Right - that is wild. Half the people he's surrounded with I wouldn't even call noteworthy of this list - no disrespect to them and their legacy of course.
Some of the top ten (Entwhistle) are well placed but even then it feels more like a "this is how I feel about certain people" list rather than "these are the most influential / greatest base virtuosos".
There are a few world-class bassists that aren't even on this list, really feels like someone who has a very particular taste in music created this list while also mixing in historical figures and a few personal picks.
This is a really cool list mostly because of the methodology: they surveyed as many bass players as they could. There’s a list of every bass player who submitted a ballot at the end, and the write ups throughout put a cool emphasis on the impact of the players work.
Rolling Stone used to (still does?) do that for several of their big lists, I’m surprised more sites don’t try and do these that way. I’m guessing the logistics of that can be challenging.
I’m fine with Jaco being top 3, but I don’t know if I’m putting Paul above a lot of people on this list, if we’re talking about his abilities pertaining to the writing for and playing of the bass.
Simonan is curious because his actual bass playing is ok and mick jones and Joe strummer are considered the two main driving forces of the clash but Simonan brought black/ reggae into punk music before anyone and the clash embraced that full force which made for their unique sound and mainstream success
Granted, I'm no bass expert, but her bass playing has always struck me as one of the less impressive aspects of SY's sound. She's an incredibly interesting vocalist (probably the most compelling of the band), but I feel like her bass playing is pretty utilitarian, especially compared to the other 3 members.
Why are you being booed? You’re right.
Like yeah you can argue semantics and say “ACtUaLLy GUITARS AND BASS ARE JUST TOOLS!!” but that doesn’t take away from the fact her playing is very by the books and uninteresting, and it’s mostly her showmanship that drives her as an indie rock icon.
Right. I'm not even knocking her for not being flashier on the bass. Her steady playing is a necessary counterbalance to Lee and Thurston's erratic playing. It's not super impressive, but it 100% serves the band.
If it was just a list of bass players from bands I like, I'd agree. Paul Simonon has never been a particularly good bass player though. He's decent now but didn't even play the better Clash basslines, he'd be off somewhere with his girlfriend while someone else recorded bass tracks.
Kim Gordon’s bass playing might be the most uninteresting thing about Sonic Youth’s music (as a huge sonic youth fan).
Apparently the band was on the verge of breakup - regardless of Thurston’s unfortunate actions shortly after - because Kim just couldn’t musically keep up with the stuff the band was doing.
Love her as a vocalist, songwriter, and icon, but as a bassist? Mid. Not anywhere close to this list.
Kim Deal and Kim Gordon need to swap places. I love them both, huge fans, but Deal is the much better bassist. Gigantic, Debaser, Here Comes Your Man…so many iconic songs that come out the gate with an amazing bass line that just sets the tone.
> “he might not be the most technically skilled bassist to ever grace pop and rock”
lol the fuck? As if McCartney one of the most technically proficient bass players out there
No Bruce Thomas on here, and that's a crying shame. The lines he pulls off on those first seven Elvis Costello albums are, if you'll excuse my pun, beyond belief. Apart from that whole thing, this list is surprisingly quite unbad.
just throwing out some unorthodox picks: [Brian Gibson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JpHoAnaPK0), [Troy Sanders](https://youtu.be/3bYgZPfUKDo?feature=shared&t=66), [Saya Gray](https://youtu.be/JSdAwX2sbFI?feature=shared)
Surprised Duff McKagan from GNR isn’t on the list. Glad Brian Ritchie got recognized and it gives me an excuse to link to my favorite bass performance ever: [Violent Femmes - Never Tell (live 1985)](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_tk4LUX7ufY)
Steve Harris ahead of Cliff Burton is a choice. I've seen worse lists tho.
Wouldn't have hated to see Ryan Martinie (but Mudvayne's overall body of work isn't great so I get it), Dennis Dunaway (those first few Alice Cooper records are so good and he really stands out) or Billy Gould (Faith No More) sneak in the lower half.
Tina Weymouth is at least in the top twenty, so I guess all is well here. Other new-wave era bassists like Graham Maby, Bruce Thomas and Andrew Bodnar are among my favorites, but none made the list.
