Favourite under the radar bassist

[DJ Bebop]

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

Tom…

 

[scrubhelmet]

People are mentioning bassists like Graham Maby, Bruce Thomas, and even Chuck Rainey! Even Anthony Jackson!

These guys are pretty well “sung”, and on the radar, it seems to me, at least among bassists.

But I don't find Anthony Jackson being talked about even among bassists. I find Laura Lee being talked about more than him. And no disrespect to Laura, I also dig her style and the way she stuck to her cheap bass for a long time (until she got the Fender deal).

 

[CryingBass]

Tom…

Tom

 

[J Wilson]

John McVie.

Melodic in the manner of Macca and Sting. The skill of those kinds of lines that sing their own part while never getting busy or unsettling the groove, along with the luxury of having played with the same (under the radar as well) drummer forever.

 

[Dincrest]

Patrick Dahlheimer of Live.

I'll add Dustin Davidson of August Burns Red.

 

[Deleted member 394181]

Mel Schacher - Grand Funk Railroad.

"Im Your Captain" right?

 

[Miles_ONeal]

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?

Pops Chambers, Nikki Monninger, Kathy Valentine, Ed King.
And Phil Lesh. Sure, Deadheads know him, but a lot of others don’t, or write him off. But he’s an incredible bassist, doing stuff nobody else did. His bass was as crucial as Jerry’s guitar to their sound and success.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Thain was a monster!

 

[Marley's Ghost]

Ben Orr from The Cars. Great voice and super tight innovative bass lines. Gone too soon.

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Andy West for sure.
Just a couple of examples.

The Dixie Grit (from whence the Dregs sprung) used to play next door to us in Augusta. Andy has long been phenomenal. I ran with his younger brother Mike for a few years. I wish I could track him down.

 

[Clark W]

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?

Tim Commerford bassist and backing vocalist of RATM & Audioslave.
While RATM & Audioslave are both well known, you just never hear of Commerford being mentioned when it comes to discussions about bass players. And IMO he's one of the best to come out of the early 90s with RATM and the early 2000s with Audioslave.

 

[ryco]

Ron Blair
John Seigler
Rob Grange
Van Conner
Tony Sales

Chubby Jackson
Buster Williams
Pat Senatore
Wayne Darling

Doyle Holly

 

[SunByrne]

Tim Commerford bassist and backing vocalist of RATM & Audioslave.
While RATM & Audioslave are both well known, you just never hear of Commerford being mentioned when it comes to discussions about bass players.

What? Yes you do. He has (had?) his own signature series from EBMM. That's not "under the radar" at all.

 

[steamthief]

Brad Smith from Blind Melon. I wish Shannon Hoon didn't die so young, they were such a cool 90's band.

 

[nono]

I don't think Jack Blades was mentioned? His tasteful bass lines are a big component of the music of Night Ranger, yet I barely know his name.

 

[sonic boogaloo]

i think there was a similar thread sometime back, but my answer remains the same:

wally waller of the pretty things.

he is the reason why i have a mustang.

 

[Jazzdogg]

Rod Ellicott from Cold Blood back in the day!

 

[mellowgerman]

Not sure if he wrote his parts, but I really love what Ryan Steele did on Aidan Knight's 2020 self titled album. To my ears, perfect creative subtle playing and tone on every song. Really rounds out the mood and mix of each track. The production in general on this album is probably the best I've heard.

 

[Big Fat O]

Tommy Shannon. Great player

 

[Wood and Wire]

Curve's Dean Garcia

It's funny, Curve were never household names, but they were very well known in that scene - and everyone knew Deans name perhaps by association with Toni Halliday, for both her stunning image, and the comedy coincidence that she had the same name as the lead singer from Spandau Ballet.

Dean was actually way more visible, and arguably more famous (certainly exposed to a larger global audience) as a touring, and sessions bassist during the 80's, with Eurythmics, and Feargal Sharkey.