Bands led by the Bassist

[Roflcopter]

Well... Fall Out Boy halfway qualifies. Their frontman is their bassist (Pete Wentz)... he is by no means a better musician than anybody else in the band. But then again Wentz is probably one of the greatest lyricists I've ever heard.

 

[Roflcopter]

And I did hear that Pete Wentz writes much of the Fall Out Boy music.

Pete Wentz is the lyricist, Patrick (VOX and rhythm guitar) writes the actual music, although the drummer sometimes writes his own parts.

 

[bottomfeeder333]

I don't understand why any bassist would not enjoy geddy. Its like, an artist not appreciating van gogh...or a magician not appreciating houdini...

i mean, the singing is personal preference, but bass work? cmon.

 

[MattAT]

Wayne Shorter is probably the most well known of any of the members at any time of the Weather Reports. Not just for his composition, many of which are standards, but who's he backed on the sax. Zawinul to me is second in terms of general mass public, though it seemed like he was a bit more of leader then Shorter was. Really outside of many bass circles, even within in music I don't think Jaco is that well known or would be considered the frontman of The Weather Reports.

And I did hear that Pete Wentz writes much of the Fall Out Boy music.

I also have heard that the bassist in Maroon 5 is actually responsible for most of their songs.

I think Jaco is definitely more well known due to the fact that he changed the instrument and created the "Jaco sound" that a lot of people want. SOOO many people try to sound like Jaco but I rarely hear someone trying to go for the "Shorter sound."

Pete Wentz is crap. I do not believe she writes any of the music. I heard that the singer (do not know his name) recorded all the guitar and bass for all of their earlier stuff and that the drummer sucked so much that they had someone else fill in on the album. She should jump off a balcony again. Though I may be wrong on how she doesn't write any of the material being as they do not have any good music at all.

 

[Chowderboots]

Well, there are all sorts of bands that you guys would probably hate, like Dark Funeral, Krisiun, Morbid Angel, (sometimes) Watain, Immolation, Carcass, Enslaved, Immortal, Zyklon, Enthroned, Unleashed, and Destruction, who have or have had a frontman who plays bass...just sayin'

 

[Terry Funk]

I think what the OP meant by "lead by the bassist" was musically lead, for example there's no doubt that The Who is Townshend's band, but the music is driven much more by Entwistle's bass than Pete's guitar. Any Who song has a much greater "survival rate" if you omit Pete rather than John.
Having said that my submission is Parliment/Funkadelic
Now, George leads the band, but Bootsy leads the music. He contributes more to the music than any other single member.

As a hardcore Funkateer, I'd have to disagree with that. I love Bootsy, but I think you'd have to give the distinction of the guy who contributes more to the music than any other single member to keyboard genius Bernie Worrell. Bernie (along with George) arranged pretty much the bulk of their more popular material.

 

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

Ladies n Genalmens...May I submit to you 'Robert KOOL Bell' of Kool And The Gang. The early funksters that brought us 'Jungle Boogie', 'Hollywood Swingin' etc. Bringin the Funk y'all!

Rezdog

 

[Tommygunn]

Jack Bruce fronted for Cream, but in terms of technicality, Clapton was probably better.


Also:

Chili Peppers, Primus?

no for rhcp yes for primus


I love flea, this is not a bash against flea, he is the one who got me playing

 

[gotmule?]

I'm thinking about Bands in which, from a technical standpoint, the bassist was superior to the other musicians, and in fact was the de facto leader of the band. I am spurred by the number of people who like or know the band, but couldn't tell you who the bass player was: in no particular order >>
Jefferson Airplane
Grateful Dead
Bufffalo Springfield
Vanilla Fudge
Who
Booker T
Rush
Yes
Police
Thin Lizzy
Weather Report
Later Miles Davis Group (MM)

For the Grateful Dead, I would say that Phil Lesh played a lead bass style, but in my opinion, Jerry Garcia was the true leader of the band.

 

[BassPlayer3187]

Although he wasn't superior to the rest of the band (because they were all great) I have to say Stanley Clarke with Return to Forever. Although Jaco was obviously first to come to mind. Other who come to mind are Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Edgar Meyer.

 

[xgator4u]

S
L
A
Y
E
R

IRON MAIDEN-While Mr. Harris does not sing I do believe he writes a great deal of the lyrics and music.

IMO regarding Rush, Neil writes the majority of the music but that band is like three GODs as opposed to one that really shines.

just my .02

YUP what he said...

 

[Bleu]

Winger

 

[Justin89]

im surprised no one has said korn
i dont know if you would call fieldy the leader of the band but i know when i think of korns sound i think of fieldys bass

 

[MattAT]

PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES! The most underrated band.

 

[meowcow]

I think Jaco is definitely more well known due to the fact that he changed the instrument and created the "Jaco sound" that a lot of people want. SOOO many people try to sound like Jaco but I rarely hear someone trying to go for the "Shorter sound."

Pete Wentz is crap. I do not believe she writes any of the music. I heard that the singer (do not know his name) recorded all the guitar and bass for all of their earlier stuff and that the drummer sucked so much that they had someone else fill in on the album. She should jump off a balcony again. Though I may be wrong on how she doesn't write any of the material being as they do not have any good music at all.

It was Zawinul and Shorter that ran the band. They wrote all the music and were the founding members.
And, not to be insulting or anything, but Joe Zawinul is one of the most prolific synth players ever.
Shorter, I can't comment on but being a sax player the guy had major chops and he had an amazing sound.

 

[rythman6969]

For the Grateful Dead, I would say that Phil Lesh played a lead bass style, but in my opinion, Jerry Garcia was the true leader of the band.

yeah, listen to the dead and you will clearly hear Jer callin the shots, sometimes very bluntly change tempos, even songs if he didn't like what was going on, and ride things alot longer than usual if he did like what was going on

but Phil rules

 

[Bassgrinder77]

Jimi Hendrix Experience.
That guitar guy was such an obvious fraud. It was all Noel.

 

[JohnLochner]

Jimi Hendrix Experience.
That guitar guy was such an obvious fraud. It was all Noel.

Yes, the guitar player was overrated.

But check out the bass lines on most of Electric Ladyland. They weren't played by Noel...

 

[mlafrancis]

Peter Steele of Type O Negative
Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue
Steve Harris of Iron Maiden
and my favorite
Lemmy of Motorhead