Top 10 Greatest Rock Bassists Of All time

[TheEddster]

Paul Simonon? Dee Dee Ramone? Bill Wyman?!?

[intlkeyboards]

It's your list and I respect your choices. I do think David Gilmour is a better bassist than Rodger Waters, and I wouldn't include him on my top 10 list. I do enjoy his playing on the Syd Barrett solo albums.

[BBassGuy]

John Entwistle!!!

[88Eoghan]

Why does this video open with a Rush song yet Geddy Lee isn't til no. 4? Should have put little snippets for each number. Maybe in another list?

[LycosaMinecraftLMFAO]

Omg you think paul mccartney is better then flea -.-

[N8iveNik]

Billy Sheehan, Phil Neti, Les Claypoll. Drop Roger Waters off this list.

[MiruTankuSan]

wheres Les Claypool ?

[bassmanjoe]

Roger Waters is a genius but not a genius bassist.

[NigarKAlfa]

Cliff w r u ?? :(

[mikedude5555]

John Entwistle is the best.

[benisT1Uwant]

1 Jack Bruce 2. john entwistle No question about it

[catfrycat]

Cliff Burton? LES CLAYPOOL?????????? And how is Entwistle not #1????? OH yeah, and if Les was on the list, he would be #2

[Euroliite]

Jack Bruce? David Ellefson?

[godzuki444]

Nathan East?

[adamnew17]

James Jamerson? On a rock list? The guy is awesome but I thought he was more funk and motown as opposed to rock music.

[SkanderH]

I agree mostly with the list, except that I would replace Roger Waters, and the Guy from muse with Les Claypool and Billy Sheehan. Two honorable mentions (they never made it to the mainstream but are as bad ass as any of the guys on the list as far as bass goes) are Dave LaRue (session guy - played with Steve Morse and John Petrucci) and Sean Malone (Cynic and Gordian Knot).

P.S: John Myung is seriously overrated. He's fast, very technical, and very, very, very boring.

[teecuzbruh]

It's his list but the dude totally blows off Les Claypool?? That's questionable to say the least

[googhlehmaster]

Tony Levin and John Myung what's wrong with you? seriously...

[MatiRattlehead]

WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND JOHN MYUNG ??????????

[chicorules73]

What about Steve Harris?

[teecuzbruh]

Mike Watt !!!

[lovesthebass]

Not going to lie, out of all rock bassists, Chris Squire is pretty beastmode and should be considered one of the top few. I don't know about the rest of your list though. But, it is your list. As much as I love Pink Floyd and Waters' song writing abilities, he's a rather mediocre bass player, really. I guess you could score him really high on influence.

[2katielee]

sid vicious lol jk

[Dymethyltripnamine]

what about Justin Chancellor and Victor Wooten? but overall pretty nice

[lovesthebass]

@Dymethyltripnamine Wooten's not a rock bassist, although I'm sure he could be. He's usually considered a varied Jazz guy.

[sqwuade]

I'd vote #1 is Geddy or John Entwistle. Chris Squire's great too though.

[fmsdaman1]

At least he recognized Chris Squire. Nobody seems to remember him. . .

[22skid00]

It is obvious this list is someone's opinion.There are many that were left out.And some who don't deserve a place on this list.

[22skid00]

Geddy is #1!!

[cjf7991]

Roger Waters was average but an incredible all round musician .. Floyd on most tours used two Basssist .

[cjf7991]

John Entwistle, Steve Harris, Cliff Burton

[Pattonfrodo]

oh yeah and I forgot . Billy Sheehan and Will Lee!

[Pattonfrodo]

Steve Harris ? Les Claypool ? Cliff Burton ? Glenn Cornick ? VICTOR WOOTEN for Christ's sake! LOL where are they on this list?

[jhargis812]

I agree with MetalgearKS, and Flea should have been a hell of a lot higher on yuor list. Paul Mcartney only made the list because of The Beatles. Duff should have made the list also.

One Last Word about the BEST BASS PLAYER. VICTOR WOOTEN... NUFF SAID.

[Iconoclast444]

@jhargis812 "Paul Mcartney only made the list because of The Beatles."

No, Paul McCartney is a very talented bass player.

[Jaap95]

wheres Krist Novoselic? i would have loved to see mike dirnt too but i understand why you didnt chose him but come on, novoselic HAS to be there

[SlapshotD74]

How on Earth is Les Claypol not on here?

