These are bass players who play in rock 'n' roll bands.
They are oftentimes the unsung heroes, working in tandem with the drummer to establish the foundation and consistency necessary to produce a dynamic recording or live performance.
Here are the 10 best in the business:
1. John Entwistle
Just listen to "Quadrophenia." And then listen again. The Ox was the Who's glue, a superior musician who kept it all together while Keith Moon, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey were off in their own happy place.
2. Mel Schacher
Grand Funk Railroad was built on bass. No one has a heavier approach than Schacher. His grooves are demonically dense, gnarly and penetrate bone. Listen to "Closer to Home."
3. Roger Glover
Deep Purple's bass player extraordinaire. Lightning fast and has to be to keep up with Ian Paice and Ritchie Blackmore. One of the masters.
4. Chris Squire
Arguably creates the signature sound of Yes. What makes Squire so unique is the style of music he plays — tricky prog rock with perpetual changes in timing and acute, precise dynamics.
5. Dusty Hill
It's incredible that ZZ Top's sound comes from a three-piece band. Hill's bass playing is a wall of sound, a perfect complement to Billy Gibbons and Frank Beard.
6. Flea
You may never have heard of the Red Hot Chili Peppers were it not for the usually shirt-less Flea. A bundle of kinetic energy, Flea is the fuse of the funk.
7. John Paul Jones
The most underappreciated member of Led Zeppelin, but a key cog in the legendary lineup. He somehow stays right with the innovative John Bonham and handles the often tricky arrangements with precision.
8. Geddy Lee
Has a very different style than Hill, but is a key reason why Rush delivers the power of an orchestra as a three-piece band. Clean, crisp and quick, Lee ranks with the best of them.
9. Billy Wig
Rhythm machine for Boston-based Hell Toupee, a funk-meister from the same genre as Flea. Powerful, trippy and unpredictable, Billy Wig often sounds like he's playing lead.
10. Jason Newsted
Brilliant musician who should get a lot of credit for Metallica's cult and mainstream status. Anchors one of Generation X's best bands. Newsted, with drummer Lars Ulrich, produces tremors.
Nice writing about bass players, who as you point out are in a kind of non-glorified position in the band tho' some of these guys are hard to ignore (Flea).
Posted by: Account Deleted | November 09, 2007 at 01:52 AM
Fun list! Some others to bring into the conversation:
Berry Oakley -- Listen to "One Way Out" on Eat a Peach. That might be the coolest sounding bass part ever recorded on a live rock album.
Muzz Skillings -- Living Colour... Flea might not have happened without Skillings paving the way. Listen to "Cult of Personality" on Vivid.
Posted by: Scott | November 09, 2007 at 03:10 AM
Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, arguably the greatest bass player to come out of the grunge era and far more talented than Dusty Hill or Jason Newsted.
Posted by: Gecko Rock | November 09, 2007 at 07:40 AM
It's hard to keep this to 10 names. Good call on both Oakley and DeLeo, although Dusty Hill is pretty damn good. You need to be into ZZ Top to appreciate his skills.
Posted by: Dan | November 09, 2007 at 09:51 AM
That's the fun of making a Top 10 list like this -- it's impossible! The arguments about who is on/off are entertaining. And the whole process reminds us to go back and re-listen to some great music with fresh ears.
Posted by: Scott | November 09, 2007 at 12:50 PM
no jaco pastorious?
dude's a legend!
Posted by: rh4 | November 28, 2007 at 07:31 PM
Are you kidding me, no Jack Bruce
Posted by: Greg | March 12, 2008 at 11:45 AM
He's Called Les Claypool. What else needs to be said. Best ever
Posted by: Nick | March 19, 2008 at 10:53 AM
He's Called Les Claypool. What else needs to be said. Best ever
Posted by: Nick | March 19, 2008 at 10:54 AM
where in the hell is victor wooten?? he is by far the best ever!! or at least the top 10!
