Underappreciated Bassists in famous bands

[buldog5151bass]

Who surprises you when you listen to a tune? Three come to my mind:

Leon Wilkeson - Lynyrd Skynyrd. Listen to Sweet Home Alabama, Gime Three Steps, and Freebird. Stop the gag reflex and really listen to the bass parts. I'll bet 90% of the bassists here miss a LOT from these melodic bass lines.

Garry Tallent - Bruce Springsteen. I disliked Bruce when I was young, but a few years ago I had to learn a few of his hits. These parts are also very melodic, and the entire band was made up of great musicians.

Michael Anthony - Van Halen. This has been discussed here before. His work after leaving the band shows he is capable of a lot more than pounding roots.

 

[Stumbo]

Peter Cetera with Terry Kath in Chicago. Listen with Good headphones.

 

[Radio]

Kenny Gradney, Little Feat

 

[Groove Doctor]

Most bass players are massively under appreciated in any band.

 

[el jeffe bass]

Boz Burrell of Bad Co.

 

[Old Blastard]

Phil "Fang" Volk of early Paul Revere and the Raiders. His bass parts were tied to the guitar licks and often led the song, he played his own instrument on recordings, had classical training and he performed crazy choreography while playing.

Amazing.

 

[mellowinman]

Who surprises you when you listen to a tune? Three come to my mind:

Leon Wilkeson - Lynyrd Skynyrd. Listen to Sweet Home Alabama, Gime Three Steps, and Freebird. Stop the gag reflex and really listen to the bass parts. I'll bet 90% of the bassists here miss a LOT from these melodic bass lines.

Garry Tallent - Bruce Springsteen. I disliked Bruce when I was young, but a few years ago I had to learn a few of his hits. These parts are also very melodic, and the entire band was made up of great musicians.

Michael Anthony - Van Halen. This has been discussed here before. His work after leaving the band shows he is capable of a lot more than pounding roots.

Bass on Gimme Three Steps and Freebird was played by Ed King.

 

[oren]

I don't know if he's under appreciated, but this weekend I've been learning Rocco Prestia's lines on Squib Cakes, and man - he gets all those 16th note syncopations in just the right places. It's amazing how he can be so busy and completely supportive at the same time.

Also, Paul Jackson with the Headhunters!

 

[Goatrope]

Mike Mills REM.

 

[Helix]

Bob Daisley from Ozzy Osbourne

 

[AcadianBassman]

Stu Cook - CCR Classic, what more can I say?
Pete Agnew - Nazareth Great player, good lines
Cliff Williams - AC/DC Say what you will, he's as solid as a rock.
Dennis Dunaway - Some pretty cool stuff on the old Aice Cooper albums.
These guys always come to mind when I think of under-appreciated bassists. Everyone out there has their talents.

 

[Mo cowbell]

Bob Daisley from Ozzy Osbourne

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Yes.

 

[Spectrum]

Collin Greenwood of Radiohead.

 

[Droopy_TX]

Counting Crows' original bassist, Matt Malley.
Especially the album "Recovering the Satellites".

 

[obimark]

Most bass players are massively under appreciated in any band.

This. Practically all of them unless they are alsi the frontmen like Sting and Macca.

 

[LowActionHero]

Cliff Williams - AC/DC Say what you will, he's as solid as a rock..

Yes! More than once I've been asked if i get bored playing the couple AC/DC covers we do. I tell em nope! Yeah, I can concentrate less on notes, but it's a chance to try to absolutely NAIL the timing. And stay up on my pick practice. Plus, I tend to embellish a tad...

 

[Aqualung60]

Dave Pegg of Fairport Convention and Jethro Tull.

 

[jamro217]

George McArdle - The Little River Band
Robert "Kool" Bell - Kool And The Gang
Rob Grill - The Grass Roots

 

[Relsom]

Stu Cook - CCR Classic, what more can I say?
Pete Agnew - Nazareth Great player, good lines
Cliff Williams - AC/DC Say what you will, he's as solid as a rock.
Dennis Dunaway - Some pretty cool stuff on the old Aice Cooper albums.
These guys always come to mind when I think of under-appreciated bassists. Everyone out there has their talents.

Been a big fan of Dennis Dunaway for decades. "Killer".

 

[Tom Baker]

per GrooveDocter...."Most bass players are massively under appreciated in any band."

Bob Daisley from Ozzy Osbourne

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A perfect example of a true statement.