Your Top Bass Players

[nick_allen]

I'll add two that contributed greatly to inspiring me to play bass:
Chris Hillman, once of the Byrds
Bill Wyman, once of the Rolling Stones (amazed no-one mentioned him so far, unless I missed it)
and two more I like:
Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) - Carol Kaye played on most of their records, but Brian wrote the lines for her to play
Nick Lowe, ex-Rockpile and solo, most recently touring with Ry Cooder

[antipodean]

Macca
John Entwhistle
Jack Bruce
James Jamerson
Bruce Foxton
Gordon Sumner
John Wetton

But my all-time favourite is Tony Levin. The minute I heard "Sleepless" I was floored. I know he plays stick half the time, but to me that only makes him more of a legend......

[xpitt]

Alex, have you heard Anthony Jackson's latest CD, Interspirit? Awesome music!

Thanks Jeff, for that hint ! I will go to Amazon right now for ordering...
I was referring to that Al DiMeola live album "Tour De Force" with Jan Hammer, incredible bass work, the low frequencies go right through the ceiling straight into the basement...

Whoppeee ! All those times come up again , great stuff to remember...Tim Bogert was mentioned here and Carl Radle as well., just great !....
I have another one of my favourites :
LELAND SKLAR !!!!!

[blueflamerick]

Karl Alvarez - All, Descendents
Tony Lombardo - Descendents
Mike Watt - Minutemen, Firehose
Geezer Butler
Clint Conley - Mission of Burma

[BAD RONBO, KiLLeR DWaRfS]

brian...at what point was hammond-hammond in tull. loved his diagonal striped black and white costume and matching bass in circus magazine !

[captsandwich]

Mike Watt - Minutemen, Firehose
Clint Conley - Mission of Burma

I have been on a 80's indie/hardcore kick lately.

I am also a big fan of Dave Allen from Gang of Four/Shriekback

[mikko]

Jack Casady
Steve Harris
Juuso Nordlund
Chris Squire
Pekka Pohjola
Jouni Vento

+many others, especially early Jamaican session players. I don´t know their names, but I sure enjoy listening to them playing on 70´s reggae records. I prefer style & sound to technical skills.

[blueflamerick]

I am also a big fan of Dave Allen from Gang of Four/Shriekback

Dave Allen is the bee's knees. I've been on a big Gang of Four kick lately.

[captsandwich]

I am also a big fan of Dave Allen from Gang of Four/Shriekback

Dave Allen is the bee's knees. I've been on a big Gang of Four kick lately.

Judging by your posts, you should check out Mclusky & Future of the Left, if you haven't already.

[86kubicki]

When I started playing bass my holy triumvirate was Entwistle, Lee and Squire. Since then its been a whole host of players:

Colin Moulding (XTC)
Graham Maby (Joe Jackson)
Steve Harris
Norwood Fisher (Fishbone)
Flea
Macca
Tony Levin
Rick Danko
Robert Sledge (Ben Folds Five)
Bob Nyswonger (The Bears, Psychodots - he posted here for a brief time)
Justin Meldal Johnsen (Beck)
Les Claypool
Tim Commerford (RATM)
Tim Vesely (Rheostatics)
Matt Sharp (Weezer, The Rentals)

I'm sure there are many more I'm forgetting...

[longhouse]

Ah, I forgot about Colin Moulding...

[weemac]

brian...at what point was hammond-hammond in tull. loved his diagonal striped black and white costume and matching bass in circus magazine !

From about 72-75. I love his sort of unconcious sort of arty aproach to the instrument he really had no idea how to play. A "real" bass player would never have come up with his lines...

emac.

[johnallg]

Chris Squire
Paul McCartney
John Camp
Gary Strater
Tom Kriss
Dee Murray
Greg Lake
That's all I can think of right now.... there are others I admire for songs/albums.

[antipodean]

Darn, forgot to mention Les Claypool....

[winston]

I should add Roger Waters to my list. His tone, attack and presence was masterful relative to the music and his writing of course remains superb.