Posted by: James | April 30, 2008 at 04:37 PM
oh and les claypool is more top 10 worthy than some you mentioned
Posted by: James | April 30, 2008 at 04:39 PM
GEDDY IS A BASS GOD
Posted by: Adam | June 21, 2008 at 11:38 AM
If you don't mention Steve Harris from Iron Maiden, your list is tainted...
Posted by: NoVaSpY | June 21, 2008 at 01:41 PM
Very surprised that true bassists dont give Gary Thain ex Uriah Heep a listen.Gary Thain is up there with the worlds best. Further more some of those on your bassist list are surely just bass players from peoples favourite band and not really great bassists.
Posted by: Paul de Fleuriot | July 18, 2008 at 05:12 AM
I saw this band Vaeda and their bassist Aristotle had the sickest pedal board I've ever seen for a bass player. Definitly think he was the best bass player i've ever seen live.
Posted by: Steve | August 11, 2008 at 01:58 PM
I saw this band Vaeda and their bassist Aristotle had the sickest pedal board I've ever seen for a bass player. Definitly think he was the best bass player i've ever seen live.
Posted by: Steve | August 11, 2008 at 01:58 PM
I saw this band Vaeda and their bassist Aristotle had the sickest pedal board I've ever seen for a bass player. Definitly think he was the best bass player i've ever seen live.
Posted by: Steve | August 11, 2008 at 01:58 PM
I saw this band Vaeda and their bassist Aristotle had the sickest pedal board I've ever seen for a bass player. Definitly think he was the best bass player i've ever seen live.
Posted by: Steve | August 11, 2008 at 01:58 PM
wer da fuck is cliff burton!!!!!???????????
or steve harris????????
Posted by: luke ivers | August 28, 2008 at 08:24 AM
what about Jaco? he's the best, should be number one
Posted by: robert | September 04, 2008 at 04:23 PM
Top Jimmy Scriven is one of the greatest bass players to ever live. Right up there with Geddy. He is in love with his bass guitar.
Posted by: Top Jimmy | September 10, 2008 at 07:18 PM
ok u put jason newsted on this list AND NOT CLIFF BURTON WTF!?!?!
Posted by: manning | October 18, 2008 at 01:31 PM
ok u put jason newsted on this list AND NOT CLIFF BURTON WTF!?!?!
Posted by: manning | October 18, 2008 at 01:31 PM
I respectfully submit for your consideration Jack Casady of Jeff Airplane and Hot Tuna.
Posted by: Nybar | October 23, 2008 at 05:59 PM
Thanks you! I've looked through about 4 of similar lists to this and either Entwistle was not mentioned OR he was at the bottom of the list. I would have Iron Maiden on there but all I really care about is The Ox.
Posted by: Ox-Best Bass Player | October 25, 2008 at 10:22 PM
well...where's Cliff Burton, GEEZER BUTLER, Steve Harris Rob Trujillo, Victor Wooten...
Posted by: Xerx | November 19, 2008 at 01:58 AM
fat mike from NOFX isnt on this list??? are u serious?? niether is is matt freeman of rancid?? wow yall need to do some better resdearch
Posted by: | November 24, 2008 at 12:24 AM
fat mike from NOFX isnt on this list??? are u serious?? niether is is matt freeman of rancid?? wow yall need to do some better resdearch
Posted by: | November 24, 2008 at 12:25 AM
WHERE THE HELL IS CLIFF BURTON!!!?!?!
He should be like number 2 or 3.
Posted by: Daniel | December 03, 2008 at 07:40 PM
you ought to give a listen also to Gerry Sorentino, bass player in Savoy Brown. He is excellent too!
Posted by: kelley | December 10, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Hard to pick a good top ten but solid list anyhow. Les Claypool and Eric Clapton are M. I. A. But 8 outa ten ain't bad.
Posted by: Brian | February 24, 2009 at 08:44 AM
Where the FUCK is Burton!?!?!?!?!?!?!
It should be...