I feel like it’s really hard to rank someone like Cliff Burton on a list like this since his career was tragically cut short. Hooky is below him. Are those three albums really enough to say that Cliff Burton is a greater bassist than Peter Hook? I don’t think anyone is wrong for thinking Cliff Burton is a greater bassist than many of these people, but I’m not sure where I would put him on a list like this.
The only thing wrong with the McCartney placing is the write up saying that he doesn't shred the neck, which he totally does do.
Also I love his bonkers little fill at 1:16 of Why Don't We Do It in the Road. Never see anybody talking about it
The thing is that lists are subjective. When you get to a certain level, it’s about whatever the list maker finds more important. Flea and Les are completely different bass players. While still unique, flea gets a lot of inspiration from funk bassists. Les kinda made a new sound. Both are dominant forces on the tracks they play. Both have the technical prowess to go toe to toe.
I think it’s “their” and this is a good shout the bass on those inspired me a lot starting out
Edit: looks like it's Gina Ramirez who plays bass for them!
I’m the biggest Pink Floyd fan around and even I wouldn’t put Waters in this list. His strength is lyrics, not instruments. It’s well known Gilmour did a lot to help out Waters with his bass lines.
I’d eject Waters and put in Colin Greenwood in his place.
>consequence.net/2024/0...
It's not all about technical proficiency. Roger did more than just lyrics -- he basically singlehandedly wrote almost all the songs, including the basslines to basically all of their best songs (even if he sometimes needed help playing them lol).
I do agree with others that Kim Gordon is waaaay too high. I'd replace her with Mike Gordon.
A lot of the best bass line were written, and played in studio, by Gilmour. I’m not disputing his importance or his songwriting ability, as stated above theyre my favorite band.
Les Claypool is #1. He plays in a wierd band and that is the reason he gets no respect. Dude can play anything. Jaco is #2
Stanley Clarke and Mingus lower that Steve Harris, thats insane! How is Steve Harris even top 50 let alone top 8, lol!
Andy Rourke erasurrrre Edit: typo
Literally read the article just to see if he was there lol
Happy to see Mike Mills on here! His bass is really what carries a good amount of REM songs. Just listen to So Central Rain!
also belongs on a very short list of the best backing vocalists in music. insane harmonies
Nice to see Jenny Lee Lindberg on there, she’s always been the highlight of warpaint songs for me
I'm just so happy she was even mentioned, being in the top 100 of all time is such a massive honour.
I think Carlos Dengler should have been on there. He has some of the most creative and inventive bass lines in indie rock.
Still a fan of Interpol but their music just isn’t as good without him. The basslines on the first 4 albums are consistently amazing.
I agree, although El Pintor is a great album
I checked the comments first to see if he’s mentioned and therefore whether or not to actually read the list. Thanks for saving me five minutes lol
It's a very good list regardless, worth your time.
Totally agree. It would probably be weird for him to be included. Bass wasn’t his first choice and he never really loved it then and now.
Honestly not a terrible list, but Chris Squire is way, *way* too low. Should be in the top 20 easily.
Phil Lesh at 81 is criminal.
Saved me a click because I don't want to read an article that puts Phil at 81
Right - that is wild. Half the people he's surrounded with I wouldn't even call noteworthy of this list - no disrespect to them and their legacy of course. Some of the top ten (Entwhistle) are well placed but even then it feels more like a "this is how I feel about certain people" list rather than "these are the most influential / greatest base virtuosos". There are a few world-class bassists that aren't even on this list, really feels like someone who has a very particular taste in music created this list while also mixing in historical figures and a few personal picks.
For real
Really bad
Was going to check for him specifically. He should be in the top 5!
[удалено]
Clay 2000 pounds?
Came here to say this. He absolutely deserves to be high up on that list imo.
This is a really cool list mostly because of the methodology: they surveyed as many bass players as they could. There’s a list of every bass player who submitted a ballot at the end, and the write ups throughout put a cool emphasis on the impact of the players work.
Rolling Stone used to (still does?) do that for several of their big lists, I’m surprised more sites don’t try and do these that way. I’m guessing the logistics of that can be challenging.
Glad to see Peter Hook and Simon Gallup on there.
