BMG's Top 20 Bass Players.. EVER!

[mikethecoug]

Title is meant to say BGM ;D

Bass guitar mag top 20

I think this list has been done badly in my personal opinion but i'd like to see what you guys think of it..

20- phil lynott (thin lizzy)
19- victor wooten
18- jack bruce (cream)
17- steve harris (iron maiden)
16- chris squire (yes)
15- cliff burton (metallica)
14- tony levin (peter gabriel)
13- stanley clarke
12- john entwistle (the who)
11- marcus miller
10- mark king (level 42)
9 - geddy lee (rush)
8 - billy sheehan
7 - john paul jones (led zeppelin)
6 - bootsy collins
5 - larry graham (sly and the family stone)
4 - james jamerson
3 - flea (rhcp)
2 - paul mccartney (beatles)
1 - jaco (weather report)

discuss!

[rh15951]

It perplexes me why Flea is on there.

[Shadius]

Why? He has a good distinctive style, and can deviate from it. He's a great bass player. He's a not a virtuoso style player, but why the hell do you have to be to be a great player?

[rh15951]

Top 20 bass players ever? And Flea is number 3. APRIL FOOLS.

[blizzard]

When they say top 20 its not just skill its also partly popularity..... I wouldn't put McCartney number 2 (and yes I do realise he was an inivator and what not) but yeah there are many great players who missed the list and some not so great who made it. There are a lot of solo players who are incredible but just not accessible to the general public (and even to bass players).

[d-mart]

Why? He has a good distinctive style, and can deviate from it. He's a great bass player. He's a not a virtuoso style player, but why the hell do you have to be to be a great player?

Still there is no way he would be 3rd.

These lists just cause arguement as its all down to personal preference, in my opinion that list is terrible but to someone else it could be perfect.

[Polyamarous]

OMG WHERE'S MARK HOPPUS AND MIKE DIRNT?!

Seriously, if they're going for 'popularity'.

[Akira]

Wow, until I saw Jaco I thought I was reading from first place to last place. I love Flea, and he has done a lot on the bass. But that doesn't make him the 3rd best bassist ever. And I have absolutely no idea how Sheehan outranked Wooten, Clarke, and Lee. I mean he can play fast, but what has he honestly done for the instrument? So he took shredding and applied it to the bass. I my mind it is totally asinine to put him ahead of Wooten and Clarke, especiall since they can play fast too.

[HaVIC5]

LOL at Flea outranking James Jameson.

Seriously, I know no list is perfect, but this is pretty ridiculous.

[the101er]

I disregard it as anything, seeing as both Cliff Burton and Steve Harris got in and Claypool or Baudin didn't

[HaVIC5]

^Cliff Burton and Steve Harris are both far more influential than Baudin. I guess the case for Claypool can be made, but serious, Baudin?

[the101er]

Yeah, Baudin is a bit far fetched. But still, Claypool...

[Left Shoe]

LOL at Flea outranking James Jameson.

Seriously, I know no list is perfect, but this is pretty ridiculous.
123.

[katana_manatee]

Polls are always rediculous, it is impossible to say who is the best or list them anyway, and what is the criteria? Also, where the hell is Michael Manring? It is just a shame that he isn't as well known as some other virtuoso bassists.

[Wannabebassplayer]

I prefer the list that is done in the same article, but it is just a little side thing titles "Funk bassists top 20" or something. I agree with the list much more. MiketheCoug, could you post that list please? I dont have the actual magazine, but remember reading through it when I saw it in Borders. I remember that Claypool was on there :cool:

[SixnStones]

If you switched Sheehan and Wooten, i would completely agree with that list. How is Jamerson 'better' than flea? I love Flea's lines. I think a lot more people like Flea's basslines than like James Jamerson's.

[angry armadillo]

omg flea is in a pop band so he is not allowed on 'good players' lists

he is good and he has probably influnced more bass players than anyone else on that list. so its fairly justified for him to be where he is.

[SixnStones]

omg flea is in a pop band so he is not allowed on 'good players' lists

he is good and he has probably influnced more bass players than anyone else on that list. so its fairly justified for him to be where he is.

influence is true, but aside from that, people LIKE his basslines. end of story

[katana_manatee]

Great, now this is gonna turn into simply an arguement thread.

[FU.CKY.OU]

It was inevitable..

I think when people make these list, they need to specify what they mean by "Top" players...most influential, most technically skilled, most tasteful lines, ect..

[Spaceman Spiff]

These lists are always predictable and meaningless.

[ebe9]

I agree with the names in there but not the order.


Also, what did they base this list on?


Contribution to the bass?

Contribution to music?

Significance within a band?

[Pluperfect_Arson]

I agree with the names in there but not the order.

That's what I was going to say.

They could've added some other bassists as well, though.

[MuRd0K]

Claypool not being there amazed me.

I mean, yeah, I know they rank not only skill, but popularity, influence, style and all this ****. But why the hell isn't Claypool there? Most of the people know Primus, and pretty much ALL bassists know Primus and his lines. It's not like he uses techniques that are unknown to the public.

Bleh, it's an OK list, but (while I'm not that much of a fan of his) where the hell is Stu Hamm!? (And why the hell haven't you guys said anything!?)

