Every other week or so I have the distinct honor of getting to play bass with the Life Pointe Church praise band located at the Flagship Cinemas movie theater on Campbell Drive, behind the Chili’s, next to the Florida Turnpike, across from the new Homestead Pavillion mall, down the street from the exciting new Baptist health South Florida / Homestead Hospital (phhew). Anyway… I switch of between that and guitar and the problem with the bass is that most folks really don’t pay attention to what the bass player is doing because it’s not an “out in front” instrument like a guitar, keyboard, or sax, but the importanace of a really good bass player can make or break the sound of a band. It’s like the bridge between the percussion and the rest of the band.
So I want to take time to honor some of those who I feel are the best and most influential.
My Top 5 Favorite Bass Players:
5. The Citizen Cane himself Phillip Johnson, he’s taken a little time to show me some stuff but has a lot more to teach me.
4. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys
2. Terry Brown of The Messengers
1. The OX- John Entwistle of The Who
Billy
July 25, 2008 at 5:13 pm
I just laughed out loud and almost fell out of my chair when I saw this. You cracked me up on that one. I don’t belong anywhere on your list, but I am still chuckling audibly.
Funny guy!
July 25, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Here’s my top 5 as of right now. Don’t hold me to it down the road.
1. Bill Finch from Life Pointe of course!
2. Brian Bromberg (this guy is sick on any form of bass he picks up, elctric, acoustic, picolo, upright)
3. Les Claypool of Primus. He is the fusion/punk/alternative/rock version of Hendrix on the bass. He creates progressions that don’t exist naturally!
4. Larry Graham from Sly and the Family Stone – He’s totally funky and cool!
5. The Flea Michaek Balzary from RHCP. He’s just a little flamboyant and wierd but he’s an awesome bassist.
For good measure, through Getty Lee from Rush in there. As far as musicians go, Rush was one of the most talented rock bands out there.
July 25, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Hey, Bill,
I’ve been telling Phil how good he is, but he just thinks I do that ’cause I’m his mom, so thanks for backing me up.
I really enjoy listening to good bass playing…
aj
July 25, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Anne I actually had for my #1 position “Me -Anne Johnson’s 2nd favorite bassist” but took it off.
July 25, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Yeah Les Claypool is amazing, but I expect he would tell you J E is probably one of his influences. I considered all the rest, Geddy Lee, etc… but Brian Wilson was pretty ahead of his time, and I’m a huge REM fan of the old stuff. Right now in my CD player REM Eponomys.
July 25, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Anne I agree with you 150% Phil is awasome bass player. He has more talent than people give him credit for.
July 26, 2008 at 9:35 am
There is no doubt that Wilson was way ahead of his time, and Entwistle was a pioneer, but there are always two routs you can go when you make a Greatest List of anything. You can go with influential/pioneer types (like Wilson and Entwistle), you can go with skills (like Bromberg, Lee, and Graham), you can go with innovator (Claypool), or you can go with notorious (The Flea). It’s like that in sports, when guys ask who was the greatest fighter of all times. It’s hard to compare guys that are not even in the same era, because the modern guys with modern techniques, physical training, etc would destroy the old guys. But who was the greatest? It’s all opinion.
July 26, 2008 at 11:56 am
Bill, maybe you should revise your list…it’s ok to put your name on it!
aj
July 26, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I believe I did say “honor some of those who I feel are the best and most influential.” The list is by no way complete because there are just too many, but are MY fave’s. So happens you and Terry are both one of them.
But since you mention it, I would also pick Phill Lynot (Thin Lizzy), Geddy Lee, Billy Sheehan (DLR),Bootsy Collins, Stanley Clark, Jack Bruce (Cream), Roger Waters, Sting, Chris Squire (Yes), John Paul Jones, Jennifer Finch (L7). The list goes on, but… just go get a good pair of head phones and put on Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, it’s pretty amazing what’s going on in the background. Or songs like Odfellows Local 151, or Driver 8 by REM, the bass work is pretty awsome.
Nope I’m sticking with my picks cuz it’s my opinion.
See ya tomorrow!!!!!