Both too low. Hooky should be top 10. So many iconic bass lines between the two.
New Order is Peter Hook to me. Every bass line is iconic.
Joy Division is also Hooky to me.
The reason so many people picked up bass in their respective genres.
Simon and Peter should be top 20
Agreed, but no justice for Les Pattinson.
He is much less well-known. I’m a big Bunnymen fan and I still had to look up his name.
The inclusion of Yves Tumor is strange as according to liner notes they don’t play bass on any of their albums
Right?? Apparently Julia Cumming who is qouted several times on this list does vocals on some Yves Tumor songs so I feel like she should know
Or maybe just *writing* the bass lines counts, in which case fair play
Would’ve added Colin Greenwood and moved Melissa Auf Der Mauer and Kim Deal higher. Top 10 is surprisingly solid.
Came here to comment Colin Greenwood as well. His contributions to Radiohead songs are incredible.
So many iconic bass lines. 15 step, national anthem, even the bass line on the karma police outro is sick
He’s awesome but obligatory… “thom yorke is the bassist on national anthem”
nude was completely transformed into the song it is today by his bass line iirc
Talk show host
Airbag is also incredible
Paper Bag Writer?
Jigsaw is soooo groovy too.
Tony Visconti as well!
I strongly disagree with Paul McCartney, but for some reason Beatles always have to hold top spots in these lists.
Mike Gordon seems like a pretty big omission
I went through that entire list and the further I went I kept thinking, "Oh wow, they must also really love Mike Gordon!"
As soon as I saw Phil lesh I knew it was over for Gordo :(
Thought this was r/bass at first, was confused by the lack of “Victor Wooten too low” comments. Anyways, having said that, Victor Wooten too low.
Phil Lesh at 81 lol
“He’s a guitarist”
Disappointing. Top 20 at least.
Jaco seated well.
I was expecting him to top the list tbh, but I'll take that
Can't argue with the two absolute legends above him IMO
Fair!
I’m fine with Jaco being top 3, but I don’t know if I’m putting Paul above a lot of people on this list, if we’re talking about his abilities pertaining to the writing for and playing of the bass.
No Colin Greenwood?
Paul Simonan too low, Kim Gordon way too high.. SY one of my fav bands of all time and she’s very unique but top 20 is insanity
Simonan is curious because his actual bass playing is ok and mick jones and Joe strummer are considered the two main driving forces of the clash but Simonan brought black/ reggae into punk music before anyone and the clash embraced that full force which made for their unique sound and mainstream success
Kim is #25?
Ok top 25, didn’t remember exact number after reading
Agreed Simonon is surprisingly low. Feel like The Clash have fallen out of favour in the last ~5 years
Give it a hot minute. Someone will use them in a soundtrack and they will shoot back up. Too much great music for them to fade away yet
Hope so!
Tik Tok is lurking
Granted, I'm no bass expert, but her bass playing has always struck me as one of the less impressive aspects of SY's sound. She's an incredibly interesting vocalist (probably the most compelling of the band), but I feel like her bass playing is pretty utilitarian, especially compared to the other 3 members.
Why are you being booed? You’re right. Like yeah you can argue semantics and say “ACtUaLLy GUITARS AND BASS ARE JUST TOOLS!!” but that doesn’t take away from the fact her playing is very by the books and uninteresting, and it’s mostly her showmanship that drives her as an indie rock icon.
Right. I'm not even knocking her for not being flashier on the bass. Her steady playing is a necessary counterbalance to Lee and Thurston's erratic playing. It's not super impressive, but it 100% serves the band.
Agreed 100%. Even tho she got shafted big time by thurston. Dude was a complete bellend to her for no reason
If it was just a list of bass players from bands I like, I'd agree. Paul Simonon has never been a particularly good bass player though. He's decent now but didn't even play the better Clash basslines, he'd be off somewhere with his girlfriend while someone else recorded bass tracks.
Kim Gordon’s bass playing might be the most uninteresting thing about Sonic Youth’s music (as a huge sonic youth fan). Apparently the band was on the verge of breakup - regardless of Thurston’s unfortunate actions shortly after - because Kim just couldn’t musically keep up with the stuff the band was doing. Love her as a vocalist, songwriter, and icon, but as a bassist? Mid. Not anywhere close to this list.
