Which Bassist "Made" a Band?

[Ellery]

Me!

 

[socialleper]

I called Harris in post #15

Oops. I missed it.

 

[MNAirHead]

there'd be no Level42 without Mark King

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Robert De Leo. Although Stone Temple Pilots is an incredibly talented band, Robert shines in ALL of their songs... especially albums following their debut, "Core". He adds an element of melody to their songs that make them truly unique. One of the best bass players I have ever heard. Take a listen... I think you'll agree.

 

[byronic_zero]

The dude from The Doors

Carol Kaye claims to have played bass on "Light My Fire," which I sincerely hope is true.

 

[troy mcclure]

Rush, Iron Madden, The Beatles, The Who, Less than Jake, Rancid, Chili Peppers, all Motown

 

[Yukimajo]

I could rattle of a list of my favourite bassists stating their value, but for an indispensable bassist I'd vote for Kyle Kyle in Bang Tango. His playing absolutely made the band sound different when he went so did their point of difference. Joe Leste's vocals were very run of the mill for the style and I can't even remember the guitarist's name.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Rush, Iron Madden, The Beatles, The Who, Less than Jake, Rancid, Chili Peppers, all Motown

Excellent point on Motown!

 

[lfmn16]

Danny, without him the world would not be the same.View attachment 3275573

Danny Partridge is definitely the most under appreciated bassist of all time. Shaggy from Scooby Doo Rock Band is a close second, or maybe a tie with Valerie Brown from Josie and the Pussycats.

 

[hintz]

I don’t think he plays a bass solo, but I’ll fight anyone who claims Klaus Flouride wasn’t absolutely essential to the Dead Kennedys. I’ll probably lose, but I’ll fight them anyway. Klaus is/was the man.

Klaus is sooooo damn underrated! Monster player! Anyone that doubts this, you try playing "Winnebago Warrior"!! LOL

 

[RichardW]

All of them, for better or worse.

 

[BergerHead]

Most good bands.

I think they sound a lot better with Darryl Jones.

They don't, i just got me the 2. Hyde Park gig, not the same feel from Darryl Jones.

 

[Pings Bass]

I think they sound a lot better with Darryl Jones.

Darryl Jones is unquestionably a better musician than Wyman ever was, but the Stones' sound (IMO) was defined by its members' individual limitations and personalities. Keif and Ronnie together can barely string together 8 bars of lead guitar, but that's their sound. Charlie makes up for lack of flash by staying deep in the groove. Replace any of those guys with virtuoso players, and it's just not the Stones anymore. Mick's arguably the best musician in the band, and that's honestly not saying much.

 

[phodg]

Steve Harris
Lemmy

 

[mikeswals]

Carol Kaye claims to have played bass on "Light My Fire," which I sincerely hope is true.

Larry Knetchel is the guy that's listed for bass on Light My fire as well as other songs on that album. Robby Krieger is the only other listed playing bass on a couple songs.

 

[Revolver]

I think I'd put it this way.

Given enough time and practice, plus adequate rehearsal, any of us could get up onstage to play bass with RHCP and the audience would still think it sounded like RHCP.

You can't say the same thing about the singer. That goes for almost any band I can think of. Any instrumentalist is more replaceable than the lead singer, more interchangeable, no matter what band you're talking about. And, frankly, that goes double when you're talking about the rhythm section.

That's not to denigrate drummers and bassists; it's a function of their role within the band. A few of them do transcend that role, yes. But not many.

It's ironic that you write this, because in the case of the RHCP it would be much easier to replace the singer than the bass player, the drummer or the guitarist since he (the singer) is the least technical/unique of the bunch.You are pretty much taking for granted what an instrumentalist's technical and creative ingenuity brings to a band.

Yeah . . .that Van Halen dude is so easily replaceable, same goes for his brother Alex or that other drummer from that band called Led ... Zeppelin or something, you know the Bonham guy. Oh yeah, and those dudes that played with him, What are their names, again? Jimmy ... Jimmy Paige and John Paul Jones or something. Then there's this other guy called Chris Squire. And what about that Stewart Copeland dude from the Police? So "easily replaceable", right? And the list goes on and on and on and on . . .

 

[ThudThudThud]

I disagree... He wasn't even in the band at the beginning, I see him as a pawn in Malcolm McLaren's plans, nothing more. Not relevant as for the music, but not even relevant in conceiving anything about the band's style or message either.

A perfectly played pawn in McLaren's hands. Doesn't matter about his tenure length or timing.
Fewer would have been attracted to the Pistols without him. Sad.

 

[byronic_zero]

Larry Knetchel is the guy that's listed for bass on Light My fire as well as other songs on that album. Robby Krieger is the only other listed playing bass on a couple songs.

Yes, but one can still hope.

 

[Joma3]

Rachel Bolan...sure Skid Row was known for Bach, but Bolan was a primary songwriter. Incidentally, he probably also kept them from any relevance the last 20 years or so not allowing Bach's return.

 

[LordRyan]

Larry Knetchel is the guy that's listed for bass on Light My fire as well as other songs on that album. Robby Krieger is the only other listed playing bass on a couple songs.

I asked Robby about this when I played with him a couple years ago. He said it is definitely Larry Knechtel on "Light My Fire" and other songs from the first album which have Bass guitar. The one exception is "Soul Kitchen" which Robby himself played Bass on.