We don’t always pay much attention to them, hidden away at the back of the stage next to the drummer, but without the deep foundation they lay down under the band’s feet, everything would collapse. As a tribute to this very special creature without whom rock would be all treble, Woodbrass brings you our completely subjective ranking of the 10 greatest bassists in the History of Rock.
John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
Not easy to stand out when your bandmates are Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Bonham. Yet John Paul Jones brought a depth the greatest heavy metal band would never have had without him. Listen to his sense of economy on Dazed And Confused or his virtuosity on The Song Remains The Same… But that’s not all: he’s also the organist on Since I’ve Been Loving You, the mandolin player on Going to California, the author of the Black Dog riff, and finally the bassist for Them Crooked Vultures alongside Dave Grohl and Josh Homme. Not bad, right?
Gear: Fender Jazz Bass, Acoustic
Jack Bruce (Cream)
Jack Bruce already had a solid reputation as a bass virtuoso by the time he joined Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker in Cream, the 60s trio where he showcased both his distinctive vocal tone and his complex, inventive playing. He later formed the trio West, Bruce and Laing, and collaborated with numerous musicians including Robin Trower, all while continuing to develop his style. Starting from the blues and gradually weaving in jazz, he became an adept of the fretless bass, which he played with remarkable taste.
Gear: Fender Bass VI, Gibson EB-3, Marshall
Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
Since 1969, the man with the mustache and precision has been the cornerstone of Black Sabbath’s sound. The English band would never have had such a thick, dark, and hypnotic sound without his unique tone. His lines are the kind you don’t always hear right away, but they intricately weave around to magnify the power of the guitar riffs. Among the rare moments he took the spotlight, the opening solo of N.I.B. remains a legendary moment that influenced countless bassists, starting with Cliff Burton.
Gear: Lakland, Fender Precision Bass, Hartke
Geddy Lee (Rush)
The Canadian progressive rock band Rush may be a trio, but bringing in Geddy Lee counts as three: this bespectacled genius handles vocals, foot-operated keyboards, and twisted, elastic, and fascinating bass lines. Just one listen to YYZ is enough to convince you that very few musicians can compete with him. Technically, he’s unbeatable, and the fat, mid-boosted tone he’s honed since the band’s early days has left a permanent mark on bassists of the genre.
Gear: Rickenbacker, Fender Jazz Bass, Orange
Les Claypool (Primus)
Another singing bassist, but this one does things his own way… He sings like a duck and plays slap or tapping on a fretless bass. On paper, the mix sounds absurd, but the crazy thing is it works brilliantly: just listen to Jerry Was A Race Car Driver and its unbelievable riff for proof. Primus carved out a unique sound in the metal universe, much of it resting on Claypool’s power. He can also shine on upright bass, like on Mr Krinkle, and has explored fascinating side projects such as Oysterhead and Frog Brigade.
Gear: Carl Thompson, Fender Jazz Bass, Ampeg
Cliff Burton (Metallica)
Metallica is now such a colossal band that it’s hard to imagine their early days, struggling to get their speed metal across to the world. Cliff Burton on bass was not the most obvious choice: this wild-haired hippie was a fan of jazz, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Thin Lizzy. But those unusual tastes were precisely what allowed him to bring an extra layer of sophistication to the band’s music, and his solo Pulling Teeth on their debut album is unlike anything else in the genre. Had he not died in a tour bus accident at just 24, Metallica’s musical journey might have taken a very different path.
Gear: Rickenbacker, Mesa Boogie
Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
To this day, very few bassists can match the speed of Steve Harris’ right hand. The galloping rhythm of tracks like Run To The Hills is already extremely hard to play with a pick, but when you realize Harris plays exclusively with his fingers, you start to wonder if his hands are even human. Yet he can also handle the gentler moments of Iron Maiden’s heavy metal monster, like the gorgeous arpeggios of Rime Of The Ancient Mariner. A true original—powerful and complete.
Gear: Fender Precision Bass, Trace Elliott
John Entwistle (The Who)
How many music lovers first realized the bass even existed when hearing the solo in My Generation on The Who’s debut album? His nickname “Thunderfingers” was more than well-earned, and the sight of his giant hands wrapped around a bass now belongs to the great moments in rock history. As a singer and songwriter, he shone brightly on the concept album Quadrophenia, which was largely his work, and The Who has never sounded the same since his passing.
Gear: Fender Precision Bass, Ashdown
Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
It took the genius of Michael Balzary, aka Flea, to blend jazz sophistication, punk urgency, and funk groove. Starting out on trumpet, he became the backbone of the Californian band Red Hot Chili Peppers, where he delivered legendary bass lines across styles as varied as slap (Aeroplane), groove (Give It Away), and a more melodic approach (Around The World). Guitarists came and went, but Flea has been the foundation since 1984 in what has become the ultimate pop band. And if that wasn’t enough, he also acted in the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski…
Gear: Fender Jazz Bass, Gallien-Krueger
Paul McCartney (do you really need us to tell you?)
Before Macca, bass was a dull world where the keeper of the low end just played the root note at the right time and that was it. Then this genius musician grabbed his Höfner 500/1, a pick, and revolutionized everything with his brilliantly crafted melodic lines, without which the greatest band of all time’s songs would make little sense. Revisit All My Loving, Come Together, or the totally avant-garde fuzz bass on Think For Yourself, and you might almost forget McCartney’s staggering talent as a singer, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter…
Gear: Hofner, Vox