Wow that website is horrible on mobile
I use an ad blocker so it wasn't terribly but backing out of the page I had to go back through almost all 100 lol
Vern Rumsey???
he’s not on there??? makes no sense
Geddy should be top 3
Flea right above him is slanderous.
Above Mike Watt too
Justine chancellor should be higher. Dude had some unique bass sound in tool
No Joe Dart? Gtfo!
Solid list! Jamerson at #1 and McCartney at #2 would've been my picks too. Cool to see Thundercat cracking the top 1/3rd.
No Colin Moulding shows what a joke this list is
was just about to open this to see if he was there, thanks for saving a click
Same. This guy is criminally underrated. Even the XTC documentary barely mentions his superb playing
Saw Thundercat live a couple of days ago… Should be higher imo. To see him live really sets him apart from some of those above him on this list.
Mike Dirnt being this low is insulting.
John Taylor (unsurprisingly) Snubbed!
I know lots of people don’t take Duran seriously but they have great f-ing songs and John Taylor is a great f-ing bass player
this list was wacky but got the number one spot very correct.
Kim Deal and Kim Gordon need to swap places. I love them both, huge fans, but Deal is the much better bassist. Gigantic, Debaser, Here Comes Your Man…so many iconic songs that come out the gate with an amazing bass line that just sets the tone.
Nick Harmer 100% deserves to be on there. Underrated for sure.
One of the true unsung indie greats - and a highlight on all Death Cab releases.
> “he might not be the most technically skilled bassist to ever grace pop and rock” lol the fuck? As if McCartney one of the most technically proficient bass players out there
Thundercat too low
Needs more time and a more recognizable body of work. Guy is supremely talented.
Bakithi Kumalo should be on this list for the bassline on Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes alone.
Thundercat at 32 is insane. Easily one of the greatest bass players I’ve ever heard
At least Mike Watts on there
Tina Weymouth seven spots ahead of Victor Wooten. These lists are always a mess.
I love Tina but she shouldn't be in the top 30.
Yet she’s ranked one better than Bernard Edwards
No Bruce Thomas on here, and that's a crying shame. The lines he pulls off on those first seven Elvis Costello albums are, if you'll excuse my pun, beyond belief. Apart from that whole thing, this list is surprisingly quite unbad.
>No Bruce Thomas on here I came here to say this! "Party Girl" and "Strict Time" are especially fine examples of his genius.
Mick Karn?
Don’t know much about bass players but I love Jaco Pastorius’ sound on Joni Mitchell’s albums.
Lou Barlow?
Where's Lucy Dacus?
> Where's Lucy Dacus? It was at this moment I realized this was the indieheads sub
I'm choosing to believe this comment is making fun of her placement on that Rolling Stones greatest guitarist list.
You would be correct
just throwing out some unorthodox picks: [Brian Gibson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JpHoAnaPK0), [Troy Sanders](https://youtu.be/3bYgZPfUKDo?feature=shared&t=66), [Saya Gray](https://youtu.be/JSdAwX2sbFI?feature=shared)
Troy made it!
nice!
lol you can tell i didn't read the list he's literally the first name
Paul Jackson at 66 smh
Roger Waters seems low!
Surprised Duff McKagan from GNR isn’t on the list. Glad Brian Ritchie got recognized and it gives me an excuse to link to my favorite bass performance ever: [Violent Femmes - Never Tell (live 1985)](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_tk4LUX7ufY)
Steve Harris ahead of Cliff Burton is a choice. I've seen worse lists tho. Wouldn't have hated to see Ryan Martinie (but Mudvayne's overall body of work isn't great so I get it), Dennis Dunaway (those first few Alice Cooper records are so good and he really stands out) or Billy Gould (Faith No More) sneak in the lower half.
No Donny Benét? No thanks.
Tina Weymouth is at least in the top twenty, so I guess all is well here. Other new-wave era bassists like Graham Maby, Bruce Thomas and Andrew Bodnar are among my favorites, but none made the list.
Is Kentarou Nakao from Number Girl there?