1. Clifford Lee Burton
2. Les Claypool
3. Steve Harris
4. Nikki Six
5. Justin Chancellor
6. Geddy Lee
7. Rob Trujillo
8. Brian Marshall
9. Flea
10. Muzz Skillings
Posted by: Zach | March 25, 2009 at 08:24 AM
that list is bull crap where is victor wooten,marcus miller,jaco, john pattitucci , and of course the greatest of all (ME)!
Posted by: tml cahs | April 13, 2009 at 02:25 PM
What about Leon Wilkeson, To have three hot guitarists to keep up with and still stand out. Maybe not the greatest, but worth a mention.
Posted by: robert | April 23, 2009 at 10:05 AM
1 VICTOR WOOTEN
Im not into funk and don't play funk but as soon as i hear this guy play im drawn in, he often plays along with another bass player so he can wonder the fret board he has many great Technique's and has good feel for grooven look him up on youtube and see him in action!!!!
Posted by: fubzy | May 02, 2009 at 08:31 AM
oh and there is also
STUART ZENDER who was in Jamiroquai but left the band in 2001 i think?? look up the songs 'runnaway' and 'canned heat' this guy has a cool groove about his playing
Posted by: fubzy | May 02, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Paul McCartney!????
Posted by: someone | May 06, 2009 at 05:42 PM
WHY THE FUCK ISN'T JACO NUMBER 1!?!?! LET ALONE ON THE FUCKING LIST AT ALL!!! JACO was the GREATEST bassist to ever live. He's probably even the main influences of all those FAGGOTS up there. If you have never herd of Jaco Pastorius, then you'r a waste of life.
Posted by: JACO is #1 | July 03, 2009 at 02:46 PM
Billy Sheehan!
Posted by: Red | July 16, 2009 at 11:51 PM
ALEX WEBSTER (CANNIBAL CORPSE AND BLOTTED SCIENCE) IS THE GREATEST BASS PLAYER THIS WORLD MAY EVER SEE, ANY GENRE, HE PLAYS IT ALL. HE USES LITERALLY NO EFFECTS. MIND BLOWING, CHECK HIM OUT... GOOGLE AND YOUTUBE HIM HE WORKS IN ALL GENRES OF MUSIC....HE IS THE BEST.
Posted by: JERRY | July 24, 2009 at 06:36 PM
Tim Bogert - "Beck, Boget & Appice", "Cactus", "Vanila Fudge", "Blues Mobile Band"
Posted by: SP | August 20, 2009 at 07:57 AM
A decent list, good move having Schacher near the top, he's the most underrated musician in rock history.
Posted by: AlanR | August 27, 2009 at 03:30 PM
Gerry Sorrentino of the blues rock band Savoy Brown is excellent. Great solos and plays what's appropriate for the genre he's working with. Very Pino'ish.
Posted by: Elliot | August 31, 2009 at 05:53 PM
entwistle is on there but not CLIFF BURTON?!?!
Posted by: Trevor | January 12, 2010 at 08:19 PM
WHERE THE HELL IS PINO PALLADINO? BTW, GERRY SORRENTINO IS AN EXCELLENT BASSIST WHO DOESN'T GET THE RECOGNITION HE DESERVES...
Posted by: george | February 10, 2010 at 04:15 AM
Sorry, but Jaco Pastorius is a Jazz musician. You want to go there? Then where's Stanley Clark? Thelonius Monk. That's a different list.
Posted by: StanO | April 06, 2010 at 01:13 PM
Also, what about Sting? Yes the band is not hard core rock, but the guys got skills.
Posted by: StanO | April 06, 2010 at 01:16 PM
What, no Paul McCartney the single most innovative bassist of 60's rock? No Jaco, the single most innovative bassist of rock fusion? What, no Billy Sheehan who does it all? You must be joking.
Posted by: John | June 09, 2010 at 09:24 AM
What? Where am I? I don't play the bass anymore. Just not that into me, I guess. I quit a long time ago.
Posted by: James Scriven | July 18, 2014 at 04:02 PM