FLEA-Best bass player ever???

[TerrorRhythm]

Flea just started going to college for music in 2008. Now he's made millions of dollars in the last 25 years, and decides now's the time to go to school and learn what's driving his music.

If he's not the best yet, he's very good, and he's got the drive to be the best, that's for sure. Maybe one day he will be.

 

[RHCP250]

Just to bury the hatchet, he gets the approval of this man, whose opinion is a lot more valid than ours.

 

[the general]

Pass the popcorn please.

Flea is the best bass player ever.....to act in movies. He was great in Big Lebowski!

and just putting this out there he was in back to the future movies as well as Needles.
But hes a good bass player, but not the best cause best is a matter of opinion. my personal top 20 for sure.

 

[WickedPissah]

He's sick but not the best. Not by a long shot.

 

[bassist4dalord]

He is very talented, but you can't compare him to guys like Geddy Lee, Duck Dunn, James Jamerson, etc... They are all incredibly talented, yet none of them is the "best" bass player. It's ridiculous for anyone to claim that one specific player is the best! There are sooo many factors.

 

[SquierBender]

I've heard Flea and Im not real impressd. I think it sounds like he is doing more because of all of the thumping noises.

 

[WOOFMAN]

Probably the best player that wears three socks at a time.

 

[Alan Vorse]

I'm not going to read the whole thread. I have to take issue with a few things.

1) How is Flea innovative? Someone said no one had slapped with that kind of intensity before. Umm, get up right now and go find recordings with Larry Graham and Louis Johnson on them.

2) Those who think Flea is nothing but a speed slapper need to check out "Pretty Little Ditty", "Under the Bridge", "Soul to Squeeze", the ending section of "Warped" and "My Friends" to hear Flea playing tasteful and melodic basslines.

I haven't really called him an influence since high school (Nineteen Ninety something...) but he is a very talented player who understands how to groove and is passionate about music.

We don't keep stats for players like we do for pro athletes. Its not a field that is based on Wins vs. Losses.

 

[Gearhead43]

Is Flea like, totally, the best like, bass player ever ??!!!!!??? Golly!!!!!

Hell no!

 

[Bobbo 77"]

I like him, but when slapping, isn't his thumb nearly vertical to the string whereas it should actually be horizontal?

Wow! Great observation bakjewel!
His thumpin' approach has as much grace as bull in a china shop...and the stroke of a blacksmith...like THIS little Vato!

 

[mccartneyman]

No.

 

[Arpeggiator]

In a word. NO!

 

[4001]

Jaco or James Jamerson and then Carol Kaye and Squire and Lee all before Flea.

 

[pringlw]

Like others have said. Flea is fantastic. I could only hope to have a tiny portion of his talent. He is an inspirations to thousands and thousands of bass players - including me.

But best ever? No he is not. I seriously doubt that Flea himself would seriously consider himself to be the best ever.

 

[Beej]

Shouldn't there be a minimum age before a person's allowed to start a thread?

 

[felix.jbasscstm]

But best ever? No he is not. I seriously doubt that Flea himself would seriously consider himself to be the best ever.

but then no-one would seriously say "I'm the best." would they?? how up yourself would you have to be??

who is the best bass player ever will never ever be solved.
not everyone will agree, ever. but personally he clearly is the best.
my greatest influence and inspiration. i just wanna be more like him.

 

[Gawd]

but then no-one would seriously say "I'm the best." would they?? how up yourself would you have to be??

*cough*Jaco*cough*

 

[Kwesi]

I fully understand the question and I still want to punch this thread in the face






...not the OP, mind you .

 

[4001]

*cough*Jaco*cough*

He's still the best.

 

[frankstallone]

I think flea is overrated by non-bassist, and underrated by bassists.