Punk is a very (believe it or not) varied type of music. Bass is a really important part of it. Many people don't know but some of the best bassists in the music industry are in punk bands. I personally think Matt Freeman of Rancid is the best.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
MEGA THREAD:: Favorite/Best Punk Bassist
- Thread starter nyrangerr
- Start date
Hey nyrangerr
Thought you were from n.y. from yr handle.
I don't know where wil is??? (frm yr profile)
I don't know if I have one favorite, but here are a few punk bassists that IMHO rule.
Mike Watt (minutemen,firehose and solo)
Bruce Foxton (the jam & stiff little fingers)
Kevin Rutmanis (cows & melvins)
Carl Avlarez (all & descendents)
Thats all I can think of now.
Thought you were from n.y. from yr handle.
I don't know where wil is??? (frm yr profile)
I don't know if I have one favorite, but here are a few punk bassists that IMHO rule.
Mike Watt (minutemen,firehose and solo)
Bruce Foxton (the jam & stiff little fingers)
Kevin Rutmanis (cows & melvins)
Carl Avlarez (all & descendents)
Thats all I can think of now.
I agree with CS that JJ Burnel is undoubtedly the best and most "up-front" bass player in this genre. You can really hear all the bass lines on their recordings and can tell that a lot of the songs were written around these. His style has been copied by others many times - "Elastica" even got into a "legal-type" situation about the blatant rip-off of a bass line!!
I saw the Stranglers live in the punk heyday and he was truly awesome - really abrasive but bassy sound, and never missed a note despite having objects thrown at him and the showers of gob (sic) ...
But wasn't it "Rattus Norvegicus" ??
I saw the Stranglers live in the punk heyday and he was truly awesome - really abrasive but bassy sound, and never missed a note despite having objects thrown at him and the showers of gob (sic) ...
But wasn't it "Rattus Norvegicus" ??
Excuse me, but arnt the red hot chilli peppers in the funk genre??!
i cant belive no one has mentioned Flea!
i cant belive no one has mentioned Flea!
I wouldn't class Flea as a "Punk" bassist at all - he is definitely "FUNK" with a capital F. His inflences are well-known and pretty obvious in his playing any way.
Flea used to be a PUNK bassist, but is now totally FUNK. (Some people just read this wrong.) He is really only an average PUNK bassist.
Freeman is the best punk bassist on earth. From Op Ivy to Rancid, he's the shiznit.
Don't laugh too much, but Mike Dirnt from Green Day is pretty good too (Ouch! Don't hit me)
Randy Bradbury from Pennywise is sweet too.
[This message has been edited by rojo412 (edited April 03, 2000).]
Freeman is the best punk bassist on earth. From Op Ivy to Rancid, he's the shiznit.
Don't laugh too much, but Mike Dirnt from Green Day is pretty good too (Ouch! Don't hit me)
Randy Bradbury from Pennywise is sweet too.
[This message has been edited by rojo412 (edited April 03, 2000).]
Best punk band bassist and no one has mentioned Roger from Less Than Jake...wow...i am really surprised. That kid has so many phreakin complex basslines...it's impossible to learn - let alone tab out - one of his songs.
Fat Mike from NOFX is also good, it's just that he's evil....
Whoa, wait, what am i doing in THIS parta the forum?
------------------
DISCLAIMER: Views shown by Biski2Dope in this post are entirely cynical and should not be taken as offense to anyone...and now that that's done, WANT SOME NUTS? Mooah...
Fat Mike from NOFX is also good, it's just that he's evil....
Whoa, wait, what am i doing in THIS parta the forum?
------------------
DISCLAIMER: Views shown by Biski2Dope in this post are entirely cynical and should not be taken as offense to anyone...and now that that's done, WANT SOME NUTS? Mooah...
I am heavy into punk and from what i have heard the best bassists would have to be Matt Freeman, Roger from LTJ, Fat Mike from NOFX, Jason from Pennywise (R.I.P.), and the best...Royce from The Suicide Machines, I met him last month and he is THE MAN!
As far as punk bassists go, the guy from Rancid is very good. I'd have to say though, Roger from Less Than Jake or my personal choice; Tomek from Satanic Surfers. He's insane on the bass. I can personally pick up most songs pretty quick (for covering songs) but his take me a while.
Rob
Rob
Maybe I'm showing my ignorance, but I thought that playing punk music was supposed to be about playing without knowing to play, so "best punk bassist" would sorta be a contradiction in terms. Anyway, although it's not really a punk band (more of a proto-punk) and probably almost nobody ever heard of them, Nicky Stephens of the Desperate Bicycles is my favorite bassist in that style, sorta...
Will C.
Will C.
