Famous bassists everyone knows

[Aberdumbie]

my son knows who geddy lee is, but he didn't know he was the bass player for rush - he only knew he was the singer. same with sting. he's never heard of roger waters or james jamerson or jaco. he definitely knows flea is a bass player, though. i find this is about on par for most of the people i talk to.

My grandkids hated me on Christmas. I got the DVD box set of Beatles The Touring Years. Yes they had to watch it with me on Christmas Day...... Now my 7 year old granddaughter gets excited when she hears a song by those black and white movie guys.... And she knows a Hofner bass from the Fender bass that her Boppie plays..... Gotta train them young-uns up right!

 

[gln1955]

I just asked my wife and she had nothin'. She could name quite a few guitarists though.

I'm pretty sure she knows I play bass, but I'm really beginning to wonder.

 

[Aberdumbie]

I just asked my wife and she had nothin'. She could name quite a few guitarists though.

I'm pretty sure she knows I play bass, but I'm really beginning to wonder.

Oh dude... Man that even hurt me!

 

[2tonic]

When my sons, (currently 25 and 21, both guitar players, both absolutely in love with all pre 80s classic rock) were little they played the soundtrack to "That Thing You Do" incessantly. We used to all sing along to it in the car.
Back then they would have said T.B. Player was the most famous bassist they knew.







AFTER Paul McCartney!!

 

[pcake]

My grandkids hated me on Christmas. I got the DVD box set of Beatles The Touring Years. Yes they had to watch it with me on Christmas Day...... Now my 7 year old granddaughter gets excited when she hears a song by those black and white movie guys.... And she knows a Hofner bass from the Fender bass that her Boppie plays..... Gotta train them young-uns up right!

it's a little late to train my son young - he's in his 40s

 

[Clef_de_fa]

If I weren't a bass player I wouldn't know any of them.

Those that can sing sure it is nice but no one know they play the bass.

And Flea ? do any people knows him outside of bass player and people in their 30s ??? Even I doubt it.

Just like the Mark Hopus from Blink 182. Doubt he is known as a bass player or known at all outside of people in their 30's

 

[Aberdumbie]

it's a little late to train my son young - he's in his 40s

But you look so much younger in your avatar!!! Hope no offense was taken. Sure didn't mean to!

 

[Chuckdesj]

I just asked my wife and she had nothin'. She could name quite a few guitarists though.

I'm pretty sure she knows I play bass, but I'm really beginning to wonder.

I tried with my girlfriend and the first name she said was mike dirnt..Yes, she's a big green day fan.

 

[bearhart74]

You give people too much credit. not many would even be able to name one

 

[Laklandfan]

This is a trick question! Most people have no idea what a bass is or what the bassist is doing, nor do they care.

 

[Charlzm]

Here's a qualifying question: Do people have to know they are bass players? People know who Sting is, but I'd bet far fewer know he plays the bass. Same for Paul McCartney. They just know they are singers and musicians. Remember, people are stupid.
I'd say you should add Flea; he as some level of cultural impact beyond RHCP
Maybe Jaco. Even my guitarists know who he was. There was a documentary about him with a lot of buzz.

Sadly, I doubt anyone outside bass players know who James Jamerson was.
Pink Floyd and Roger Waters are only well known to a specific audience.

That "specific audience" for Pink Floyd is certainly larger than that of any of the other artists on our "famous bassist list" except Paul McCartney:

List of best-selling music artists - Wikipedia

 

[FugaziBomb]

I would guess that Flea might be named the most by non bass players. Most people probably don't even know who Geddy Lee, Roger Waters, or James Jamerson are. A majority of people probably don't even realize that McCartney and Sting even play bass. RHCP has been around for a long time and are still relevant. He also has a pretty simple and unique name that people can remember along with some interesting stage antics.

This. People Identify Paul McCartney as a Beatle, not a bassist. Sting is similar, as people view him as a singer, not necessarily a bassist. The same can also be said for Gene Simmons. I imagine most people who are not Kiss fans would think he was a guitarist. The other names on the list probably would be unfamiliar with casual listeners. Flea is pretty widely thought of as an iconic bass player, as that is almost exclusively what he does as an entertainer (Back to the Future aside...)

 

[Bikeguy57]

What, no Votes for Danny Bonaduce?

 

[Jhengsman]

What, no Votes for Danny Bonaduce?

Nope but maybe Danny Partridge would be in the running

 

[socialleper]

That "specific audience" for Pink Floyd is certainly larger than that of any of the other artists except Paul McCartney:

List of best-selling music artists - Wikipedia

Elvis is on there, and so is Elton John, I'd say both of those have a pretty specifc audience as well.

 

[Pops OB]

For me, it's always been Jack Bruce, Chris Squire and Lee Sklar.

 

[Ant Illington]

Sting. The video age that Paul didn't get so much of, women love Sting and the police were only a three piece so it was easy to identify him as the bassist. That s just my guess and reasoning.

 

[HolmeBass]

Depends on how old the person you ask is, definitely Paul, Sting, or Flea.

 

[Savagehenry]

The mere fact that Jaco even made the list proves how basscentrically nerdy we are, and the public at large IS NOT.

 

[Son of Wobble]

For me, it's always been Jack Bruce, Chris Squire and Lee Sklar.

Can't quite put my finger on why, but I had a strong hunch you might be a Leland Sklar fan.