Bassists that, if you replaced them, would change the entire sound of the band
 

What bassists give their bands a signature sound that really can't be replaced by anyone? I can think of 3 off the top of my head; John Entwistle of The Who, Chris Squire of Yes and Steve Harris of Iron Maiden. If I wasn't so tired I could think of more.

paul...but for more than just the bass ;)

Geddy Lee of Rush.

Lemmy from Motorhead.

Verdine White - Earth Wind & Fire. Paul McCartney - Beatles. Kenny Gradney - Little Feat. Sting - well...err... Sting. Marcus Miller - same. Paul Chambers - any session he was involved with.

Oh, and if you could, could you post some links? I've heard of everyone mentioned so far but I'm sure some may post some new ones I haven't heard yet.

Tom Commerford of RATM
Krist Novoselic of Nirvana
Flea of RHCP
and whoever plays/writes the bass lines for Jamiroquai

Les Claypool from Primus. Flea from RHCP.

Mark Sandman - Morphine

i have to say I don't completely agree with this one...

John Paul Jones - Led Zeppelin

He just put in that extra bit of subtle groove that really made their songs rock

I personally don't really think of "replacing" a lot of people in terms of sound.
But if I were to, and what all bassists at one point or another have to look at and be like "I have to compete with THAT," is this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLDqlgRK100

Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers
Paul McCartney of The Beatles
Les Claypool of Primus... or anything else he's in.
Geddy Lee of Rush
Tony Levin from his work with Peter Gabriel
Paul Denman from his work with Sade
I think Nick Harmer makes each song his own in Death Cab for Cutie.

Why's that? He has a specific P-type tone and playing style that involves a lot of slides and bends.

I have nothing bad to say about him or his sound or style of playing, but IMO the entire sound of the band would not change without him...

Phil Lesh - The Grateful Dead

The Other Ones (remaining members of the Grateful Dead) toured in 2000 with Alphonso Johnson on bass and it was astounding how different that music sounded without Phil. Phil Lesh IS the Grateful Dead sound.

Well, that's pretty much what I intended to say when I checked this thread, but the OP beat me to it. Just had to make sure the only important bassist, ever, was mentioned. :D

Justin Chancellor of Tool
Nikki Monninger of Silversun Pickups

Jamiroquai's had three or four different bass players, though :hmm:
As for Flea, I think he could be replaced pretty easily to be honest, nothing he does is exactly groundbreaking or unqiue IMO.

I reckon Chris Squire and Geddy Lee would be pretty hard to replace but that's more a stylistic thing. Same for Les Claypool- I don't think anyone could 100% nail all his lines without a tonne of work on them first.

I think the "stylistic thing" is the point of the thread. Or that was my understanding, at least. Geddy and Squire are unique enough in their writing that I would say they're irreplaceable.

anything with Sheehan or Levin. John Paul Jones, definitely. not just for his bass playing, though. his arranging is equally genius. whoever writes the basslines for The Strokes, definitely.