I always mention Mike Mills when threads ask for favourites, underrateds, most influential. Mills is a musician of enormous talent and [i]is[/i]REM. His basslines and harmony vocals make every song what it is. He's a fabulous songwriter and a master of tone. When writing original material I use the WWDDD theory but substitute MM and of course the aforementioned Mr Ament.
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Pearl Jam and Jeff A's playing but Mike Mills is my favourite bassist, he's much more than "just a bass player", the man is ubercool.