5 Favorite Bassists

[Musicman11]

We've had the 5 favorite guitarists thread for a while now, so I figured that it would be worthwhile to start one on bassists. Especially considering that bass plays such a large role in metal in general and Sabbath as well. To me it is actually harder to pick a top 5 bassists then it is a top 5 guitarists. So here are my top 5 bassists:

1. Geezer Butler - Of course I have to pick Geezer being a Sabbath fan on a Sabbath website. But seriously regardless of my bias, Geezer will always be my favorite simply due to his brilliant playing style. A style that very few have ever been able to replicate, and his work with Sabbath will always be timeless. Even the work with GZR still has some great bass playing if nothing else. The Wasp/Behind The Wall of Sleep/Bassically/N.I.B. suite is essential listening for all bass players in my opinion.

2. Glen Hughes - Another beast of a bass player who has play some amazing pieces for going on 40 years now. Whether it be solo, Trapeze, Deep Purple, Iommi, or Black Country Communion Glen has always provided solid bass lines that can be quite impressive for the music they compliment. A great bassist that has only gotten better with age and continues to churn out brilliant songs. It also helps that he's an awesome singer as well.

3. Alex Webster - My personal favorite member of Cannibal Corpse has also always been a favorite bassist of mine. On every Cannibal Corpse album he has provided complex bass lines that are always distinguishable and never buried. Which is a lot more than several other death metal bands can attest to. His short solos/fills are always excellent and placed exactly so that they fit right in with the rest of the chaos that the band is offering.

4. Steve Digiorgio - One of the busiest bassists is also one of the best. His work with Autopsy, Death, Testament, Control Denied, Sadus, and many more top tier metal bands easily earns him a spot on the list. Like Webster his bass is usually very distinguishable in the mix of whatever album he happens to be playing on. He's a bassist with some extreme skill, with a diverse playing style that allows him to do everything from finger picking 32nd notes to using his weird fusion bases in live performances.

5. Lemmy Kilmister - The first time I heard Motorhead I thought that they had an impressive rhythm guitarist, but the bass didn't seem to even exist. It would only be later on that I would find out that what I thought was a rhythm guitar was in fact an awesome bass player. Being one of the few who can turn the bass into such an element in the music and not simply playing very basic structures, he's a great bassist and has continued to put out great material for 40 years.

It's also worth mentioning Ian Hill, Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, David Ellefson, Geddy Lee and Terry Butler are all awesome bassists who I also considered for the list and deserve honorable mentions. So who are your top 5 favorite bassists?

[-E5150 StarWanderer-]

Nice post, but here's a similar thread that already exists: http://www.black-sabbath.com/vb/show...orite+bassists

With this type of threads that involve listings it's always wise to use the search bar

[Billy Underdog]

I find it much easier to choose top bassists and drummers than guitarists and vocalists.

Shared first place:

John Entwistle, John Paul Jones and Geezer Butler (not only because i'm a Sab-fan on a Sab-forum, he's a grossly underrated bassist.)
(Strange thing; coincidentally my top three drummers are from the same bands)

Shared fourth place: Cliff Burton and Gary Thain (solely based on his performance on Uriah Heep Live '73)

[Musicman11]

Nice post, but here's a similar thread that already exists: http://www.black-sabbath.com/vb/show...orite+bassists

With this type of threads that involve listings it's always wise to use the search bar

Well I did that, but I didn't realize that the thread was in the same vein as mine. I didn't actually look into it, just saw it listed and figured it was more towards just discussion about bassists or something, not a top 5, so whoops.
I'll copy the part of my post that fits into the other thread and Joe can nuke this one to avoid clutter if he wants to.

[TYR66]

Geezer Butler
Cliff Burton
Steve Harris
Pete Way
Lemmy
Bob Daisley

[Sporkman GB]

Trying to keep to 70's and on rock music....

Flea: Complete and total maniac bassist who incorporates rock, metal, pop, soul, and a whole bunch of funk into his basslines; he's crazy as a person but moreso as a bassists and can come up with some wild bass solos on the spot.

John Entwistle: "The Ox." Notable for playing the first bass solo in rock music, Entwistle also crushes on "The Real Me," which he came up with the bass part for on the spot as a joke. So much good playing from this guy....

