Below, in no particular order, we’re going through bassists that excelled way beyond their rhythm section duties and become icons right alongside the flashy frontman or enigmatic drummers of their bands. To read the full article click here (Americansongwriter)
Jack Bruce – Cream
Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker often get the brunt of the attention when it comes to Cream, but it was Jack Bruce’s bass riffs that gave the group enough power to round out the power trio. While Clapton was moving wildly up and down the fretboard and Baker was undergoing jazzy exploration on the drums, Bruce was grounding the band with heavy bass lines that kept things on track.
Paul McCartney – The Beatles
Paul McCartney gets so much attention (and rightfully so) for his songwriting in The Beatles, that his prowess on the bass can often be overlooked. But if you listen to any Beatles record, you’ll be hard-pressed to dismiss the melodic bass parts McCartney was delivering.
He took on the role somewhat reluctantly after the band’s original bassist, Stuart Sutcliffe, left the group and no one was quick to raise their hand. Despite any reservations, he quickly mastered it adding yet another instrument to his repertoire.
Tina Weymouth – The Talking Heads
The Talking Heads’ breakthrough single “Psycho Killer” sets an ominous mood before frontman David Byrne even gets to the lyric. It’s Tina Weymouth’s haunting bass line that first introduced one of the most experimental and influential rock bands in history.
John Entwistle was trained on the piano and French horn before he found his way to the bass. He played it like a lead instrument, often matching Pete Townshend’s guitar playing in intensity. His solo on “My Generation” is arguably one of the most iconic bass solos in all of rock history. Though The Who carried on in his absence after his death in 2002, the lack of Entwistle’s contribution is felt.
John Paul Jones – Led Zeppelin
Before John Paul Jones even joined the ranks of Led Zeppelin he was garnering a reputation as one of the best session bassists in England. He played on tracks by Jeff Beck, Cat Stevens, and many other staples of the era.
When he formed Zeppelin with frontman Robert Plant, drummer John Bonham, and guitarist Jimmy Page, they went on to be one of the most powerful rock outfits in history. Though Jones often stuck to the background (like many a bassist had) he was undoubtedly the backbone of their sound.
While many bass players are often the reserved, quiet ones of the group, Flea takes that stereotype, runs it over, and keeps on trekking.