[cjf7991]

@SlapshotD74 lol Cause Les Claypool is not a Bass player He invented his own Instrument Hes so good

[snowboardguitarrist3]

Wait wait wait... flea is only 6th? You're sick and don't know music.

[wcarloswilliams]

lame you dont know shit about bass

[LimeGuy101]

I haven't watched the video yet, but so help me god if Steve Harris is not on it!

[Pattonfrodo]

@LimeGuy101 I know right? lol

[jake100xx]

Lemmy?

Krist Novoselic?

WHERE ARE THEY?

[brokenbones72]

Geddy should at least be #2 sport!

[amatelk956]

Stanley Clarke ?

[barryjust1]

I think this is the stupidest fuckin thing I've ever seen on youtube. Youre tellin me all these guys are better bass players than Les Claypool. Go get a sex change please. Totally ignorant list.

[olshitty]

VERY AWSOME BASS PLAYERS YET YOU CAN NOT MAKE A TOP TEN LIST HAS TO BE TOP 15 AT LEAST SO MANY GREAT BASSEST.A LOT WERE FORGOTTON HOW BOUT BILLY SHEEAN COULD ALSO MAKE AN SRGUMENT FOR LEMMY

[rmante06]

ah yes, cant forget about Steve Harris of Iron Maiden

[chia412]

what about phil lynott?

[rmante06]

there are many great "rock" bassist, however, two that were not mentioned.....Pete Way of UFO and Billy Sheehan of Talas

[MetalGearKS]

Where the hell is Cliff Burton?

[berrypossum]

you must really like Chris Squire. A lotta cats you left out that are way better. Not a very good list.

[jdsnakefeeds]

norman watt roy. the blockheads

[pinchpoint85]

Uhh no mr Simmons. how bout Victor wooten??

[labbern]

I think Tim Commerford should be on this list. He is better than Chris Wolstenholme.

[rubenflsebastiao]

uh ...how about cliff burton ? mr simons from kiss? john deacon? steve harris? and james jamerson should be the nr 1...

[TheDecimalfreinds]

paul mcCartney plays mandalin and guitar and vocals not bass

[levizanegerdes]

WTF ARE YOU KIDDING ME LES CLAYPOOL IS A BASS GOD AND YOU DONT EVEN HAVE HIM IN YOUR TOP 10 ARE YOU RETARDED

[javiersanz29]

Sting?

[63stratoman]

James Jamerson sort of blurs the lines between Motown and Rock (although the album rock station I listened to as a kid played both and didn't know the difference till later). Paul McCartney was an innovater and pioneer but not sure if he should be sohigh. Glad to see Geddy Lee wasn't #1 - great player one of my influences! John Entwistle is my favorite so he would top my (admittedly subjective) poll! Jack Bruce and Jack Casady should be on the radar and Mel Schacher (GFR) should also get a nod!

[2patero]

James Jamerson is my all time favorite but I would hardly call Motown music Rock!

What about John Patitucci? (Chic Corea)

[Blackic32992]

Steve Harris?!?!?!

[brianpagliaccio]

John Deacon?! Cliff Burton?!

[wkunderwood2003]

charlie hayward(cdb)...steve harris(iron maiden)...phil lynott(thin lizzy)....banner thomas(molly hatchet)....geezer butler(sabbath)...cliff burton(metallica)...walter becker(steely dan)...john mcvie(fleetwood mac)......paul mcartny isnt as good as any of these guys.

[wkunderwood2003]

gene simmons sux dude.

[karijalko]

Have you ever heard of the masters like Jack Bruce, Felix Pappalardi etc.?

[homersimpson8561]

PHIL LYNOTT! PHIL LYNOTT!! PHIL LYNOTT!!!

[DTitz331]

@homersimpson8561 Yeah! Phil was great and i didnt even live back then. Hes actually one of the bassists that inspired me to get a bass last year

[shelleyinthecity]

Rick James bitch! How is he not included in the 10 best ever?

[MrSeverthil]

Where the hell is Gene Simmons?!

[DiscoSheriffIsaac]

Nooo, Paul shouldn't be number 1...my favorite fucking band in the WORLD is Pink Floyd but i sure as hell don't think Roger should be number 1... The Beatles are good, Paul was good, but nothing like these other guys, no matter the music and it's lyrics

[Nostalgicflashback]

Entwistle is absolutely the best rock bassist of all time!

