In rock music I've noticed that this is not very common. Bassists aren't usually singers in the band and hardly ever lead singers? I've noticed myself that it is much harder to sing while playing bass than while playing guitar.

What well-known bands have bassists that are lead singers? I only know of three:

RUSH - Geddy Lee
Sting & The Police - Sting
All-American Rejects - Tyson Ritter

Lemmy-motorhead

Phil Lynott-Thin Lizzy

Doug Pinnick- King's X

Me! It's very hard at first but it gets a LOT easier.

Alex

Les Claypool - Primus & those 1 million jam bands that he is or was in.

;) Hmmm Didn't McCartney sing lead once in a while??

Tom Araya - Slayer

the dude from Venom, my friend just showed me a vid of them, their singer is insane lol

Jack Bruce


I've sung lead and played bass in many band situations over the last 47 years. I've been lucky to have always found it easy to play bass while singing, I just sing in spite of what I'm playing rather than trying to sing with what I'm playing. Anyway, it works for me.

George

Mark King of Level 42.

Glenn Hughes: Deep Purple, Black Sabbath
Burke Shelley: Budgie

James Dewar - Robin Trower
Martin Turner - Wishbone Ash
Jack Blades - Night Ranger, Damn Yankees
Gene Simmons - KISS
Lemmy - Motorhead
John Wetton - King Crimson, Asia
Greg Lake - King Crimson, ELP

Cassandra - Crucial Taunt (Wayne's World)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mO9UbWMycM

Not terribly difficult, but pretty neat, nonetheless.

I've come to realize that bass and vocals go together like "lamb and tuna...or spaghetti and meatballs, whatever you're comfortable with."

Gene Simmons - KISS


Gene Simmons didn't sing. at least not lead. he did back-up

Kavyen Temperley - Eskimo Joe

Gene Simmons didn't sing. at least not lead. he did back-up

Yeah he did. He sang lead on "I Love It Loud" and "Unholy", among others.

Gene Simmons didn't sing. at least not lead. he did back-up

I believe you're wrong!
Proof:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByCIsHtFAj0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix2BQl3VZ9s

Mark Burgess of The Chameleons. Phenomenal band, btw.

I can believe no one mentioned this one. Way back in the 80's at the height of hair band:

kip winger: Winger

Rob Derhak - moe.

Caveat: They actually have three lead singers but Rob and Al (one of the guitarists) probably sing the most songs in the band.

Oh, then there's me. :hiding: :D

Troy Sanders- Mastodon

Peter Steele - Type O Negative

Geddy Lee anyone?

I can believe no one mentioned this one. Way back in the 80's at the height of hair band:

kip winger: Winger

lol - Ya beat me too it, but I'll add another one....

Blackie Lawless - W.A.S.P.

Geddy Lee anyone?

Did you not read the OP?

Tom Robinson
Janice Johnson - A Taste of Honey
Johnette Napolitano - Concrete Blonde
Jean Millington - Fanny
Kasim Sulton (w/Utopia on some songs)
Peter Cetera (w/Chicago)
Jon Camp (w/Renaissance on some songs shares w/Annie Haslam)
Diane Chai - Alleycats
Meshell N'Degocello
Brian Wilson
Chris Hillman
Timothy Schmidt ("I Can't Tell You Why")

What well-known bands have bassists that are lead singers? I only know of three:

Perhaps you need to get out more often. There are any number of bands that fit this bill...

However, you've raised a significant issue. IME, singing & playing bass simultaneously is generally more difficult that playing guitar & singing at the same time. I'd say that's largely because of the distracting effect of moving basslines that change pitch constantly - compared with guitar, with which one often has the opportunity to simply hit a chord and allow it to ring, or strum only one or two chords while delivering the lead vocal - much simpler to execute...

MM

Larry Graham, no one does it better, IMO.:)

I believe you're wrong!
Proof:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByCIsHtFAj0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix2BQl3VZ9s

whoops my bad. i'm not a huge kiss fan so my mistake.

I have been the lead vocalist on about 50% of my band's material for years and I've also played guitar and sang-- I do believe it's easier to begin playing guitar while singing but once you've broken the ice on singing and bass playing it gets a lot easier fairly quickly. I suggest learning how to sing and play a lot of the old school 70's and 80's funk while singing-- once you've got the choppy rhythms and off beat parts of that stuff most other styles in Top 40 stuff is pretty easy. Anyways that's how I did it and I can pretty much sing and play anything that comes to mind (with the exception of some of the heaveir jazz standards where the bass really blazes the whole tune). It makes you an invaluable commodity on a music scene when you can front and back the band at the same time!

Gene Simmons didn't sing. at least not lead. he did back-up

What?!??!?He sang half of the songs on each and every kiss album since day one.