Geezer Butler: The original heavy metal bassist and inventor of Steve Harris' galloping technique. He set the bar for how to play bass in metal music, plus Bassically and the riff for NIB are downright amazing

Cliff Burton: Orion, Anesthesia, For Whom the Bell Tolls--All absolutely insane playing; he played fast and off the beaten path;
R.I.P. Cliff

Gene Simmons: Mostly because I feel like throwing in a dark horse. Not a great bass player per se, but if you listen closely to all of KISS' best material, he's key to completing the songs--listen to God of Thunder and Detrot Rock City and tell me an average player would've thought up those lines and executed them as such....

[Lord Necros]

In no order here are my five:
Geezer Butler
Blacky of Voivod
Lemmy
Cliff Burton
Less Claypool
Steve Harris
and the young girl that I've seen with Jeff Beck

I Know that's seven. Oh well.

[Thelemech]

1. Geezer Butler - Black Sabbath
2. Paul McCartney - The Beatles/Wings
3. Steve Harris - Iron Maiden
4. David Ellefson - Megadeth
5. D.D. Verni - Overkill

[The Wretch]

the young girl that I've seen with Jeff Beck

Tal Wilkenfeld? Excellent bassist, and her passion and joy are clear in every performance. And she purrty. (she is 25 by the way)

1 - Jack Bruce
2 - Geezer Butler
3 - Geddy Lee
4 - John Wetton
5 - Gary Thain

[KazolOrajia]

1. Geezer Butler - Other bassists may be faster, more technically proficient, whatever-Geezer playing is totally unique and it is brilliant. I love the way he plays, even when just following Iommi's riffs. And when he goes off on his own - whoo boy.

2. Stuart Hamm - This guy guy doesn't just play bass like a bass - he plays it like a guitar, he can play a melody and rhythm line at the same time, etc - he's incredibly versatile, and can play incredibly regardless of what he's doing.

3. Bob Daisley - The bass is a rhythm instrument, and Bob is a very rhythmic player. He provides a perfect groove for the music. I also like the way he plays the notes-it has a unique sound to it, like Geezer (meaning they both have unique sounds, not that their sounds are similar).

4. Alex Webster - I love his three-fingered gallop technique. I'm not too big a fan of his bass tone, but his playing makes up for it. He's unique, intense, technical - everything a death metal bassist should be.

5. Jason Newsted - Cliff Burton was more progressive and revolutionary, but Jason's playing is cleaner and more rhythmic, which is what I like to hear in a bassist. I'm not a big fan of either of Metallica's Loads, but Jason's basslines are the highlight of otherwise lackluster albums.

Honorable mentions include Steve DiGiorgio, Cliff Burton, and Orion.

[RichardRG]

Jonas Hellborg
Geezer Butler
Billy Sheehan
Lauri Porra
Cliff Burton

[Monster Boy]

Dennis Dunaway
Jaco Pastorius
Flea
Geddy Lee
Billy Sheehan

[RLP4ever]

Yea, Musicman, we've had an identical thread here before. But heck, since I'm here, why not post a list of 5, all over again.

I admire many bassists in rock & metal. A 'Top 5' among my many favourites are:

Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse)
Chris Richards (various)
Steve DiGiorgio (various)
Billy Sheehan (various)
John Entwistle (The Who)

[Sporkman GB]

yeah, if we're throwing jazz into the mix, Jaco and Stanley Clarke are up their too. And Tal is great as well.

[MH1986]

Im not really enough of a Bass connoisseur to have a rated list but I can list my favorites.

Geezer Butler
Jimmy Bain
Nikki Sixx
Ian Hill
Glenn Hughes
John Deacon
Paul McCartney
Bob Daisley

Most Bass players dont stand out too much. These guys all have identifiable bass lines and fills or are pretty damned good songwriters.

[Ochlocracy]

Geezer Butler
Jon Collins
John Deacon
Lemmy
Cliff Williams

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Geezer Butler
Geddy Lee
Pete Trewavas (Marillion)
Chris Squire
Jean Jacques Burnel (The Stranglers)

[MHanna49]

Joey DeMaio (Manowar)
Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
Tony Levin (Yes, King Crimson, Liquid Tension Experiment)
Chris Squire (Yes, Conspiracy)
Joey Vera (Fates Warning, Arch/Matheos, Armored Saint)

[Sahand]

Steve Harris
Billy Sheehan
Stu Hamm
John Entwistle
Cliff Burton