One Bass Player You Think Is Underrated?

[negativefx]

I'm sure I'm going to get slammed for this but Fat Mike of NOFX has written some killer bass lines. NOFX always gets ragged on as no talent but they're all quite talented and have contributed some of the more memorable riffs and solos in the punk rock scene. The Decline has some insane bass work.

Also, I'm not sure if he's underrated but I've been listening to more Radiohead lately (I've never really been a fan...) and there is some clever bass work on their albums.

 

[Root 5]

Okay.... so the thread title is ONE bass player...

But... rules are made for the breaking!

John Taylor of Duran Duran

John Deacon of Queen

Michael Anthony of Van Halen. I second the opinion he's better than he was allowed to show.

I could go on and on.

 

[hands5]

Jack Blades -Bass Player from the Funk/Rock group Rubicon ( mid to late 70's i.e. The fair skin Graham Central Station) to some that are in the know.

 

[Funky Ghost]

Jojo Garza of Los Lonely Boys. He lays down solid grooves and sings as well. I never see him get the props he deserves.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

How about Mel Schacher from Grand Funk and Tim Bogert from Vanilla Fudge. They both had unique styles. Bogert was very skilled on bass and still plays professionally with a 6 string bass as far as I know.

 

[Rocky]

ME

 

[KingKrabb]

I'm sure I'm going to get slammed for this but Fat Mike of NOFX has written some killer bass lines. NOFX always gets ragged on as no talent but they're all quite talented and have contributed some of the more memorable riffs and solos in the punk rock scene. The Decline has some insane bass work.

Also, I'm not sure if he's underrated but I've been listening to more Radiohead lately (I've never really been a fan...) and there is some clever bass work on their albums.

Yeah, Colin Greenwood doesn't get mentioned a lot when people make their "Favorite Bassist" list, but I think he's a really good, solid, player.

 

[superheavydeathmetal]

I don't know if he is underrated, per se, but Thomas Miller, the former bassist of Symphony X, is amazing.
I can't get you a link at the moment, but if you want a sample, listen to "In the Dragon's Den."

 

[chuck norriss]

Paul Denman of Sade--intentionally minimal. I appreciate that.
& not everyone knows who Esperanza is but they will. Likewise, John Myung.

 

[Kragnorak]

Hey TB People!!

heya, based upon your post, I guess you wouldn't mind me mentioning Me'shell Ndegeocello? I mean, there are a decent amount of people that know her work, but I think that based on groove and bassline creation alone she is the #1 funkiest bassist on the planet! She should be in the first breath of any group of great bass players, but I'll hear other names over and over because her bass work is overshadowed by her singer/songwriter abilities. Let me put it this way, Bootsy Collins and Larry Graham and Stanley Clarke may have gone before, but I think Me'shell destroys them ALL when it comes to sheer groove power.

Also not exactly underrated but a guy that should be listened to more: Trevor Dunn. Besides being a good upright player, he played my favorite bass line of all time at the 1:55 mark:

 

[carsbybigd]

Nick Ferber of The Sheiks

 

[tkonbass]

Graham Maby...longtime bassist with Joe Jackson.

Absolutely! He's been a favorite of mine since I started playing bass in the early 80's.

 

[tkonbass]

John Avila of Oingo Boingo.

 

[A.K.]

Jimmy Bain.

 

[Jason Wilson]

John Taylor of Duran Duran
+1 on him
Some really interesting and groovy bass lines, like him a lot

 

[Kmonk]

These guys have some great bass lines and don't just pound away on the root like many others do.
Tom Hamilton - Aerosmith
Mel Schacher - Grand Funk Railroad
Craig MacGregor - Foghat
John Deacon - Queen

 

[gully_jones]

Myself but it's probably deserved.

 

[Blackbird]

Colin Moulding with XTC. Great playing and writing. I'd say he was the best bassist/lead vocalist since Sting, but XTC started before The Police. Here he is playing lead bass backed by Letterman's house band.

 

[Epitaph04]

Jennifer Young of the Travis Larson Band.

 

[Funky Ghost]

I really dig Sara Lees work. I especially like her stuff on the Indigo Girls 1200 Curfews live album. Down By the River is a stand out.