your most influecial bassists

[Lime]

well i just really wanna know what players are making us bassists tick :)

so list your 3 most influecnial PLAYERS not bands so for example your a huge system of a down fan dont say shavo simply becuase hes in system! and why they influenced you

anywho to get started

mine are

DEAD KENNEDYS
Klaus Fluoride= the way loads of their songs start with just bass, the fact he plays fast but is tasteful and the bass drives the songs along.

THE MAD CAPSULE MARKETS
takeshi= writes good riffs has a great tone i, crazy with the effects and solos like a muthaF**ker

BLACK SABBATH
geezer= one of the few metal band whwich relized that the bass is as important as guitar and his melody lines are great fit just with the guitar and well what can i say about "bassically"?

[Crash]

Pearl Jam
Jeff Ament - His use of slides instead of hammer-ons, his general composition of his lines, and most importantly knowing when not to play a note as well as knowing when one is needed.

Our Lady Peace
Duncan Couttes - Again the use of slides as well as his willingness to break the rules and play something that shouldn't work but still does.

Live (Throwing Copper album)
Chad Taylor - Great use of driving bass lines, tasteful bass solo's which fit into the song instead of standing out like a sore thumb, and his use of playing dynamic.


There are many other bassists I find very inspiring but these are the ones I find most influential in my own playing.

[METaLLiKka7447]

Rere
Metallica- Cliff Burton
He was a badass, people fail to listen to his bass just because he plays metal, he ****ing kicked ass and he is the reasong i play bass/guitar

Rex Brown- Pantera
He is another underestimate bassist, most people think a good bassist it a bassist that does solos, well thats not what bass is about its backing up the melody/guitar/vocals/ehatever, and Rex did an awesome job in Pantera
(bass solos are still awesome though)

John Bonham- Zepplin

Back in the day he did some awesome ****

[Lime]

i think its mean laughing at ignorance but john bonham played the drums :rolleyes: and all though his works is good hes not a bass player

i wont tell anyone but the guitar guys would have a field day with this

[METaLLiKka7447]

i meant John Paul Jones

[teleman]

Originally posted by Lime
i think its mean laughing at ignorance but john bonham played the drums :rolleyes: and all though his works is good hes not a bass player

i wont tell anyone but the guitar guys would have a field day with this

yes we would;)

[TomBert05]

Cliff Burton

Classical Music+Metal= amazing stuff. cliff was such a big classical fan and fusing that with metal just made some amazing stuff

John Entwistle

His sound was godly. And he pretty much invented the bass solo in My Generation. no one was doing that stuff when he did

Steve Harris

He can just play some amazing stuff with Maiden. He is just a very creative bassist just like Geezer

[steers b-c]

nate mendel - i don't actually like sunny day but he is a freaking amazing bassist. check out his work on juno's a future lived in past tense to see what i mean. in the foo's he does nothing but cash checks.

rose - from the band that started it all for me, poster children (http://www.posterchildren.com). she is THE reason i play bass.

rika - holy oh my god. the way she holds melt-banana together is jaw dropping.

of course, i dont play anything like these people...funny how that happens.

[thurston]

Mike Watt - Punk meets jazz.

That's all I can think of right now.

[ClaytonM TKW]

I don't play bass, but I'm sursprised that NOBODY has mentioned Les Claypool of Primus. That guy is incredible. he has the most distinct sound I've ever heard from a bass player.

Clayton Moore

[steers b-c]

yeah, but i honestly get bored with slap after about 30 seconds. if you wanna wank, go buy a guitar. hell, guitarists shouldn't solo either. :D bring the wrath! hehehe

[Lime]

personaly i love les claypool.. hes done a lot of good to the music buis.

i dont really see how you can get bored of slap though its like saying bored of picking or fingerstyle. but thats really just me.

ah i love the bass forum you guys dont judge each other and *sobs* im proud to be a part of this.

[whirlaway]

adam clayton-U2
john lodge-moody blues
steve queralt-ride
alex james-blur
...and more(mccartney, rogers, ......................

simple, driving yet playfull and not OVER abusive to songs.

NO BASS SOLOS! please

[steers b-c]

i simply get tired of the sound. the actual sound of slapping is annoying to my ears...kinda like fingernails on a chalkboard. there are a few rare cases when it's cool like on:

remain in light by the talking heads.

that record rules.

[jamie.pope]

What about Chris from Muse????

He's amazing!

[squire_1987]

Im not a bass player, but if i had to pick id say

Les Claypool- hes a really good bass player and he can write a good tune.

Cliff Burton/ Rob Trujjilo/ Jason Newsted- There all real good players too. Cliff was an amazing player who could play real well and make a good song, and jason and rob both have real good stage presence and they can both play too.

[opendoorbass]

Having to list three is a difficult process for me... there are so many bassists who have influenced me in many ways.

First, I would say Jeff Ahmet... he got me started... I started playing guitar first (don't we all) and realized that I would never be Mike McCready or Stone Gossard, so I looked to Jeff Ahmet for inspiration and just feel in love with his playing... he does some amazing stuff when he barely plays at all...

