Favorite Bassists

[Brother Firefingers]

Here are mine, more or less in order of their influence on my playing:

-Geddy Lee... the man himself. It was literally Geddy and Moving Pictures that inspired me to buy a bass and amp, and burn out multiple cassettes learning the songs. Still love it, and my style is largely based upon his.

-Rudy Sarzo; Quiet Riot and Ozzy... no one held down the smooth, heavy beat in 80's metal like Sarzo... I learned to lick the fretboard and play over the top from him, lol!

-John Taylor, Duran Duran. Yep, I was also after chicks, as well as learning to play. Geddy would have to ride a Harley through Foster Farms to stir up chicks, but John Taylor had it going on. Loved his combo rock/funk style. Strong influence.

-Steve Harris, Iron Maiden. I had to learn to gallop on the bass like Steve... it was a must. Still one of my favorite bass techniques

-Billy Sheehan, Mr Big. After learning some Sheehan, I was often accused of "Monster Trucking" over the guitar player in bands... 'nuff said!

-John Paul Jones, Led Zeppelin. I used to smoke pot.

-Jaco Pastorious, Weather Report. After playing for a couple decades, I mellowed out a bit... people would often refer to me playing by calling, "Hey Jaco!" It got me listening to his style, and I adopted a fretless bass style after hearing interviews with... he pulled the frets out of his bass and filled the grooves with epoxy; when asked why, he answered, "I don't have to press down as hard, so I can play faster." That was all I needed to hear. True on that end, but fretless requires a left-hand precision I'm not always availble to deliver accurately.

Those are my faves!

[CatHead]

The mighty Cliff Burton. Its down to him I play bass, really... and have a penchant for Rics, preferably burgundy.

[hatch]

Jean-Jacques Burnel for me

[HydrasBreath]

Well the bassist that got me first interested in Rics was Cliff Burton. He also inspired me to push myself and not just pump out 8th note root notes. He also got me into metal.

Then Geddy Lee and Chris Squire only further cemented my love of Rics and after that I was pretty much dead set on getting one (which I did)

Evan Linger from Skeletonwitch is a pretty sweet bassist and he uses a Ric which is fairly rare in metal these days. They have some cool riffs too.

Steve Harris is a huge influence on me. Iron maiden got me into writing harmonized stuff and chuggy riffs.

David Ellefson from Megadeth is a bassist that I've come to appreciate recently. He had some pretty sweet basslines that didn't always just follow the guitar.

Frank Bello is another metal hero of mine. I always found he had a unique tone and he's a pretty good finger player.

[Brother Firefingers]

David Ellefson from Megadeth is a bassist that I've come to appreciate recently. He had some pretty sweet basslines that didn't always just follow the guitar.

+1 for Ellefson... solid, tight, and often very groovy... Peace Sells?! C'mon, that's an awesome bass riff!

Megedeth is probably my favorite single band of all time... I'm a thrash metal maniac... nothing more fun to play on guitar. I especially love the Mustaine/Freedman years... two of my top ten favorite guitarists of all time, both in the same band.

I got my nickname from playing speed/thrash metal!

[iamthebassman]

Ronnie Lane of The Small Faces

All fantastic players, each with a very different playing style.
Plus at some point in there career they've all played a Rickenbacker (although Ronnie Lane may have only played a Ric guitar in Slim Chance)

Played Ronnie's acoustic guitar once, he used to live here. Ian McLagen, another Small Face, still lives here, he's a fan of my band, comes to shows every so often. Calls me "The Other Ronnie The Bass Player".

[HydrasBreath]

David Ellefson from Megadeth is a bassist that I've come to appreciate recently. He had some pretty sweet basslines that didn't always just follow the guitar.

+1 for Ellefson... solid, tight, and often very groovy... Peace Sells?! C'mon, that's an awesome bass riff!

Megedeth is probably my favorite single band of all time... I'm a thrash metal maniac... nothing more fun to play on guitar. I especially love the Mustaine/Freedman years... two of my top ten favorite guitarists of all time, both in the same band.

