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Most Influential Bassist (In General)?

Most Influential Bassist?

  • Stanley Clarke

    Votes: 1 0.6%

  • Paul McCartney

    Votes: 33 19.0%

  • Carol Kaye

    Votes: 4 2.3%

  • Duck Dunn

    Votes: 5 2.9%

  • James Jamerson

    Votes: 45 25.9%

  • Geddy Lee

    Votes: 18 10.3%

  • Jaco Pastorius

    Votes: 16 9.2%

  • Flea

    Votes: 7 4.0%

  • Geezer Butler

    Votes: 1 0.6%

  • Bootsy Collins

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • John Entwistle

    Votes: 9 5.2%

  • Steve Harris

    Votes: 5 2.9%

  • John Paul Jones

    Votes: 6 3.4%

  • Phil Lynott

    Votes: 1 0.6%

  • Jack Casady

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Sting

    Votes: 4 2.3%

  • Chris Squire

    Votes: 5 2.9%

  • Cliff Burton

    Votes: 9 5.2%

  • Krisk Novaselic

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Gene Simmons

    Votes: 5 2.9%
  • Total voters
    174
#41
Most influential bassist will vary by age group and what type of music the person grew up on. Guys under 30 aren't going to list Jamerson and McCartney. Guys not into metal aren't going to list Geezer or Cliff.

Personally, I didn't even know what a bass guitar was until I got into KISS when I was in 3rd grade.
 
#43
D.M.N. said:
Seriously? You have Krist Novoselic (yes, that is the proper way to spell it) on there, and not Jack Bruce? I mean, not to knock Krist, he did what he needed for the band he was in, but if we're talking bass players in the spot light influencing people, how could Jack Bruce not be on there?


Anyways, the two that really did it for me were Paul McCartney and JPJ. Although, even before I noticed their playing, Bill Black probably had a large influence on me, as well as Willie Dixon on the early Chuck Berry records. I listened to a LOT of Elvis and Chuck Berry when I was young. Jack Bruce and John Entwistle (and Berry Oakley) are the ones that I'm constantly striving towards. Keep in mind, I was born in 1992, so these are guys way "before my time", and they're still having an influence.
Click to expand...

And, there it is. My first mistake. I knew there'd be someone I forgot. I chose Krist (thank you :) ) because I could easily imagine him inspiring young modern bassists to pick up the instrument.
 
#45
I chose Cliff Burton, because of his attitude, his solos, and the nice sounding basslines especially on Ride the lightning and Master of puppets, later on i found Geezer Butler and his great plucking technique, and then i found Jaco and his great feel and tone and finally Jamerson. So, to conclude i think that without Jamerson and Jaco, modern bassists would not have been the same, but i voted for Cliff because he was the one to welcome me to the magic world of bass guitar, and it was the least i could do to thank him for it :)
 
#47
FranF said:
Actually McCartney cited Jamerson as his biggest influence on many occasions. Along with Brian Wilson and Bill Black to a lesser degree, and others.
Click to expand...

I think that's the heart of it. If we're asking who was the most influential overall, rather than to each of us personally, it's Jamerson hands-down. The reason is that even if you were not personally influenced by Jamerson, you were influenced by somebody who was themselves influenced by Jamerson. It always traces back to him.
 
#48
Were I voting on influence and popularity over the masses, I would vote McCartney (he was an innovator, and, really, everyone knows Sir Paul); were I voting on the most influential to musicians, I would vote Jamerson (pretty much everyone on the list leads back to him, if you trace influences back); but I voted for Chris Squire because I feel like the impact that he had was more "important" for the evolution of music and the bass guitar's role within it, despite not having the greatest influence over listeners or musicians.

Additionally, I like that Michael Todd was noted as an honourable mention. I'm surprised that Larry Graham hasn't been mentioned anywhere, though, as he was rather popular.
 
#50
Kenzy said:
Were I voting on influence and popularity over the masses, I would vote McCartney (he was an innovator, and, really, everyone knows Sir Paul); were I voting on the most influential to musicians, I would vote Jamerson (pretty much everyone on the list leads back to him, if you trace influences back); but I voted for Chris Squire because I feel like the impact that he had was more "important" for the evolution of music and the bass guitar's role within it, despite not having the greatest influence over listeners or musicians.

Additionally, I like that Michael Todd was noted as an honourable mention. I'm surprised that Larry Graham hasn't been mentioned anywhere, though, as he was rather popular.
Click to expand...

Man, I can't believe I forgot Graham!
 
#51
D.M.N. said:
Seriously? You have Krist Novoselic (yes, that is the proper way to spell it) on there, and not Jack Bruce? I mean, not to knock Krist, he did what he needed for the band he was in, but if we're talking bass players in the spot light influencing people, how could Jack Bruce not be on there?
Click to expand...

+1. Can't say I've ever heard anyone cite Mr. Novoselic as an inspiration.

mcblahflooper94 said:
-Victor Wooten
-Marcus Miller
Click to expand...

I dunno. These 2 are largely responsible (for better or worse) for helping bring slap into the mainstream. Since so many young bassists now seem to erroneously equate bass skill with ability to slap, I'd think one of them would have to be on that list somewhere...

But as far as making you wanna pick up a bass (at least in my formative, bass-starting years), I voted Geddy.
 
#53
Jamersons my guy, but Larry Graham also advanced (if you like bass as a percussive instrument) the bass role in music as the funk genre took root. Graham innovated much of the bass's relationship to compositions i funk, and then beyond as slapping and popping became relevent in other forms of rock/pop music...even jazz and fusion. Gotta give the guy props for the uniqueness he lent when his style wasn't very popular...
 
#54
While it was 1976 and I was 12 and had just seen Kiss for the first time, I wanted to be Gene Simmons.

We didn't have a bass in our house, but a guitar. I started taking guitar lessons. During that time I also cut grass and save my money and bought a cheap no name bass. I didn't care as long as I could play those crazy Kiss songs and other pop songs. Gene Simmons was my hero at that point.

Then in high school I began to bridge off into Rush, Yes, and other progressive bands. Geddy by far was the biggest influence until I was turned on to Jazz.

Stanley Clark will most always be my favorite. I know that there are cooler player out there but I just really like his style. I have played many styles in my musical career and have learned to appreciated the timings and nuances of them all. That's what makes them great to me. I guess IMO, it is the players that made me want to play better, with better feel and timing at such a young age that will always have my heart strings. But again I appreciate everyone of the greats.
 
#55
I voted John Entwistle. Paul M and James J were probably the biggest influences on bassist going into the 50's through the 70's but I believe guys like John E went on to revitalize and inspire many of the bassist you heard in the 90's and on. Geezer too. That spawned guys like Flea and Cliff B.
 
#58
I voted for Paul McCartney. Did he say that Jamerson influenced him? (I know the Beatles loved R&B, but Motown and Beatles music were contemporaries... happening at the same time).

I know McCartney was influenced by tuba players and I hear a lot of tuba influence in his lines. What are some Beatles songs that have a strong Jamerson influence?
 
#60
I had already been playing bass for a couple of yrs- but after seeing Steve Harris on a VHS tape of Live After Death- that really inspired me to practice (with all my fingers) lol. Plus he looked so cool running around in spandex rocking out-
Of course- later it was Geddy and Stu- and Victor w.
But Steve Harris really got it started for me.
 

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