Listen to no more hero's by the Stranglers.
JJ was awesome on Rattus Norviticcus

Punk is a very (believe it or not) varied type of music. Bass is a really important part of it. Many people don't know but some of the best bassists in the music industry are in punk bands. I personally think Matt Freeman of Rancid is the best.

Hey nyrangerr

Thought you were from n.y. from yr handle.
I don't know where wil is??? (frm yr profile)
I don't know if I have one favorite, but here are a few punk bassists that IMHO rule.
Mike Watt (minutemen,firehose and solo)
Bruce Foxton (the jam & stiff little fingers)
Kevin Rutmanis (cows & melvins)
Carl Avlarez (all & descendents)

Thats all I can think of now.

I agree nyrangerr.
Matt Freeman is the best.

I agree with CS that JJ Burnel is undoubtedly the best and most "up-front" bass player in this genre. You can really hear all the bass lines on their recordings and can tell that a lot of the songs were written around these. His style has been copied by others many times - "Elastica" even got into a "legal-type" situation about the blatant rip-off of a bass line!!

I saw the Stranglers live in the punk heyday and he was truly awesome - really abrasive but bassy sound, and never missed a note despite having objects thrown at him and the showers of gob (sic) ...

But wasn't it "Rattus Norvegicus" ?? http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/wink.gif

Excuse me, but arnt the red hot chilli peppers in the funk genre??!
i cant belive no one has mentioned Flea!

Bruce Yes my spelling is appalling

I wouldn't class Flea as a "Punk" bassist at all - he is definitely "FUNK" with a capital F. His inflences are well-known and pretty obvious in his playing any way.

Flea used to be a PUNK bassist, but is now totally FUNK. (Some people just read this wrong.) He is really only an average PUNK bassist.
Freeman is the best punk bassist on earth. From Op Ivy to Rancid, he's the shiznit.
Don't laugh too much, but Mike Dirnt from Green Day is pretty good too (Ouch! Don't hit me)
Randy Bradbury from Pennywise is sweet too.

[This message has been edited by rojo412 (edited April 03, 2000).]

Green Day's bassist is really good. Why ouch? They are a good band.

JJ Burnel by a long shot. He's so good I cant believe he did not come from the states. My fave LP was Black and White.

jc

All of the above are excellent but I'd have to vote for Mike Watt personally.

What band is JJ Burnell from?

see posts 2 and 5 above or... http://www.stranglers.net/

jc

Best punk band bassist and no one has mentioned Roger from Less Than Jake...wow...i am really surprised. That kid has so many phreakin complex basslines...it's impossible to learn - let alone tab out - one of his songs.

Fat Mike from NOFX is also good, it's just that he's evil....

Whoa, wait, what am i doing in THIS parta the forum?

------------------
DISCLAIMER: Views shown by Biski2Dope in this post are entirely cynical and should not be taken as offense to anyone...and now that that's done, WANT SOME NUTS? Mooah...

I am heavy into punk and from what i have heard the best bassists would have to be Matt Freeman, Roger from LTJ, Fat Mike from NOFX, Jason from Pennywise (R.I.P.), and the best...Royce from The Suicide Machines, I met him last month and he is THE MAN!

FLEA!!!!!!!

the guy from the clash is pretty good paul simonon i think his name is

As far as punk bassists go, the guy from Rancid is very good. I'd have to say though, Roger from Less Than Jake or my personal choice; Tomek from Satanic Surfers. He's insane on the bass. I can personally pick up most songs pretty quick (for covering songs) but his take me a while.

Rob

Maybe I'm showing my ignorance, but I thought that playing punk music was supposed to be about playing without knowing to play, so "best punk bassist" would sorta be a contradiction in terms. Anyway, although it's not really a punk band (more of a proto-punk) and probably almost nobody ever heard of them, Nicky Stephens of the Desperate Bicycles is my favorite bassist in that style, sorta...

Will C. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/cool.gif

Matt Freeman all the way
listen to maxwell murder on ...And Out COme the Wolves
then tell me there's a better punk bassist
and you could also listen to bloodclot on life won't wait
both have kick ass bass solos

JJ Burnel was great with the stranglers. I don't know how many times I have listened to "Nice & Sleazy". That HAS to be a classic bassline! I think was a case where the bass player definitely defined a bands sound.

JJ Brunell and Tim Simonon!

First of all Flea has always been pure funk from day one. Even if the song he plays sounds kinda punk he'll always have a funky-as-hell bass line going.
Since best is an opinion, my favorite punk bassists are Matt Freeman(duh) Mike Herrera and Fat Mike. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/cool.gif

Hey gang http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/wink.gif just because a bass line is complex doesn't mean it's great. Sting keeps a very simple bass line but they're still really good.

I believe Mick Jones was the bass player in the clash and big audio dynamite he's pretty good
But starting out as a punk rocker in my younger years I'm sure Mike Watt was the most innovative punk bassist I listened to at the time. http://www.talkbass.com/ubb/cool.gif

bassdork,
Mick Jones was the guitarist for the Clash
(along with Joe Strummer). But you are right
on about Mike Watt.
John

i just checked my bass player mag and the clash's bass player is paul simonon

Don't forget Bob Thomson, who played with Big Drill Car and Xtra Large.. those Big Drill albums have killer bass lines.. he's up there with Karl Alvarez.. in fact, Bill and Stephen from All produced a couple of Big Drill CD's.

Punk? Matt Freeman, Rancid rules. I really think he makes the band. Just compare to Operation Ivy.

-MCE

hmmm I also think Mike Dirnt of Green Day is a good punk bassist...I love the Misfits...Jerry Only is ALRIGHT....

GOT LEMMY???!!!!

Mike Watt & Mick Jones.

My heart is with Mick, he is one tastey player. Well thought out and lyrical lines.

Definately Matt Freeman. He is one of the few punk bassist that doesn't just play the root note of the chords. His lines are so punchy and "fun". Green Day's bassist is good on the songs when he isn't playing the root of the power chord.

------------------
Why don't asians get tired of riice?

Darryl Jennifer of the Bad Brains!

One of the best Punk, Hardcore, Metal, AND Reggae bands there is. Darryl handles all the style with taste and style.

Mike Watt and Lemmy are great too.

I think that alot of punk music has received a bad rap because people seem to be centered on this new wave of "pop" punk. I myself will listen to anything from Beethoven to Flim & the BB's to bands like Fugazi with my favorite being anything with Tony Levin. As long as the music has some kind of integrity I'll pretty much give it a listen. My point is that I think that some people have discounted players like Karl Alvarez (ALL/Descendants), Joe Lally (Fugazi), Norwood (Fishbone), and Mike Watt to name a few. I'm not trying to be preechy here but just want to get a feel for what anyone else thinks.

Mmmmmmmm.....Bass

I agree:
first Punk got bad rep by the "I don´t care" type of playing.
then all this POP PUNK (Blink, offspring, et all)

I think Eric from Sublime, Mike from Green day (ok, he might be a POP PUNK but who cares) and Matt Freeman from Rancid/operation Ivy; these are pretty neat too.

mmmm....like....Bass

right on!
I agree completely with your assessment of modern punk bassists, but you missed one:
Fat Mike from NOFX
As far as Matt Freeman, what can I say?
HAIL TO THE CHIEF!
As far as pop punk goes, I feel that this evil is being misinterpreted here...
modern day POP evolved from 70's & 80's punk and metal, so it's not pop punk, it's pure pop.

