1. John Taylor
2. Mark King
3. Pino Paladino
4. Nick Beggs

I'd vote for all, if I could.:D

I fixed that for ya Arjan ;)

I had to add me fav, Mr. Tony Levin

Lee Sklar with Phil Collins

JT! JT!

But they're all great.

Ooh, it'd be a close one for me for second place. #1 is pretty clearly Pino for me, but after him - Nick Beggs was and is amazing, John Taylor played some amazing lines, and Ewan Vernal from Deacon Blue was another huge fave of mine from back then, who played some amazing stuff.

Honourable mentions to Danny Thompson for his work with everyone, Mick Karn, John Giblin and Alan Thompson...

cheers

Steve
www.stevelawson.net

Originally posted by Steve Lawson
Ewan Vernal from Deacon Blue was another huge fave of mine from back then, who played some amazing stuff.


His playing on Fellow Hoodlums is some of the finest pop / rock bass playing I've ever heard. Very creative / unusual while always supporting the song.

Pop is a confusing term sometimes...

I voted for Taylor, but geesh I could've voted for any of dozens of bassists.

One who is missing is PETER HOOK!

BTW would Mike Mills of REM qualify??? REM had a cult following and did break out in the late 80s, and Mills was a key to the REM sound.

Wait a minute...

Bruce Foxton isn't in that list either!!!!!

Shoulda voted for the last category (the many others blah blah blah...)

Chris Squire gets my vote, Big Generator in 87 , he used early model Tobias prototype piccolo bass, and 5 string. The sound and tone he got was HUGE! 90125, as horribly commercial as it was, and lacking Steve Howe on gtr( the painful memory!), Squire was all over the place holding it down.

ah...:D just my 2 cents :bassist:

Colin Moulding of XTC.

Paul Goddard from The Atlanta Rhythm Section
The guy from the FIX, I can't think of his name.
T-Bone Wolk with Hall & Oates

Yeah, I forgot some. I really was thinking about Colin Moulding, but XTC was not really a pop band. He's a great player nonetheless. But it's a shame I forgot Mick Karn (I have two of his solo discs!). And yeah John Giblin (Kate Bush), and Tony Levin. Good that he's been added to the poll.

The list can go on and on, hehehhe. John Taylor gets my vote since he was my 1st real bassidol.
The others are also killer players, check out Nick Beggs killer lines on Kajagogoos hit To Shy! Or Pino Paladinos bassplaying on Paul Youngs Come back and Stay.

XTC not pop? In which dimension do you reside? :confused: :)

Well, hehehhe, overhere in the Netherlands XTC would be more of an obscure popband so would Japan with Mick Karn be. It's still pop though

I wouldn't put him above *any* of the cats in the poll, but whenever this subject comes up, I like to put in a word for Bruce Thomas, who played in The Attractions behind Elvis Costello. Good stuff!

:)

Just thought of another BIG omission...

He may not be the same...

but he was a big part of the 80s...



Dude, Sting is not there!

Originally posted by NewWaveBasser
Dude, Sting is not there!

Dude, ummm, I like, added this so, like chill or something.

one of the many many many other bassists that had Pop success in the 80's

:D

Baghiti

I love all those guys.:D

Sting

Pino

Levin

Bakithi Kumalo (You can call me Al)

Originally posted by 20db pad
I'd vote for all, if I could.:D

You could, if Arjan made this a multiple choice poll.;)

My votes are for:

Andy Rourke - The Smiths
Colin Moulding - XTC
Norman Cook - Housemartins
John Taylor - Duran Duran
Sting
Pino Palladino
Roger Stephens - The Desperate Bicycles (an obscure british "punk" band that existed from '79 to '81. They released one album called Remorse Code.

Originally posted by Blackbird
Norman Cook - Housemartins
[/i] [/B]

I'd forgotten all about that band. Played in a cover band (circa '88) that covered "Me and the Farmer." Now I'm gonna have to try to get my ears on a copy of that tune... look at what you've gone and done now!

:D

"All of them listed on the poll"

+ T-Bone Wolk!!!!

Except who is Nick Beggs?

:confused:

Originally posted by bimplizkit
"All of them listed on the poll"

+ T-Bone Wolk!!!!

Except who is Nick Beggs?

:confused:
Kajagoogoo - listen to the bass parts on Too Shy, Big Apple

john taylor

Originally posted by secretdonkey


I'd forgotten all about that band. Played in a cover band (circa '88) that covered "Me and the Farmer." Now I'm gonna have to try to get my ears on a copy of that tune... look at what you've gone and done now!

:D

Hey, it's not my fault they were such a cool band! Beautiful South's not half bad either.

