FLEA-Best bass player ever???

[4001]

And don't get me wrong.
I love the Chili Peppers. I listen to them a lot.
I think that Flea is one of the funkiest bassists in rock these days. Without him, the Chili Peppers would not even exist. It's his bass that pushes their music around and he lays down the groove. Listen to some of that stuff from Mothers Milk like Magic Johnson and his killer tone and basslines from BSSM.
I like Flea A LOT.
He just isn't the best ever. That might be personal opinion...
I like Jaco for the best, even though there are some that have taken his thing and perfected it. (Gary Willis, Richard Bona etc) but Jaco laid the foundation for it and that bedrock road is immovable. Jamerson was great too. And some days I think he is the best, but for me it comes back to Jaco. For rock, Geddy Lee and Chris Squire.

 

[Geddyfleaharris]

He's still the best.

With the caveat that best is subjective.

Flea might not be the best (though he cerainly ranks in the top 3 for my personal tastes) and maybe Jaco is. I just know I enjoy listening to RHCP more than anything that Jaco did. And that just comes down to taste in music (or lack of ).

remember - no hating! Personal taste.

 

[beyondat]

I don't know what constitutes a great bass player but Flea is one of the greats in my book. I'm not saying he is Jamerson because his music hasn't had the chance to stand the test of time. When I was in high school in the 90's going through my Black Power stage I thought Flea was a Nazi Skinhead because his head was shaved so I made it a point not to like RHCP's music. However, as hard as I tried I still liked a lot of the music that they put out. All I listened to in that era was hip-hop so.... Now that I started playing bass 2 years ago I revisited RHCP and have finally realized why I liked their music so much, Flea! He may not do tricks like Marcus Miller or Wooten, neither did Jamerson but like Jamerson his lines fit the song beautifully. What I am trying to say is that it is about the music that is made and not the difficulty in playing it.

 

[LikeButtah]

There's no such thing as a "best" bass player or other musician- IMO that's more of a tell about your own personal preferences, nothing to say about the bassist. But what makes a good or great bass player in my opinion is a good one plays music that inspires all of the other musicians in the band to play to their fullest potential- and a great one inspires musicians from elsewhere to do the same.

Let's not ruin the beauty of music with the notion that anyone is superior by means of ability, but rather a role model by the inspiration their art creates.

 

[duff beer]

From what I've head...he's not even close. Then again, the band he is in sucks so bad I can't listen to their music.

 

[jbassp]

Flea is my favorite. He has such an intense appreciation and spiritual connection to the instrument. I mean, up untill recently he was completly self taught from age 17. He appreciates all styles of music and just loves it with every fiber of his being. He is my all time favorite.

 

[williamk]

everyone should know the best bassist that ever lived is Alain Caron.

 

[Meatrus]

Threads like this...... I cant believe how long its been going! The whole idea is wrong, have you heard every bass player ever....no, is its possible to decide who is the best player.....no, would a majority of people recognise the best bass player (if one existed).....no, is there such a thing as being the best bass player.....no, etc. The title should be do you like Flea, if not who do you prefer, there are no wrong answers.

 

[Elrend]

Haha, no.

Seriously though, Flea is alright and brought the bass out to the mainstream, though calling him the best bassist ever is such a huge stretch that it leaves us with metaphorical stretch-marks.

 

[LikeButtah]

Heh someone doesn't care for flea much...

 

[mccartneyman]

Best bass player for RHCP, yes.

 

[DizzyExiled]

Pass the popcorn please.

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

Him and Anthony Kiedis in "The Chase" And Henry Rollins too for that matter

 

[officialjlox]

What is best? Most succesful, populair, technical or something else?

He's the best Flea that has ever lived, yes. Best bassist, I don't know... you'll have to define best.

I had a dog a few years ago that was providing room and board to some little buggers that might disagree with this statement

 

[Chrisk-K]

Gene Simmons is the best bass player, HANDS DOWN

If the "best" means the "best business sense," Simmons clearly wins hands down.

 

[majortoby]

He may not be the best, but I still would have to say I think he's been a perfect match for RHCP. And I'll be perfectly honest, if he was never around to record BSSM, I probably would not have ever picked up bass. Thanks, Flea!

 

[edubb]

Did you really just say that? Im going to need you to do some history on Marcus before you say something like that again. The Brecker Bros, the Crusaders, Miles Davis?

Don't forget David Sanborn and Luther Vandross among others. Few bassists have played on more artists albums than Marcus. Even fewer have produced as many albums for other artist than Marcus.
Few have had the career he had as a first call studio bassist before he went solo. Marcus is on another level.

 

[Nigel Rahmshard]

the best at what? I would say no he is not the best player. I would say cliff williams of ac/dc or michael anthony of van halen. Its all about steady eight notes.

 

[Chrisk-K]

I would say cliff williams of ac/dc or michael anthony of van halen. Its all about steady eight notes.

It takes a ton of self control to play steady eighth root notes

 

[edot3021]

If this is even a question then you need to get a Jaco record. He may not be the best (mostly because that is subjective), but he is just on a different level.