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Best Modern Rock Bassist?

verycoolname

verycoolname

Jan 28, 2013
1,146
389
Los Angeles
#1
My radio station of choice, DC101, began a [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] poll back in late October, and now it's in the final stages.

The original bassists in the competition were:

Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy)
Mark Hoppus (blink-182)
Chris Wolstenholme (Muse)
Krist Novoselic (Nirvana)
Duff McKagan (GNR)
Ben Kenney (Incubus)
Justin Chancellor (Tool)
Tim Commerford (Rage Against The Machine)
Ben Sheppard (Soundgarden)
Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam)
Stefan Lessard (Dave Matthews Band)
Mike Dirnt (Green Day)
Flea (RHCP)
Ted Dwane (Mumford and Sons)
Les Claypool (Primus)
Mike Inez (Alice In Chains)

14 bassists have been eliminated, and the final vote is between Krist and Flea...

...so, what do you think? Is this list a good representation of great rock bassists? I personally think Wentz, Hoppus, and Dirnt could've been removed, and Ted Dwane/Mumford & Sons is hardly "rock." Plus, the final two seem a bit "popularity" based. I like RHCP, and I love Nirvana, but as a bassist Flea is (IMO) overrated (but quite good), and Krist is (IMO) nothing special (though I do like him a lot, and he's fortunate to have been in a legendary band). I personally wanted Justin Chancellor or Les Claypool to win, but oh well.

So, essentially, what are your thoughts on this poll? Did all 16 bassists deserve to be a part of the competition? Are the final two bassists a good selection? Who would you add to the list? Does the DMV just have very bad taste in musicians? I'm just curious.
 
#2
I honestly don't consider any of them good bassists. The music is very simple, which is typical of a lot of today's music. Even cheesy pop songs of the 70s had more complex and more interesting bass lines. Out of all the bands you mentioned, the only one I can tolerate is Alice In Chains.
 
#9
I'd go with Ben Sheppard and Tim Commerford based on this list. Both of these guys are a great fit for their respective bands and come up with some interesting bass lines.

Another honorable mention for Robert DeLeo. I like his style.
 
#11
Kmonk said:
I honestly don't consider any of them good bassists. The music is very simple, which is typical of a lot of today's music. Even cheesy pop songs of the 70s had more complex and more interesting bass lines. Out of all the bands you mentioned, the only one I can tolerate is Alice In Chains.
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Well that's an ignorant, ego-driven opinion if I've ever heard one.

Some of the guys on that list definitely aren't 'great' by any stretch and are simply lucky to be in very popular bands, but to claim none of them are any good at all?

Nonsense.
 
#13
Krist Novoselic beat out Chris Wolstenholme? Dang. I'd probably put Chris at number 1, with Claypool and Chancellor tied for second. But that's just me. Or maybe a three-way-tie...
 
#15
MDBass said:
Well that's an ignorant, ego-driven opinion if I've ever heard one.

Some of the guys on that list definitely aren't 'great' by any stretch and are simply lucky to be in very popular bands, but to claim none of them are any good at all?

Nonsense.
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It's his opinion.

It may be 180 degrees from what you think but it doesn't require you to demean him personally. When you attack the person and not the idea you undermine your own argument and potentially start a flame war... Something TB could use less of, not more.
 
#17
Kmonk said:
I honestly don't consider any of them good bassists. The music is very simple, which is typical of a lot of today's music. Even cheesy pop songs of the 70s had more complex and more interesting bass lines. Out of all the bands you mentioned, the only one I can tolerate is Alice In Chains.
Click to expand...

Dang man, you must be one helluva bass player to have that opinion, because I think almost all those guys are great rock players. And a lot of their work does require skillz. There are lots of guys (and gals) out there in lots of genres that may have more chops, but in rock, these guys are the some of the best. If AIC is the only band you can tolerate of all the players in that list, I have to ask if you like rock at all? I mean you can't tolerate GnR? And Duff isn't any good? Justin Chancellor isn't good? Maybe you're just too good? It must be lonely at the top! :eyebrow:
 

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