Who would be your "Bass Pope"?

[TigerInATrance]

Even though I've been a huge Rush/Geddy Lee fan since the late 80's, I'd have to go with Tony Levin. His recording and live experience covers an incredibly broad range of music and instruments (4's, 5's, Warr's, Chapman Stick, etc…). And then there's his personal innovations which he's shared with the music community. For example, check out the behind-the-scenes story of the bass line for Peter Gabriel's "Big Time".

It's astonishing that it all comes from one person. So, if I had to choose a representative that would encompass the greatest range of "what one can do with a bass", and would respect the widest variety of music, I would choose the Good Mr. Levin, aka "Papa Bear".

Bah... It's got to be Geddy... I'll bet he's even still got the robes and ceremonial kimonos.

I could also be persuaded to vote for Bootsy, though, as I do believe that he's descended from the ethereal world to bring the Funk to all people so that the may bask in the righteous glory of all that's funky and funkumenical...

 

[Exploiter8]

Pope JimmyM?

 

[Malak the Mad]

Bah... It's got to be Geddy... I'll bet he's even still got the robes and ceremonial kimonos.

That would give a whole new look to the College of Cardinals…red, silky 70's-era kimonos as far as the eye could see.

 

[Rip Topaz]

Geezer. No question.

 

[mogpipe]

Sir Pope! I mean Sir Paul!
His Highness, Sir Pope Paul!

 

[zfunkman]

Bootsy!!!

+1

 

[unclebass]

Les Claypool - Pope
Lemmy Kilmister - Vice Pope

 

[jazz41]

Paul McCartney.....he can reach the masses

 

[BassNGuns]

Danny Partridge

 

[Fuzzbass]

John Deacon!

Excellent call, but even if he's a Cardinal Deacon he'd have to become Cardinal Bishop first, I think...

Obviously I'm not Catholic

 

[MegaSwing]

Bootsy was MADE for the job!

 

[precijazz]

Bootsy was MADE for the job!

Yes! Bootsy in full pope drag, with Bootsy glasses, hat & grin.

Habemus papam!

 

[Solarmist]

David Ellefson.

 

[Ethan Eriksen]

Jaco Pastorius?

 

[Awesome Sauce]

I'm a bass atheist; I don't believe in bass gods.

 

[punkjazzben]

My bass pope would have to be someone who's put in the years as a bass priest, was a popular and important bass bishop/archbishop, and was finally handpicked by a previous bass pope to be a bass cardinal. My bass pope also needs to speak to the people in their language (Italian/Victor Wooten groovespeak) and be fluent in Latin/sheetmusic.

This in mind, I call upon my friendly local bass cardinals to elect Pino Palladino as Pope P-Bass I. I predict a neo-soul theology, and as his views on this are infallible, I can also see a lot of laybassists following his word and picking up vintage (or vintage looking) Precision basses and strapping flats on them.

 

[superblues]

Dave Pomeroy

 

[IronLung1986]

Jaco Pastorius?

jaco is the bass jesus. he died so that we might live by his example.

 

[SherwoodGreen]

He's done enough so that only (1) conclave should be necessary...
Send up the White Smoke!

 

[MC1970]

You can choose anybody, but please give him a place far from Roma; we already have one ( well, not yet actually) and his election took me 1 1/2 hour more than usual to get home!!!!
;-)