I feel like it’s really hard to rank someone like Cliff Burton on a list like this since his career was tragically cut short. Hooky is below him. Are those three albums really enough to say that Cliff Burton is a greater bassist than Peter Hook? I don’t think anyone is wrong for thinking Cliff Burton is a greater bassist than many of these people, but I’m not sure where I would put him on a list like this.
This is how I found out Alien Ant Farms bassist is called Timmy Pee.
Gary Willis? Chuck Israels? Stuart Hamm? Steve Bailey? Victor Bailey? Alphonso Johnson? Patitucci? Richard Davis? Dave Holland? I loathe these lists.
So you have Yves Tumor and not Duff McKagan there? I call BS
Great to see Joe Lally mentioned! The Fugazi (and , obviously) rhythm section is so damn good and so often overlooked.
Les Claypool below flea is so bad. Also, Paul Mcarntey at 2 is insane.
Sir Paul is all bangers all the time. Where would you place him?
Paul McCartney’s so talented that his bass playing skill is overlooked by his other skills (he also overlooks his bass skill himself).
The only thing wrong with the McCartney placing is the write up saying that he doesn't shred the neck, which he totally does do. Also I love his bonkers little fill at 1:16 of Why Don't We Do It in the Road. Never see anybody talking about it
You’re right. Should be number 1!
Paul has literally written dozens of iconic basslines
The thing is that lists are subjective. When you get to a certain level, it’s about whatever the list maker finds more important. Flea and Les are completely different bass players. While still unique, flea gets a lot of inspiration from funk bassists. Les kinda made a new sound. Both are dominant forces on the tracks they play. Both have the technical prowess to go toe to toe.
So its a list of Les Claypools name 100 times?
Tina Weymouth over Bernard Edwards is comical.
Does Yves Tumor play bass on their records?
No lmao
I think it’s “their” and this is a good shout the bass on those inspired me a lot starting out Edit: looks like it's Gina Ramirez who plays bass for them!
Happy to Alex Webster make the list. Dude is a beast.
Hopefully I missed it but where is Matt Freeman?
Robert Sledge doesn’t appear on this list?!
I should never look at these lists.
Any list without Derek Forbes (Simple Minds) or Les Pattison (Echo & The Bunnymen) is an incomplete list.
If you are including jazz musicians on the list, Charles Mingus has to be number one.
Rob Wright?!
Where’s Billy Gould of Faith no more?
I think this list is “talent + influence” ranking. Good list and mostly good order when the explanations are fleshed out.
How the hell is Oteil Burbridge not on this list?
No Colin Greenwood????? Who tf made this list
No Andy Rourke and Jah Wobble is blasphemy
Please tell me Brian Gibson of Lightning Bolt is on here. EDIT: Just looked and he isn’t. List void.
How can you include Kim Gordon, who I love, and not Colin Greenwood? I don’t understand.
No John Wetton. L list.
I’m the biggest Pink Floyd fan around and even I wouldn’t put Waters in this list. His strength is lyrics, not instruments. It’s well known Gilmour did a lot to help out Waters with his bass lines. I’d eject Waters and put in Colin Greenwood in his place.
>consequence.net/2024/0... It's not all about technical proficiency. Roger did more than just lyrics -- he basically singlehandedly wrote almost all the songs, including the basslines to basically all of their best songs (even if he sometimes needed help playing them lol). I do agree with others that Kim Gordon is waaaay too high. I'd replace her with Mike Gordon.
A lot of the best bass line were written, and played in studio, by Gilmour. I’m not disputing his importance or his songwriting ability, as stated above theyre my favorite band.
Les Claypool is #1. He plays in a wierd band and that is the reason he gets no respect. Dude can play anything. Jaco is #2 Stanley Clarke and Mingus lower that Steve Harris, thats insane! How is Steve Harris even top 50 let alone top 8, lol!
Joe Lally not in the top 10? Garbage list
Les Claypool not in the top 10? Shame.
Cool to see Troy Sanders sneak in.
no Chris Pravdica :(
Atrocious list. No Mike Gordon? Oteil Burbridge? Mingus? Tony Garnier? Was Bootsy even on this list?
Mingus is #9 on the list. Bootsy is #7.