MEGA THREAD:: Favorite/Best Punk Bassist

[Infernal Affair]

A lot of people thought Husker Du had gotten too poppy, especially by the time they signed to Warner Bros (I'm sorry, but anyone who thinks that Land Speed Record is a better album than Warehouse needs to have their head examined).

Zen Arcade may be the one to get most of the critical acclaim, but I have to say Warehouse is my favorite Husker Du album. I could listen to that on repeat hours upon end.

I listen to all kinds of punk from all the waves, 77, 88, 95, and even the new stuff (what's left of it). And I think to be a true fan, you have to accept the different breeds of punk as a whole instead of the "i'm better than you" games punks often play.

I agree with you. I got into punk with the whole early 90s Green Day explosion, and I'm sure a lot of older punks hated kids like me, but while most other kids moved on I read zines, ordered records through mailorder distro, and got into a ton of smaller bands from all over. Honestly, when people start classifying something as punk I think it's kind of limiting because there's so many variations out there now. The bands from 77 were way different from the bands of the mid 80s, 90s and today. And there are bands that don't really sound punk at all that I still list as punk, like Ted Leo and the Pharmacists or Communique, just because there's a certain punk vibe that they carry from their past work.

 

[Eli_Upright12]

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

Yeah that banded practiced in my basement, they had a hell of rhythm section, their bassist's name was Johnny if I recall correctly forget his last name but he was a hell of a player. you might also remember a band called "Men and Mutiny" that my brother was in. both good bands before the dissolved, the drummer from Swift Kick ended up in Ann Arbor at UM on full scholarship. two pretty damn good bands.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I couldn't agree with you more. I love Bad Religion, but to be honest, they've been putting out the same album for 20 years, which is why they don't get too much gripe from fans.

I have to disagree there, compare the first BR albums to the likes of The Empire Strikes First, then hell, even compare Process Of Belief to it, they are all very different. The first few albums had a similar ish vibe to them, but damn, i wouldnt say its anywhere near like they are putting out the same album.

Have you listened to No Substance? Or hell, even wierder "Into the Unknown", but we dont like to talk about that one too much (tho i acutally quite like it)

 

[zazz]

J.J. BURNEL of The Stranglers!!!!!

++1

but what about steve severin and peter hook.

really depends on how you would define punk.

 

[ducknturtle]

Made a quick list of Punk bassists. Some of the names below are pretty famous and some are obscure. Some are terrific musicians and others less so. All of them made exciting music that inspired me. In the early days before it had ossified into a rigid inflexible, style Punk was more of an attitude. So it's pretty silly to argue that one or another of the bands represented is really Punk. It got me excited to make this list. I know I must have left some important people off. Hope I spelled everyone's name right. I leave it to those curious enough to figure out the bands. 1. Richard Hell 2. Dee Dee Ramone 3. Bruce Foxton 4. Horace Panter 5. Glen Matlock 6. John Doe 7. Kim Deal 8. Bruce Thomas 9. Billy Club 10. Paul Dean 11. Greg Norton 12. Cris Kirkwood 13. Brian Baker 14. Arthur Kane 15. Mike Mills 16. Tommy Stinson 17. Mike Roche 18. Barry Adamson 19. Eddie Wayne 20. Jerry Only 21. Derf Scratch 22. Darryl Jennifer 23. Clint Conley 24. Dale Sophiea 25. Lemme 26. Pete Farndon 27. Harry Kakkoulli 28 John Cale 29. Tina Weymouth 30. Tony Lombardo 31. Paul Siminon

 

[zazz]

v intersting list.....saw a video about hawkwind the other day and yes lemme pretty much defined what it was to be a punk bassist ...the inspiration behind the sexpistols!!

 

[powellmacaque]

I have to disagree there, compare the first BR albums to the likes of The Empire Strikes First, then hell, even compare Process Of Belief to it, they are all very different. The first few albums had a similar ish vibe to them, but damn, i wouldnt say its anywhere near like they are putting out the same album.

Have you listened to No Substance? Or hell, even wierder "Into the Unknown", but we dont like to talk about that one too much (tho i acutally quite like it)

I wish I could find "Into the Unknown" somewhere under $50...

But I really like Bad Religion, and yes their stuff does change, but they don't drastically change as some bands do, they kind of slowly evolve (well it happens when you double your band members...). I think Suffer, No Control, and How Could Hell be Any Worse? sound similar, but they arent similar to some of the new stuff...

 

[EddieN]

I wish I could find "Into the Unknown" somewhere under $50...

It's cause damned near everyone that bought that album when it came out threw it into the unknown (or at a wall). Altho' I'll admit to liking that "Chasing the Wild Goose" song.

 

[DICKTRON]

Made a quick list of Punk bassists. Some of the names below are pretty famous and some are obscure. Some are terrific musicians and others less so. All of them made exciting music that inspired me. In the early days before it had ossified into a rigid inflexible, style Punk was more of an attitude. So it's pretty silly to argue that one or another of the bands represented is really Punk. It got me excited to make this list. I know I must have left some important people off. Hope I spelled everyone's name right. I leave it to those curious enough to figure out the bands. 1. Richard Hell 2. Dee Dee Ramone 3. Bruce Foxton 4. Horace 5. Glen Matlock 6. John Doe 7. Kim Deal 8. Bruce Thomas 9. Billy Club 10. Paul Dean 11. Greg Norton 12. Cris Kirkwood 13. Brian Baker 14. Arthur Kane 15. Mike Mills 16. Tommy Stinson 17. Mike Roche 18. Barry Adamson 19. Eddie Wayne 20. Jerry Only 21. Derf Scratch 22. Darryl Jennifer 23. Clint Conley 24. Dale Sophiea 25. Lemme 26. Pete Farndon 27. Harry Kakkoulli 28 John Cale 29. Tina Weymouth 30. Tony Lombardo

Dale Sophiea and John Cale--Nice!!!!