[hjbkefvkuer]

@Nostalgicflashback Thank you!!!!!!!! He is definetly the best bassist and Moonie is the best drummer.

[Nostalgicflashback]

@hjbkefvkuer I actually completely agree with you, weirdly enough I think The Who is one of the most under appreciated bands of all time! You might say "What do you mean, they are one of the most appreciated bands of all time?" Yeah, but that sound they made together is incredible on so many levels, that really I've rarely seen in any other band.

[koshythebarbarian]

where is Les Claypool?

[xgex1816]

Paul McCartney should be #1

[taoboxer9]

He got #1 correct !

[TheSajanes]

Man dude you are just WAY wrong with this list. Thanks for the effort and all, but you just need to listen to more players--seriously--and maybe put "In My Opinion" in front of your title.

[kevinsezthis]

where is les claypool what a well misinformed biased compilation of bogus opinions you are trying to establish as fact lame ....

[willyD200]

@kevinsezthis Claypool is unbelievably amazing...saw him at a small venue, the State Theater, Congress st. Portland Me.

Was completely blown away!

[Slickdapj]

No John Entwhistle? No Jack Bruce? No Jaco?

DQs this list from the start. So, they aren't influential? Jack Bruce isn't influential? Are yfsm? They aren't original? Innovative?

Now. Technical ability? I will stack those three up, or ahead, of anyone else on the list, Mc cartney excluded.

[77bersuit]

jaco pastorius? he is the best, and paul

[bassmaster31]

john entwistle sucks compared to flea or victor (who isn't even on here) and even geddy is better than him

[FreddyGuy925]

I liked the bassists that were chosen, but the order was all messed up. Yes is great and all, but nobody beats John Entwistle.

[thewhochilipepperU22]

The first picture of John Entwistle isn't even him...

[geraldfertl]

John paul jones is the best!!

[MarctheManSeligman]

Surprised not to see my name up there but...ok maybe next time :-)

[cgmcree1]

What about Mike Gordon? Do more research

[WMarioRose]

FLEA NUMBER 1



[thedudeification1]

paul is fucking number one you have to be shitting me

[TheMetoollica]

cliff burton??????????



[wweecwcollin]

lolololol Chris Wolstenholme really?

[afterthefox7]

And what about Steve Moore, Billy Roberts, Darry Wright, Conway Bitty, Daryl Logitech, Saucy Beer,. Kingswoode Alive, C.V.S. Jones, Davis "Precision" Clearer, Butthole Rogers and Pattie McGluttony. You missed those Bass Rockers.

[joeland87]

What about Jack Bruce, Mel Schacher or John Deacon?

[Marsbonfire007]

What happened to Stanley Clarke's good friend Jacko Pastorius???

[jaquestotite]

@Marsbonfire007 ROCK not fusion. 

[Marsbonfire007]

@jaquestotite Then why is someone like Jamerson on the list?

[jaquestotite]

@Marsbonfire007 True... The Hook was as motown as Duck Dunn is Memphis. I am not trying to be argumentitive dude. You still in Philly?

[Marsbonfire007]

@jaquestotite Left decades ago when Jaws and Carmichael were hooking up on passes.

[Marsbonfire007]

I grew up in Stanley Clarke's neighborhood in Philly. During summer vacations a group of guys would get together in the morning and go down to the park to play ball. On the way, we would pass by Stanley Clarke's house. There would be Stanley, sitting on the front porch of his house practicing bass. We would invite him, but he always declined, saying he needed to practice. We'd come back in the late afternoon. Walking by Stanley's house, he would still be out there practicing. This was everyday!

[jaquestotite]

@Marsbonfire007 Very cool. I grew up at 22nd and Brown, and was always a fan. I had a chance to interview him when I woked at WESM at Univ. of MD Eastern Shore. Nice guy. Remember Friday Night Fusion on WRTI? Are they still split formatted with Classical? Left Philly in '89.

[yourfriendphinex]

Jamerson might be greatest bass player ever but this does say rock doesn't it?

[seamusbuck]

Paul McCartney does not belong on this list - the man is in a class all by himself and that is all there is to say about it. Never mind the pyrotechnics and the guitars with fourteen necks going in all directions. Listen to the music! Isn't that what this is all about, rock music? So here we have the greatest band in the history of rock and we also have the musical genius of that band. LIsten closely to the Beatles music - it is stunning how much Paul's bass contributes to it.

