MEGA THREAD:: Favorite/Best Punk Bassist

[SgtPachyderm]

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

[frost13]

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.

[Woodchuck]

JJ Brunell and Tim Simonon!

[corrado]

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.

[corrado]

Hey gang 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.

[bassdork]

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.

[John Bulfin]

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

[ross]

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

[Dave Siff]

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.

[in_exile]

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

-MCE

[basspsycho]

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

[sdmfbass]

GOT LEMMY???!!!!

[Scottzo]

Mike Watt & Mick Jones.

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

[bassphreakz]

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.

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Why don't asians get tired of riice?

[SMASH]

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.

[HomerJ]

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

[Dave Castelo]

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

[malevolentm]

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.

[Thumpah]

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...

[Thumpah]

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.