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Favorite Prog Bassist

#41
Tough to pick just one... my top 3:

Geddy Lee
Chris Squire
Tie: Ray Shulman & Mike Rutherford

I guess that's 4 then :)

It's tough to pick one because these are 4 bassists that had a huge hand in the overall sound and songwriting of their respective bands and imo they're all so different from each other.

So while I may prefer Lee's energetic and in your face playing to Rutherford's, I prefer Genesis' overall sound to Rush (but just by a hair or 2!) and Rutherford was a huge part of that sound.

But this may be because Lee got to shine more in his 3 piece whereas Rutherford shared the space with 4 other incredibly gifted musicians AND he also played a lot of 12 string guitar on the albums.

Then there's Chris Squire's very unique sound and style, and Shulman's sense of groove (for a band that was possibly known more for it's blend of avant garde rock, jazz and medieval English folk elements, their rythm section could sure grove when they wanted to!).
 
#46
I dig Geddy, but as a whole, Rush disappoints me. I mean, my first real bass was a jetglo 4001, and I saw Rush three times between '79 and '83, and I really like about 80% of 4 or 5 albums, but that's about it. Killer tone and technique from one Gary Weinrib, however.

Tony Levin, who's not just a prog bassist, but a bassist who, given enough time, could have played on every record ever made, is right up there.

One guy who never seems to get enough credit is Greg Lake (perhaps as punishment for the train-wreck that was/still is Love Beach). His work with Crimson (the bass part during the guitar solo on Schizoid is killer) is top-notch. Some of the playing on Brain Salad Surgery (thanks to Dr. John for the name); particularly Impression 2 of Karn Evil 9 is fantastic. Maybe he branched too far from bass at times to define himself as a Prog bassists, I dunno.

John Wetton's work with Crimson, '72-'74 is impeccable and dirty.
 
#52
Nice to see Dave LaRue on here! And it took long enough to see Greg Lake... Does anyone remember ELP's first album? WOW! But I will have to add from Tull:

Jeffery Hammond
John Glascock
Dave Pegg

Each guy represents a different approach as Tull was morphing through the 70's/80's, but really kicked a** in the process!!!
 
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#56
Lee and Squire influenced me the most.

Bloodywanker1 said:
But I will have to add from Tull:
Jeffery Hammond
John Glascock
Dave Pegg
Each guy represents a different approach as Tull was morphing through the 70's/80's, but really kicked a** in the process!!!
Click to expand...

I was going to mention the Tull bassists especially Hammond and Glascock (whom I got to see before his untimely death).
Johnathan Noyce was pretty dang good too.

I think that Uriah Heap's Gary Thain deserves a mention too.
 
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