[katana_manatee]

Yeah, I am surprised Hamm isn't on there too.

[will66]

seriously, no stuart Hamm, Paul McCartney number 2!!! WTF!!:confused: and like the guy above me said, no Claypool.......that is just plain ridiculous. That reason right there totally rules out that whole list in my opinion

[JodyLecompte]

I completely missed when it became cool to bitch anytime Paul or Flea got any credit at all.

[MuRd0K]

I don't disagree with Paul McCartney being on the list and being in a high place.

However, I do think that he is not the SECOND best bassist. I agree with Jaco, but someone like Les Claypool should've gotten the second place because of it's influence. Hell, even Geddy Lee could have tasted the second place.

[HELLonWHEELS]

As for contribution to a band I think Timmy C. deserves to be on this list a lot more than some of these other guys. I also think the list is a bit wack. Why don't you guys post your lists and eventually we can get something we can almost all agree on.

[whatdoyouknow]

umm..flea?

[rh15951]

I completely missed when it became cool to bitch anytime Paul or Flea got any credit at all.

Did you also miss when they were giving out opinions?

[Akira]

What annoys me about the list in concept is the fact that there are so many different reasons to call someone "best". I mean the list obviously was not made based on technical skill. To me it seems like a "most influential" list more than a "best" list. If it was "Most Influential" it would be much more accurate in my mind.

[MuRd0K]

As for contribution to a band I think Timmy C. deserves to be on this list a lot more than some of these other guys. I also think the list is a bit wack. Why don't you guys post your lists and eventually we can get something we can almost all agree on.

You know, I forgot about Timmy C. And you're right, his influence is greater than many bassists there (even if he well, doesn't suck, but is not that great)

[Duncster]

LMAO@That list!! man thats terrible. this thread doesnt deserve the time to use proper spleling or punctuation

[Aerodyne]

1 - Paul McCartney
2 - Geddy Lee
3 - John Entwistle
4 - Jack Bruce
5 - John Paul Jones
6 - James Jamerson
7 - Chris Squire
8 - Jaco
9 - Flea
10 - Juan Alderete

That's more along the lines of how I feel. These are mainly the players who have influenced me the most.

[Left Shoe]

he is good and he has probably influnced more bass players than anyone else on that list. so its fairly justified for him to be where he is.
are you kidding me? do you even know who james jamerson is?

[Jake=Suck]

are you kidding me? do you even know who james jamerson is?
123

[Aerodyne]

James Jamerson? He might have been dancing in the street. Some girl heard him through the grapevine. He said something about not hurrying love. But if you reach out, he'll be there.

[Esp Griffyn]

That list is a complete Farce.

Flea, number 3?!

[Left Shoe]

James Jamerson? He might have been dancing in the street. Some girl heard him through the grapevine. He said something about not hurrying love. But if you reach out, he'll be there.
where did our love go?

[will66]

now I don't know much about the beatles or paul mccartney's playing but if I recall some of their songs I don't think his bass lines were "that" good or even very influential. Can someone please tell me why, in their opinion, they think paul McCartney should be on the top 20 greatest bass players list?

[The JoZ]

Who the hell is Phil Lynott?

[Storm In A Teacup]

:-| I have to bomb BGM's headquarters now.

[Dyslexic Magician]

Yeah this list sucks.

And why isn't Flea # 1?

:p

[sr800bkBassist]

i'd be more shocked if someone ever made a list everyone agreed on.

[HELLonWHEELS]

i'd be more shocked if someone ever made a list everyone agreed on.
i think we can make a list we can agree on more than the one they have right now.

[sr800bkBassist]

now I don't know much about the beatles or paul mccartney's playing but if I recall some of their songs I don't think his bass lines were "that" good or even very influential. Can someone please tell me why, in their opinion, they think paul McCartney should be on the top 20 greatest bass players list?
when bass was mainly used as a supporting ground for rock bands, Paul brought it into the spotlight as a lead instrument. his early stuff was mostly rootnotes with fills, but after they started getting more experimental (after 1965 i think?) he started making it more of a lead instrument. most of his later songs didn't even feature guitar at all. just a driving bassline. like Penny Lane http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ8QydLxvQ8.

also he used the bass to write some of the most celebrated music of the 20th century. most virtuosos can't reach out to metalheads, punks, indie fans, psychedelic fans, parents, grandparents, teachers, classical fans, etc, all at once. Paul's music reached EVERYONE and touched billions, emotionally. he's arguabley (ARGUABLEY) done more for music than 99% of 20th century rock musicians.

he deserves every bit of credit he gets.

[Moon Flavor]

I only disagree with burton and Lynot. The order is completely messed up though. And I'd think Claypool would be on there, he's a cool dude.

[BassVirtuoso]

omg flea is in a pop band so he is not allowed on 'good players' lists

he is good and he has probably influnced more bass players than anyone else on that list. so its fairly justified for him to be where he is.

Yeah he influenced a ton of bassists



to use horrible slapping technique.

[Moon Flavor]

severe lack of Peter Hook in that list
...who?

[Wintermute]

We all know that no matter who was on that list, and in what order, they'd be the wrong people in the wrong order.

Goodnight, thread.