Bands with more than one bass player

[Pings Bass]

I've always been interested how classical composers could weave bass lines among instruments. Not just string bass and tuba, either. It's harder in pop music where the bass often plays ostinato patterns start to finish, but I've seen New Orleans bands with bass guitar and sousaphone pull it off.

 

[Dincrest]

Ned's Atomic Dustbin

Cop Shoot Cop

Switchblade Kittens

I remember reading that the reason Switchblade Kittens opted for two bassists and NO guitarists is because guitarists are flaky egomaniac d-bags and bassists are awesome and reliable team players. It's hard to argue with that.

 

[BassBrass]

Hugo Largo. 1986-1994 or so, New York. Two bass (Guild and Gibson LesPaul, sometimes one played 8 string and one had a double neck for some guitar) Violin and Voice, no drummer. here's one for today

 

[smarthound]

You won't have heard of them, but Delta 5 from 1981. Look on YouTube for tracks from their album See The Whirl. Curiously, one of their songs Mind Your Own Business has just popped up as soundtrack to an Apple ad on TV about privacy, forty years later!

 

[Tom Kinter]

I saw Miles Davis back in 1988, right hereabouts in Wilkes-Barre, with Foley and Marcus Miller on bass. Was very cool.

 

[Mannyinnewyork]

I know there are examples but my gut feeling is “who cares”.

 

[Dave TB Killer]

WHAT!

 

[BassFalcon]

Victor Wooten has Anthony Wellington.

 

[ClusterFlux]

Thundercat had a second bassist for a little while




Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" famously had two basses on the track

 

[KohanMike]

Wait, I just realized to mention the Los Angles Lawyers Philharmonic for which I'm the staff photographer, they have four double basses at all times.

 

[basted]

The Trammps in their Disco Inferno clip have two bass players.
There was an Australian band that I saw years ago that was called Pre Shrunk that had two bass players and a drummer. Very good band.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Two or three mention of Ned's and no video?!? Tsk tsk. Here.

 

[Bikeguy57]

This thread needs a picture of the inimitable Ko Melina rocking that Musicmaster, 50% of the DB’s low end. And yes, two drummers.
View attachment 4306725

He's got to be the size of Tom Thumb, that musicmaster looks HUGE!

 

[HateyMcAmp]

Here’s a famous one from the jazz world. Ornette did this two channel recording with two double bassists, Scott LaFaro and Charlie Haden. Both legends, but with about as different an approach to bass as possible!

 

[Matt O]

He's got to be the size of Tom Thumb, that musicmaster looks HUGE!

Ko is a she!

 

[Bikeguy57]

Ko is a she!

oops, my bad.

 

[Meaculpa]

Molotov.

 

[LBS-bass]

Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" famously had two basses on the track

Was just coming here to post this track.

Two basses, yep, it's been done. It needs to be well-coordinated, but it can be really good.

 

[Rick_Bass]

Thunderbird and a Fender Bass VI - The Cure - Part time 2 Bass players.

 

[roberts67]

I once saw Ornette Coleman with 3 bass players and a drummer. I mean he was already giving purists the middle finger by playing a plastic saxophone….