Sid is the flat out best Punk bassist, all attitude, technique is for sissies, blahblahblah. If you expand punk attitude out as a thought thing and not fashion, you should be the best bassist, f*ck everyone else. Best surviving props have to go to Joe Lally(fugazi) or flea. Lally wins for political commitment and distribution, flea for fun and preaching. Of course, I am the best true punk, everyone else is wank! Too bad it is dead...

Wow, i didn't even think about sting, wasn't he new wave? Does the Clash count? The only Punk bassist who matters is SID VISCIOUS!! He mabey changed something, the rest are add ons.

If we're talking about attitude, then I would have to go with one of Sid's influences Dee-Dee Ramone, but if we are talking about technical ability I would have to say Karl Alvarez from ALL/Descendants is my favorite.

What about Crimpshrine's guy(I think Jeff Ott played bass for them)? I'm no expert, but he sounded outstanding.

-Abe

Definatly, Matt Freeman is a god. I dunno about Fat Mike, but maybe I'm just prejudice against all races. Mike Ness is aces, no doubt about that.

The only name I want to bring up is Chris Bauermeister, from Jawbreaker(and I think he's in J Church now, or is that Jawbreaker's drummer?), who's a great bassist, but seemed to be completely overshadowed by Blake's lyrics and(until "Dear You") raspy, smokey voice. I dunno. And Crimpshrine's guy(that was Jeff Ott from Fifteen, right?) is good, too.

-Abe

Darryl Jennifer from Bad Brains can't be beat for the punk mach I speed of Hardcore

bruknow is right, as I said in the other thread, Darryl J is the man! But also to add, Dee Dee for the super duper root note stuff; it may not be innovative, but it was solid as a Queens Subway platform!

Early Police stuff was definitely punk and Sting did some formidable bass work. It's amazing how far from that early stuff he is now. Unfortunately I'm not familiar enough with punk stuff to have an opinion about the players. I have heard that JJ is smokin' though.

------------------
Paul

punk as a genre is such a varied and grey area...royce nunley from suicide machines is great, but i'd consider him more of a ska bassist. it looks like alot of you equate speed with being good, which is okay, but i like tasteful and inventive lines more myself.
joe lally from fugazi and daryl jenifer from bad brains are my two favorites. such feel and intensity. paul simonon from the clash gets my oldschool vote, and mike watt is right up there.nick pie from shotmaker played some very cool lines.
and lets not forget rob wright from nomeansno, he's amazing live!

hey bruknow, do you play in a band in vancouver?what part of vancouver are you from?

I think Matt Freeman from Rancid rocks. The solo on Maxwell Murder floored me the first time I heard it. In response to what some of you have said about Flea he is an awsome bassist but Chili Peppers are funk not punk.

Punk rock does have some good bass players. If you don't agree with me listen to Matt Freeman let lose on the bass solo on Maxwell Murder (on Rancid's ... And Out Came the Wolves). Freeman is the best bass player I have heard overall period.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SHM BASS BOY:
I think Matt Freeman from Rancid rocks. The solo on Maxwell Murder floored me the first time I heard it. In response to what some of you have said about Flea he is an awsome bassist but Chili Peppers are funk not punk. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Matt Freeman is a bad a$$! the beginning of sidekick of the "lets go" album is so swift and cool im just like "WABAM!!!!" He is the #$%^ man! so is fat mike from NOFX. i personally think its a tie between those two.

I'd have to say Mike Watt. After a show, my girlfriend went up to buy a T-shirt from Mike, which cost $12. She came back to me for money; she only had $10. I gave her a pocketful of change, in which there were a couple of guitar picks. He told her he'd be happy to take the $10 and the picks, but she could keep the change. Now that's punk rock!

fat mike from NoFX

ALL you punk rockers ( no offense in anyway, just my 2 cents, I like alot of punk, i.e Homegrown, MXPX, Pennywise). Food for thought, just because the bass line is " complicated", or sounds complicated, doesnt mean the bassist is good. Any one can meander around an Emajor scale. A bassist needs more than complexity, complexity doesnt make the song, which is very obvious in punk music.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SpectorBag:
ALL you punk rockers, food for thought, just because the bass line is " complicated", or sounds complicated, doesnt mean the bassist is good. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I know the topic here is punk, but I think you could (and should) apply the above statement to any style of music.

it seems to me that some of you seem to forget what punk rock is, easily, the best punk rock bassist of all time is mike watt, listen to the minutemen, thats punk, not the dump music you hear on the radio, also darryl jenifer from the bad brains is quite impressive, black dots rules, also the meat puppets have some pretty sweet stuff to listen to

for good punk bass listening, definetly check out the minutemen, husker du, the bad brains, the meat puppets, descendents, thats the top of the line righ there

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by the Qintar:
for good punk bass listening, definetly check out the minutemen, husker du, the bad brains, the meat puppets, descendents, thats the top of the line righ there
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

There seem to be some differeing opinions about what punk is and the bands above are closer to what I consider punk. Although I agree with Thumpah f*ck 'em all punk attitude that defines the genre.
and yes it's very very dead.

There's a difference between Exploited-type punk and the smart stuff of Husker Du and The Clash (both of which I love). real punk is an expression without much regard for musicality
Blink 182? Green Day? Sissy boys NOT punk rockers. James Taylor is more of punk rocker than those sell outs

i totally agree, that dude in the last post is definetly right, people lost idea of what punk was all about some time ago, so much stuff on the radio nowadays is being called punk, which is so off, that kind of mainstream stuff definetly isnt punk, the real, first punk bands sounded nothing like this new stuff. mike watt, bassist for the minutemen, stated that punk rock is about being wild in the mind and not such conformist lazy thinking. its more of a state of thinking then a music style or pose, its not about playing fast and wearing green hair, its more than that, that puts it into perspective for me.

matt freeman is #1 in my book, but i'm also crazy about fugazi and the clash, and their respective bass players. oh another thing, green day may be a bit poppy but mike dirnt has some great basslines, there's no denying it.

Spare the flames about no talent just banging out chords stuff eh? I am looking to see who you guys think is the best or your favorite punk bassist. mIne are probably the guy from New Found Glory, or the Suicide Machines

Tumor who was in Snot before Lynn died.

He was awsome.

glen matlock

very much better than sid

jason thirsk of pennywise, before he died. r.i.p. jason. i think i'll go play bro hymn now

C'mon! Matt Freeman! nobody else in punk can even touch the kinda stuff he turns out

well, I don't listen to punk, but I'd have to say Paul Simonon of the Clash.

paul s., matt f., and of course mike watt

Mike Watt, Matt Freeman, and I think the guy from Devo had some great lines.

Id have to say either-
Mike Herrera-MXPX
or
New Found Glory's bassist

Paul Simonon of the Clash has been mentioned, I'll agree to that. I know I'm going to get some opposition on this one, but I like Adam Clayton of U2. U2 was really punkish, back before they got big, and I liked Adam Clayton's stuff.

Originally posted by nickis thebest
C'mon! Matt Freeman! nobody else in punk can even touch the kinda stuff he turns out


ai-yi-yi
the solo in Maxwell Murder

My vote goes to Matt Freeman.

hi
mxpx are cool
rancid are well...rancid
sex pistols, sid rocked
but the newest is Greenday.
listen to Mike Drint on the new songs and hear the bass he bashes out. if thats not punk enough try their old stuff, way back in the dookie and kerplunk and even 1039 SOSH days.
later
Lukas

Originally posted by ashton
hi
mxpx are cool
rancid are well...rancid
sex pistols, sid rocked
but the newest is Greenday.
listen to Mike Drint on the new songs and hear the bass he bashes out. if thats not punk enough try their old stuff, way back in the dookie and kerplunk and even 1039 SOSH days.
later
Lukas

Sid couldn't even play. All the studio stuff was stuff glen matlot left recorded, or the guitarist would do the bass. I got this live dvd of the sex pistals in the states, and they turned his amp off cause he was just plain ****.

c'mon! What about Hunter from AFI?! He ROCKS!