Second, I would say Robert Deleo... Stone Temple Pilots would just sucks ass without him... He is the true visionary of that band... he plays some tough as **** lines and writes some kick ass songs at the same time... he is just amazing...

Third, and finally, I would say Scott Thunes... for those of you who don't know that name, he was Zappa's bass player from about 1982 til 1988... he was just nuts... he is the only person I could ever imagine playing crazy walking basslines to songs based on traditional jazz progressions with a pick on a P Bass... The guy had balls, plus he has toured with Dweezil Zappa, no small feat... and STEVE ****ING VAI, most definitely no small feat...

[deadlyorigami]

there's a ton more but the guy said 3 so here's 3

john paul jones-bass, keys, string arrangments what more can you ask for

geezer- see above posts plus he wrote all the lyrics too

bruce thomas - elvis costello and the attractions- just listen to "pump it up"

[Epiphone8]

od thread, as a guitarist in mainly a 3peice band plus singer/occasional ryhtm player i know that a good bass player is always needed. so my influences are:

flea: well duh! the best bass player ion the last 20years, incredibly melodic (scar tissue, under the bridge, pretty little ditty) and he can slap liek a mother****er (nobody weird like me) as well as play some very cool solos. oh and did i mention he plays the trumpet 2?

john entwistle: my fave bass player ever. the ox was just one of a kind, labelled as the quiet one but just as wild as the other 3 offstage, the man played the most complicated lines in straight rock music ive ever heard, great songwriter aswell. wont get fooled again live (especially at shepperton studios 1978) is always fantastic to see him fly up and down scales and add in some slap just for a laugh. RIP john

justin chancellor: makes bass guitar seem so simple to me, he plays some really nice lines and licks (prison sex, stinkfist) as well as thumping slap (ticks and leeches). i love the bass tone and overall sound he gets. has an eqaul share of bass and gta in tool, so we actually get to hear how good he is.

players that dont quite make the top3:

paul mccartney
tim commerford
john paul jones
geezer butler
noel redding
colin greenwood
john deacon (most underatted ever!)

[Aquatrotsky]

No offense, but Justin doesn't play on Prison Sex.

And I have been listening to a lt of Rush lately, so maybe Geddy Lee?

And as always, Tony Levin and Les Claypool.

[kingfet]

flea and the dave matthews bass player (sorry i forgot his name.)

[Epiphone8]

good point!

i meant to say eulogy rather than prison sex, i was listening to prison sex at the time!

[Lexicon]

Paul Barker (Ministry) - Just listen to 'Thieves' or 'Never Believe'. he just rocks.

Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory) - He plays bass like a guitar, and the bass on 'Edgecrusher' sounds like an ice pick.

Jeordie White (APC and Marilyn Manson) - I just really dig the way he uses alot of bends and slides. He also plays some complicated stuff.

Lemmy - Lemmy is god.

Tim Commerford (RATM & Audioslave) - Really plays some tricky stuff. I also dig how he plays weirds sounding chords.

Les Claypool - The man is a genius.

[Duba]

I was inspired by many bassists and still I manage to track new faces to the list. But here are the main influences:

JACO pastorius - No speech! The man is KILLER. One who do not agree with me deserve to die.

Louis Johnson - For those of you who don't know the guy, he was the most wanted bassist in the 70's and early 80's, played with loads of artists and bands fron that era and had his own band - The Jonhson Brothers. By the way, he was Les Claypool's biggest inpiration(along with Stanley Clarke)

John Paul Jones - Led Zeppelin is my biggest influence as a band, so does Johnny boy. Listening to his riffs an fills makes you cry - He's a rock bass genius.

Flea - So simple, so energetic, so FLEA! Much to learn from that guy.

Stanley Clarke - I've listen to lots of old Fusion records, especially Return To Forever - can't ignore Stanleys soul and technique.

Timmy C. - The DRIVE Master - taught me **** load of things about bass distortion, working in a band, and bassline composition


Those are the main influences on my playing but the list continues.............

[BossMXRHarmonix]

Pete Hook
John Entwistle
Andy Rourke
Bill Wyman
Paul Chambers
Charles Mingus
Niels Pedersen
Jaco Pastorius

[gig_box_13]

i think geddy lee from rush and john paul johns jaco Pastorius flea paul mccartney are the most influental bass players. geddy doesn't just ahve a bump bump sound but he plays "lead" bass. its pretty crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[brighterstatic]

are always harder to pin down than the folks I just really really like, but her goes



Peter Hook I grew up on Joy Division and New Order and I seemed to have picked up the high frequency bass as melodic lead from this guy.

Mick Karn (he was in the band Japan and with the jazz guitarist David Torn) he made want to buy my frettless and now thats all I play.

David J (Love and Rockets and the Jazz Butchers) I kind of learned to keep it simple via this guy. I also listened to a ton of Love and Rockets as a kid and thsi guy played simple supportive low dubby lines that were usually the hook to a song, I kind of picked a bit of that up.

