end of my list because I know that there is a group of rabid(and very smart) people out there that would destroy me if I didn't give him a mention. Claypool is the best to pick up a bass in my generation. I can't think of anyone else who represents what I think a bass line should sound like in a song or band. Being eccentric makes him who he is, but at the same time I think it's what held him back all these years. He's almost too goofy to be as great as he is. His wacky attitude and antics is what I feel holds him back from the mainstream and thus the mainstream respect. I doubt he even wants it, so good on him. I'll continue to listen and if you're this far into the paragraph you will too.
|
