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
Jay Bentley of Bad Religion is one of my favorites. Paul Simonon played for the Clash, also great.
Listen to some old Minutemen, if you can stomach D. Boon's vocals. The stuff Watt did on bass is just sick! (And I don't even like punk).
At first I thought Punk bass was simple and stupid until I actually listened to REAL punk.
And now I think it's really cool and punk focuses on bass a lot more than most rock Genres.
The first punk song I learned was about 80% of the song Got The Time - Anthrax (Punk Cover)
And now I think it's really cool and punk focuses on bass a lot more than most rock Genres.
The first punk song I learned was about 80% of the song Got The Time - Anthrax (Punk Cover)
Stomach D Boon's vocals? You're nuts, Bass Mule. D Boon was as passionate a vocalist as you could find. But I'll agree about Watt's playing with a lot of stuff...Minutemen, Firehose, solo, etc...
Let's not forget Rob Wright of NoMeansNo. He's truly a great songwriter, lyricist, and uses that thudstaff to whip up a mighty frenzy.
Let's not forget Rob Wright of NoMeansNo. He's truly a great songwriter, lyricist, and uses that thudstaff to whip up a mighty frenzy.
Finally a topic I can weigh in on. Alot of punk bassists don't get the respect they deserve. So called "ELITIST" Bass players don't consider punk a legit form of music. I've been into punk for over 1/2 my life and seen it all and then some. Mike Watt, Paul Simonon, Matt Freemann, Chris #2,etc, etc are amazing. I've also seen some bass players in unkown local bands, do some unheard of stuff on the bass as well. It may be 3 chords, but atleast they have the vision and imagination to expand on them. Also remember, our beloved Flea started out in a band called FEAR, which was also punk rock.
Dont forget Brian Baker too, from back with Minor Threat.
My favourite punk bassit is Craig Setari, damned good bassist and a nice guy too! Theres also the bass players from AFI (even tho they suck now he is still good) and Anti-Flag, Fat Mike is also a favourite. As is Bret Rasmussen (Ignite)
Sid Vicious is undoubtedly the most over rated bassist in punk lol! And that's why so many Punk bassists are underated for their far superior talent and musicianship (then sid that is).
I couldn't agree more, most of the "real" punk bands that are unknown and local harbor the most talent and make some really amazing music.
There was a band from Madison called "Swift Kick" with really raunchy half cocked screeching/ screaming vocals while the dummer and bassist were so tight and fluent through amazing fast passed hardcore punk riffs, lots of chromatic passing tones while the guitar was just grinding away the 3 chords changes. It was the perfect mesh between lo-fi annoying punk and actual musicality.
anywho
Peace
-Benny
I couldn't agree with you more smash.
I will never get tired of waking up in the morning and putting their self titled on the turn table.
No better way then to start your day with bad brains.
I highly enjoy the live black dots as well... so raunchy.
Peace
-Benny
Actually, if everyone's referring to the magazine article I think they are, it specifically excluded Sid from their list of punk bass greats. There was a small sidebar pointing out he was actually pretty worthless on bass. Aside from the one song or so recorded while Glen Matlock was in the band, Steve Jones did all the bass on Never Mind the Bollocks.
Anyway, surprised to see no one has yet mentioned Matt Freeman from Rancid.
Chuck Dukowski and Kira Roessler from Black Flag are certainly worth a mention.
Husker Du's Greg Norton has long been a favorite of mine.
If Mission of Burma is considered punk, then throw Clint Conley in there as well.
edit: OK, somebody did mention Matt Freeman. Missed it the first time I read through this thread.
i thought Joe Lally playing bass in fugazi is pretty bad ass.
Love the bassline from waiting room.
Matt Freeman is insane. The crazy part is that as dynamic as his bass playing is on record, it is more so live.
Love the bassline from waiting room.
Matt Freeman is insane. The crazy part is that as dynamic as his bass playing is on record, it is more so live.
Hells yes! One of my side project bands does a cover of banned in DC, classic bad brains tunes and great to play! (wrist hurts like hell afterwards tho!)
Im not a fan of matts bass playing, i think Rancid sound too much like they are falling appart, and when i saw them live, was not bowled over by it at all, sounded sloppy as hell when i saw them, a few friends of mine were at a rancid gig last year and they thought it sounded sloppy then aswell.
Ok, my first post. Yay me! Anyways, as A bassist that learned my art from punk(80's hardcore) I have to say that for me Klaus Flouride from the Dead Kennedys Is A very underrated player ,he actually helped me branch out into jazz. For me he is just A truly great player who always played tastefully and was able to play lines that stepped outside his own genre.
Peace to all of you lowenders and hopefully you'll be seeing more of moi.
Peace to all of you lowenders and hopefully you'll be seeing more of moi.
I actually mentioned Matt Freemann before, if anyone has any doubt about punk bass all they gotta do is listen to Maxwell Murder, and your right Chuck Dukowski and Kira did some amazing stuff on the bass as well. The guy from anti flag has some solid lines as well. I got to see Bad Brains during one of the last CBGB shows recently, Anyone know why HR was wearing a motorcycle helmet the whole time?