Also, matt freeman is awesome and the guy from green day is real good too.

fat mike

Mike Watt, Karl Alvarez and Matt Freeman for sure. But another great "pop-punk" bassist was Bob Thompson from Big Drill Car.. he had as big an influence on my playing as anyone.

I second Mike Dirnt. I liked his older basslines better, though. Greg K from the Offspring has some pretty cool lines, too, even though the Offspring are just borderline punk.

DEE DEE RAMONE! Hands down! he's the bassist in the band The ramones who started the punk sound! he got famous for pumpin out roots 7th and 9ths! also that guy from green day is good

1. Matt Freeman

2. Mike Dirnt

3. Fat Mike

Matt Freeman

and myself. I have to have confidence about SOMETHING ya know.

Yes, i must say i think Matt Freeman i s really good. And as for Adam Clayton, yeha he is really good, i heard some of his real old stuff at my friends house the other day and was like who is that?!

Does Tony Kanal count as a Punk Bassist?

i'd have to say the guy from the living end

Matt Freeman
Mike Watt
Karl Alvarez
Mike Dirnt is OK, but not close the above mentioned guys.

Mike Dirnt is a lot better than ok he churned out the bassline to longview when he was 21 years old, that to me is quite a feat, dirnt is awesome, granted not as talented as watt and freeman but close.

Mike Dirnt is good, but longveiw isn't exactly that hard to play, i mean i'm only 14 and i can play it no problem

Oh yeah, I don't have one, cause I don't like punk, think they all lack musical integrity.

charlie from nerf herder



come on , has nobody heard of this guy?




brian

Kinda partial to Robert Trujillo...any punker who's down with a six string is A-Ok in my book!

That, and Infectious Grooves is one of the many plauges that make my booty move:D

Danny Kain from divit, no contest
second would be Hunter from AFI

Originally posted by Mikey96
Mike Dirnt is a lot better than ok he churned out the bassline to longview when he was 21 years old, that to me is quite a feat, dirnt is awesome, granted not as talented as watt and freeman but close.


The reason I said that he was OK was because of who I had listed above, and no, I do not think he is in the same class as Matt Freeman or Mike Watt, they are WAAAYYY above Mike Dirnt.
Of course, that is just my opinion.

Ryan

Either Hunter of AFI (whats that dudes last name?) or Matt Freeman. Greg Kriesel is pretty good too, but not as near as good as the other two.

I agree, Mike Dirnt's older lines are good, but Greg K's older lines are better too. Just listen to "Dirty Magic" off of Igniton, thats a cool bass line. Now, all I gotta do is perfect singing along with it while I'm playing and I'll be set.

not a huge AFI fan but i do like the bassist. have to mention the guy from the ramones, and i do like mike dirnt.

Ryan wheres your head at? I have a pretty good idea, I dont see u inventing anything as catchy as longview that makes that much money. U may be able to play it but can u come up with something that catchy, that establishes your band in the mainstream. I bet if Dirnt was to let go, he could totally hold his own against Freeman. Point is Dirnt was churning out some pretty catchy lines and putting in some brilliant fills at a young age, which is something you dirnt detractors should take light of.

OK, this one goes out to "thegibbins", whoever you are...

Yes, the line is not the hardest to play (not the easiest either) but could you have come up with it?
It's a pretty good bassline, y'know...

Oh yah, my favs are Mike Dirnt, Paul Simonon and Matt Freeman

Originally posted by thegibbins
i'd have to say the guy from the living end

good call, that whole band is absolutely amazing. i swear they're the second coming of the Clash. and coming from me, that's a BIG compliment.

Hunter from AFI (good luck if you wanna find his last name) - listen to Total Immortal
Fat Mike of NOFX - listen to Olive Me or Stickin in My Eye

Originally posted by Mikey96
Ryan wheres your head at? I have a pretty good idea, I dont see u inventing anything as catchy as longview that makes that much money. U may be able to play it but can u come up with something that catchy, that establishes your band in the mainstream. I bet if Dirnt was to let go, he could totally hold his own against Freeman. Point is Dirnt was churning out some pretty catchy lines and putting in some brilliant fills at a young age, which is something you dirnt detractors should take light of.
I don't really appreciate being accused of having my head up my ***. I was simply expressing my opinion.

And I am in no way bashing Dirnt, I think he is a pretty damn good bassist. But IN MY OPINION, I like what I have heard from some other guys a little better. I am in no way a Dirnt detractor (whatever that is). Yes, Longview does have a very catchy bass line, I agree with you 100%. But again, this is all opinions here, no need to start a flame war. So try to lighten up a little bit, OK?? Nothing personal here.

Ryan

Im a light guy but u took a rather sarcastic and "im smarter than u tone" with your smily face, which was not appreciated but no flames from me, I agree Dirnt is good but not as good as Freeman, however I would like to see what dirnt could do being totally let off his leash in rancid or op ivy.

Originally posted by Mikey96
Im a light guy but u took a rather sarcastic and "im smarter than u tone" with your smily face, which was not appreciated but no flames from me, I agree Dirnt is good but not as good as Freeman, however I would like to see what dirnt could do being totally let off his leash in rancid or op ivy.

I apologize for coming across that way. I didn't mean to seem like a sarcastic jerk.

But yeah, it would be cool to see what Dirnt could do if he was free to go like Freeman seems to be. Might surprise all of us.:D:D:D

Jason Black from Hot Water Music

I would have to say my fav Punk bassist is
Pete Farnden from the Pretenders. They went soft after his death and the guitar players death (James Honeyman Scott)
But the first two Pretenders albums were as punk as punk gets and Petes bass lines were incredible.
A Definite recommended listen is The Pretenders 1 and 2, after that they went south and turned into pop.

Well I don't listen to too much punk. But I've listened to a record by a band considered punk rock, even though synths were used. It's The Stranglers and the song is "(Get A) Grip (on Yourself)." The bass starts in one note but the following bars...THOSE F***N PROGESSIONS, maaaaaannnn. Whooooa!! Up and down and up and...the walkin bass is just plain kickasz! THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST BASSLINE WORKS EVER!!! Who is that on bass???

Who does karl Alveraz and Mike Watt play for?

Oh and by the way although there not 'full on punk' bassists I still think Norwood Fisher of Fishbone and Tony Kanal of No Doubt are the best bassists in punk rock (when they play it) at least they both got some funk in them(or a lot shall I say) which a lot of punk bass players just have'nt got. I also like Matt Freeman , what i have heard from him anyway. Whats his best basslines? And who would you say is the best 'pickless' playing punk/ska bassist?

Originally posted by Moonraker
Who does karl Alveraz and Mike Watt play for?


Karl Alvarez plays in ALL and Descendents. He's incredible. Check out any of their CDs for good examples. My favorites by ALL are "Allroy Was Here" and "Allroy's Revenge." Descendents "Everything Sucks" is awesome as well.
Mike Watt played with the Minutemen, fIREHOSE, Dos, and Bootstrappers, and has put out two solo albums. His definitive work, IMO, is the Minutemen's "Double Nickels on the Dime," but there are awesome bass lines all over the fIREHOSE albums too, and his solo records have some good stuff on them too.

