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10 Bassists You'd be Surprised I Like....

#42
Cool list, Roy. I appreciate the shoutout to Mike Watt. He's truly an original voice on the instrument.
When I think of "guilty pleasures" it has more to do with the music than who played on it. So, for instance, while I would never describe Christian McBride as a guilty pleasure, I will admit I don't mind when my wife plays Diana Krall's "Love Scenes" CD. The music isn't my cup of tea, but Christian's playing on it is great. I have played some air-upright to that CD, I won't lie.
 
#48
Just want to reiterate, since I've seen his name again here:

Sid Vicious should NOT be considered a bassist, ever. Gives bassists a bad name, and he never really played bass. Calling Sid a bass player is like saying I'm as good as Eric Clapton on guitar, or that because I own a car I'm a race car driver.

As for my 10 guilty pleasures:

1. Nate Chapman-really does the Taylor Swift stuff great (no offense meant for our TB buddy Timmy Marks)
2. The Late Mick Karn-didn't always get the Japan stuff, but his playing was cool.
3. John Wetton-talking Asia days.
4. Graham Maby-nothing he's ever done with Joe Jackson can even be touched.
5. Anthony Jackson-the guy played sooo simple on Madonna's breakout album. You wouldn't even know it was him.
6. Waylon Jennings-I have some obscure recordings from his tour with Buddy Holly. Its funny to think that the guy picking the Fender would be such a big star later.
7. Jerry Scheff-TCB
8. Ben Orr-live he was a cardboard cut out, but his bass on all those Cars hits is great.
9. Tracey Wormworth-come on, who doesn't dig the bassline on Christmas Rapping?
10. Rich Cole-yeah, they were one or two hit wonders, but Rich really knew how to make a hopping bass line that moved an amazing pop hit.

Bet you guys wouldn't have guessed those...
 
#49
TRichardsbass said:
Just want to reiterate, since I've seen his name again here:

Sid Vicious should NOT be considered a bassist, ever. Gives bassists a bad name, and he never really played bass. Calling Sid a bass player is like saying I'm as good as Eric Clapton on guitar, or that because I own a car I'm a race car driver.
Click to expand...
Actually, that's a bit of a myth. OK, so he wasn't great, but he actually put in a lot of practice to get good enough to play those songs and tried real hard to play actual bass. I've heard bootlegs of them with Sid on bass, and it wasn't altogether horrible.
 
#52
TRichardsbass said:
Just want to reiterate, since I've seen his name again here:

Sid Vicious should NOT be considered a bassist, ever. Gives bassists a bad name, and he never really played bass. Calling Sid a bass player is like saying I'm as good as Eric Clapton on guitar, or that because I own a car I'm a race car driver.

As for my 10 guilty pleasures:

1. Nate Chapman-really does the Taylor Swift stuff great (no offense meant for our TB buddy Timmy Marks)
2. The Late Mick Karn-didn't always get the Japan stuff, but his playing was cool.
3. John Wetton-talking Asia days.
4. Graham Maby-nothing he's ever done with Joe Jackson can even be touched.
5. Anthony Jackson-the guy played sooo simple on Madonna's breakout album. You wouldn't even know it was him.
6. Waylon Jennings-I have some obscure recordings from his tour with Buddy Holly. Its funny to think that the guy picking the Fender would be such a big star later.
7. Jerry Scheff-TCB
8. Ben Orr-live he was a cardboard cut out, but his bass on all those Cars hits is great.
9. Tracey Wormworth-come on, who doesn't dig the bassline on Christmas Rapping?
10. Rich Cole-yeah, they were one or two hit wonders, but Rich really knew how to make a hopping bass line that moved an amazing pop hit.

Bet you guys wouldn't have guessed those...
Click to expand...
Cool choices! Gives me some players to check out who I've forgotten for awhile. I can't think of any Graham Maby line that isn't perfect for Joe Jackson's songs and Night and Day is an absolute masterpiece!
Mick Karn is sorely missed. I have a lot of the Japan stuff as well as his experimental stuff with Dave Torn and Dali's Car. He even played on some Kate Bush tracks.
 
#54
Nothing to feel guilty about these 10 bass players, just some personal favorites:

Billy Talbot
Johnny Castle
Jan Zukowski
Joey Spampinato
Michael Rhodes
Patrick O' Hearn
Tom Fowler
Mike Mesaros
Kenny Gradney
Tony Garnier
Rob Stoner

That's 11. Sorry. Didn't have the heart to remove any.
 
#55
Great thread, Roy.

In terms of guilty pleasures, what I am thinking is bass players that most people who know me would NOT associate with stuff I play. So, with that in mind, hmmm....

Geezer Butler - I guess because of his solo on the first BS album, if nothing else. Always loved it.

Felix Pappalardi - because of his tone and lyrical approach

Joe Bouchard - Blue Oyster Cult - Always seemed to have great tone.

Larry Taylor - Again just totally loved his P tone. Can't find it any more but he had a solo on something called Canned Heat Boogie I always loved. On second thought, this might not come as a surprise, but he doesn't get much attention anymore, so thought I'd mention him. Early bass hero heading.

Stanley Clarke doing that thing he does on the upright where he slides his left hand up the fingerboard while playing 32nd notes as though he is actually playing something meaningful. I love it. THAT is a guilty pleasure.

Punk always makes me think of the Stooges, who I love to death. Can't think of the bassist's name; and maybe that is appropriate. As far as I am concerned Fun House defined Punk.

Dennis Pendrith (Raffi)- I got 4 kids (now adults) and dig Raffi. Always will.

Rick James - OK I know his stuff is so commercial. Don't care, still dig it.

Guess that's not 10. Maybe I'll come up with more tomorrow.
 
#56
My only guilty pleasure bassists are Mikey way from My chem and Twiggy ramirez from Marylin Mansons band. I love Marylin and ill listen to his music all the time but on the track "i put a spell on you" the opening he has with Ginger Fish just gives me goose bumps. And its one of those times when you realy appretiate someones playing. He wrote the parts to fit in so well but stick out just enough that its perfect. Ive never heard a song by Marylin i dont like becuase hes one of the few artists that can have his band blend perfectly for everyone to be heard.
 
#58
How bout Hub from The Roots? I like their grooves and it's rough playing those songs without throwing in a little something extra here and there.

Ben Kenney of Incubus? Hell, Dirk Lance formerly of Incubus. I think both of them drive that band along pretty well.
 
#59
TRichardsbass said:
Just want to reiterate, since I've seen his name again here:

Sid Vicious should NOT be considered a bassist, ever. Gives bassists a bad name, and he never really played bass. Calling Sid a bass player is like saying I'm as good as Eric Clapton on guitar, or that because I own a car I'm a race car driver.
Click to expand...

Well, of course you're entitled to your opinion, even if it's based on incorrect info. Sid was a big deal for me when I started playing bass in the late 70s. Did it matter to me that he played on a minimal amount of recordings? No. As far as I knew at the time, he was the bass player in the band that kicked my ass into getting my first band together. And hey, more people own a record he played on than own one I played on! Live, was he way f-ed up? Yep. I've seen plenty of musicians onstage too f-ed up to play, so what's new? One who comes to mind is a guitarist I had the misfortune of enduring his partial set here in Texas. "Partial" because he was so screwed up he staggered offstage after a few "tunes", followed by his band, not to return. He now has a statue here!! :)
 

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