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Prog rock Bassists
- Thread starter Limelight
- Start date
I got nuthin' new to add to this thread, just reiterating props to Chris Squire, Jon Camp, Ray Schulman, Tony Levin, and Mick Karn (does he count as prog rock?)
And an equivocal thumbs up to John Wetton. The stuff he played with King Crimson and on the first UK album is just mind-bogglingly cool...but whenever I hear him on any other of his recordings I'm scratchin' my head wondering "Is this the same John Wetton?!?! Who is this sucky dweeb on bass?"
And an equivocal thumbs up to John Wetton. The stuff he played with King Crimson and on the first UK album is just mind-bogglingly cool...but whenever I hear him on any other of his recordings I'm scratchin' my head wondering "Is this the same John Wetton?!?! Who is this sucky dweeb on bass?"
You mean the Asia albums didn't do it for ya? The only thing worse than his playing with that band was watching Steve Howe playing "Heat of the Moment"....twas a very sad day!
Chris Squire would be my favorite.Followed by the late great John Entwistle,John Wetton,Geezer Butler and Paul MCcartney.
+++++++++++++++++1
Probably one of the greatest Progressive metal bands to come around in along time, in the sense that they actually progress instead of just copy dream theater like a lot of prog bands do now.
Erm here are some of my picks which haven't been talked about much:
-Martin Mendez (Opeth)- maybe a death metal group usually but they often play prog rock songs and large sections of the metal tracks are prog. Check out Damnation... no death metal there and he shines on several tracks.
-Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree)- Awesome band and good solid bass work, rarely flashy but has a brilliant sense of the atmospherics of a piece; that gift of knowing when not to play (wish i had it!)
-Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta)- lets face it the songs are never gonna be easy to play in this band but he does them musically and with great skill (and speed.) Check out the drop D bass solo on 'The Day of the Baphomets' to see how good this guy is (it took me a long time to figure out how to play it!)
-Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)- aint been mentioned half as much as i'd expect. Nearly always simple and melodic, a brilliant lyricist and let's not forget he wrote 'Money'.
-Martin Mendez (Opeth)- maybe a death metal group usually but they often play prog rock songs and large sections of the metal tracks are prog. Check out Damnation... no death metal there and he shines on several tracks.
-Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree)- Awesome band and good solid bass work, rarely flashy but has a brilliant sense of the atmospherics of a piece; that gift of knowing when not to play (wish i had it!)
-Juan Alderete (The Mars Volta)- lets face it the songs are never gonna be easy to play in this band but he does them musically and with great skill (and speed.) Check out the drop D bass solo on 'The Day of the Baphomets' to see how good this guy is (it took me a long time to figure out how to play it!)
-Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)- aint been mentioned half as much as i'd expect. Nearly always simple and melodic, a brilliant lyricist and let's not forget he wrote 'Money'.
::::vomits::::
Uh, no. But neither did his solo record, nor his work with Phil Manzanera, Roxy Music, Uriah Heep, or even the second & third UK albums. It's like he blew his creative wad in Crimson and had nothing left to offer.
Watch Steve Howe play "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" if you want to see pure undisguised contempt!
Yeah, Howe seems a little petty when it comes to all things Rabin. They are both phenoms but with different styles. One thing about Howe that I hate is his tone. I think he has the worst tone of any guitarist I've heard. Rabin has him beat by miles on tone.
I really like Howe's tone and playing with the band Tomorrow, but any of his post-Tomorrow bands don't do anything for me.
(someone's homemade video to the tune of Tomorrow's "My White Bicycle")
I love the third UK album. Second one has some dull moments. I really like his work with Roxy, some cool stuff on Youtube. Haven't tried his solo albums, the one I heard was pretty weak.
Agreed, but UK & Roxy Music he did some nice work, but not monumental like in King Crimson.
I think that's true with many artists- they have a peak and can't do anything greater-
I just Can't accept John Entwistle & John Paul Jones as a prog rock bassist- innovative iconic rock bassist, but prog?
Not so sure you can label him that. I'm not so sure they would appreciate that!
it used to be a dirty word not too long ago, like Fusion or solo bass is now.
Not so sure you can label him that. I'm not so sure they would appreciate that!
it used to be a dirty word not too long ago, like Fusion or solo bass is now.
I think part of the problem is due to the fact that "Progressive Rock" has come to refer to a specific genre of music that is not necessarily progressive any longer. It's a style, an emulation of how music was played 30 years ago. Or, it bears no resemblance to classic "prog rock": I've heard lots of folks refer to Radiohead as "Progressive Rock" ...yet they sound nothing like Genesis circa The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.
And then how do you differentiate that gray area between Prog Rock and Fusion? What do you call Percy Jones or Hansford Rowe?
The words have lost all meaning. I think JPJ & JE qualify as progressive bassists who played rock, but very little of the music they played strikes me as "Progressive Rock".
