Most band lovers tend to overlook bassists' importance

 

RECENTLY WE HAD SOME FAMILY and friends from out of town come by the house. Among the many visitors was Ms. Pat's son, Matthew, who is in a band. (I know you don't know Ms. Pat or her son, but just follow me.)Well, being the huge music buff that I am, we started talking about music.

I shared my drummer list with him and, for the most part, he agreed with my choices. He then went on to say that bassists are actually the least promoted members of a band. I did see his point. Then, in my normal fashion, I began thinking about bassists. Here are the ones that I feel are the best of the best.

 

10. Tim Commerford - Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave. If Rage would just shut up with their political views and play, Commerford can be very passionate.

 

9. Paul Gray - Slipknot. I'm sort of a fan of Slipknot and his lines always pop out for me.

 

8. John Paul Jones - Led Zeppelin. In good company, enough said.

 

7. Rex Brown - Pantera. One of the best thrash metal bassists ever.

 

6. Cliff Burton - Metallica. The original bassist of Metallica and the best.

 

5. Guy Berryman - Coldplay. For me, Berryman is very unique with the fact that you will see him playing an upright bass and be really good with it.

 

4. Vince "Vinnie" Hornsby - Sevendust. I've been blessed to actually meet Hornsby, and his personality is just a great as his over-the-top showmanship on stage.

 

3. Paul McCartney - The Beatles and Wings. McCartney is a legend and a great musician.

 

2. Michael "Flea" Balzary - Red Hot Chili Peppers. Flea is a crazy, wild man that can play a mean bass.

 

1. Les Claypool - Primus, Oysterhead and Col. Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains. Claypool is best known for his work with Primus. He funky, creative style makes him No. 1 with me.

 

My close calls are D'Arcy Wretzky of The Smashing Pumpkins; Jason Newsted/Robert Trujillo, the two that I have termed the Ozzy/Metallica flip-floppers; Noel Redding of The Jimi Hendrix Experience; James Lomenzo of Megadeth/ Black Label Society; and Me'shell Ndegeocello.

 

I can't forget about a local bassist that I know - Randall Jacobs. (Hey, man, how's it going? Ha ha)

 

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080710/ENTERTAINMENT16/807100337

Yay, thats great. He is a very underated bassist. He is really good:D

 

But wheres Duff McKagan. Hes brilliant aswell.:(

Have we ever seen Guy playing an upright bass though? :thinking:

 

The only time I can think of is in the little video that is shown when VLV is played live.

What is a upright bass? Is it when puts his bass high or up? I have no idea.

I thought it was like a double bass. Something like this:

 

 

But maybe I'm wrong

No Offense To Guy but i don't think that his bass riffs are hard ! so i don't think that he should be in their while on the list are various Bass Players Like Michael "Flea" Balzary etc...

so the thing that coldplay is so popular doesn't mean that Guy should be in top 10 of greatest bassist ... its my opinion

and Itself the music of coldplay is easily playable and it is what makes it so good to listen.

But jonny's the one that plays that during the background vlv video

They both do. :idea2:

 

 

Really bad quality but nay mind :D

 

 

They both do. :idea2:

 

 

Really bad quality but nay mind :D

 

 

 

Are they not cello's?? I'm pretty sure you don't play a double bass with a bow.

 

 

Anyways on topic. Being a keen bass player myself I find that it's not really about the technicalities or the difficulty of the riffs, it's more important to pick the right line and notes to accompany the song or lead it if you want. I think Guy is pretty good at doing that and in many cases determines the whole rhythm of the song by himself in songs like GPASUYF, White Shadows, Low etc.

 

One thing about that list though, HOW can you not have John Deacon from Queen or Andy Rourke from The Smiths in it?? IMO they are 2 of the most underrated musicians of all time.

Are they not cello's?? I'm pretty sure you don't play a double bass with a bow.

 

You're probably right, I know nada. :lol:

Orchestral double bass is played with a bow. Most modern rock uses are finger plucked though.

johnny is on an upright bass and guy is on a cello in that picture.

You can play the bass with a bow.

(Im in an orchestra).

johnny is on an upright bass and guy is on a cello in that picture.

You can play the bass with a bow.

(Im in an orchestra).

 

Nice one thanks for clearing that up :)

I wish Guy's bass had been a bit louder on the new album. I know it's not usually the loudest instrument you can hear, but I think Guy gets totally lost on Viva amidst all the other noises that are going on.

well done Guy, I would have put Paul McCartney first.