I dig folks like Flea, VIctor Wooten, and Les CLaypool, but I dont see a real influence being there with those guys.

[L3fteye]

My favourite bassists are:

Nick Oliveri - QOTSA
Roger - Less Than Jake
Twiggy Ramirez/Jeordie White - APC

[commuter]

Peter Hook (Joy Division / New Order)
Joe Lally (Fugazi)
Nate Mendel (Sunny Day Real Estate)
John Paul Jones (an early inspiration)

[gottajibboo]

sebastian steinberg
flea
phil lesh

[ThinPaperWings]

How has James Jamerson of Motown been left out thus far? If anyone can forego rock music for one second and dig some classic soul, you'll remember how good the bass line for the Four Tops 'Reach Out (I'll Be There)' is.

I also love Peter Hook, Andy Rourke, Adam Clayton and Robert DeLeo (seriously underrated). and props to Pastorius and to Victor Wooten, if only for Seinfeld theme.

[monkeyspunky]

adam clayton, john entwhistle, flea, tim bob

[cold & ugly]

Paul D'Amour played on prison sex and yes he did do a good job for tool,,, just listen to their Live In-Studio recordings of Intolerance, Prison Sex, Sober and 4 degrees

Recorded live at 'Jan-Douwe Kroeske's
2 Meter Sessie' for VARA Radio, NOB Audiostudio 1, Hilversum, The Netherlands,
5 March 1994

thats where they recorded them

and Justin Chancellor is a great bassist... got so much talent... and if u ever listen to Peach u know he can drive

just lsten to Naked,Velvet, You Lied and Dont Make Me Ur God

[thunda-berd]

ok here goes:

1. Chris from Muse... Muse wouldnt be the same without those sweet melodies, Hes INCREDIBLE

2. Matt who WAS in weezer... Hes just really good.. especially on Pinkerton, LISTEN TO IT

3. Mike Dirnt from Green Day... Amazing bassplayer, melody from heaven :D

[Horneyefamine]

Probably Geezer Bulter. Also, Dixie Collins and Brian Hill from Buzzov-en. (They were in the band at different times)

[fuzzymonkey]

What about the guy from sublime? some of his stuff was pretty good.

[Lexicon]

forgot some:

Hunter (AFI) - The stuff he plays is just awesome.

Matt Freeman (Rancid) - If you havent heard Maxwell Murder, then you must!

[A2aThoT]

John Deacon (Queen)
Faso (Elio e le Storie Tese - an italian progressive band...)
...and a bunch of guitarists... (Tom Morello, Brian May, ecc...)

[xnude_lasersx]

Jaco!!!!! and John Myung has some really great stuff also Bill "Buddha" ****ens yupp and Stu Hamm

[DRIVELIKEJEHU]

finally! someone mentions JACO! one of the greatest! and i also enjoyed Nate Mendel in early Sunny Day Real Estate, "diary" and the "pink album"

[A2aThoT]

I forgotten John Myung from Dream Theater... I was listening a lot at "Awake" when I stepped from guitar to bass... I was trying to play his songs when I discovered he was using a 6-string bass.... My poor, little bass is just a 4-string so... Now I use it detuned to B... and I can play 6-string parts :D

And what about Twiggy Ramirez? I know he sucks but I really enjoyed his playing 'coz I liked Marilyn Manson a lot at the time (now I like him too, but not as then)...

By now, I think Shavo from SOAD is influencing me, with all my listening to "Spider" and their whole first album... my mother hates me 'coz I play that record again and again while I play every song on my bass...:p

[SicK&TwizTeD]

Cliff Burton - METALLICA
Flea - RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
Fieldy - Korn

Well and also Noel Redding of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Paul D'Amour of the Tool

[chris g]

What.......no Stu Hamm?

And you all call yourselves bass players!;)

[DRIVELIKEJEHU]

Originally posted by chris g
What.......no Stu Hamm?

And you all call yourselves bass players!;)

yes sir.. sorry sir.. stu hamm .. man.. i have one of satriani's live albums.. dude..that fool rips it up like nobodies bidnezz.. props to stuuuuuu!!

[cubby]

John Entwistle - The Who - made his bass the actual melody instrument for the Who.

Colin Moulding - XTC - perfect tempo without being formulaic

Mani - The Stone Roses - made you want to dance

Bruce Foxton - The Jam

Bruce Thomas - The Attractions

...all influenced me the most.

[Mike_SWR]

Dirk Lance - Incubus
Timmy C - RaTM
Les Claypool - Primus

[DRIVELIKEJEHU]

joe lally

[jimbobass]

Cliff Burton/Tha Man Tha Myth Tha God, RIP.-Metallica

Ryan Martine/The Cliff of today's Metal.-Mudvayne

Geddy Lee/Outstanding bass player E.g (yyz).-Rush

Thats about it.
I would put Claypool but he dosen't really inspire me However an outstanding player.