Coolest Bass Player

[paul, the]

[quote name='Wil' post='40936' date='Aug 3 2007, 03:21 PM']IMO Mark King is the anti-cool![/quote]


Damnit! Took the words.

[gypsymoth]

a reference to Willie Dixon, I believe.

[Tinman]

If we're talking about someone who stands back and never makes a fuss, then it's got to be Cliff Williams. You never see him but you sure know he's there.

[paul, the]

[quote name='gypsymoth' post='40940' date='Aug 3 2007, 03:31 PM']a reference to Willie Dixon, I believe.[/quote]

Ooh, a good'n'


[quote name='Tinman' post='40951' date='Aug 3 2007, 03:50 PM']If we're talking about someone who stands back and never makes a fuss, then it's got to be Cliff Williams. You never see him but you sure know he's there.[/quote]


Wise words.

Jamerson fits the bill.


--

This thread begs the question, what is cool?


I've chucked in a stereotype. Obviously, being a fat bassy black man doesn't make you cool (although it sure helps). I guess being cool is someone who is innovative, does their own thing whilst filling the role.


That's why I think the coolest (electric) bassists (and my my favourite bassists) are:[list]
[*]James Jamerson
[*]Aston Barrett
[*]Bakithi Kumalo
[/list]Stereotypes always start somewhere though. There was obviously a fbm who was a bit of an innovator and trend setter among bassists.

Edited August 3, 2007 by paul, the

[16Again]

[quote name='bass_in_ya_face' post='39142' date='Jul 30 2007, 06:38 PM']Paul Simonon...end of debate.[/quote]

totally agree, not the best but defo the coolest!

d.

[Mikey D]

as Paul, The said...but he slaps, very tastefully though:

Juan Nelson:

[paul, the]

[quote name='Mikey D' post='41101' date='Aug 3 2007, 10:12 PM']as Paul, The said...but he slaps, very tastefully though:

Juan Nelson:

[/quote]





Mighty Mighty.

Although anyone who plays with Ben Harper is immediately cool.

[thumbo]

Les Claypool

[lowhand_mike]

can't beleive no one has said Donald 'Duck' Dunn. epitomy of cool.

[99ster]

[quote name='bass_in_ya_face' post='39142' date='Jul 30 2007, 06:38 PM']Paul Simonon...end of debate.[/quote]

+1. The top man.

[Deep Thought]

[quote name='steve-soar' post='39293' date='Jul 30 2007, 11:21 PM']On the bloody bass, Jean Jacques Burnel.[/quote]

Whoeheartedly agree, with the addition of Norman Watt-Roy and the bloke who was playing bass for Omar and the Howlers from Austin ,Texas when I saw them in Plymouth years ago. No idea what his name is, but he was like no bass player I've ever seen before or since. A master of minimalism, never played two notes when one would do, frequently fretting over the top of the neck, looked as if he was playing in slow motion even on the fastest songs. Amazing.

[Johngh]

Gene Simmons

Bootsy Collins

Sid Vicious

[bass_in_ya_face]

Forgot to mention Mick Karn circa 1981, slick back hair and long dangly ear ring...i just wanted to look that f***ing cool while playing that well.

[bassmandan]

Ettiene M'bappe. The guy's a monster (and a cool one at that!)..... er, plays with gloves on though.... not really sure what that's all about!

David LaBruyere is Uber-Cool also.

[parker_muse]

Its got to be Danny Lohner.


He didn't play the most complicated lines, or write them, he did what Trent Reznor told him to, and that was be the most entertaining on stage presence ever

[Delberthot]

Without a doubt - Derrick Taylor the bass player from Roachford.

He is the Samuel L Jackson of bass players

[Old Horse Murphy]

I agree with Hamster. Fo me the coolest bass player ever has to be Phil Lynott.

Followed closely by (believe it or not) Adam Clayton. Not so much for the quality of his playing (although I still think he's under-rated), but as a kid growing up watching U2, he had the attitude and the moves that made me want to be a bass player.

[OutToPlayJazz]

I liked the Lydia videos, but I have to go with my friend Antonella Mazza...



Then again, you can't beat Marcus Miller for cool!

[bass_in_ya_face]

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='42177' date='Aug 6 2007, 09:12 PM']I liked the Lydia videos, but I have to go with my friend Antonella Mazza...



Then again, you can't beat Marcus Miller for cool![/quote]

Look at the face...is this a man?

[bass_in_ya_face]

Steve Severin (siouxsie & the banshees) not the greatest but pretty cool all the same...he has an early Seventies
(American) Fender Jazz he calls the Ayatollah.

[Shaggy]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='38800' date='Jul 30 2007, 10:06 AM']Alive - Tony Levin.

Dead - The Ox - standing like a statue amongst the chaos bringing forth thunder from his fingers.[/quote]

+1
Tho the coolest bassist I ever saw was in a Cambridge Jazz club about twenty-five years back – big guy, big beard, big grin, biggest beer belly I’ve ever seen, fag stuck in the headstock (beat-up Fender Jazz of course), grooving along nicely.

[slaphappygarry]

Tony Levin
Timmy C
Chris Wolstenholme

G

[Bananaman]

If you're purely talking about looking and being cool then this guy has GOT to be added to the list:

[bubinga5]

two words MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO!!!!! oh and prince

[guzzibass]

Rick Danko (The Band)