Favourite under the radar bassist

[Dlew919]

We all love Jamerson, carol, Jaco, Marcus, victor, Bob, bootsy, Stanley, Paul, Sting, Jack, John, etc…

But what about those who aren’t as well known, or aren’t primarily known as bassists? Who do you like?

I’ll start with Maurice Gibb and Brian Wilson. I know Brian’s pushing it, but Carol and the others get the credit. But if you watch live beach boys, Brian is playing some tasty lines.

Jermaine Jackson is another one actually. Watching Jackson five live clips, Jermaine is playing those jamerson lines nicely.

Your turn. Who are some of your favourites who are underrated, unknown or better than you might think if you hadn’t heard them?

 

[pingvuiini]

I've always enjoyed and admired the rhythm section of Dave Barbarossa and Leigh Gorman of Bow Wow Wow. I was too young to see them live when they were still a band in the early 80s and there weren't many live vids of them at that time. Back then I always thought Leigh played fingerstyle because of all the slapping he did. Nowadays there are just a few live videos on YT and I was surprised to see he plays with a pick about 95% of the time. The past few years I've been able to see him play several times since he now lives in southern California.

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Ronnie Wood.
Most of his love comes from his gee-tar playin, but every time he picks up a bass he blows my mind.
Gary Thaine.
IMHO He set the bar for hard rock bassists.

 

[Kaa]

Helmut Hattler.

 

[DirtDog]

Mel Schacher - Grand Funk Railroad.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

Ronnie Lane of The Small Faces & The Faces.

 

[srosenthal13]

I've always been a Romantics fan, so I'll say Rich Cole and Mike Skill (went from guitar to bass). Great, bouncy, driving bass lines. Definitely the motors of the band.

 

[timmus]

Colin Edwin...used to play with Porcupine Tree. Clean, precise and beautifully played bass parts, fretted and fretless. Always played exactly what the song required...nothing more, nothing less. Severely underrated in my book. Sadly Steve Wilson, Porcupine Tree's leader dumped him...I'd love to sit down with Colin to have a beer.

Colin Edwin - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[thedovewarlord]

Kieth Richards is the first player that comes to mind, though hard to say if his bass playing is under the radar or not. Ronnie Wood is an excellent choice.

Josh Homme from what I understand played bass especially on the early QOTSA recordings.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Weird subject; frankly I think most bass players are "under the radar" except to other bass players. So we're just splitting hairs between, say, Krist Novoselic/Stefan Lessard (semi-sort of Under The Radar) and John Paul Jones/Jack Bruce (much less Under The Radar...until you ask your mom who they are).

 

[Flooksy]

Juan Croucier, people are so quick to make fun of him for wearing glam clothes and dancing onstage. They don't stop to think about how talented he actually is musically.

 

[Dlew919]

Weird subject; f

Is it though on a bass players forum? You make the point yourself. All these things are relative. There are people who don’t know what the Beatles or Rolling Stones are. Context matters.

 

[josephbass86]

What’s “ under the radar”?
Unless you’re Sting or McCartney, every bassist is “under the radar” and to the general public, Sting and Paul are more known for their singing and songwriting, not their bass playing.

If you’re talking about bassists that don’t get as much love from the bass geek community as they should, I’d nominate Colin Hodgkinson.

Dudes been amazing since the early 70s with a style all his own but doesn’t get anywhere near as much attention as he deserves.

 

[Michedelic]

There have been similar threads, I’ve listed those from the past, but in most cases, they are not under the radar to the band’s fans. Bruce Foxton of The Jam is one such player.
But I’m living in the here and now, and one of my favorite newer bands, a very quirky English outfit, features a guy that is solid, drives the tunes, is certainly not flash or technical(and I really don’t care about that kind of stuff anymore), yet he’ll come up with some intriguing riffs and harmonies as he works against, as well as with, the guitarist. Lewis Maynard, of the band Dry Cleaning…

 

[farace]

Paul S Denman (Sade).

 

[sdjfoh]

Trevor Dunn

 

[DuluthDank]

Bruce Thomas of Elvis Costello's band.

 

[-Stingray]

Tom Scholz from Boston.

 

[CryingBass]

Tom Fowler
Tina Weymouth
And many others. Pardon my spelling.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

We all love Jamerson, carol, Jaco, Marcus, victor, Bob, bootsy, Stanley, Paul, Sting, Jack, John, etc…

But what about those who aren’t as well known, or aren’t primarily known as bassists? Who do you like?

I’ll start with Maurice Gibb and Brian Wilson. I know Brian’s pushing it, but Carol and the others get the credit. But if you watch live beach boys, Brian is playing some tasty lines.

Jermaine Jackson is another one actually. Watching Jackson five live clips, Jermaine is playing those jamerson lines nicely.

Your turn. Who are some of your favourites who are underrated, unknown or better than you might think if you hadn’t heard them?

Still under the radar for so many... even here. Paul S. Denman who gained visibility with Sade. My "favorite"? That's a big question, but someone who most people still don't know about.

Also Tom "T. Bone" Wolk with Hall & Oates and then the Saturday Night Live Band.

True musical heroes of mine, and still unknown or at least doesn't prompt immediate name recognition, but what these guys do... SO DAMN TASTY.