[J4KETS]

@seamusbuck As a huge Beatles fan. Get your head out of the water. Paul was brilliant, but he didnt carry the band by any means and his bass playing is a mere shadow to bassists like Squire, Wooten, Miller and Wellignton.

[rpoetic]

@seamusbuck Dude no way!!!! Even McCartney said he does what every rock bassist does while creating basslines..."What would Jamerson Do?" James Jamerson was the guy the McCartney want to play like.

[rushzeppelin2112]

Jamerson wasn't technically with the Funk brothers. he was the Motown studio bassist who played on many of their albums

[yourfriendphinex]

@rushzeppelin2112 the Motown studio musicians were the Funk Brothers

[rushzeppelin2112]

@yourfriendphinex oh yeah woops

[HarvesterOfBuckets]

Geddy Lee is the best

[shmucko13]

john deacon,joe de mayo e t c oh well atleast flea is there

[Pbassman74]

No Billy Sheehan or John Deacon. 

[KantorekBaumerB14]

matt freeman is ok as well I guess.

[razergann]

chris squire , oh yes !^^

[pdhudsonUSMC]

Les Claypool, Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, John Myung

[nickfromCO]

uhh...peter hook from joy division???? inexcusable to leave him off...you could also make cases for noel redding from jimi hendrix experience and colin greenwood from radiohead.

[purestock22]

Maybe not technically a great bass player but I really liked Mel Shacher in the early GFR days...

[ModToKillxGaming]

johm paul jones is best hands down!

[rushrocks11]

theres no way geddy lee is number 4 he is the best bass player in the world!!!!!!!!!so number 1!!!!!!!!!

[wallface29]

where da fuck is les claypool?

[BobaBaggins]

I stopped watching after the first one. I love Pink Floyd, and I love Roger Waters' songs, but he is definitely not one of the best rock bassists. In fact he's nowhere near that, and David Gilmour often complained that Roger didn't try improving his bass playing. In fact, most of Pink Floyd's best bass lines (like "Hey You" and especially "Pigs (Three Different Ones)) were played by Gilmour on the recording.

[Marsbonfire007]

@BobaBaggins I'm not saying you're wrong, but it just seems hard to believe that hot headed Roger Waters would allow Gilmore to play bass on a recording...unless Roger was ill for an extended period of time. Waters may not have been the best bass player, but he was adequate. His song writing prowess was beyond question. I understand 'Dark Side of the Moon' was mostly his brainchild.

[BobaBaggins]

@Marsbonfire007 'On Animals Roger played bass on "Dogs" and I played bass on "Sheep" and "Pigs"...On "Pigs" the part and the playing are mine.'

David Gilmour in an interview for Bass Player. As for "Dark Side of the Moon," Waters came up with the idea of a concept album and wrote all the lyrics, but the band contributed equally to the music. Only three of the songs are credited solely to Waters.

[forevertobeginning]

What? JPJ #9, Geezer #8.. No Cliff? This list is way off. YES??

[quovadis1952]

You picked wrong songs to illustrate your point. One can hardly hear the bass...You are also wrong for leaving out the best. Apparently you are tone deaf...

[danvelgtr]

Jami Jamison . No. 1 for me.

[deannapower]

BOOOOOO

[locohenry]

CLIFF

BURTON

[YesteryearSports]

@becsaighead John Entwistle most likely would put Duane Eddy on this list. He sited that Duane Eddy and that twangy guitar was his biggest influence.

[Marsbonfire007]

@YesteryearSports John Entwistle was off the charts. He could play the bass like it was a lead guitar. It's a shame that cocaine took him from us. Just say no.

[gep915]

MEL SCHACHER....

[duschkev]

No Tina Weymouth?

Before you thumb down my comment,

Check this out: goto this youtube video- youtube.com/watch?v=l5zFsy9VId­M (paste the v= link over in your browser window)

She totally kicks butt here.

[MJL3764]

check out Tim Bogert



[hotrats2008]

Was waiting to see Chris Squire come up - but Chris was heavily influenced by John Entwistle and in my opinion would knock Chris down to 2nd place. Would also agrue for Jack Bruce, Roger Glover and Greg Lake.

