Great bass lines in punk

[SteveXFR]

I really love listening to all kinds of punk but although it's fun to play I struggle to find any really interesting punk bass lines. There are a few exceptions like Rancid and some of Anti Flags ska influenced songs. 

Are there any really great punk bass lines that really stand out? 

[SumOne]

Fat Mike chooses a few here:

 

[Killed_by_Death]

 

I enjoy listening to The Misfits, absolutely abhor playing Jerry Only's boring arrangements.

Similar with Black Flag

Melvin Gibbs played for Rollins, so maybe there's some interesting arrangements.

 

[paul_5]

Maxwell Murders. Top that bad boy!!!

[nilebodgers]

Rezillos, Top of the pops. Just transcribed it and am really enjoying playing along.

[SteveXFR]

5 minutes ago, SumOne said:

Fat Mike chooses a few here:

 

Good tip. I forgot how good Fat Mike's bass lines are. He's quite underrated I think. 

[Nail Soup]

Most Stranglers bass lines.

[SteveXFR]

3 minutes ago, Killed_by_Death said:

 

I enjoy listening to The Misfits, absolutely abhor playing Jerry Only's boring arrangements.

 

I'll agree with that. I love Misfits but it's Doyles guitar parts and Danzigs vocals are what made them great. 

Doyles solo stuff is really good as well, It's pretty much a modern version of Misfits but a bit more metal 

[Killed_by_Death]

 

I enjoy playing the bass arrangement to Poison Heart, it's super simple, but damn it's Fun!

Dee Dee wrote that song from in jail, & used the sale of the song to get himself out.

I honestly think the lyrics were a poke at Johnny for being so cruel, and not just boosting him out of jail.

 

Edited March 4, 2021 by Killed_by_Death
spelling

[Lozz196]

Babylon’s Burning by The Ruts is pretty decent, and worth checking out Booze & Glory - mainly the Chapter IV album - their bassist at the time, Bubbles, was a very busy bassist.

[Doctor J]

 

[Killed_by_Death]

 

Who is that stunner that got out of the yellow vehicle?

 

[Nail Soup]

For some OTT punk bass lines check out Brian Ritchie on the Violent Femmes first album - e.g Blister in the Sun.

[Killed_by_Death]

 

That's some coincidence, I hadn't heard Blister in a very long time, but last night it was on Name that Tune, & of course it stick in my head for the rest of the evening.

 

[Lozz196]

Great bassline that 

[PaulWarning]

Sound of the Suburbs is a good one, Warhead, simple but very effective

[Graham]

Hunter from AFI has some great basslines

 

[Owen]

I always play Peaches in soundchecks. Such a great line. And there will always be one in the room who gets it.

[Doctor J]

When I was playing in a mate's blues band, I used to drop it into the middle of Going Down

[DawnPatroller]

26 minutes ago, Nail Soup said:

For some OTT punk bass lines check out Brian Ritchie on the Violent Femmes first album - e.g Blister in the Sun.

Yeah! Add It Up was one of the very first songs I jammed (extremely badly).

 

[SteveXFR]

1 hour ago, paul_5 said:

Maxwell Murders. Top that bad boy!!!

Journey To The End Of East Bay is my favourite Matt Freeman bass line. I've not managed to play it quite at full speed. If I slow it down to 95% it's fine but that last few bpm is just too fast. 

[Crawford13]

There's a load of awesome bass lines in Fugazi songs. Joe Lally is a great bass player. 

Good songs to start with:

Waiting Room

Ex-spectator

Combination lock

There are so many great Fugazi songs. Some may label them as hardcore though rather than punk. But definafely worth a listen. 

Edited March 4, 2021 by Crawford13

[Bolo]

What Dead Kennedys bassline isn't good?

Edited March 4, 2021 by Bolo

[meterman]

Definitely The Stranglers, often the bass would be the hook of the song. Great band.

Also, Jon Watson’s playing on much of the early 999 records is great. Sulphate and John Entwhistle appeared to be his main influences:

Always was a fan of Paul Gray’s playing, especially in the Damned and Eddie & The Hot Rods. Distorted Rickenbackers galore:

 

And one of my all-time faves, not just for bass, but also punk triangle playing:

There’s probably millions of more recent ones but I’m an old git and the old school punk stuff always comes straight to mind

[nilebodgers]

18 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

Journey To The End Of East Bay is my favourite Matt Freeman bass line. I've not managed to play it quite at full speed. If I slow it down to 95% it's fine but that last few bpm is just too fast. 

I only discovered rancid recently believe it or not. Most of the USA stuff passed me by.

 I’m going to have a look at playing roots radicals at some point, that has a nice bassline.