I don’t mean to step on Scotty’s toes and post a poor man’s B List, but I’m in favor of everyone spending a little less time working for a living and a little more time making and arguing over frivolous lists on the world wide web. Who says we’re living in an escapist culture? To quote Dick Cheney, “That’s hogwash.”
About a year ago I posted my rankings of the Ten Greatest Singers That Played Bass on my other blog, but since then I’ve jiggered the order and found a more sizeable, knowledgeable audience in all of youse. So what follows is my current roster; but, remember, this isn’t necessarily which musician is the best bassist, it’s strictly a list of the best singers that happen to play the bass well:
10. Me’shell Ndegeocello
9. Michael Gordon (the “G” is silent)
8. Les Claypool
7. Geddy Lee
6. Brian Wilson
5. Roger Waters
4. Sting
3. Jack Bruce
2. Paul McCartney
1. Rick Danko
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Honorable mention: Danyell Morgan (Robert Randolph), Peter Cetera, moe.’s Rob Derhak, Phil Lynott, John Entwhistle, and of course, Phil Lesh (not really)
Who’d I leave out? How would you re-order them? Weigh in below with a brilliantly insightful and heartlessly condescending comment…
23 Responses
Phil Lynott would be higher on my list
Mike Mills provides killer backup vocals while playing bass for REM
Where is Gene Simmons?? just cause he’s buried in money and ta-tas doesn’t mean he should be overlooked.
But the first thing I’d do is change Paul McCartney to #1.
I’m not sure what’s being ranked, their vocals or their bass playing or some combination of the two, but yeah, I agree w/ JC, I don’t see how McCartney falls any further than 1. But, look who you’re dealing with, here.
Tia Carrere. Wayne’s World. End of thread.
Some glaring omissions, imo:
Tom Araya from Slayer
Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth (the “G” is hard)
Mark Sandman from Morphine
oh, and Derek Smalls should be on every list no matter WHAT it is 🙂
I’m with Chilly on this one. Seriously. End of thread.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh! You left out the real #1!
Kim Deal of Breeders and Pixies fame (and the Amps, but not so much fame there). Like Kerry King, I would have Mark Sandman on the list – and would put him at #1 were I not blinded by Kim Deal’s inexplicable charisma. That leaves McCartney at #3.
Good call on Kim Deal!!!
Jeff Tweedy played a mean bass while in Uncle Tupelo
“Makes No Difference” = Danko at #1
Lemmy Disapproves : http://www.imotorhead.com/
I would have to put phil lynott on the list as well as eddie spaghetti. special consideration should be given to mike watt–not much of a singer but one hell of a bass player.
Makeithappen77 is the only person I like.
As we all know that Les Claypool is a mond-boggling bass player, composer and so on…I’d have to say that he not really much of a singer (and I am a Primus, Oysterhead, etc. fan). Up there with all the others, he is by far the worst singer of the bunch. I’d have to put Entwistle up in the 10 in Claypool’s place. All of his songs ruled, most notably killer, 905 to open Who Are You.
Ride ’em, Ace Cowboy. Danko’s Number One forever, and you’re the king of the rodeo.
I cannot believe you don’t have Phil Lynott in your top 10. Not saying he’s the best, but far out dude, he was a true star and a fantastic singer/bass player/song writer. Rick Danko???? You’re an idiot.
This should be the list:
1 – Paul McCartney
2 – Sting (hate him, but yes he’s good)
3 – Phil Lynott
4 – Jack Bruce
5 – Roger Waters
6 – Lemmy
7 – Kim Gordon
8 – Geddy Lee (yes he’s good, but a nerd)
9 – Suzi Quatro
10 – John Entwistle (scrapes in as a part-time singer)
I’m not saying these are the greatest bass players or even the greatest singers on the planet, but they are truly the greatest icons of bass player singers.
End of story, end of discussion.
ps: Les Claypool has got to the THE worst bass player singer EVER. Primus is music for dickheads who think that you have to be super fiddly to be a musician. Wankers.
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde
John Doe of X
Eddie Spaghetti of the Supersuckers
Benjamin Orr from The Cars
again, just like the “singing drummers” page, a lot were left off here too. off the top of my head, doug pinnick (king’s x), tom araya (slayer), tony lewis (the outfield), kip winger (winger), dickie peterson (blue cheer), robert peckman (q), mark sandman (morphine), gene simmons (kiss), mark hoppus (blink-182)…i saw a live dvd of bryan adams in ireland where he played bass the whole show, and it was a trio, no less. i even saw sheryl crow at a festival where she played bass for at least half her set.
What, no Phil Lesh(couldn’t mention him without a snide remark could you) or Paul Jackson or (and this is appalling)
Rick Danko.
Sorry, I see Rick now.