Best at Playing While Singing?

[Arjan]

Well, allthough most of you won't see it as singing, what about Les Claypool. Very, very wacky basslines and very angural vocals.

It took me years to get some of these songs nailed (bassplaying and singing in a Primus coverband)

 

[mike sancho]

Mark King, Larry Graham, Sting, Geddy.

 

[Bassist519]

Another vote for the amazing Geddy Lee.

 

[Snarf]

Geddy Lee can do three things at once, all independently. He's just too amazing.

Also on the list are Les Claypool and Sting.

 

[Lo end PUNCH]

Richard Page(I think)-Mr. Mister
Geddy Lee-The man, the myth, the legend
Bootsy Collins-unbelievable!!!
Louis Johnson-The Brothers Johnson
Alan Gorrie & Hamish Stewart-AWB
Bernard Edwards R.I.P-(Chic)
Kip Winger-Winger
STING!!!!
Paul McCartney
Stanley Clarke-Clarke/Duke Project mostly
John Whetton
Les Claypool-One of the best
Doug Wimbish-Head Fake, Tack Head. Mos Def
Mos Def
Doug Pinnick-Kings X
Larry Graham-still cant figure out how HE does it
Mark King
Brownmark-Prince, Mazerati
Janice Marie Johnson-A taste of Honey
Jemaine Jackson
Bryan Adams
Gene Simmons
just to name a few

 

[Jmann]

not the best, but ill throw in Rob Derhak from moe.
he can groove and sing lead, not too complex bass lines, but they are cool
examples: brent black, buster, rebubula and timmy tucker.

 

[Don W]

Les Claypool and Geddy Lee get my votes.

 

[Wrong Robot]

My friend Jeremy plays in the ban Oedipus He sings and plays bass. I'd say he does a particularly good job at both, it's always really impressed me because a lot of the bass parts and vocal lines don't necessarily correlate at all, but he still manages to hold them both down so well that he can afford embellishments and variation among them both.

I would easily put him next to 'the greats' when it comes to singing and playing, he really has it down.

 

[Slip'nn2Darknes]

I was just playing along with some song from the first Graham Central Station CD like "Hair" "Ain't No Fun to Me" and "Can You Handle It?" and it just amazes me to think that Larry Graham played this stuff while singing lead. He has got to be one of the best ever at playing and singing. Who else would you guys list among the all time most coordinated?

I got to give you props for this.
Never have I heard these cut's ever posted.
Next to Larry we got to go to Bootsy.
Way to go with Old School!!

 

[ras1983]

Wasn't roger water the bassplayer and singer for pinkfloyd?

 

[Murf]

Mark King's sense of rhythm is ridiculous, he is able to do very complex stuff at the same time as singing!

Absolutely, the man must have two brains and the stamina of an ox.

I know its been mentioned before but "a physical presence" the level 42 live album is just insane...he plays (slap & fingerstyle) twice as fast as the recorded versions of the tunes and SINGS at the same time which in itself is impressive but when you consider the rhythms/syncopation(s) he's playing are totally different from the vocal patterns...............................

 

[DrSmaggs]

What I like about Jason Newsted's singing/playing style is that it's not over the top. He just gets in the pocket and accents each song without purposely trying to stand out


Ahhh yes... Les Claypool and Geddy Lee... Geddy is a madman. He sings, plays bass and uses that foot keyboard thing at the same time.... LIVE

 

[Lorenzini]

Mos Def was listed up there.
Seriously? I didn't even know he played bass.

Oh and on the other side of singing & playing, Richard Bona can sing exactly what he solos. It's like Benson on speed.

 

[Wrong Robot]

Oh and on the other side of singing & playing, Richard Bona can sing exactly what he solos. It's like Benson on speed.

Well, a lot of people can do that, heck, even I can. What's truly amazing about Bona is that he can sing a counter-melody to his solos. Or, he can lay down a bass part and improvise vocal melodies on top of it.

 

[MuzikMan]

Wasn't roger water the bassplayer and singer for pinkfloyd?

Yes Roger Waters sang lead on many Pink Floyd's tracks and he was the bass player. His songwriting and usage of the studio were amazing in PF but oddly enough his singing and playing skills aren't exactly on top of the heap IMO of course.

BTW I love Pink Floyd!

 

[DWBass]

Mos Def?? Come on??!! I do know he dabbles at different instruments but I doubt he plays any of them at pro level! Just to cover my @$$, I need proof!

 

[Mark Wilson]

Geddy again
Not only does he sing incredible lines, he's stepping on the synth pedals, and playing bass. Also while doing that, he RARELY looks down to the neck.

 

[MikeyFingers]

Geddy again. He's great at that. Also Les Claypool. Some of the stuff he plays is (though repetitive sometimes) VERY hard, and he sings over it. Another one that probably most people here wouldn't know is David Vincent. He played bass for a death metal band called Morbid Angel, he was playing 10,000mph constantly while singing some very demanding vocal parts. Plus, they played some of the best death metal ever, not the usual sh**.

 

[audiotom]

Wetton seems to be singing in something that is so counterpoint to what he is playing

none of this sing, fill, sing, fill stuff

really incredible when you take into account the trippy Pete Sinfield lyrics

 

[Basroil]

Gene Simmons or the Pink Floyd dude.