Least Favorite Bassists

[mikko]

Everybody have their own taste of music. And just like in the guitar world, some people put more weight on playing technique and some on true musicianship. You know, there's rankings like "Worlds 10 fastest guitarists" and I even know some people who really think those guys must be very good because they're so fast. I think being just fast isn't good enough, that's separate thing from being a great musician (IMHO, of course).
Couple of examples below. And because I'm not here to mock at anybody, I let you decide which one has just plain technique and which one is full of true musicianship.

[gareth]

I'm just going to go ahead and say I hate Dragonforce. Not because they are bad or anything, but solely because I've been trying for five years to beat that song in expert mode in Guitar Hero III.

I'm beginning to develop a dislike for Joe Satriani too, for the same reason, though I did get Satch Boogie on Hard.

[winston]

I find it amusing that the names listed in this thread are the same names listed in "favorite bassists" threads.

So funny and so true.....

[mgauction]

[quote="gareth"]I can't listen to Jaco Pastorious. quote]

My neither! Nothing catchy about his playing, no good riffs, not melodius. Played in that landscape groove of...nowhere. Yuk!

[mgauction]

Robert Truhillo with Metalica. Can't stand his crawling on the stage. The guy just can not get vertical.

I don't even think of him as a bass player. I just think he's funny!

[mgauction]

Gene Simmons

Haaa!!! I forgot he was a bass player More like a comedy rock troupe

[mgauction]

sid vicious

Another actor posing as a bass player. Should have tried out for Broadway after the Sex Pistols. He'd at least have been on stage with Nathan Lane by now.

[cassius987]

My neither! Nothing catchy about his playing, no good riffs, not melodius.

Man, that's the least accurate description of Jaco I've ever heard! Have you even listened to him before? And to qualify this post I haven't been in the mood to listen to him for years (other than the aforementioned Joni Mitchell recordings)--I'm not one of his acolytes from YouTube.

I have to agree with the previous sentiment that this thread is getting tired fast!

[Ivan3000]

I'm not a fan of modern slap bass too much.

[Ivan3000]

...although I might be outed: Lemmy .
He just can't play and sing at all , in my taste it's just noise.

I haven't heard much motorhead, but the stuff I have heard didn't impress me.

[hieronymous]

Pretty much every bassist listed in this thread is someone that I have liked at some point and who influenced my playing. I really didn't like reading through this thread after it first appeared. I felt like I would rather be positive than think about bassists I didn't like. Then I thought of one: Jack Casady. I know a lot of people think he is a bass god, but I've never been able to "get it" with his playing. But as some other people have mentioned, a lot of it has to do with the rest of the music around the bassist - I just don't like the vocals in Jefferson Airplane and not a huge fan of the songs. Same goes for Hot Tuna.

I thought of some other people too - the guy in the Violent Femmes, I know some people like him. Will Lee - I am sure he is amazing and I liked a video I saw of him with the Fab Faux, but never got into his playing that much. I hate Gene Simmons for the most part, but I love his playing on the first bunch of albums - I even like some of the albums where he probably isn't playing! And I even saw Kiss in Yokohama, Japan around 1988. Sometimes it depends on which era or album you listen to, especially like players who have been around for a while - Gene Simmons, Jack Bruce, Geddy Lee, etc. Oh, Bill Wyman, another player I never really could get into, a lot of the time it might be Kieth anyway!

[clankchris]

Man, that Dragonforce vid made me think they could make an excellent Christmas Caroling album.

[woodyng]

Harry-i agree that i don't want to spend time thinking about music (or musicians) that don't click with me,or dwell negatively on that. as an example,i am a big fan of Jack Casady's sound,etc,but that clip at the top of the page sounds like it could only sound good if i were really stoned. so here's a musician whose work i admire,but this is an exception. i still like the body of his work,but could see where if this is all i had ever heard,i might have a different opinion. i don't necessarily see that this type of poll is any better or worse than the Most Favorite Bassists opinion polls. when i went to see primus in concert,every other person in that hall was absolutely grooving and enthralled by what they were hearing,i was just bored. i have heard people say that about yes / genesis shows for decades,so it takes all kinds,right?
Mike-i agree with Cassius, you maybe haven't heard the right Jaco music! his solo album definitely shows his virtuosity,but it is very melodic,catchy,and accessible. also his work on "heavy weather" with Weather Report-whew.

[stts64]

Jack Casady. I know a lot of people think he is a bass god, but I've never been able to "get it" with his playing.

I have similar thoughts about Jack Bruce. The guy is a legend - no doubt, but I just can not see the genius in his bass playing.

[2ndHand72Rick]

I think we should start a thread on "The best UNDERATED bassists"Because All of the bassists listed in this thread(except a few exceptions.such as Sid Vicious who was completely talentless)I think we are all merely tired of listening too.We all have basically Grown up listening to them.And now most of us here are.....well....over 40 now!! LOL,And we have listened to said players as long as we've been playing.Let me say this however.Jaco was a one of the finest ever to grace a four string.Jack Cassidy...well....Not so much.Gene Simmons Was an idol of mine as a young man.Because of his stage personna.It was later in life that i realized That in fact he really can play bass!Squire,Geddy,and entwistle,Are all absolutley fabulous palyers and legends.We all know this.So let me start by Saying John Deacon is my number one choice for Best underated bass player