underated overrated bassists

[bluesbass99]

Most underrated bassist has to be Reggie Scanlan, ex-Radiators and now the New Orleans Suspects. Great bassist who is superb on electric and upright.

 

[stratovani]

Underrated - Andy Rourke (The Smiths), John Lodge (The Moody Blues), James Dewar (Robin Trower), Mike Rutherford (Genesis), Carl Radle (Derek and the Dominos).

Overrated - William Murderface

 

[fleabee]

Underated: The original bassist for Jamiroquai, Stuart Zender.

+1

 

[OPBASSMAN1994]

another "over/under-rated" thread???

 

[lordziros]

cliff williams(ac/dc) mike dirnt(green day) are both terribly underrated

 

[Crazy_Jake]

Flea overrated? His bank balance would suggest otherwise.

The size of the bank balance has little connection to a musicians overall skill level - thier popularity? yes - but skill level no need examples - think Nickleback.....

 

[Freez]

Dennis Dunaway, from the original Alice Cooper Band, is awesome, and nobody ever talks about him. Hugely under rated. Jim Creegan, from Barenaked Ladies is amazing, you don't hear his name much. I have trouble calling any bass player "over rated"; because other bass players are the only folks who care enough to rate us in the first place!

 

[ripman3]

i thought this thread was about the most underrated bassists who people believe are overrated.

Either way, flea.

 

[Bernin]

I agree that Jaco is overrated, and yes, I have listened and listened trying to hear what the legend is all about...no doubt an excellent player, but his status as a "bass god" is lost on me.

No Voodoo doll punishments please...it's just my opinion.

Underrated: I've mentioned him several times, but few probably even know who he is. Felipe Andreoli of the band ANGRA is an absolutely amazing bassist. He has blistering chops and the good taste not to over-play.

HUGE +1 on Andreoli

 

[HolmeBass]

Man, I just don't understand some of you guys... Flea and Jaco underrated? Puh-LEEZ!! Both those guys revolutionized bass playing... not so much FLEA, but the guy is pretty damn good!

Overrated: Michael Anthony. THAT'S overrated. ...and Gene Simmons, but he's more of a showman/businessman who happens to play bass.

Underrated: Graham Maby & Bruce Thomas ...and have a soft spot for Mike Dirnt.

I'm with you on most of this- Flea, Jaco, Graham, and Bruce are all great players.

A few weeks ago I may not have commented on Micheal Anthony, I would have known that VH, especially the older stuff, swings in a major way and that wouldn't happen if MA wasn't happening. BUT- our drummer brought some obscure VH demo material out on which MA is *really* getting his ya-yas out, and the man can flat out play. He really took many for the team on the released albums (really looking at the first 4 classic epic releases) in that his parts got dumbed way down, probably by the producer who wanted to, perhaps rightly so, place more focus on Eddie's great rhythm guitar parts. But realize this- no band swings/rocks as hard and with the swagger they did on those first 4 releases without a great bass player. And if you ever get a chance to hear the VH demos, do so and prepare to hear a Michael Anthony who obviously cut his teeth on John Paul Jones and Chris Squire. In fact, there are some cuts of the boys covering Led Zepplin, and they all killed it. Major standout? David Lee Roth sounding a heckuva lot like Robert Plant.

 

[HeadyVan Halen]

Marshall Grant is underrated!

And i am going to get flamed but Jaco is overrated.

Yeah, he was awful.
The way you play the root-5th is way more better.

That's like saying Henry Ford was dumb becuase the Model-T is no match for the new Z06 Corvette.
Everyone else was addin' and subtracting while Jaco was doing Trig.

Open your eyes.

 

[loopmantra]

jaco overratted? dude.....lol
portrait of tracy,come on come over,three views of a secret....among others.when you learn to play bass like that...no....w8...when you COME UP with a line like that,let me know.
and btw and fyi jaco REINVENTED the roll of a fretless bass,and jazz bass in jazz music.
i think he is the first bassist of the modern era you are not bored with..
and for the youtube clips....well,you must have seen some of his <last days> when he was waisted and high as a kite...ffs have you even HEARD word of mouth? or heavy weather? or even his birthday concert(1 year prior to his demise)? dont bitchmouth him without a proper reason please....and NO he is not just a soloist,you should listen to,say, opus pocus,punkjazz,reza(this one in particular) and see for yourself...

 

[Tampabass]

These threads tend to bring out loads of ignorant comments about Jaco by those who are either too young to get it, or are merely incredibly uninformed about his playing, his compositions, and his undeniably huge impact on the art of bass playing. Sad.

 

[loopmantra]

sad indeed.haha jaco overratted.....man.....i remember when i was giving bass lessons to this guy...and i played him the portrait of tracy....he was like...oh ok...bass and a keyboard.
it took me 2 F##KING HOURS to explain him it s just the bass,and nothing else...\lol/
jaco overratted....
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobbbbb !!!!!!!!!

go listen to steve harris and his a-minor-riding-the-e-string-over and over again...

 

[bradjonesbass]

Thank you. When i came to talkbass i didnt know who jaco was! And after doing some youtubing i seen very little of him doing anything other than soloing. But i will look at weather report!

While you're at it, Joni Mitchell's Shadow and Light - incredible band all around and a solo artist who wasn't afraid to let them show it... He also played with Sam and Dave... He became famous as a soloist, but he earned that right as an ensemble player, just like all the greats soloists on every other instrument. As for overrated/underrated... Most famous pop/rock band's bass players are overrated.... And that doesn't mean I think less of them, just that our society tends to place too high a value on fame...

 

[loopmantra]

i m not sure if you are aware of this,but jaco actually wrote ALL arangments on his first 2 albums,including the strings and drums.and,he was a good drum player as well.
so once again
when you come up with those kind of basslines,let me know.
otherwise
root - 5th for you

 

[indigobass]

But i will look at weather report!

As others have said, pick up Heavy Weather ASAP. Not just to hear Jaco in a way you may not have before, but it is just a wonderful album. Zawinul, Shorter, Jaco, Acuna, Badrena = Magic! Dang it, I'm going to go listen to it myself now.

 

[Muttleybass]

I'm with you on most of this- Flea, Jaco, Graham, and Bruce are all great players.

A few weeks ago I may not have commented on Micheal Anthony, I would have known that VH, especially the older stuff, swings in a major way and that wouldn't happen if MA wasn't happening. BUT- our drummer brought some obscure VH demo material out on which MA is *really* getting his ya-yas out, and the man can flat out play.

I will promise to keep an open mind, should I ever see that demo stuff. I've seen VH twice back in the 80's. His idea of kicking the snot out of his bass and calling it a solo annoyed the crap out of me.

+1 for Dennis Dunaway being underrated. First bass solo I ever saw that blew my mind.

 

[aidanmay]

Overrated: Geddy Lee (I know he's technically a god but musically his bass lines are too show-offy IMO, and his tone lacks enough bottom end for me. I know heaps of people are gonna disagree but yeah...)
Underrated: Kevin Parker from Tame Impala (he plays all the instruments on Innerspeaker and even though he's a guitarist playing bass he does a really good job.)

 

[lfmn16]

Flea overrated? His bank balance would suggest otherwise.

Three's Company was the most successful comedy show for years, but that didn't make it any good.

by the way, I like Flea, but success does not equal quality.