I would have Flea on the no 1, he's the best bassist ever, I don't know most of those bassist and to be honest I've never considered guy such an amazing bass player, he plays great live just like the rest of coldplay but I don't see something on him that amazes me

I think what's important is that all these bass players have stand out songs...

 

With Guy, just think of songs like Sparks with the bass carrying the song for the most part, and in Shiver where the bass plays a harmony-like riff over top of Jonny's edgy guitar perfectly. And of course my favorite on the Pararchutes album, Everything's Not Lost. Absurdly catchy and awesome filler during the choruses and intervals.

 

But then on AROB, think of GPASUYF where without the bass line that main chord progression wouldn't be nearly as cool. And even though its quite simple, the chugging bass line in The Scientist brings another level of emotion to that second verse.

 

Don't even get me started with Fix You. Guy's greatest work. The bass line IS the song. That organ just brings the airy and emotional aspect of the song, the bass line is the true foundation. But don't forget that final chorus in Talk where he plays a nifty little riff at about 4:30 that, in my opinion, should have been played far more often during the song. And lastly on X&Y, that bass in Speed of Sound gets me every time. Try to pick out the bass part by ear during the verses. Guy plays everything so smoothly and accurately that it sounds like the bass was molded into the other instruments.

 

Notable mentions on Viva are Cemateries of London, the second part of 42, and of course my favorite song DAAHF. And I don't know if it counts, but the bass in LIT/Escapist, synth or not, is friggin' awesome. Such a great progression.

 

So clearly, with Guy its not a matter of creating the most ridiculous ground thumping face melting bass lines, its about fitting the song like a glove and being consistent. Even since the first album hes found a way to make the bass stand out without taking control of the songs or going astray from the foundation of the music. Guy isn't the most amazing bass player ever, but there's no bassist that helps complete the Coldplay sound better than him.

 

But thats true with all of those bass players in their respective bands, especially McCartney, who is in my opinion the best of all time. A genius of his craft and one of the greatest musicians of the century.

 

My only problem with this list is that they failed to mention The Ox...

 

Watch about half way through of this first video and see if you can pick out the bass line, then watch the second video where the bass line isolated from the rest of the music. Its insane. Also keep in mind that this bass line is nowhere near as simple as the album version of Baba. He was AMAZING live.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL4fVqlKWUw

Guy really shines on Violet Hill. That was the first song I really noticed him on

I almost think this is a mistake. Upright bass? Ive seen Colin Greenwood of Radiohead play upright bass numerous times, especially while they toured during their Amnesiac release, but never Guy. Is it possible he meant Colin? Seems like it'd make more sense...

I wish Guy's bass had been a bit louder on the new album. I know it's not usually the loudest instrument you can hear, but I think Guy gets totally lost on Viva amidst all the other noises that are going on.

 

I dont believe thats true, but I can see your point. Songs Violet Hill and Yes quite prominently feature Guy.

 

As for the other albums, I think Guy really has some potential to become more complex, like GPASUYF and Everythings Not Lost are good examples of Guy's bass abilities.

Hang on, hang on... is this only a list of living bass players? Because for some reason, I don't see John Entwistle on that list. I love Guy and his playing, but any list that doesn't put John Entwistle in the number one spot, or at least top three, isn't a credible list.

Actually I genuinely don't know what I was talking about, ignore me! Just had a closer listen to the bass on the album and it's not as bad as I was for some reason convincing myself; not bad as in Guy's ability, but the mixing of it etc. I think my ears may need cleaning! And yes, the bass in Violet Hill is incredibly amazing - I love watching Guy play that live; he really gets into it and does this thing with his hips and he's bopping his head. What a dude.

I've always loved how you can really hear Guy's base pretty clearly on most of their work. Not so much with this record, but overall I think he's great.

As for the rest of the list I'm just not fluent enough in the world of base in music to know how credible it it.

I agree on Les Claypool. The man owns ! But I missed Gail Ann Dorsey. She plays with David Bowie and I´ve seen her live and it´s totally amazing.

I almost think this is a mistake. Upright bass? Ive seen Colin Greenwood of Radiohead play upright bass numerous times, especially while they toured during their Amnesiac release, but never Guy. Is it possible he meant Colin? Seems like it'd make more sense...

 

It would. But if so, that would mean he'd have gotten coldplay and radiohead mixed up, which, in the rock world, can be a cardinal sin punishable by a gruesome death. Considering this guy claims to know a lot about music, it seems like a rare mistake to make. But I suppose it's possible.