Thanks now I know.

By the way it would be a crime to not regard Daryll Jenifer (Bad brains) as one of the best bassists of the hardcore/punk genre.

Daryll jenifer
and
Norwood fisher....

are without a doubt the best punk bassists, matt freeman's close though.

My favourite punk bassist is Paul Simonon from The Clash.

-Matt Freeman
-Eric Wilson

Roger from Less Than Jake

Matt Freeman is hands down the best bass player not only in punk but in any other band i've ever heard. He is so creative and all his lines are amazing, although i like his old tone better then the one he uses now in the new album. No one is as good or creative as matt. even all the way back to the op ivy days all his lines were crazy.
some other punk bassists that are really good in my opinion are mike dirnt, the guy from the offspring, alec b. from leftover crack, shayne from choking victim, bassist from american steel and daycare swindlers, andy from indk, against all authority's bassist,
thats all

Listen to some Anti Flag albums. I know they've switched bassists on occasion, but the style is pretty much intact on every album. Good stuff. Try playing NOFXs The Decline straight through and you'll really appreciate fat mike's playing as well.

Okay, best 3 I can think of;

1.Mike Dirnt

2. Ian from New Found Glory

3. The dude from American Hi-Fi (if u can call them punk)

All 3 have some mega funky ass bass lines! Fair enough, they may be relatively easy, but hell, they dont have to be hard to be good right?

Fair enough I like Blink 182, but just because Mark Hoppus can sing dont mean hes 1 of the best punk bassists around does it?


(personally he's a good bassist, but he dont always play good, DOWNLOAD Dammit by them Live, he plays so crap!!)

Well, punk isn't what I usually listen to, but that dude from Rancid can really lay down a line. I'm always amazed at his speed and accuracy when he plays his solo's. That guy rocks!

I agree with Ian Grushka from NFG (just 'cuz they're my fav), Mike Dirnt, Mike Herrera (MxPx), and Mark Hoppus, but why has no one mentioned Joe Escalante from the Vandals or Mike Davenport of the Ataris? BTW, listen to New Found Glory's 'Sincerely Me...' good stuff.

1.Mike Dirnt of Green Day
2.Scott Owen of the Living End
3Matt FReeman of Rancid

I have to pick Mike even though he's not as talented as some others he inspered me to play bass, and his lines fit Green Day's songs so well. Funny thing is, I was talking to Mike once and he said that he thought Matt sucked, that his bass lines were to "twidely"!

Either Matt Freeman or the dude from Green Day.

The guy from Frenzal Rhomb is good, but my favorite has to be Tomek from the Satanic Surfers. Really great basslines for punk! Check out their cd 666 motor inn

Originally posted by lo-end


the name of the string is FAVORITE/best punk bassist, not BEST punk bassist.

yeah note the best part! It says best, so I commented on best, only because someone said he was 1 of the best because he could play and sing. I mean, anyone can play and sing, just it all depends on the quality, and personally, MARK HOPPUS IS CRAP.

Ian Ryan Grushka RULES, and SO DOES NFG. Oh yeah, all their songs rule!

Punk bands are talentless losers!

Originally posted by TheTestvb
Punk bands are talentless losers!

Thanks for sharing that, now go back to your hole and sulk in your own misery!

Maybe... but when your boss is an a-hole..if you have a job coz me my university degree has proven worthless...if you got no luck with women coz they say they want something and go for the contrary, etc. etc.... when life kinda sux...Green Day's "Burnout" or something like that...oooooooh yeah that's quite a release!! Jump like crazy and scream fuk the world...same goes for hard rock metal...or even some of the faster "guitarer" new wave, like early Police.

So talent only goes so far...sometimes the good stuff comes in threes (chords)...

Originally posted by NewWaveBasser
So talent only goes so far...sometimes the good stuff comes in threes (chords)...

Thats a good point!

I would say - give me a definition of "punk" - and then I'll tell you! :D

i think you hit it on the head, bruce. as far as i'm concerned, you can't define it, you have to feel it.

Matt Freeman is the best punk bassist. Listen Axiom, Black Lung, or Maxwell Murder, those songs are incredible. Mike Watt, Hunter, and Fat Mike (listen to the decline) are also very good.

one of my most all time punk bassists is Fat Mike From NoFx.his lines on the decline are the best in punk.in my opinion that is.also,Roger from Less Than Jake,i know he is ska,but i love his tone,it is mad punchy

Mike Herrera- The Theme Fiasco
I enjoy listening to Mike's playing. Pretty good tone too. With his bass slung low and jumping around so much, it is amazing he plays as well as he does.

I am out of touch with the whole "punk" thing.. but I will say that the bassist from Rancid is by far the best bass player in that genre... and pretty damn good in any other genre.. I don't know his name..

yeah,fat mike is really talented,there are a lot of other great punk bassists out also

mike watt

Come on people... no other person said Jason Black from Hot Water Music... he beats everyone anyone else mention (Sans Watt... he is a legend). He plays G&L.. sometimes 5 strings.. FINGERSTYLE... he has talent, instead of doubling the guitar ... you should really check him out.. songs like us and chuck, just don't say you lost it, and radio free gainsville are amazing!

This is all if the broad since of the word punk, since hot water music is 'Emocore'.

less than jake is sort of ska/punk, but listen to their bass player some time. Roger is unbefrickinlievable. I also am a big fan of mike from green day, he's always turned out quality basslines to compliment billy's powerchords. The Living End is an all around unbelievable band. You gotta love the upright bass.

dude, I totally forgot to mention Eric Wilson, how could I be so stupid. (I have like, all their albums and about 20 bootlegs ans 3 vinyls, shouldn't be too hard to forget eric wilson). He's the whole reason I started playing. I guess I didn't mention him because I don't consider sublime to be punk. I once heard one of the guys from me first and the gimmie gimmies say "punk is defined by limitations" and sublime doesn't limit themselves at all, they play everything and play it well.

I love NFG, but I don't understand why everyone is picking him? Sincerely Me is a neat bassline, but I don't hear much in his lines usually that stands out too much. Again, I'm not slamming him, I happen to really like NFG.

Has anybody heard a band called Mest? They have a pretty good bass player that I happen to like to listen to.

OH YEAH. The dude from Alkaline Trio! I LOVE his tone. It's like, so muddy and dark, I love it to death, I have no idea how he manages to get his sound, it seems to have lots of high end and low end at the same time, it's so cool.

One of the coolest basslines I've ever heard is in this song by a band called the Madbutchers by the name of "Blind". I found it on a compilation, It's sort of ska, but some of the best bass in punk IS in ska.

Dan from AK3 plays fender jazz basses.. he now has a custom shop 72 model.. (I think).. through a mesa boogie 400+ head. He uses dunlop picks.. whatever gauge the orange ones are. He is a really cool good... and yes he has a really good tone, but sadly enough Matt (guitar/vocals) wrote all the music. He actually had the mids up higher than I would think with the style of music.

Ian from NFG isn't very good. When they went major label he playing suffered. But back when they were on drive-thru he was a little better recorded. But again, another band where the guitar players wrote everything.

Everyone needs to check out Jason Black http://hwm.indiepress.com he is damn good

The guitar player might write the basic structure of the song, like the chord rotations and such, but it seems to me like the bass player has a lot to do with dressing that up to make it a little more flavorful. I of course do not know what their song writing process is like... I mean, for all I know, one guy could write every single note for every instrument and pass out instuctions to the whole band... It just doesn't seem to me like this is how it would be done. So I still credit the bassist for the lines he comes up with, even if they are based more or less around the guitar part. SOMEBODY has to come up with the main structure of the song no matter what, and all the intruments SHOULD be playing roughly the same thing, or something close to the same thing, so I don't take that away from the bassist if somebody else happens to write the songs.

