Favorite punk rock bass player?

[DevilOfBurden]

Paul Simonon is one my all time favorites, love his mix of funk & reggae with punk.
Tina Weymouth and Fred Smith are also up there if you wanna count Talking Heads and Television as "punk"
I know a lot of people hate Green Day but Mike Dirnt is amazing in my opinion especially on "Dookie"
Klaus Flouride of Dead Kennedys is another great
Jeff Magnum, Dee Dee Ramone, Dave Alexander, Jerry Only, and Greg K are also some good ones.

 

[chargerbandit]

Kira from Black Flag, anyone? But yeah some of my most influental...Fat Mike, Matt Freeman, Mark Hoppus,... Jesse from Lagwagon would be a good pick, oh can't forget Jim that used to play bass in Strung Out (RIP). And whoever played bass in Satanic Surfers was really good.

 

[philvanv]

Dont forfet Chrome and I agree Kira was good and cant forget Rodger Rodgerson the original Circle Jerks...

 

[shrimpflea]

Going with Mike Watt for number 1.

Paul Simonon a close second.

 

[jj4001]

Koji Ueno from Thee Michelle Gun Elephant is a killer bassist. Check out their song "Chandelier" from the album High Time.

 

[Milk]

Was disappointed recently to find out that Paul Simonon did not write Magnificent Seven's bassline. It was the bassist from the blockheads. Also apparently Topper Headon recorded the bassline for Rock the Casbah. Did he write it? Seems likely. The drummer for god sake! That still leaves quite a few good basslines probably written by Simonon but it is disappointing. I hope he at least wrote Lost in a Supermarket and London Calling.

 

[Milk]

"
I know a lot of people hate Green Day but Mike Dirnt is amazing in my opinion especially on "Dookie".

See i haven't listend to Green Day in at least 15 years (moved on, change in music tastes), and god knows i particularly hate their current music but i partly learned to play along Green Day records in my teens, and i know for a fact that Mike Dirnt still is an influence on my playing whether i like it or not. There's litle patterns here and there i'll do and i'll think "yeah, that's where i got that"

The basslines on KErplunk, Dookie and Insomniac are all good and i picked up and learned every single one of them back in the days. And i still like his tone on the latter two records. I have from time to time considered trying to get my hands on a Grabber just for that.

 

[dukeorock]

Not debating here...simply stating bassists who mattered to me in early punk.

JJ Burnel
Bruce Foxton
Karl Alvarez
Paul Simonon
Tommy Stinson

Same as a lot of folks have said, but these guys all had some impact on me as a young thrasher

 

[higain617]

I liked this old British hardcore band called Broken Bones, and their bassist played some great lines.

I really love Bruce Foxton's tone from the old Jam stuff.

 

[WowSuchPunx]

Green Day's Mike Dirnt.

 

[pica]

Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth. She kicks @$$.

 

[kenneffdupriest]

glen stilphen - gang green

 

[higain617]

Dude who was 1/3 of the detroit punk band "death"...played a ric and this was in 75!!!!

Totally. Great tone on those recordings, too.

 

[chargerbandit]

Totally forgot an awesome one... Grant Matthews from british hardcore band Rudimentary Peni... the bass line on Nothing But a Nightmare is classic.

 

[basskababble]

Brian from A Wilhelm Scream... I'm with OP. Very cool dudes. Opened for them and seen them about 4 or 5 times and they kill it.

 

[takeout]

You guys already named my top picks: Greg Norton, Steve Youth, Darryl Jenifer, Joe Lally, Karl Alvarez (and Bob Thompson from Big Drill Car, AKA "Karl Lite").

 

[hxcJORDAN]

It's more pop-punk, but Kelen Capener from the band The Story So Far has some sick licks. If you've got a quick half hour listen to this album, the bass lines are so sweet.

 

[123Turin]

mike watt !!!!

 

[10cc]

Totally. Great tone on those recordings, too.

Bobby Hackney. He was also the singer. Great Band.

Here is one of my favorites not mentioned yet.
Graham Lewis from Wire! They are one of the most covered & influential punk bands ever. Minutemen,Sonic Youth, REM, The Feelies, Minor Threat, GBV, Fischerspooner, Black Flag all have spoke of these Wire chaps as being a major influence.

 

[JimmyM]

Bruce Thomas from Elvis Costello and the Attractions (yes, there was a time Elvis was considered punk), Graham Maby from Joe Jackson's Band (ditto).