I can't say I disagree with any of the ten they list, though I might have ordered a couple differently.
MetalGuy71 Bukkake Tsunami
Number of posts : 25557 Age : 53
Subject: Re: Metalhammer Names World's Greatest Bassist. Thoughts? Fri Jan 30, 2015 11:11 am
Here's the list...
1. Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) 2. Cliff Burton (Metallica) 3. Geddy Lee (Rush) 4. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) 5. Les Claypool (Primus) 6. Paul Gray (Slipknot) 7. Jaco Pastorius (Weather Report) 8. John Myung (Dream Theater) 9. Justin Chancellor (Tool) 10. Lemmy (Motörhead)
I don't know who Jaco Pastorius is, or know enough about Paul Gray and Slipknot to judge, but the rest of the list seems pretty solid I guess. I mighta put Geezer at the top with 'Arry a close 2nd. The rest of them all seem pretty unique and have their own style.
_________________ I used to be with it, but then they changed what "it" was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too.
Jaco was the bass player for Weather Report in the 70s. He generally gets included on these kinds of lists to make the writer feel more well-rounded, "I'll look like I have more sophisticated tastes if I include a jazz musician on my list...even though I just found his name on Wikipedia and I've never heard a jazz album all the way through in my life."
Jaco was the bass player for Weather Report in the 70s. He generally gets included on these kinds of lists to make the writer feel more well-rounded, "I'll look like I have more sophisticated tastes if I include a jazz musician on my list...even though I just found his name on Wikipedia and I've never heard a jazz album all the way through in my life."
Point taken, although this list was supposedly assembled from a readers poll. So blame pompous blow-hard music fans this time, not the writers.
_________________ I used to be with it, but then they changed what "it" was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too.
Jaco was the bass player for Weather Report in the 70s. He generally gets included on these kinds of lists to make the writer feel more well-rounded, "I'll look like I have more sophisticated tastes if I include a jazz musician on my list...even though I just found his name on Wikipedia and I've never heard a jazz album all the way through in my life."
According to the article, this was the top ten as voted by Metal Hammer readers. In which case, it does seem a little odd that Pastorius is there - how many Metal Hammer readers would have even heard of him, let alone voted for him?
I don't know Slipknot that well but is Paul Grey a big part of their sound?
I think he got thrown in there because he's dead moreso than his ability. Any Slipknot fans care to disagree?
_________________ I used to be with it, but then they changed what "it" was. Now what I'm with isn't it, and what's it seems weird and scary to me, and it'll happen to you, too.
Not a big fan of Slipknot but I do listen to them from time to time. I do not remember hearing any bass on their albums that made me go "that is awesome". A solid player though.
Couldn't agree less with people on Cliff Burton. I don't know jack about bass playing but to argue that his influence on Metallica is overrated is laughable.
I'm surprised that Jah Wobble didn't make the list, he always gets included in best bass player lists despite the fact that he's been repeating the same bass line on everything he's played on since the '70s.
Most non-musicians don't even know what a bass sounds like. Sad too. Rock is so focused on guitarists that all the wonderful possibilities of the instrument go mostly unnoticed.
It also depends on what styles you listen to, really simple stuff like AC/DC or Judas Priest, the bass player could probably cut off his left arm and still be able to play most of their songs.
Most non-musicians don't even know what a bass sounds like. Sad too. Rock is so focused on guitarists that all the wonderful possibilities of the instrument go mostly unnoticed.
It also depends on what styles you listen to, really simple stuff like AC/DC or Judas Priest, the bass player could probably cut off his left arm and still be able to play most of their songs.
I guess that's more or less what I was getting at.
Unless you listen to prog or jazz I don't think you care who the bassist is as long as he's in key.
EDIT: BTW, I am a former musician; I played trumpet for 15 years and was actually in a competition jazz band in high school. So I do appreciate the bass. I guess I can't really distinguish a good bass player from a bad one in the genres I listen to most often.
_________________ "The cat is the most ruthless, most terrifying of animals." - Spock in the "Catspaw" episode of ToS Season 2.
Don't get me wrong about AC/DC and Judas Priest, there is an art to playing simply and in-the-pocket, those guys are great at it. But, if you're trying to get someone to appreciate the bass as an instrument those aren't the best choices.
I know you listen to some Rush, it should be fairly easy to hear what Geddy is up to. Put on the song "The Camera Eye" from Moving Pictures and then concentrate on what Geddy lays down underneath the guitar solo, just tune out Lifeson and focus on the bass.
Don't get me wrong about AC/DC and Judas Priest, there is an art to playing simply and in-the-pocket, those guys are great at it. But, if you're trying to get someone to appreciate the bass as an instrument those aren't the best choices.
I know you listen to some Rush, it should be fairly easy to hear what Geddy is up to. Put on the song "The Camera Eye" from Moving Pictures and then concentrate on what Geddy lays down underneath the guitar solo, just tune out Lifeson and focus on the bass.
One of my favorite songs for Geddy's bass is "The Enemy Within."
Subject: Metalhammer Names World's Greatest Bassist. Thoughts? 
Fri Jan 30, 2015 10:48 am