Geddy Lee anyone?

The same Geddy Lee that is listed in the original post?

Jason Scheff- Chicago
Oteil Burbridge- Oteil and the Peacemakers
Timothy Schmidt the Eagles

Benjamin Orr - The Cars (Drive)
Richard Page - Mr. Mister

Pete Cetera - Chicago
Suzi Quatro
Sheryl Crow


Yeah, there are a few more than 3 out there. :D

Mike Watt.

The same Geddy Lee that is listed in the original post?

Nah, the other one :p :p

I just sing in spite of what I'm playing rather than trying to sing with what I'm playing. Anyway, it works for me.

Never thought of it that way. For me the best way to sing and play is to first get the bass line down to muscle memory, where I could play the line with absolutely no thinking required. Then I sing over it. I'm better at singing than I am at bass, so you might think it's the other way around, but no matter how well I sing it's taking up most of my concentration. Singing really well is not something you can do when you're preoccupied.

It's funny that it really is easier to sing while playing guitar than most other instruments with the possible exception of piano. I've always thought the difference was that on an instrument like guitar, you're playing a chord; it's just a hand position. On bass, you're playing a note; it's harder to play one note and sing another because you're thinking about both notes.

Don't forget Amiee Mann - 'til Tuesday.

Felix Pappalardi.

Curt Smith (Tears for Fears)
Sting (Police)
Morgan (Bluvertigo)
Roger Waters (PF)

Benjamin Orr - The Cars (Drive)

Uh... wasn't that song sung by Ric Ocasek?

Roger Waters ^this guy just beat me to it lol

Uh... wasn't that song sung by Ric Ocasek?

nope. drive was sung by the late great ben orr.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQa23eglUV0&mode=related&search=

Not all them are well known but:
Paul Chastain - The Velvet Crush
Gerard Love - Teenage Fanclub
Lou Barlow - Dinosaur Jr.
Kim Gordon - Sonic Youth
The singer from Fastball whose name I don't know.

nope. drive was sung by the late great ben orr.

Thanks, didn't know that.

(Ben :crying: )

there are about 100 psychobilly and rockabilly bands that come to mind but id rather see someone else name them.

and the bassist from the cars also sings "just what i needed"

T.M. Stevens

John Entwisle did "My Wife", "Boris the Spider",....and had a couple solo albums as well.

Tom Araya - Slayer

I thought this was about singing...:D

Royston Langdon - Spacehog/ Arckid

nope. drive was sung by the late great ben orr.

Yeah! In addition to that he also sang "Just What I Needed" and "Let's Go," two more Cars classics, as well as other songs. Love his voice. Too bad he passed away so soon.

Here's some more not mentioned:

St. Patrick - Dillinger Four
Fat Mike - NOFX
Brendan Kelly - The Lawrence Arms
Dan Andriano - Alkaline Trio
Kim Deal - Pixies/Breeders

It seems to be a more common thing in punk. I could name more but these are the more notable ones off the top of my head. Dee Dee was almost the lead singer of Ramones, but he had a hard time playing and singing!

Never thought of it that way. For me the best way to sing and play is to first get the bass line down to muscle memory, where I could play the line with absolutely no thinking required. Then I sing over it.

Good description, that sounds like a good approach as well.


George

It seems ridiculous that the OP only knows of 3. This list could go on forever. I'm just going to mention Dick Peterson of Blue Cheer as well as Kevin Ayers and the mighty John Cale, because somebody has to.

Geddy Lee anyone?

While others in this thread busted your cookies...I just figured you meant to say Will Lee.
;)

Gene Simmons didn't sing. at least not lead. he did back-up

Simmons had a solo record (as did the other 3 members)...I assume Simmons sang lead on his solo record, although, the rumor is he didn't actually play the bass on it (Bob cough Babbit, cough-cough).

PUNCHIN' IN-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Simmons_%28album%29
Apparently, it was Neil Jason that played bass on Simmons' early solo record.
Honestly, I thought there were no credits...had heard that maybe it was Babbit. Guess not.

Janice Johnson - A Taste of Honey

Jean Millington - Fanny

Nice to see Janice Johnson mentioned...and Jean Millington?!
Congrats, that has gotta be the first TB mention of her & her band, Fanny.

FWIW, Jaco sang lead on "Fannie Mae".

Another thing, singing harmony while playing syncopated bass figures seems like it would a tough thing to pull off well-
George Hawkins from the Kenny Loggins' Band (Feel The Fire-era) was a master at this.