[0809hozjan]

My opinion: 1.Ray Shulman(Gentle Giant), 2.Chris Squire(Yes), 3.Tony Levin(Peter Gabriel, King Crimson), 4.Hugh Hopper(Soft Machine), 5.John Giblin(Kate Bush, Simple Minds), 6.Mick Karn(Japan), 7.Helmut Hattler(Kraan), 8.David Paton(Pilot, Camel), 9.Jack Bruce(Cream), 10.Uli Trept(Guru Guru)

[georgee952]

cliff burton missing........



[The1Samelt]

@hl2isbestv2 lol, okey i am but... u know we have greater bassist here than Paul we called hi John Myung , he's little bit strange but bass god.

[somewhere6]

Roger Waters? Good song writer but top 10 bassist? I just can't see it. Tony Levin and John Wetton (and others) are definitely better on that instrument.

[DerekEynon]

ANDY FRASER !!!!!

[alec12]

Look at the comments everyone... John Entwistle is the greatest bassist of all time. No other bassist would be able to play alongside moon

[ESPLTD6strings]

John Entwistle is hands down the #1 best bassist ever to have picked up a bass guitar..

[jaquestotite]

@ESPLTD6strings For sure dude. Even Chris Squire said in an interview that he could not hol a candle to John. 10 years gone, I think 2 days ago. That was the day The Who officially died.

[Rockjunky1995]

I'm surprised Dee Dee Ramone wasn't here.

[wkunderwood2003]

bruce was better than paul....but neither are gonna whip anybody .....do you even play??

[GeaRHeaD6565]

Ummm where the fuck is John Myung?

[GeaRHeaD6565]

@mynameisntowens Yeah they were never a hit...thats why they sell out everywhere in the world. Awesome logic.

[mynameisntowens]

@GeaRHeaD6565 You know exactly what I mean. Selling out concerts does not equate to #1 Billboard hits unfortunately. BTY, I'm on your side completely. I love DH. Awake is one of my favorite albums of all time. I just wish the shitty music business wasn't all about the bean counter and pushing jokes like Justin Beiber just so they could sell dolls and toys.

[mynameisntowens]

@GeaRHeaD6565 Also, Steve Harris should have made this list.

[macaroni8cheese]

it's impossible to pick the greatest anything, but still, nice list. imho, i would pick entwistle as number one for sure and claypool should be on here but kudos for not putting sting on it.(maybe a top 21) i like gene simmons a lot too, but is he a top ten? i guess it just depends on who you ask. isn't it great that we have all this talent to choose from!

~long live rock-n-roll! all of it

[mjr2470]

no Cliff Burton?

[mjr2470]

no les claypool??

[Kickahawz]

nice list someone said Gary Thain yes he was good

[billberends]

Jack Bruce and Paul McCartney are the top two, hands down, no question. Chris Squire and Geddy Lee were both pupils of the school of Jack Bruce and freely admit it. Jack Bruce brought bass front and center before Squire was even an opening act. Jack Cassidy had one of the most distinguishable bass sounds in rock. Greg Lake.. try playing Schizoid Man or Tarkus on bass. Glenn Cornick of Tull. Jamerson of course, but he wasn't really rock. This list is a joke. Go do some more listening.

[jonniec7]

gary thain beats them all.......................

[SuperDiamondDogs]

John Deacon? Dave Alexander?

[iaminbetweendays]

McCartney Number 1

John Paul Jones number 2

Sting Number 3

[guldrev]

Les claypool

victor wooten : / just saying

[16Gbass]

im not sure why everyone loves paul so much. when i look at beatles songs i see great lyrics but no epic basslines

[966royce]

flea



[mistuhmiketherapper]

Flea is great

[sabbathrulz99]

Paul McCartney was a great lyricist ,but I wouldn't call him a great bassist.

[thebeatles962]

@sabbathrulz99 DO YOU EVEN KNOW SOME OF HIS BASS LINES?????

[wkunderwood2003]

1-geezer butler 2-chris squire 3-steve harris 4-charlie hayward 5-geddy lee 6-banner thomas 7-john mcvie 8-cliff burton 9-kip winger 10-randy meisner....and walter becker is fantastic.

[Jasonconfused]

Paul better than John Paul Jones? Not in this world's deepest darkest dreams.

[gaxatz]

Steve Harris ???

Cliff Burton ???

Your list must be a joke, right ??

[ZGippe40GK]

Where the hell is Timmy Commerford?! Otherwise its a pretty good list lol