Anyway, if you liked The people who grinned themselves to death, you should really check out London 0, Hull 4. Norman actually has a solo (more of an instrumental break, really) on a song called "We're not deep", a perfect under three minute pop ditty.:)

Man,
I cant believe I'm the only one who voted for Nick Beggs! Unreal...
His basslines in Kajagoogoo ushered in the new era as much as any or more than any of the other nominees. Listening to him play made me pick up the bass again!
S.

I just got back from seeing Duran Duran play a 'secret' gig at the Kentish Town Forum. John Taylor was on top form for most of the gig - the classics were all sounding great, though his groove on 'Come Undone' was ropey. He nailed the fast run bit on 'White Lines' perfectly, though on that one it was Simon LeBon who let the side down, reinforcing the stereotype that white boys ain't got no rhythm... :)

However, all in all, it was an amazing gig! :D

Steve
www.stevelawson.net

Originally posted by Jato
Man,
I cant believe I'm the only one who voted for Nick Beggs! Unreal...
His basslines in Kajagoogoo ushered in the new era as much as any or more than any of the other nominees. Listening to him play made me pick up the bass again!
S. Is that the 'Shy Shy' song? In the vid, wasn't he slapping a Steinberger or something?

On too shy, I think it was a Music Man. In the video he was playing a WAL.

Oh man, this one is impossible!

Tony's one of my favorites, but I've always loved John Taylor's stuff with the early Duran Duran albums. And Pino's largely responsible for me getting into fretless.

JT!!
I allmost got emotional when I saw he is still playing his old Aria (one of the recent London gigs, I think). He was the reason I started playing bass, and as soon I could afford it, I bought an Aria Pro II SB1000. God, how many pic's haven't I studied to find out what position he used on the onboard preamp! :p
Nowadays my Aria just sits in it's case with a broken preamp :(

T-Bone Wolk should definitely be on the list! Also, don't know who he was, but the bass player for Wham! As horrible as they were, incredible bass lines.

Originally posted by chris4001asat
the bass player for Wham! As horrible as they were, incredible bass lines.

Deon Estus! Great player.

Firstly, I gotta say it's great even to be amongst people who realise how awsome the 80's were for bass. But...

...Come on fellas, its gotta be Mark King. All the guys mentioned by you guys (huh?)are good (nice to see the Kate Bush bass player get a mention), but MK's talent is over-powering.

Bye...

Isle Of Wight bloke in action...

Hey Matt, could you list five songs or so that one's gotta hear, that shows mister King at his best? The closest I got to MK was "Running the family", and an awfull set of unplayable signature Rotosounds gauged .30 -.90.
Maybe it's about time I check him out!

Originally posted by Mattseventies
Firstly, I gotta say it's great even to be amongst people who realise how awsome the 80's were for bass. But...

...Come on fellas, its gotta be Mark King. All the guys mentioned by you guys (huh?)are good (nice to see the Kate Bush bass player get a mention), but MK's talent is over-powering.

Bye... I agree! Probably the best all around 'Pop music' bassist!

Originally posted by carl-anton
Hey Matt, could you list five songs or so that one's gotta hear, that shows mister King at his best? The closest I got to MK was "Running the family", and an awfull set of unplayable signature Rotosounds gauged .30 -.90.
Maybe it's about time I check him out! Micro Kid & Starchild to name 2! Although I think Micro Kid has synth bass in it too. My old LP's are put away so I can't check it!

Hi Carl-Anton & DWBass!

Hmmmmmm, I'll have a think about it tomorrow...
Sit down and go thru my Cds.

His first solo album was good...there's a long track called 'The Essential' - lots of different tones...etc.

Here's a thing...

ps.Still pondering MK's top5.

I like it! Post more!

Do you mean the riff...if so thanx, I'll see what I can 'whip-up'.

I think everyone should upload riff!

Another good 80's bass player was the guy/girl from The Style Council.

Or was it the same bloke from Wham?

Is Talking Heads pop? If so then Tina Weymouth.

Originally posted by Mattseventies
Do you mean the riff...if so thanx, I'll see what I can 'whip-up'.

I think everyone should upload riff! I liked the whole thing. Is it a whole tune? Planning for it to be a whole tune?

Hi again DW,

I suppose it could be used 4 something...doubt if I'll get round to it though...

Cheers 4 having a listen.:bassist:

Yeah, great riffs Matt. I thought it was the King at first, but the "drums-programmed-by-bassist" gave you away :D

(...bet your bandsmates says it has to much going on!?)

I was just about to start a thread on a similar topic, but this may work (and please, if it's too much to add, start another).

Why were the bassists in the 80s so good? Band for band, song for song in the 80s, whenever I hear something on a "Totally 80s Weekend" on the radio, the bass is out in front, doing something sick usually.
In the 90s... some flare, but for the most part, buried in the mix. In the 00s, nothing. Anyone making waves basswise is in a jazz band.
Was it strictly the 70s influencing players to PLAY? If so, the 80s should have spawned some better players (in theory) than it did.
If you think about the great bassists of the 90s, you can count them on one hand or they were actually in an 80s band. If you think of 80s bassists, I dare you to come up with less than 20 GOOD PLAYERS. Can't be done.

