Who started it all for you?

[Riverrunsred]

I'm gonna say Simon Gallup.

 

[Catbuster]

When I first heard YYZ's bass line, I knew I wanted to play bass...

Then I heard the dynamic bass line to Paradise City...

Later, when I first started to listen to RHCP, and the little bass part in Under The Bridge really did it for me. Needless to say, 5 hours later I had a J Bass and a practice amp and was teaching myself.

 

[Sav'nBass]

I'd have to say the two first basslines that really got myattention were the one from "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell & the Drells... and the Rare Earth "Get Ready" cover.. Thoe two lines in particular stand out in my mind as the soyunds that made me say "Wow.. I really like that sound.. it would be great to be able to do that at my leisure..." I know the bass player for Rare Earth was a guy named John Parrish.. but I have no idea who the studio musician was at the time for Atlantic Records .... of course there were other bassists.. most notably Jamerson , Graham and McCartney, but those two songs in particular really kind of tweaked my ear to bass...

 

[zachoff]

Frank Bello... Heard the bass part to Caught in a Mosh & wanted to play from that point on.

 

[derridiandrift]

Roger Waters. Then for the first year or two I went through JPJ, Chris Squire, and unknowingly, Jamerson through all of Motown's catalogue. I settled on McCartney for a long while. Probably have to say that the last two left the deepest imprint.

 

[fitani]

George Porter Jr.

That bass has gathered a whole lotta funk.

Jason Newsted from Metallica, since I was/still am a Metallica fan when I was 14, and school band practice

 

[edmidlifecrisis]

Jack Casady and McCartney did it for me first and foremost. Secondarily, but extremely influential were Entwistle, Squire, Jack Bruce, and JPJ. And whoever played for Santana in the early days....loved those sounds....they haunted me for years until I finally decided to play in my early fifties....

 

[TobyBrodel]

tom crease from Aussie punk band Frenzal Rhomb, they had a song called "punch in the
face" with a rad bass intro, I remember deciding my fate after one particular listen.

subliminally flea and (I'm ashamed to say it) mark hoppus were probably there too.

once I started playing it was matt freeman from rancid, but somewhere along the way I heard kind of blue and everything was different.

 

[Beginner Bass]

I still don't know what caused me to pick it up, much less who. I just know I never looked back.

 

[J0ttem]

Tom "Squarepusher" Jenkinson

 

[pica]

I can't really say there was ONE person who did it for me but I saw The Psychedelic Furs alot during my high school years and I thought Tim Butler looked really cool up on stage playing that bass with his dark wayfarer sunglasses on.

 

[rtav]

Geddy Lee - the intro to the Overture of 2112 was the first thing I learned to play - and was a great introduction to the world of fourths and fifths

 

[edot3021]

Kurt Cobain because everyone else at that time wanted to be him, so to start a band I took on the bass duties since I thought Les Claypool was cooler.

 

[BlackMagic]

Cliff Burton "Orion" just made me say "I have to play bass"

 

[vegas532]

Geddy did it...specifically "The Big Money". First time I heard that iconic line, I thought someone had whispered the meaning life into my ear. I've been influenced by many players in many styles, but that was the lightbulb moment!

 

[EatADeadGoat]

Cliff Burton, Ryan Martinie, and Steve Harris really got it all started for me.

 

[edmidlifecrisis]

George Porter Jr.

Hey, I just found out he's teaching a weekend workshop at Fur Peace Ranch next year!!!!Way cool!!!

 

[bigou]

Playing guitars for 25 years I forget how John Wetton influence my choice to play bass when I was 14-15. I'm now playing bass and sing full time in my band.

 

[MyWifeBoris]

Link Removed

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[JoeVictim]

My punk rock uncle Daniel Cherry. He said hey, listen to this. He gave me some cassettes that included a Sex Pistol's Live album, Circle Jerks (the one with the song about having the clap), Naked Raygun, and Exploited. He also gave me my first bass (which was his old bass, Audition was the brand) and amp, that unfortunately was stolen. If it wasn't for him, I probably would have never picked up an instrument. I also haven't spoke to him in 10 years. He dropped off the map and I haven't been able to locate him. He was living in Clearwater, Florida. Big ups to Uncle Dano , wherever you are.