Tony Lewis - The Outfield

Can't believe I thought of that one! :eyebrow:

I thought this was about singing...:D

lol same could be said for JE and Boris the Spider

Aloha All I know that the bassist from the Band Pepper and Jehua from Natural Vibrations sing lead as well as back up on some of the songs that they play.:bassist:

Roger from Less than Jake
Mike Herrara from MXPX
Paul Simonon (The Clash ) sang on Guns of Brixton, The Crooked Beat, Red Angel Dragnet but in concert he played Joe's tele during Gun's so he could sing it....

Also, I think Ben Ely of Regurgitator sang lead on a few songs.

There are loads of bass guitarists singing lead vox. Larry Graham, Victor Wooten (he has sung a few lead vox), Marcus Miller,.

I have been singing lead vocals now for about 12 years. Not easy in the beginning, but you get the hang of it very quickly.

Link onto this video of the band I play with "Lament" from Tallinn Estonia.
I am singing the lead, and playing the bass over this video.

we need more bassists who can sing lead, and funk it up. Lydia is tooooo FUNKY! She's got that old school funk.....the way the bass suppose to be playing.:bassist:

There are loads of bass guitarists singing lead vox. Larry Graham, Victor Wooten (he has sung a few lead vox), Marcus Miller,.

I have been singing lead vocals now for about 12 years. Not easy in the beginning, but you get the hang of it very quickly.

Link onto this video of the band I play with "Lament" from Tallinn Estonia.
I am singing the lead, and playing the bass over this video.

we need more bassists who can sing lead, and funk it up. Lydia is tooooo FUNKY! She's got that old school funk.....the way the bass suppose to be playing.:bassist:

I FORGOT THE LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDA35oSIs38

The only I didn't see mentioned was Rick Danko.

a considerable amount of rock bands put the worst guitarist on bass so they are unlikely to be particually good at it.

Doesn't Bootsy do some singing?

a considerable amount of rock bands put the worst guitarist on bass so they are unlikely to be particually good at it.

???????????

What does that have to do with anything? Anything at all.

Mark Hoppus did a lot in Blink 182. He's el primo in +44

mark sandman - morphine

RIP

I FORGOT THE LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDA35oSIs38 [/B]
That was great! Your whole band is great and you are awesome. You should be very proud!
:bassist:

Roger Waters ^this guy just beat me to it lol

How much did Roger Waters lead sing?? I know he has been performing recently... but back when PF was goin as normal was he the lead vocalist??

It seems ridiculous that the OP
only knows of 3. This list could go on forever. I'm just going to mention Dick Peterson of Blue Cheer as well as Kevin Ayers and the mighty John Cale, because somebody has to.

Sorry, i don't listen to that much music... and the whole reason i started this thread was so i could learn more about bass players singing lead because i only knew of three...

How much did Roger Waters lead sing?? I know he has been performing recently... but back when PF was goin as normal was he the lead vocalist??

Sorry, i don't listen to that much music... and the whole reason i started this thread was so i could learn more about bass players singing lead because i only knew of three...

No need to apologize. I was just surprised, that's all. Roger sang a fair bit, more than Rick and less than Dave. Anytime it sounds like a dying raptor, it's Roger Waters.

all of you make me sick!!! =-P no-one mentioned the father of leadsingers who played bass in rock....JACK BRUCE!!!???...pick up a Cream album once in a while! =-P

Me! It's very hard at first but it gets a LOT easier.

Alex

Not for the listeners, I can tell you!

fat mike- nofx

all of you make me sick!!! =-P no-one mentioned the father of leadsingers who played bass in rock....JACK BRUCE!!!???...pick up a Cream album once in a while! =-P

wow! Jack Bruce... Cream??? i never knew... i just always assumed it was clapton... wow. :eek:

Glenn Hughes: Deep Purple, Black Sabbath

GEEZER BUTLER WAS THE ONLY BASSIST OF BLACK SABBATH

[/ignoring truth]

also,

kenny from the starting line

all of you make me sick!!! =-P no-one mentioned the father of leadsingers who played bass in rock....JACK BRUCE!!!???...pick up a Cream album once in a while! =-P

X-Wolf mentions Jack Bruce in the 10th post. That's why no one else has mentioned him. ;)


Jack Bruce


I've sung lead and played bass in many band situations over the last 47 years. I've been lucky to have always found it easy to play bass while singing, I just sing in spite of what I'm playing rather than trying to sing with what I'm playing. Anyway, it works for me.

George

wow! Jack Bruce... Cream??? i never knew... i just always assumed it was clapton... wow. :eek:

Jack was an amazing singer, and it bugs me that more don't know it. It's not your fault, a lot of people pretend Clapton was Cream. And Sparx either needs to read more carefully or chill out. Of course Jack is great, he was mentioned on the first page. There's no point in too many repeat mentions when there are so many other player/singers to get to.

i was joking anyways lol notice the emoticons =-P lol and yes...i'm a numpty for not seeing that quote lol

Only one mention of Rick Danko from the band, thats worthy noting twice.