As long as we're stretching the boundaries here (and we should be), let's not forget Tony Maimone.

 

[blindeddie]

i would say, "i can't believe no one has mentioned...", but i forgot to mention him too in my original post.
but man... KARL ALVAREZ of the Descendents/ALL!
he's an incredible player. AND an even better songwriter. that dude has written some of the greatest "chick" songs of all time. and his playing on albums like The Descendents - All, and the first couple of ALL albums was just waaaaaay out there.
hats off to Karl! totally underrated and overlooked.

 

[EddieN]

1. Richard Hell 2. Dee Dee Ramone 3. Bruce Foxton 4. Horace 5. Glen Matlock 6. John Doe 7. Kim Deal 8. Bruce Thomas 9. Billy Club 10. Paul Dean 11. Greg Norton 12. Cris Kirkwood 13. Brian Baker 14. Arthur Kane 15. Mike Mills 16. Tommy Stinson 17. Mike Roche 18. Barry Adamson 19. Eddie Wayne 20. Jerry Only 21. Derf Scratch 22. Darryl Jennifer 23. Clint Conley 24. Dale Sophiea 25. Lemme 26. Pete Farndon 27. Harry Kakkoulli 28 John Cale 29. Tina Weymouth 30. Tony Lombardo

Nice list.

I mentioned one I've my favorites that would fit nicely on your list in the unknown bassists thread recently: Jane Crockford of The Mo-dettes. You can hear 'em by going here http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/6347 & click "Listen..." Their track is just after the 1 hour & 32 minute mark. Sorry, it's RealPlayer.

 

[Ed2Strings]

There was band out of Jersey called Plan A Project, their bass player was also the singer and he did some insane stuff on the bass. Another band from Jersey I go see alot is Hub City Stompers which spawned from Inspecter 7, their a ska band and they play on all types of bills with different bands. Their Bass player does some killer stuff and is all over the neck.

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

It's cause damned near everyone that bought that album when it came out threw it into the unknown (or at a wall). Altho' I'll admit to liking that "Chasing the Wild Goose" song.

That and Billy Gnosis are my favourite songs on the album/ep

 

[cloudermilk]

Anyone care to comment how far Robert Trujillo has gone? Before anyone comments that he's not a punk bassist, let's not forget about Suicidal Tendencies.

 

[Mr-Wunderful]

Y'all allready mentioned several that I'm into (Watt, Flouride, Jennifer especailly) but what about Chris Gates from the Big Boys, he was doing the punk/funk thing before you know who, Jeff Pinkus of the Butthole Surfers, he just laid down some of the coolest grooves that really shaped and gave definition to their chaotic sound, Michael Gerard of Killdozer, huge sludgy bass great somgwriter as well Killdozer either a love it or hate it kinda thing, I love it.

 

[Metal Mitch]

You’ll have a very hard time finding in a bassist in any genre who can outplay or outgroove Daryl Jenifer of the Bad Brains. And you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better reggae or gospel or fusion band either, yet they’re best know as Godfathers of American hardcore.

If someone is reading this and scoffing, I know for a fact you’ve never listened to their albums or seen them live.

+1 ... if you'd never heard the Bad Brains and only listened to their reggae tracks, you'd swear they were from Jamaica and would never guess they played hardcore. Bad Brains rock!

 

[Saetia]

Yeah that banded practiced in my basement, they had a hell of rhythm section, their bassist's name was Johnny if I recall correctly forget his last name but he was a hell of a player. you might also remember a band called "Men and Mutiny" that my brother was in. both good bands before the dissolved, the drummer from Swift Kick ended up in Ann Arbor at UM on full scholarship. two pretty damn good bands.

I remember Men And Mutiny, IMO an even greater band! I remember seeing them over there at the Wilmar a few times and in a few basements. Who's your brother? We might actually know eachother Eli, I'm Big Ben lol.... with the big big holes in his ears...

Yeah Johnny played bass, Devin on guitar, Malcolm vocals and Miguel played drums.

Did you ever check out the grindcore band that spawned out of them? Feast of the Zombies? Miguel played drums, Malcolm on keys and vocals, a girl named Jenny played bass but Devin took over and Dave from Pain Tractor played guitar. It was like theatrical grind core... and the singer from Pain Tractor (Lauden) would usually be in some sort of costume like a demon suite and get shot and stuff.... in the middle of their sets they'd just stop their song and press play on some cd played and start a dance party to Junior Senior lol... strip naked and all.

Anywho....

Back to the thread.

Message me Eli

Peace

-Benny

 

[Sneckumhaw]

I don't think this thread should go on without mentions of Ron the Ripper from Crime and Andy (Adny) Shernoff from The Dictators. I like Captain Sensible, too.

 

[Ed2Strings]

Johnny Thunders played bass before he switched to guitar.............RIP Bother.

 

[cutthroatmolloy]

jay bentley, klaus flouride and matt freeman, along with steve harris of iron maiden are pretty much who made me want to learn bass in the first place.

bad religion are one of my favourite bands, and one of the few punk bands i still listen to. listening to them right now infact.

good stuff.