I was having a discussion with a co-worker about punk rock. I listened to the stuff and played it in high school. Most of my basslines were straight roots, but I do recall some decent basslines for the Genre. One of the first songs I learned was Longview by Green Day. I remember Rancid/Op Ivy bassist being good. That guy from AFI was good in my opinion as well. Im just remminising. Any good (for the genre) bassists you know?
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Punk Bass
- Thread starter basstoven
- Start date
In the punk world, Matt Freeman from rancid/op ivy takes the cake. IMO he's the reason that I started playing.
The first bass lines I ever learned (back in high school before I even played bass) were Rancid riffs. I still think they are the best from the genre.
Ska has a few sweet bass lines strewn about the genre too...
Ska has a few sweet bass lines strewn about the genre too...
Bad Religion's Jay Bentley
Suicidal Tendancies/Infectious Grooves's--Robert Trujillo (one of me favs)
The Vandal's bassist too.
Suicidal Tendancies/Infectious Grooves's--Robert Trujillo (one of me favs)
The Vandal's bassist too.
i know you're likely talking about older punk rock, but give rise against a listen. if you're at all familiar with 88 fingers louie, same bassist. he is all over the place. tone is incredible to boot. one of my primary influences.
and as far as incredibly proficient bass goes, try any track for a wilhelm scream's "career suicide". brian robinson is a god.
and ska, try streetlight manifesto. pete likes to hang out in the back of a reaaaally complicated and dense mix, but with the right system, you hear how incredible he is.
and as far as incredibly proficient bass goes, try any track for a wilhelm scream's "career suicide". brian robinson is a god.
and ska, try streetlight manifesto. pete likes to hang out in the back of a reaaaally complicated and dense mix, but with the right system, you hear how incredible he is.
He is for me too! Satellite is one of my current favs, overall and bass wise.
Chris #2 from Anti-Flag has got some skills as well, especially in The Press Corpse.
The basslines in The Casualties' songs are also a lot more technical than you'd think, but maybe that's just my lack of experience talking.
What do you mean by "punk" bass players? I think Mike Watt's definition of a punk is spot on (someone who gets f@#ked in jail for cigarettes). Most of the original "punk" bassists just wanted to be in a rock band and were doing it because they wanted to play new meaningful music, where most of the bands mentioned in this post are like, "Hey, let's be all retro and play Punk rock and try to sound British even though we're from Cali"
Paul Simonon fits the bill 
old and British, dating from punk's hay days
(for the youngsters among us: check out the basslines of the Clash, especially 'The Guns of Brixton')
old and British, dating from punk's hay days (for the youngsters among us: check out the basslines of the Clash, especially 'The Guns of Brixton')
chris #2 isnt half bad. i dont love anti-flag as a whole (their whiny political banter drives me crazy and the songs get a little trite), but there are some real gems in there.
what i struggle to understand is how some punk bassists will write some ridiculous melody for one or two songs, and then be boring as hell for the rest of them. dirnt really tore it up on a few songs on dookie, but stayed consistently interesting for a couple years. somewhere in there i feel like he got lazy. joe principe CONSTANTLY runs circles around the pocket, and then you hear the guy that has ONE good line ever. say pete wentz on "dead on arrival". brilliant line. then never again. theres playing the part that fits the song, but most punk songs are about the same.
i guess even a blind squirrel finds a nut eventually?
Klaus Fluoride from the DK's was a fantastic player, who i personally think peaked with the track 'Ill in the head'. If anyone here can nail that song start to finish without dropping a note....
Jay Bentley also has a long tradition of good solid catchy bass lines, made all the more impressive by his superb backing vocal harmonies.
For me though, the number one 'punk' bassist has to be the mighty Rob Wright from NoMeansNo. Speed, dexterity, hooks, melody, power, precision....and all the while handling vocals. One of the best three pieces going.
Jay Bentley also has a long tradition of good solid catchy bass lines, made all the more impressive by his superb backing vocal harmonies.
For me though, the number one 'punk' bassist has to be the mighty Rob Wright from NoMeansNo. Speed, dexterity, hooks, melody, power, precision....and all the while handling vocals. One of the best three pieces going.
Old School: Paul Simonon, Mike Watt, Klaus Fluoride
New School: Matt Freeman (the reason I picked up bass as a youngster).
New School: Matt Freeman (the reason I picked up bass as a youngster).
It was either him or Hunter for AFI for me. Journey to the end of the East Bay was my first "solo" that I played live.
+7843
Conversation over, do not pass go, do not collect $200. Rob Wright rules the universe of punk bassosity.
Also in ska--- Steve foote from big d and the kids table. Mainly off of strictly rude, and fluent in stroll. He plays such deep in the pocket grooves.