I got my nickname from playing speed/thrash metal!

Nice!

Yeah I'm also a speed/thrash freak. Megadeth is definitely frigging sweet. I learnt practically the whole rust in piece album and a bunch of cuts from peace sells and killing is my business. It's a nice finger workout for sure haha.

[Brother Firefingers]

David Ellefson from Megadeth is a bassist that I've come to appreciate recently. He had some pretty sweet basslines that didn't always just follow the guitar.

+1 for Ellefson... solid, tight, and often very groovy... Peace Sells?! C'mon, that's an awesome bass riff!

Megedeth is probably my favorite single band of all time... I'm a thrash metal maniac... nothing more fun to play on guitar. I especially love the Mustaine/Freedman years... two of my top ten favorite guitarists of all time, both in the same band.

I got my nickname from playing speed/thrash metal!

Nice!

Yeah I'm also a speed/thrash freak. Megadeth is definitely frigging sweet. I learnt practically the whole rust in piece album and a bunch of cuts from peace sells and killing is my business. It's a nice finger workout for sure haha.

Yep... the music requires you to be capable of, if not comfortable with a five-fret spread. Great warm-up!

[HydrasBreath]

well I was more referring to the fingers on my right hand but yeah the left hand gets a decent workout too.

[rickfan63]

James Jamerson. He probably played on more # 1 hits than all the others.

Yes, Jamerson, Macca, Duck Dunn, and Gene Simmons have influenced my playing the most.

[grygrx]

-John Taylor, Duran Duran. Yep, I was also after chicks, as well as learning to play. Geddy would have to ride a Harley through Foster Farms to stir up chicks, but John Taylor had it going on. Loved his combo rock/funk style. Strong influence.

Glad I'm not the only one!

[ricaddic]

James Jamerson (Motown session player) Paul Mc Cartney, (The Beatles & solo)John Enthwistle(The Who ) Rick Danko (The Band ) Berry Oakly (The Allman Bros.)Tom Fowler(Frank Zappa ) Joe Osborn(Session player) Stanley Clarke (Return to forever &solo) Boz Burrell (Bad Company) Mike Rutherford,(Genesis) Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) Jon Camp(Rennesaunce) Carol Kaye(Session player) Donald Dunn*(Booker T and the MG's) John Lodge (The Moody Blues) Willie Dixon( Blues artist) Garry Talent (The E Street Band ) Max Bennett(Session player) Chaz Cronk (The Strawbs) Greg Lake (ELP), there are many more but these are the main ones..

[jps]

...Max Bennett(Session player)...

I remember Max from Joni Mitchell's Miles Of Aisles era.

[rickenbrother]

...Max Bennett(Session player)...

I remember Max from Joni Mitchell's Miles Of Aisles era.

I'll bet you remember as far back as when Heinz had only two varieties!

[Kopfjaeger]

Well the bassist that got me first interested in Rics was Cliff Burton. He also inspired me to push myself and not just pump out 8th note root notes. He also got me into metal.

Then Geddy Lee and Chris Squire only further cemented my love of Rics and after that I was pretty much dead set on getting one (which I did)

Evan Linger from Skeletonwitch is a pretty sweet bassist and he uses a Ric which is fairly rare in metal these days. They have some cool riffs too.

Steve Harris is a huge influence on me. Iron maiden got me into writing harmonized stuff and chuggy riffs.

David Ellefson from Megadeth is a bassist that I've come to appreciate recently. He had some pretty sweet basslines that didn't always just follow the guitar.

Frank Bello is another metal hero of mine. I always found he had a unique tone and he's a pretty good finger player.

Now this makes me happy!! I was thinking I was the overwhelming minority with my choice of bass player "heros"! Burnell, Ellefson, Burton, Harris, and Bello, NICE!! Very nice!!! I'm pretty eclectic and enjoy a wide variety of music but these are my favs!! Thanks guys!!

Sepp