Also, the band The Breakfast Club... Right on Track... why did I only hear this song a few months ago for the first time? I was blown away and I had never even heard of these guys. Who played in that band?

Who? It definitely wasn't me, I assure you.

IMHO, John Taylor of Duran Duran is the man. Check it!

I could try to be hip and name some people I wasn't even listening to at the time, but to me in high school in the eighties it was all about:

John Taylor
Bruce Thomas
Geddy Lee

My bro tried to turn me on to Level 42, but I couldn't get into it. Then I saw Mark King's bass solo on a live vid and UGH!!! Whackeda Whackeda Whatthehell???

rojo412, I wonder about that myself, and so of addressed it in a thread called "No Compromise"....

L

lo0ove Mark King....he's the king of funky slap....lo0ove playing his stuff...gives me lots of enjoyment...but...


i guess the two bassists are missing for me are

Flea....okay not the greatest player in the world but certaintly not bad either..and did start the ball rolling in the chill peppers world........and

John Deacon...Queen's bassist is so0 so0ooo so0o underated..his work on the 80's albums is outstanding.......he is the king of bass arrangements and lines...and really knows his stuff...and i love his tone on the inuendo album... :hyper:

I'd forgotten all about that band. Played in a cover band (circa '88) that covered "Me and the Farmer." Now I'm gonna have to try to get my ears on a copy of that tune... look at what you've gone and done now!

:DI have an mp3 of "Me And The Farmer" that I could send you by e-mail if you like (provided your account has enough space left). Just pm me! @ secretdonkey

I used to be in a band covering their song "Sheep" (great video to that one also), and I was quite surprised when finding out that Norman Cook is actually Fatboy Slim! :)

The winner is...





...Nathan East.

I mean, c'mon, who played on more '80s Pop than East?
(Clapton, Jarreau, Manhatten Transfer, Eurhythmics, Loggins, Chaka Khan, Anita Baker, Deniece Williams, etc)

Rock to Soul to R&B...didn't matter. East was the heir apparent to Rainey's '70s monopoly on Pop.

John Deacon...Queen's bassist is so0 so0ooo so0o underated..his work on the 80's albums is outstanding.......he is the king of bass arrangements and lines...and really knows his stuff...and i love his tone on the inuendo album... :hyper:

WOW! Someone who thinks like me! I try to explain to people that he wrote two of the most recognizable (I know I spelled that wrong) basslines in pop music... Another One Bites the Dust ... and Under Pressure. :bassist:

Aside from those listed...

Paul Denman (Sade)
Paul Webb (Talk Talk)
Curt Smith (Tears For Fears)
Adam Clayton (U2)
Mark O'Toole (Frankie Goes To Hollywood)
Derek Forbes (Simple Minds)
Mikey Craig (Culture Club)
Pete Farndon (The Pretenders)
Tony Wall (King)

"Yay" for Paul Webb! Nik Kershaw's Dennis Smith was a good '80s bassplayer also. My faves back then were Adam Clayton and The Cure's Simon Gallup, though.

Bruce Thomas. The guy that put alot of character and swing into Elvis Costello's best music!

He's the reason I play Bass.

I admit that I don't know much about 80's pop. But I'm gonna say Colin Moulding. I also love Baghiti's bass on Graceland.

WOW! Someone who thinks like me! I try to explain to people that he wrote two of the most recognizable (I know I spelled that wrong) basslines in pop music... Another One Bites the Dust ... and Under Pressure. :bassist:

Deacky is one of best bassists ever and his tone is really awesome in so many Queen songs.
He writes thousand of GREAT basslines for Queen, I like his stuff too much :bassist:

"hey norman.....play the bass man"


NORMAN WATT-ROY (blockhead bassist extraordinair)

I like the bassplayer for Nik Kershaw...

dave. :hyper:


Interestingly enough, Mark King played bass on a Nik Kershaw track - "Easy" off of NK's "The Riddle" album (1985).

I voted John Taylor expressly for the work he did on the Neurotic Outsiders' record in '96.

Not exactly 80's pop.

dunno if you can classify these in here but...Stu Hamm and Flea

Stu in the age of Steve Vai And Joe Satriani

and i spose (considering i was only born in 86) flea...chili peppers had brought out 4 albums in the 80's

Yeah Nik Kershaws bassist was good

LEVIN!!! :bassist:

Nikki Sixx :bassist:

For me the king is Tony Levin, still to this day
I'm also a big fan of Pino Palladino
and I can't forget about Simon Gallup
and Paul Denham

...Simon Gallup...Good choice! *thumbs up* :)