Bass players as lead singers?

[unbasslichkeit]

Felix Pappalardi.

 

[Beamrider]

Curt Smith (Tears for Fears)
Sting (Police)
Morgan (Bluvertigo)
Roger Waters (PF)

Benjamin Orr - The Cars (Drive)

Uh... wasn't that song sung by Ric Ocasek?

 

[FloydianAnimal]

Roger Waters ^this guy just beat me to it lol

 

[john turner]

Uh... wasn't that song sung by Ric Ocasek?

nope. drive was sung by the late great ben orr.

=

 

[sonicvi]

Not all them are well known but:
Paul Chastain - The Velvet Crush
Gerard Love - Teenage Fanclub
Lou Barlow - Dinosaur Jr.
Kim Gordon - Sonic Youth
The singer from Fastball whose name I don't know.

 

[Beamrider]

nope. drive was sung by the late great ben orr.

Thanks, didn't know that.

(Ben )

 

[Jimmyplaysabass]

there are about 100 psychobilly and rockabilly bands that come to mind but id rather see someone else name them.

and the bassist from the cars also sings "just what i needed"

 

[S_Okon]

T.M. Stevens

 

[dogbass]

John Entwisle did "My Wife", "Boris the Spider",....and had a couple solo albums as well.

 

[caligula]

Tom Araya - Slayer

I thought this was about singing...

 

[mattpnolan]

Royston Langdon - Spacehog/ Arckid

 

[Infernal Affair]

nope. drive was sung by the late great ben orr.

Yeah! In addition to that he also sang "Just What I Needed" and "Let's Go," two more Cars classics, as well as other songs. Love his voice. Too bad he passed away so soon.

 

[Infernal Affair]

Here's some more not mentioned:

St. Patrick - Dillinger Four
Fat Mike - NOFX
Brendan Kelly - The Lawrence Arms
Dan Andriano - Alkaline Trio
Kim Deal - Pixies/Breeders

It seems to be a more common thing in punk. I could name more but these are the more notable ones off the top of my head. Dee Dee was almost the lead singer of Ramones, but he had a hard time playing and singing!

 

[X Wolf]

Never thought of it that way. For me the best way to sing and play is to first get the bass line down to muscle memory, where I could play the line with absolutely no thinking required. Then I sing over it.

Good description, that sounds like a good approach as well.


George

 

[Sneckumhaw]

It seems ridiculous that the OP only knows of 3. This list could go on forever. I'm just going to mention Dick Peterson of Blue Cheer as well as Kevin Ayers and the mighty John Cale, because somebody has to.

 

[JimK]

Geddy Lee anyone?

While others in this thread busted your cookies...I just figured you meant to say Will Lee.

 

[JimK]

Gene Simmons didn't sing. at least not lead. he did back-up

Simmons had a solo record (as did the other 3 members)...I assume Simmons sang lead on his solo record, although, the rumor is he didn't actually play the bass on it (Bob cough Babbit, cough-cough).

PUNCHIN' IN-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Simmons_(album)
Apparently, it was Neil Jason that played bass on Simmons' early solo record.
Honestly, I thought there were no credits...had heard that maybe it was Babbit. Guess not.

 

[JimK]

Janice Johnson - A Taste of Honey

Jean Millington - Fanny

Nice to see Janice Johnson mentioned...and Jean Millington?!
Congrats, that has gotta be the first TB mention of her & her band, Fanny.

FWIW, Jaco sang lead on "Fannie Mae".

Another thing, singing harmony while playing syncopated bass figures seems like it would a tough thing to pull off well-
George Hawkins from the Kenny Loggins' Band (Feel The Fire-era) was a master at this.

 

[MuzikMan]

Tony Lewis - The Outfield

Can't believe I thought of that one!

 

[troy mcclure]

I thought this was about singing...

lol same could be said for JE and Boris the Spider