I'd have to say Mike Dirnt on albums like dookie.
What he plays isn't hard but it's very important to the music and really stands out.

Matt Freemon is the best. Fat Mike is my fav.

fat mike writes almost all the songs for nofx. he's one of the few bassists that does that. plus his a lot of his lines are fun and light hearted, and not so idotically simple (anyone hear 'so long and thanks for all the shoes'?)

some one please humor me and say they like Jason Black... or even Eben from Saves the Day.. .better yet the dude from Small Brown Bike ... he does 16th notes really fast that drive every song... I like it

So long and thanks for the shoes was the first NOFX album i ever got. I can sing the lyrics all the way through without the music (except Champ Elysess). I saw someone in here say that punk bass lines suck. In my opinion, the guitar lines are simple, however most basslines in punk are fairly complex. Didnt fat mike play the guitar on some of NOFX's earlier stuff???

I'm not a fan of punk, but Matt Freeman.

Matt Freeman...... he kicks so much ass its almost uncomprehendable! (nice usage of a big word huh?) Yeah, anyway, hes really good and hes definately my favorite.

Whoever said the bassist from Hot Water Music, I gotta agree with you 100%. He is amazing, and his tone is really great too. If you like punk and haven't heard these guys, you should check em out. I am in love with this guy's basslines.

Also, when I saw Anti-Flag, the bassplayer was all over the fretboard (and fast of course) It basically sounds like scale runs but they are pretty precise.

josh

damm you beat me to it, i was about to mention chris from anti flag. that guy's bass lines are pretty fast and complicated a lot of the time, sometimes its a real pain to learn the song.

yeah,Mike from mxpx is really good too.my favorites are Fat mike,Roger from ltj,and mike from mxpx.each person has a totaly different kind of playing.Plus,i haven't heard a lot of punk bassists use chords.Fat mike plays chords on the decline,we threw gasoline on the fire,and a lot more,he is really good.Mike dirnt from green day has a cool style too.he pretty much just sticks to what the guitar is playing,but he play fills between eveycouple chords.ok,whatever bye

actually im the best punk bassist there is

Originally posted by jrich
Whomever said the bassist from Hot Water Music, I gotta agree with you 100%. He is amazing, and his tone is really great too. If you like punk and haven't heard these guys, you should check em out. I am in love with this guy's basslines.

josh

YES!!! Finally (I hope that wasn't just to humor me)... this kid has got his head on his shoulders

IT DEFINETLY HAS TO BE THE BASSIST FROM SUBHUMANS "TROTSKY" YOU SHOULD GET THAT SONG "SOCIETY" AND "ANIMAL" AND YOULL SEE WHAT I MEAN

1. Fat mike

2. Mike dirnt

3. the guy from AFI

i cant believe more people havent said mike watt, cmon, where are all the people that listen to the minutemen????

Originally posted by Psobecke


YES!!! Finally (I hope that wasn't just to humor me)... this kid has got his head on his shoulders

Thanks for the compliment!

(and thanks for the grammar check [whomever said])

josh

I'd have to say Mike Herrera of MxPx is the best. He is not just like today's punk bassists where it is just the 4 chord progression. If you listen closely on the older albums like LET IT HAPPEN, POKINATCHA, or even MXPX LIVE AT THE SHOW. He is always playing some kind of bassline in the back.

1. Mike Herrera
2. Matt Freeman
3. Mike Dirnt

I'd give it to you RANCID fans, Matt is awesome.

I really hate punk music

But I'd say Mike Dirnt.

Haha, you noticed that :)

i put that trotsky was the bassist from subhumans but its phil that is and i found another good song with a lot of bass called drugs of youth

I just saw the Warped Tour show in Pompano Beach, Fla. the other day, and got to see a bunch of great "punk" bassists in one day! Matt Freeman was great, but the guy who really blew my doors off was Randy Bradbury from Pennywise. Not only because he played the hell out of their whole set, but he also filled in with The Vandals and totally kicked ass on their stuff, too. He is fierce, and beyond melodic when he wants to be. The guy from AFI was good, too, but I didn't really care for them on the whole.

Jerry Only from the Misfits is pretty badass. So is matt freeman, and Eric Wilson if you consider sublime punk at all.

i like the bassist from Flashlight and the bassist from Craigs Brother

oh yeah and the guy from operation ivy (matt Freewood or something like that?)

My favorite bassists period,which happen to be punk and ska anyway are.FatMike from Nofx,Roger from Less Than Jake,#2 from Anti-flag,Mike Herrera from mxpx,Mike Dirnt from Greenday and matt from reel big fish,all these guys can lay down great lines and also kick ass all the way up and down the neck.

There's this guy in this local punk band, MSB24, he's great and so are his lines. They're big only in CT, but look out

Watt's mine. Did anyone mention Rob Wright of Nomeansno? Also Lemmy, I think he has enough punk cred to be mentioned here.

Johnny Cash.

Well, he doesn't play Punk or Bass but I was just trying to keep with the ignorance of this thread.

On a serious note, I'd have to say Joe Lally from Fugazi and Paul Siminon from The Clash. Honorable mentions to Matt Freeman, Mike Watt, Tod Ashley, Peter Hook, David J. and David Wm. Simms.

I never saw this thread before and I wish I never had... Yikes!

~Ad

In no particular order.

Norwood Fisher
Robert Trujillo
Peter Hook

I cant believe Bassdude said that about punk bassists. Oh well.

Matt Riddle (no use for a name)
Matt Freeman (Rancid)
The bloke from Anti-Flag

Matt Riddle from No use is amazin and he plays with his fingers (like me!)

Oh yeah,we might be playin with Rancid, No use for a name and new found glory this year!! at deconstruction.

- Russ

fat!

it took 6 pages of this crap for someone to actually mention someone who was worth a crap...rob wright awesome bass player...also bob weston from shellac...david wm. simms (the jesus lizard)...paul erickson from hammerhead...mike watt of course...

Originally posted by the Qintar
i cant believe more people havent said mike watt, cmon, where are all the people that listen to the minutemen????

Have you even read this thread? I glance through it and saw at least five people who said Mike Watt.

My favorite punk bassist is Cassey Orr, AKA Beefcake the Mighty of GWAR. Also plays for The Hellions, if they can be considered punk.

Dave Brockie (of the Dave Brockie Experience and GWAR) has some good bass lines too, even though I'm not a fan of DBX.

Mike Dirnt is pretty good. I like his old stuff with Green Day.

Edit: I can't believe I forgot about one of my all time favorite bass payers. Peter Steele of Type O Negative. They have mellowed out a lot, but they are very punk on their first couple of albums.

Hey CG, have you forgotten Mike Bishop?

Originally posted by ThumperCI6
I'd have to say Mike Herrera of MxPx is the best. He is not just like today's punk bassists where it is just the 4 chord progression. If you listen closely on the older albums like LET IT HAPPEN, POKINATCHA, or even MXPX LIVE AT THE SHOW. He is always playing some kind of bassline in the back.

1. Mike Herrera
2. Matt Freeman
3. Mike Dirnt

I'd give it to you RANCID fans, Matt is awesome.


