When it comes to bassists, they are the backbones of every song; they are why singers and bands survive the ever-changing music industry dynamics. There are several types of bass players, from hard rockers to blues bassists to the genre-crossing masters of four strings top bass players in rock. This list has not included all the bass players; however, it has some of the most sorted-out players in the industry.
- Les Claypool
Claypool is considered one of the best bass players of all time; according to him, he started his career after watching Geddy Lee perform, “When I saw my first Rush concert, I spent the whole-time watching Geddy’s hands; there were so many things I didn’t know; I didn’t even know there were such things as round wound strings. I’d had that Memphis a year and a half without changing the strings, and here I was trying to sound like Geddy Lee and Chris Squire.”
Now he had his signature slap bass and funky sound that helped his band Primus popularity and supergroup Oyster head, which he founded in the year 2000 alongside Phish frontman Tren Anastasio and Police drummer Stewart Copeland.
- Geddy Lee
A singer, keyboardist, and drummer, Giddy Lee is the name. He is the inspiration of every new bassist player. He has vast creative command over his skills to the point that he not only managed the songs’ bass but also used to play other instruments and sing the songs of his bands.
Few musicians can manage this triple threat when making music, but Lee overcame it. Though his band Rush has always tried to ease his load, the fans were against having a fourth member in the group Rush. That is why Lee had to manage everything alongside playing bass pedals. His talent is why the Rush band is still active and performs their 1980 LP Moving Pictures on a world tour.
- John Francis Sharkey
John is the band Circus of Power bassist and was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Ray Sharkey Sr. and Adis Chavez gave birth to John in Brooklyn, New York. He went to Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School and Fort Hamilton. He started into music right after graduating because of his bass ability, which has gained him recognition ever since.
Circus of Power was founded in 1985 and quickly gained popularity owing to its distinctive music. Unfortunately, they split in 1995, which disappointed their fans. Even then, no one could stop them from listening to and hooking up to the band’s old songs, which they thoroughly appreciated. Fortunately, they reconnected in 2014. They have released four studio albums and three EPs since beginning their musical career.
- Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney is a brilliant songwriter and singer of the Beatles, but many don’t know he is a stunning bass player. It’s a bitter reality that his bass-playing abilities are often overlooked.
However, his talent makes Beatles songs such a big hit. The deep melodies and flawless bass parts are why Beatle’s music is so evergreen. However, the role of the bassist didn’t originally come to him but was given to him after original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe left the group. Though he was a little lost, he soon mastered the bass instruments and proved accomplishment at guitar and drums – as Ringo Starr quit while making The White Album. That is when Paul took his place and managed everything.
- Flea
Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea was initially inspired by bassists in the early 1980s Los Angeles punk scene, but when he got into Bootsy Collins in the mid-Eighties and tried out his “slap” style, he found a signature sound. Over the years, he’s adopted more of a melodic touch, but he frequently funks it up like the Flea of old. In 2009 he joined forces with Thom Yorke in the supergroup Atoms for Peace, but he’s currently finishing up the next Red Hot Chili Peppers album and planning a world tour.
