Favourite under the radar bassist

[Spectrum]

Mike Mesaros of The Smithereens
Colin Greenwood of Radiohead

Michelle Temple, on and off bassist of Pere Ubu (which is itself a pretty underground band)

 

[Rdore2000]

Markus Groskopf from the heavy metal band Helloween. Every time I revisit them, I am reminded of how good he is.

I saw Duff McKagan in concert recently and I don't think he gets his flowers either. Such memorable lines and looks like a boss.

 

[Bob McAlister]

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.

 

[Bob McAlister]

I’ve been playing bass for over 50 years and I still can’t come up with original parts or play as good as Ronnie Wood. Check out his work with the Jeff Beck group and particularly when ‘Rod’ did his first solo album and listen to the intro of “an old raincoat will never let you down’! Wow!
Also, Dee Murray In Elton John’s’ first ensemble. Or Sting on ‘Sister Moon’ simple, but perfect.

 

[tangentmusic]

Tom Hamilton

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Andy Fraser. Dan Hartman. Mars Cowling. Willy DeVille's bassist live in Germany 5/26/85 "Italian Shoes". Pretty much anybody who played bass with Delbert McClinton.

BBB

 

[oren]

Slam Stewart!
Colin Moulding with XTC
I’m currently impressed with Bridget Kearny in Lake Street Dive.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

Jimmy Johnson.

 

[Iristone]

Viktor Yevseyev of Piknik

 

[hieronymous]

I think the bassists of the French/Zeuhl band Magma fit this category - my personal favorite is Bernard Paganotti, Jannik Top is probably the best known of the bunch, but my second favorite is Francis Moze (who also played in Gong) and third fave is Philippe Bussonnet (who I got to see live with them a few times). But speaking of Gong, there's a whole 'nother can of bassists, with, besides Francis Moze, Mike Howlett, who also produced A Flock of Seagulls amongst others. And as long as I'm on the continent, I'll add Holger Czukay, and I'm sure there are others that I can't think of right now!

 

[monsterthompson]

Rinus Gerritsen​

 

[Peteyboy]

Joe Jackson's bassist Graham Maby.

 

[Element Zero]

Dave Taylor of Bryan Adam’s band in the 80’s-90’s. Just listen to Reckless and you’ll understand.

The incredible Jimmie Sloas. Megadeth, Lady Antebellum, Blake Shelton… what a resume.

Adam Nitti. His soloing is nuts, but when’s he’s just a normal bass player holding down the low end is just what the doctor ordered. Check out Oakwood. So cool.

 

[Swamp_Ronin]

Rob deleo.

Rocco Palladino

 

[Wyrdlow]

Charles Larkey springs to mind straight away. His playing on Carole King's "Tapestry" is immaculate.

 

[A Bass And Its Boy]

Chris “Wag” Wagner of Mary’s Danish.

 

[Geepers]

Put down your glasses, this guy wins: Fred Turner from Bachman Turner Overdrive. A huge bear of a man with a voice like a rock crusher thundering out great rock n roll lines on a Rickenbacker that looks like a toy in his hands. Check it out:

 

[LushPuppy]

On the weirdo free jazz side of things: Erik Fratzke - Happy Apple

 

[2112]

In on thread where TB builds a list of all
known bassists besides Macca, Sting, Gene Simmons, and Flea.

Peter Cetera. Like Terry Kath, criminally underrated.

 

[scrubhelmet]

1) Masakazu Hara of the Japanese band the band apart. I like his pick playing with distortion pedal. It sounds like he's slapping and popping:

2) Buddy Zabala of the Philippine band Eraserheads. I like his melodic playing.

3) KT Chang of Taiwanese band elephant gym. The band is known for math rock, and she usually employs tapping.

4) Anthony Jackson, usually seen playing with jazz fusion pianists such as Hiromi and Michel Camilo.