I agree. Mike is awesome. My list is the same as yours, but then at 4 I'd put in Ian Grushka(sp?) from New Found Glory.

the best punk bass players IMO are Robert Trujillo, Josh Paul (both Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves) and Jesse Bugleone of Lagwagon. Can't belive nobody hase mentioned him, he is an awesome player (far better than for instance Mike Herrara or Fat Mike, I mean Fat mike said it himself!!)

Originally posted by Hategear
Hey CG, have you forgotten Mike Bishop?

Duh.

Smack myself upside the head with a wet dead fish.

I've changed my mind since my last post. my vote now goes to scott shiflett of face to face. the guy is incredible. i also would mention the guy from saves the day (dunno his name) but he has some cool fills, and one of the few punk bassists (if you'd call them that) u see playing fingerstyle.

FAT MIKE ALL THE WAY

just try to play the decline while singing all the way through and you'll know why he's good

Another shout out for Paul Simonon of the Clash.

Matt Freeman, definately.

If anybody can show me a cooler bass player than Paul Simonon then i'll eat my own cooking. Matt Freeman is the man in terms of playing though.

Dave Macaffrey (Of Frank Black and the Catholics) is pretty damn cool too.

Hey I was checkin' out the LET IT HAPPEN insert, lookin' at Mike Herrera's Stingrays when I realized: Oh my goodness, there's no pick in his hand! He's playing fingerstyle!?

It was one of the highlights of my life.:rolleyes: J/K

my fav.. Mike Dirnt...

1. Freeman
2. The dude from GC5
3. The dude that played bass on Anti-Flag's New Kind Of Army.

There are too many other greats to list.

:Edit: SWEET LORD! I read, like half of this thread after I posted - WHAT ARE SOME OF YOU THINKING!?!?! I dont want to read any more than half after I saw some of what was posted. Some people do not understand punk rock or what its about in the least. I heard mentions of how much money was made from a song, must be good then, right? Note the sarcasim. Also Mark, from Blink because he sings!?!? First off he doesnt come close to a lot of bassist mentioned in this thread. And I didnt know this was a "Favorite/best Punk bassist...Who sings too". Sid was also mentiond. WHY? He was bad, to put it simply. He did not record many if not all of the songs. They unplugged him for more than half of their shows, why? Again, because he was bad. Im sorry for ranting but c'mon!?!? Im gunna go listen to some Radiohead and chill out, I need to after reading this. WOW!

punk, you bassist like punk. i thought you only like jazz. i am the bass player in my own punk band called the coarpses. besides me (LOL), Matt Freeman from Rancid is my all time favorite punk bass player. also great too jerry only of the misfits. Eric from sublime is really good too, but i wouldnt call sublime punk.

Originally posted by coarp
punk, you bassist like punk. i thought you only like jazz. i am the bass player in my own punk band called the coarpses. besides me (LOL), Matt Freeman from Rancid is my all time favorite punk bass player. also great too jerry only of the misfits. Eric from sublime is really good too, but i wouldnt call sublime punk.

Coarpses? I hope you guys are better at playing then you are at spelling.

Unless that is somekind of odd play on words, the other of which I can't figure out.

~Ad

Originally posted by Scrawneybassist
Spare the flames about no talent just banging out chords stuff eh? I am looking to see who you guys think is the best or your favorite punk bassist. mIne are probably the guy from New Found Glory, or the Suicide Machines jerry only of the misfits

all i have to say is if your talkin about the best bassist from a punk band at least put one of your picks as some one that was in a punk band not a cheap immitation of one like green day and the best bassist from a punk band is either east bay ray from the dead kennedys or erik from sublime i dont know where all of you got that mike from green day is good

HUNTER!!!!!!

matt freeman be good too

Originally posted by dawgawd
dude, I totally forgot to mention Eric Wilson, how could I be so stupid. (I have like, all their albums and about 20 bootlegs ans 3 vinyls, shouldn't be too hard to forget eric wilson). He's the whole reason I started playing. I guess I didn't mention him because I don't consider sublime to be punk. I once heard one of the guys from me first and the gimmie gimmies say "punk is defined by limitations" and sublime doesn't limit themselves at all, they play everything and play it well.

I love NFG, but I don't understand why everyone is picking him? Sincerely Me is a neat bassline, but I don't hear much in his lines usually that stands out too much. Again, I'm not slamming him, I happen to really like NFG.

Has anybody heard a band called Mest? They have a pretty good bass player that I happen to like to listen to.

OH YEAH. The dude from Alkaline Trio! I LOVE his tone. It's like, so muddy and dark, I love it to death, I have no idea how he manages to get his sound, it seems to have lots of high end and low end at the same time, it's so cool.

One of the coolest basslines I've ever heard is in this song by a band called the Madbutchers by the name of "Blind". I found it on a compilation, It's sort of ska, but some of the best bass in punk IS in ska.


sublime isn't punk you assclown

Heh...assclown...that is a funny word.

my favorite puck bassist is the dood from rancid he kicks ass, take maxwell muder for an example excelnt bass solo for a punk band.

matt freeman, jerry only,mike dirnt, hunter from afi, fat mike, and the guy from anti-flag...oh yeah that guy over there.
*points to the cat*

I guess whoever played with minor threat, the Dead Kennedys and Dag Nasty. The old bassist for Rollins Band--Andrew was amazing--whatever happened to him???

Its mostly bang bang bang on the root stuff but I like the sound of the bass lines in the old Vibrators stuff, same with the Buzzcocks. Is there a trend here?
A lot of Oi! bands have amazing bass players, but that genre tends to be a little more traditional rock and roll that straight forward punk.
Oh yeah, and Mark Hoppus, he rules.

Most of mine have been said before...

Roger-less than jake
Hunter-AFI
Matt-Rancid
Jay-bad religion(most stuff is easy,but once in awhile he puts out something awesome)
#2-anti-flag
dude from The Get Up Kids
dude from h2o(listen to faster than the world,amazing bass)
fat mike-nofx
jason black-hot water music
randy bradbury-pennywise(sometimes he plays really cool stuff)
the dude from AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF THE DEAD(he has such an awesome muddy tone)

I also like any ska bass player,cuz theyre all awesome.

Matt Freeman. No one else comes close as far as I know.

I found out Hunter's last name!If you wanna know,go buy the cd Shut Your Mouth and Open Your Eyes,and look in the credits.If you REALLY wanna know,PM me.:)

ian grushka (new found glory)
craig mentoya (everclear.. they're more grunge then punk..)
jason thrisk (pennywise.. RIP)

Originally posted by Musik Meister
sublime isn't punk you assclown
sublime was a lot of things, and punk was one of them. are you telling me that "new thrash" "we're only gonna die" "poolshark" and "same in the end" aren't punk?

I saw them at a music fest back when I was 19. I heard some ska-type-hippy-smoke-yer-ganga music. I never did care for them in the least bit, and I never did hear any Punk from them.
Sorry DHC, I don't see it either. I also think that their bassist is entirely over-rated.
~Ad

Originally posted by Ad Nauseam

Sorry DHC, I don't see it either.

you would if you listened to the songs i listed.

Hey Ad,sublime did a cover of "we're only gonna die" by Bad Religion,which certainly,is a punk song.

Sublime is more reggae-ska than punk,but there still punk now and then.Their bassist isnt overrated,but he isnt amazing.He puts out some cool lines on "date rape" and most of their reggae songs.

the guy from rufio (i think his name is jon) is really good too

i would still like to think mark hoppus is one of the best in punk, he was the original member of one of the biggest punk bands ever, but although his lines are s*** simple compared to like cliff burton, his energy on stage and good vocals make him a great punker, i am in a punk band similar to blink and i know how vocals take much more skill then just pluggin some cool bassing into a song, his jokes and dumbass ways shows exactly what punk is all about anyway, music is only half of being a punk rocker.

