80s pop bands with killer bassists

[Manc_Chris]

Another mention for the wonderful Norman Watt Roy. Seen this guy live and he's a machine. With soul. Tons of it. Any aspiring bassist should check out Norm. Also, for the record, it was Norman who played most of the bass parts on Frankie Goes To Hollywood's 'Welcome the pleasuredome', not Tevor Horn! I'm also giving a mention for Classix Nouveau's Mik Sweeney. A great bouncy syle, and a solid pop player ...

Oh, and Mr Pratt. Sod the Floyd, I loved his stuff with Icehouse!

 

[KevInDaBassment]

Speaking of something dark, I'd definitely add David J (born david haskins), Bassist of Bauhaus, Love&Rockets and the Jazz Butcher on some LP's. He now plays solo under his name.
He's always played on a fretless Precision, which is quite odd, when you think of the genre they're known for: gothic.
A few links to some songs on YouTube to give you an idea of his bass approach:
Bauhaus videos:
Bela Lugosi's dead
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OKRJfIPiJGY

Double dare
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OUDjhyrjDes

Hair of the dog
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bMmd8-5oG3Q

Love&Rockets videos
Kundalini express
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8mnx8jnsYfc

YESSSSSS!

Don't forget She's in Parties and Hollow Hills by Bauhaus too! David J was a dang genius in my opinion, he's definitely one of my biggest influences.

 

[Funkee1]

80's pop band with killer bassist = Level 42.

^^^ This. Thread closed!^^^^

 

[Winston TK]

Oh, and Mr Pratt. Sod the Floyd, I loved his stuff with Icehouse!

Good call. You should read Guy Pratt's book. It's a great read indeed!

 

[bass12]

Has Paul Webb from Talk Talk been mentioned yet? Doug Wimbish? And since Trevor Horn has been mentioned, Luis Jardim has a nice bass part on Grace Jones' "Slave To The Rhythm". And, speaking of Grace Jones, the albums she made for Island Records had some great bass on them courtesy of Robbie Shakespeare. For some sweet South African style bass in a pop context: Solly Letwaba with Johnny Clegg & Savuka on the "Cruel, Crazy, Beautiful World" album.

 

[IPA]

Another mention for the wonderful Norman Watt Roy. Seen this guy live and he's a machine. With soul. Tons of it. Any aspiring bassist should check out Norm. Also, for the record, it was Norman who played most of the bass parts on Frankie Goes To Hollywood's 'Welcome the pleasuredome', not Tevor Horn! I'm also giving a mention for Classix Nouveau's Mik Sweeney. A great bouncy syle, and a solid pop player ...

Oh, and Mr Pratt. Sod the Floyd, I loved his stuff with Icehouse!

Killer, haven't heard this song before.

 

[peledog]

I guess these bassists played pop:
John Taylor - Duran Duran
Mark King - Level 42
Martin McAloon - Prefab Sprout
Mick Karn - Japan
Pino Palladino - Paul Young and others
Simon Gallup - The Cure
Horace Panter - The Specials/General Public
Nick Beggs - Kajagoogoo
Tony Butler - Big Country
Andy Fraser - The Smiths
Nick Thorpe - Curiosity Killed the Cat
Paul Webb - Talk Talk
Gazza Johnson - China Crisis
John Avila - Oingo Boingo

 

[brett7276]

Thanks guys this has been hugely helpful....a lot of the more mainstream guys I was on to already ( mark kind, john taylor etc) but some were not on my radar- appreciate your help expanding my horizions

 

[Manc_Chris]

Another thumbs up for the bass on 'Eyes Without A Face'. Lovely smooth, simple work, with perfectly placed slides that carry the whole track. For me, as a songwriter, I'd hedge that the bassline came first, and the melody followed.

 

[Manc_Chris]

Oh, and one more (don't think he's been mentioned yet) extremely distinctive style and integral to the band's sound, - Michael Dempsey of The Associates. I used to hear his lines and think "I'll stick to drums".

 

[funkytoe]

Andy Fraser - The Smiths

Andy Fraser was the bassist for Free
Andy Rourke was the bassist for The Smiths.

Both great by the way.

 

[Manc_Chris]

Good call. You should read Guy Pratt's book. It's a great read indeed!

Read it. Fabulous book for any bassist to read. In fact anyone with an interest in musicians per se. Who would EVER have imagined Guy Pratt being in the Smiths?

 

[Fretless maniac]

Steve Greetham from Annabel Lamb's "the flame", "when angels travel" and "brides"

 

[peledog]

Andy Fraser was the bassist for Free
Andy Rourke was the bassist for The Smiths.

Both great by the way.

Thanks for catching that. My 'classic rock' was showing.

 

[Manc_Chris]

Pino played with Paul Young

For sure. Everyone should listen to Young's 'No Parlez' album for some killer lines and a masterclass in 80's bass technique from Pino.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

David Steele of the English Beat and later Fine Young Cannibals to me was always amazing.

He seemed to have two main and rather different ways of playing (although a few things don't fit either) One was the bouncing more reggae style, the other was the very driven rhythmic style (e.g. Mirror in the Bathroom). The latter style is harder to play that you'd necessarily imagine due to the sheer incessant and continual nature which means any split second of inattention or finger cramp and you've lost it.

 

[Narc_x]

John Taylor of Duran Duran is definitely my favorite.
Mick Karn was simply on another planet...

As for Pino Palladino, of course I have great respect for him, but IMHO he is slightly overrated...if you listen to Gary Numan's "I, Assassin" (1982), he's done a terrific job, but if you didn't know who's the bass player, you would say it's still Mick Karn (who played on the previous album)...

 

[Narc_x]

I likely fall into the camp of thousands of guys who didnt give Wham any seriuosness back in the 80's and avoided it like a plague. Nowadays when I hear it, the bass work is rather jaw dropping.

Indeed! the bass on "Bad boys" and "the Edge of Heaven" is simply killer! and many other tracks are remarkable as well. Dunno whether Deon Estus played on all Wham!'s tracks

 

[chuck norriss]

Andy Fraser was the bassist for Free
Andy Rourke was the bassist for The Smiths.

Both great by the way.

Great bass tone on "Sheila Take A Bow" & "Shoplifters..." I suppose the whole album.

 

[chuck norriss]

I guess these bassists played pop:
John Taylor - Duran Duran
Mark King - Level 42
Martin McAloon - Prefab Sprout
Mick Karn - Japan
Pino Palladino - Paul Young and others
Simon Gallup - The Cure
Horace Panter - The Specials/General Public
Nick Beggs - Kajagoogoo
Tony Butler - Big Country
Andy Fraser - The Smiths
Nick Thorpe - Curiosity Killed the Cat
Paul Webb - Talk Talk
Gazza Johnson - China Crisis
John Avila - Oingo Boingo

I think that's everyboday. Haha of course it isn't but you have a great list here. Also:
Eddie Branch / Peter Murphy
David John Haskins / Bauhaus, Love & Rockets,
Les Pattinson / Echo & the Bunnymen
Mike Mills / REM
Frank Maudsley / Flock of Seagulls