Also, Mike Gordon of phish sang lead on a handful of tunes, most notably their cover of Drowned by The Who.

I believe the bassist of Yonder Mountain String band sings lead on a few tunes as well

John Doe from X.

Fantastic singer and damn solid bass player.

Try singing and playing "Hungry Wolf" some time with his vocal phrasing, etc.

I would also have to put him high up on the "coolest looking singing bass player" list (but that's for another thread I guess . . .)

Only one mention of Rick Danko from the band, thats worthy noting twice.

I think I mentioned Rick. Danko had a very fine voice. His bass playing looked awkward but was solid.

If you rent 'The Unheard Music', a documentary about X, there's a lot of footage of John Doe playing and singing, and then at one point, working on a new song, and he writes on the bass. It's very cool - he is establishing the basic song, and the lyrics, just with the bass line. Now, they played within a rhythmically oriented genre, their own concoction of punk rockabilly, but isn't all music rhythmic?

This is one of the best music docos I've ever seen. I can't recommend it enough, it's not just about great and brave musicians, but the film makers are also very innovative. Also, if you've never heard the song 'Poor Little Girl' you're missing out on something great, and that vocal performance is spot on.

Let's also not forget Jack Bruce. Great singer, and I believe he plays fretless.

And a big ass vote for the greatness that is Lemmy.

that vocal performance is spot on.


Doe is one of the most underrated singers in rock---the guy has friggin' perfect pitch and can sing a high and lonesome country lament or belt out a punk roots-rocker like nobody else. He mostly plays guitar these days, but as the lead-singing bassist in X he's one of the coolest that's ever been . . . Funny thing is, most people KNOW his voice from one thing or another, they just don't know who he is.

Yeah,

I Have to say lemmy again.


LEMMY!

Colin Hodgkinson (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mavu1RvKJAM)

I think this all leads to a potential 'nuther thread, in that, most of all these players, play a certain kind of bass while singing that is . . .how should I say, different from what you would(or can) play when not having to sing. I've been a lead singing bassist in many different kinds of bands, and also a rhythm guitarist/lead singer, but mostly, a bass player who does some backups. Personally, I prefer what I can contribute as a bassist more when I'm not singing---I play more, for lack of a better term, "proper" bass when I don't have to sing too.

Marco Mendoza-Marco's Mendoza Trio
Nathan East-Fourplay
Sometimes Victor Wooten with his band.... if you can say he sings :rollno:

most of all these players, play a certain kind of bass while singing that is . . .how should I say, different from what you would(or can) play when not having to sing.

Guessing at what you mean, I'd say Jack Bruce is the exception. The man has two brains. He simply doesn't need to compromise his playing to accomodate his singing. Allow me to demonstrate.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HO7aSk7MDUs

I rest my case.

Guessing at what you mean, I'd say Jack Bruce is the exception. The man has two brains. He simply doesn't need to compromise his playing to accomodate his singing. Allow me to demonstrate.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HO7aSk7MDUs

I rest my case.

I haven't heard this song since I was really young. Never saw it performed. Awesome. Just awesome.

In my first "band", A Goat For Sally, I played my Hohner tuned to B-E-A-D and "sang". Really, it was more like growling words in key. I'm pretty sure that the shortest note I played (in the four or five songs in AGFS's repertoire) was a quarter.

AGFS was more "recording project" than "band"; we (the guitarist and I) never even tried to get a gig because we couldn't find a reliable drummer who wanted to play in a "parody metal" band.

The song "My Pet Demon" (coincidentally the first song I ever wrote) was going to be the 'A' side of our first self-released 7". It was absolutely silly. The tapes (we were recording straight in to a 1/4" reel-to-reel machine) are possibly down here in the cellar somewhere; more than likely buried in a box and/or covered in spiderwebs.

Ron Royce (Broder) - Coroner

Awesome bassist.

A little anecdote re: singing and playing bass.

Years ago a band I had did AWB's version of " If I Ever Lose This Heaven". At one point in the chorus my harmaony part was one half step higher than the bass note I was playing. Talk about hard to get a handle on!

Another one in a band that shared lead vocals but nobody's mentioned JJ Burnel yet?

Playing bass and singing lead or otherwise is tough.

Benjamin Orr - The Cars (Drive)
Richard Page - Mr. Mister

I was gonna say Richard Page, too.

Ben Orr (RIP) sang lead on most of the songs on the Cars' first two albums (The Cars, Candy-O).

Richard Bona.

Raphael Saadiq has a great voice

Rhonda Smith

Tony Franklin