My favorite bassists would have to be the guy from Pink Floyd. He made a lot of good stuff with that band. They weren't really punk but they had some cool sound. Some other recent ones would of had to of been the bassist from Nirvana and the bassist from Sum41. They both made and make great music with the bass. It's awesome how he was able to swing the bass around him in the video fat lip. I'm still working at it.

Punk Rock 4-ever!!

Originally posted by frankencow150
Hey Ad,sublime did a cover of "we're only gonna die" by Bad Religion,which certainly,is a punk song.

And Offspring did a cover of Smash from The Damned. It doesn't make THEM Punk, either.
Sublime might have some Punkish qualities to some of their songs, but they are far from Punk.
But I am sooooo tired of this argument. I have just come to accept that some people may never really know what Punk is. I'm no cultural or fashion elitist, but I am an elitist of the mind. It is more important that you get the just and awareness that is the foundation of Punk than the music or fashions associated with it.

on a lighter note...

My favorite Punk bassists are the guys from Britney182 and Spears41. God, they kicks my a**.
And they are from LEGENDARY Punk bands, I think one played with, um, "The Sex Guns" or something. Maybe the "Buzzroosters".
:rolleyes:


~Ad

Originally posted by Ad Nauseam

I have just come to accept that some people may never really know what Punk is.

i think you have to accept that "punk" is not a black and white concept.

Klaus Fluoride from the dead kennedys. and the guy from husker du. paul simonon is good too, i just like the style/sound Klaus has.

i have to say that sid vicious did suck & he was a poseur at best, but who else could have a beer bottle smashed on his face, then hit the guy who threw the bottle at him with a p-bass & keep "playing" the show as though nothing had happened? i cant think of many, except maybe iggy pop (he's the man, he did more than keith richards & can actually form normal speech patterns) & gigi allen, but he was a moron

Originally posted by dancehallclasher


i think you have to accept that "punk" is not a black and white concept.

I never said it was. Some things fall more to one side then others, though.
I, for one, don't know how being a hippy junkie (and singing songs about being a hippy junkie) merit you as a Punk Rocker. You'd sooner have seen Sublime playing with Dave Matthews at a college frat party then sharing the stage with the likes of The Murder City Devils or Dead & Gone.

I can play a Johnny Cash song but it won't make me country.

I'll give Sublime credit for decent Ska, but their punkier tunes seem more like a parody of Punk then anything else.

~Ad

Originally posted by Ad Nauseam
You'd sooner have seen Sublime playing with Dave Matthews at a college frat party then sharing the stage with the likes of The Murder City Devils or Dead & Gone.

is that so? that's an interesting postulation, considering they shared the stage with fIREHOSE, the vandals, bad brains, and the melvins, among others. they were very much a part of the punk community, and their music reflected that. your knowledge of their music is clearly based on a single show and maybe a radio single or two.

"like trying to describe the sky to a blind man"

8 pages and only 2 mentions of Rob Wright aka Mr Wrong, bassist and half of the formation of Nomeansno (before they added a guitar). This guy is freaking incredible, not only technically but in some rilly unique song writing. Once saw him open up for DOA by himself, just a bass and a mic and it sounded like an entire band, a good band too. He can thump and grind and still run off some incredibly complex and musical lines at the same time.
Also:
Subhuman's Phil(?)
Lemmy cuz he uses the bass like a heavy rhythm guitar (like me)
Sid cuz he used the bass as a club
Dead Kennedy's Klaus cuz those songs are still so hyperactive 20 years later
Joe from ADF cuz I'm producing their CD
Me cuz I'm crusty. hehe

I'd said its a dead-ass heat between Mike Watt(Minutemen) and Rob Wright(NoMeansNo).

I can't believe this thread is still going...

The bass player from Serotonin out of Murfreesboro TN is damn good!!!! So is the guy from CoolHandLuke (same town)


www.bifocalmedia.com for serotonin
and
www.coolhandluke.net for chl

2 words.. Inspection 12.... lol the bassist from Inspection 12.. Dan.. Mclintlock (I think thats his last name) he was in my favorite band Craigs Brother(royal fan for 4 years RIP craigs brother)..
He does bass playing and singing... Download So sadly it goes.. Nice bass bit in the opening =D..
Roger from LTJ rules also.. =D
TOM DELONGE (just kiddin).... okah.. the doods not that good.. hes got a decent voice and he sings.. but yeah look at les claypool.. he sings too =D so... i think Mike Watt rulz.... Mike from MXPX has some fun lines.... but Dan M. from inspection 12 is my favorite punk bassist..

EDIT:
GG ALLIN RULZ.. my one man band... "the artist formaly known as monkey man" on mp3.com might do a GG ALLIN Covor...hes dead so i dont think he will do a lars on us.. but we got 2 songs up the songs just need aproving and the page needs to go up.. but it will soon =D
later

"Punk" is a lifestyle, not just music. Most "punk" isn't even punk and the musicians in the bands don't follow the lifestyle. F*&$ all the people who think they're punk because they can play 8th note roots on bass, play the same damn drum pattern, play power chords, have a mohawk, have stickers and patches all over their stuff, have tattoos up the wazoo, and think if it doesn't sound like s*#@ it's not punk. I listen to all sorts of music, and I'm sick of people saying this band is or isn't punk. "Punk" has been what I've listened to for the majority of the last 5 years (I'm only 19 so:rolleyes: ), but for christs sake, nobody even knows what they're talking about. And to be honest, I don't even like most "real" punk... the Pistols and the Ramones may be legends, and may be a great inspiration, but they weren't talented musicians by any means.

ok, I'm done venting:p

Dave

PS. I'm with DHC on this one, Sublime definately has a punk quality to them... and Eric Wilson is pretty sweet, I don't know about overrated... if you said *airhead voice on* "Mark Hoppus is the bestest bassist ever!!" *airhead voice off* then I'd say "HA HA HA HA", but Eric Wilson definately is good

Mike Watt, Rob Wright, Karl Alvarez, with a very honorable mention to Scott Shiflett of Face to Face. Anyone who thinks that punk rockers can't be virtuoso players should give Face to Face's Live album a close listen. Let us also not forget Joe Lalley from Fugazi, who managed to fit dub into a progressive hardcore band. How cool is that?

Long live the Punk Rock bassists. I have a feeling we're a minority here in the forum, so we should distinguish ourselves by intelligent, if not perhaps a little snotty, posts and replies. And remember, if you bass isn't low enough to cover your crotch, you're in the wrong business.

i would still like to think mark hoppus is one of the best in punk, he was the original member of one of the biggest punk bands ever, but although his lines are s*** simple compared to like cliff burton, his energy on stage and good vocals make him a great punker, i am in a punk band similar to blink and i know how vocals take much more skill then just pluggin some cool bassing into a song, his jokes and dumbass ways shows exactly what punk is all about anyway, music is only half of being a punk rocker.


My extreme feelings of rage cant fully be expressed in words....I dont think I can even start to comment on him being "in one of the biggest punk bands ever" or him being a "great punker" without my brain exploiding.

My favorite bassists would have to be the guy from Pink Floyd. He made a lot of good stuff with that band. They weren't really punk but they had some cool sound. Some other recent ones would of had to of been the bassist from Nirvana and the bassist from Sum41. They both made and make great music with the bass. It's awesome how he was able to swing the bass around him in the video fat lip. I'm still working at it.



