Simple-ish Bassists Who Kicked Ass!

[Mildew Jones]

Why? He's a fine bassist.

I'm just being a smartass, with all the MA talk around here lately. I think he's a more than fine bassist, others may disagree.

I don't remember him with SRV, but it could be.

Yeah, Jackie Newhouse did play with SRV before Tommy, Jackie was on that live disc that escapes my brain for the title right now.
MJ

 

[Hevy T]

Cliff Williams. Just drives the whole band and solid as a rock.

 

[jasper383]

I second John McVie.

Also, a guy who gets almost no notice here on Talk Bass is Stu Cook, bassist for CCR. Simple, root-based lines that are a primer on how to support a song.

 

[Muddslide]

Rick Danko

Absolutely.

I'll add Dennis Dunaway from the original Alice Cooper band and Glenn Cornick (RIP) from early Jethro Tull.

Flashy, million-notes-per-second playing doesn't necessarily impress or move me on any instrument, though I may admire the skill involved.

As others have said, it has to do with what the music and song convey, and the context.

Billy Sheehan is good at what he does, but his typical style would be out of place in an outlaw country band.

I love Dee Dee Ramone, but not a good fit for Miles Davis' electric jazz.

For the most part, to me, amazing technical skill and prowess in itself has never made crappy music any better and it's not really why I listen to most genres of music.

Knowing what to play (and not play) to serve the music best it a great skill itself.

 

[hobosong]

Duck Dunn, Paul McCartney

 

[hobosong]

Duck Dunn, Paul McCartney

Im pretty sure Carole Kaye belongs in that list, same with Sting

 

[TheCouchBassist]

John Deacon is my all time favorite. He's the reason I play a P-Bass Zeppelin II era John Paul Jones is my 1B (with Deacon being 1A).

 

[MCF]

I second John McVie.

Also, a guy who gets almost no notice here on Talk Bass is Stu Cook, bassist for CCR. Simple, root-based lines that are a primer on how to support a song.

Absolutely. I learned to play by playing along with Willie and the Poor Boys for hours on end. Great memorablebut simple lines.

 

[Muddslide]

Dave Riley from Big Black, David Wm. Sims of Jesus Lizard, Tracey Pew of Birthday Party, Will Heggie of early Cocteau Twins, Jon Archer from Hunters and Collectors, Les Pattinson of Echo & The Bunnymen, and Dave Allen from Gang of Four and Shriekback are all players who influenced me early on, though I love all kinds of music.

 

[xsnrg27]

One of the most underrated bassists Eric Avery Janes Addiction - the bass line on Three days made me want to start playing bass.

 

[hillerup]

And I nearly forgot Jim Lea of Slade...

 

[MCF]

Rick Danko

Loved Danko. After the Last Waltz, he did a solo tour of small clubs with Gary Busey (pre-accident.) Caught them at The Golden Bear. Those guys were totally wasted. Those if us lucky enough to be there were equally hammered. Danko still put on a fun show. Part of their act was to shake cans of bear and shower the audience. I smile remembering that show every time I hear Stage Freight.

 

[higain617]

Peter Hook

 

[Muddslide]

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers...

Simon Gallup of The Cure...

Peter Hook of The Joy Division & New Order...

Bruce Foxton of The Jam...

Lemmy of Mötorhead...

Can't argue with any of these at all. Nice choices. Burnel in particular deserves more credit.

Since you and I are kind of on a tear of punk, new wave, postpunk, I feel I should add Paul Gray who played with The Damned, among others.

 

[pcake]

didn't vote in the poll as i like all sorts of bass players and playing as long as they're right for the song. i also like insanely technical bass solos when they're well done.

 

[Obese Chess]

John McVie
Dusty Hill
Ian Hill

Dusty and Ian are great in their respective bands, but McVie is an underrated genius as far as I'm concerned.

 

[GreyBeard]

Jaco has always blown my mind.

 

[slamsinger]

Pino - Bernard Edwards (chic) - verdins white .... Any so many others can just groove and play the "RIGHT" notes ...

 

[seang15]

John Taylor, Sting, Tina Weymouth.

 

[StyleOverShow]

Just caught "The Last Waltz", The Band's farewell concert and was impressed with the groove that they established & maintained.

Agree with @Muddslide that Rick Danko was a simplish bassist that got the job done.

I really never liked the Band, too folk/country for my tastes, however they were great live, unpretentious, generous with praise, confident and so cool in a pre70's kinda way.

Harkens me back to another time before my mind and waist changed places.