Floyd wasnt punk, they may be good, but they arnt punk. Yeah that was hella tight how he can follow root note and swing the bass around his head...:rolleyes: :mad:

Originally posted by old_skool



My extreme feelings of rage cant fully be expressed in words....I dont think I can even start to comment on him being "in one of the biggest punk bands ever" or him being a "great punker" without my brain exploiding.

Urge to kill...aslo rising...!

There are so many things wrong with Ken's post, that yes...rage cannot be expressed accurately.
"Simple, compared to Cliff Burton"...shyeah. Ok.

And we all know Cliff Burton was not only a good punk reference, but a spectacular example of bass Godhood.

...whoa. My sarcasometer just broke...

Definately Suicidal Tendencies bassists,, however,, some may classify them more in the metal category. whatever

Also definately Chris #2 of Anti-Flag,, fast and mobile!!

Originally posted by air4me2
Definately Suicidal Tendencies bassists,, however,, some may classify them more in the metal category. whatever



Robert Turjillo.

Like I said initially (page 2 of thise thread) any punker who's down with 6ers is down with me. I think the guy is amazing...

Sorry, brah. Six-string = not punk.

Originally posted by crud19
Sorry, brah. Six-string = not punk.

According to who???

According to The Punk Rock Handbook. Don't you have a copy?

I think I lost mine at CBGB's.

Good answer.

well aside from myself of course :D , id have so say my favorite punk bassist is the dude from alien ant farm, just because i love his style of playing.

Originally posted by Farley


According to who???

My thought.

So...Suicidal Tendancies isn't Punk? Nor is Infectious Grooves?

Ooookkkkaaaayyy....

I see a few people have their bassists a bit wrong. Not to take anything away from Karl Alvarez, The Descendants first bassist, Tony Lombardo is the guy you should be saying is great, not Karl. Tony recorded all the great songs with the band before they put out Everything Sucks (which is garbage).

Mike Watt is the greatest punk bass player in my humble opinion. Tony Lombardo and "Dave Blood" from the Dead Milkmen are also great. Out of thew new fake crap they call punk out there now, Matty Freeman and Fat Mike get honorable mentions, but both are pick players, and are all speed and no real depth. I can play scales and root notes at double time too. At least Watt and Lombardo were inventive.

I think you're selling Fatty and Matt a little short. Have you heard "The Decline" by NOFX? There is some tasty melodic work there that goes way beyond root-note speed-picking. And there are parts on the newest Rancid album (the self-titled one) that make your head spin. Regarding the Descendents (with an "e" there at the end, brah): Are you forgeting the "ALL" album? Hello? "Coolidge?" "Cameage?" "Clean Sheets?" "Pep Talk?" And regardless of how you feel about the songs on "Everything Sucks," the bass work is off the freakin' map. "I'm the One" rules! Give my man Karl another listen.

crud19..

Good point. I forget Alvarez was All's bass player. The Decline is extremely impressive at parts, and Fat Mike is certainly a great bass player. I am a huge NOFX fan, so don't get me wrong! Alvarez may be great, but I just wanted to give props to Lombardo, who no one even mentioned. Some of these guys may not even know who Tony Lombardo is ya know?

Not sure anyone said this, (I tried to read it all), but Joe Rapozo from RKL. Some of the lines on the Rock and Roll Nightmare CD are just freaky....

I know I'm the new kid and I'm not allowed an oppinion yet but my vote is for Matt Freeman anyday, look at songs like Blacklung, ever heared another punk "bassist" churn out anything like that? that's a neatass bassline if I do say so myself, right from the first album he had some damn fine 4 string licks right through to tracks like "Axiom" with it's fantastic bass solo which can easilly follow up to the Maxwell Murder one and even in the Op Ivy days he rocked!

jerry only
not that he was exactly great; but the misfits rock my lame @$$.

Hello???? Did you forget Mark Hoppus??

Nobody ever replies when i bring up Hoppus. Why is that???

For me the best bassist(s) in a punk band

are

Flip (1973-1983)
Gary Fun (1983-)

off the toy dolls.. these guys are supurb players and immensly entertaining and wow they can play fast and cleanly.. get those picks out (tho i cant play with them so0o fingers for me):D

i havent heard enough punk to judge the best punk bassist, but my favourate is Matt Freeman from rancid

Matt Freeman from Rancid blows most punk players away, IMO.

Something i notice about alot of punk bassists is that you dont know how good they are by listening to their music, because alot of punk basslines are simple three or four note progressions. Im sure there's some bassist out there in a punk band that nobody's ever heard of that can play like Wooten, but since he's into punk it wouldnt really sound right with that type of music.

Here comes the flaming.

Sorry it was the 182nd post and 182 is an evil number:D

Originally posted by GothSkaBassist
Something i notice about alot of punk bassists is that you dont know how good they are by listening to their music, because alot of punk basslines are simple three or four note progressions. Im sure there's some bassist out there in a punk band that nobody's ever heard of that can play like Wooten, but since he's into punk it wouldnt really sound right with that type of music.

Here comes the flaming.

But don't you think, that if they are really that good, that they could incorporate SOME of that into their music? Instead of just whackin' at the strings up and down constantly?

I have respect for ska bassists though. Walking bass lines are fun.

Matt Freeman. Nough' said.

has this thread been dragged out. God, people have gone through puberty since this thread started.

I think a lot of the coolest bass stuff was in the bands that crossed the line between Punk and other styles- particularly dub, reggae and ska. I am particularly thinking of the Clash (RIP Joe) who has a jukebox full of old bluebeat 45s in their squat/practice space (well, if you're gonna sleep on the floor, at least have a nice singles collection, eh?). A lot of that sound seeped into their music and just made it a lot more interesting than a band like the Sex Pistols (though Johnny's other band had Jah Wobble and he's great). Bands like the Specials, Selector, even Madness came out fo the punk scene and really had some great bass lines (even the early Police, I guess.)

The logical extension would be Rancid. By the way, just in case there are any young whippersnappers out there who don't know this, Rancid are the Clash. They've based just about everything they've done on the sound of the Clash, so if you like them, go check out the original. And Green Day are Stiff Little Fingers, but I digress. That said, Matt from Rancid is great (horrid tone, but great player). It is actually quite difficult to rip on the bass like he does and make it work in the context of a punk band, so thumbs up to that guy.

Originally posted by Pete Crane
Not sure anyone said this, (I tried to read it all), but Joe Rapozo from RKL. Some of the lines on the Rock and Roll Nightmare CD are just freaky....

FINALLY!!!!!! Someone who knows about RKL!

The intro to Betrayed is amazing.

You guys are out of yer godd*mn minds!!
Using the comparison Matt Freeman and the bassist in Newfound Glory is like doing a comparison between Zeus and a Horse!!! Matt Freeman is the most techniqally advanced player as well as the most innovative... He is the king of punk and he always will be... The Bass Solo is just one of his great masterpieces...

Originally posted by Abr@hamBassBoy
You guys are out of yer godd*mn minds!!
Using the comparison Matt Freeman and the bassist in Newfound Glory is like doing a comparison between Zeus and a Horse!!!

That is one of the oddest analogies I've ever read....why didn't I think of that?

There were some great bassists in punk bands playing simple but effective lines and sometimes less is more. I dont know many names but the following bands had some great bass lines in thier tunes.
Paul Simmonon-The Clash (cool dude)
Stiff Little Fingers
Tubeway Army
Jean Jacques Brunnel-The Stranglers (nice and chunky)
999
Slaughter And The Dogs
Dirty Habits