The best bassists in rock

16 November 2024, 12:00

They're often overlooked in favour of the frontman or the flashy guitarist, but NOW... it's time to celebrate our favourite four-string playing legends.

By Radio X

@RadioX

1. Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers

   No list of bassists would be complete without Flea, who often tops lists as the greatest bassist ever. Originally born in Australia, Flea's real name is Michael Peter Balzary, which doesn't quite have the same ring. As well as being one of the Chilis' founding members, he's also performed with artists like Jane's Addiction, Johnny Cash, Alanis Morissette, and Thom Yorke's supergroup Atoms For Peace.

   

2. Mani of The Stone Roses

   The Stones Roses bassist played a vital role in the Madchester explosion at the turn of the 90s with his iconic style, which fused fast rock playing with a dance rhythm. When the Roses disbanded in 1996, Mani went on to join Primal Scream until 2012. Of all the ex-Roses (who got back together in 2012 for a series of huge reunion shows), Mani was always the most active and vocal - he even briefly formed a supergroup of bassists called Freebass, where he was joined by Smiths bassist Andy Rourke and New Order's Peter Hook.

   

3. Peter Hook of Joy Division/New Order

   Peter Hook has had a fractious relationship with New Order over the years, and the two factions have been engaging in legal wrangling over the use of the name. Before that he, of course, was part of Joy Division, playing alongside Ian Curtis and Bernard Sumner until Curtis's tragic suicide in 1980. It was with Joy Division where he developed his famous high-note style, claiming that the amp he learnt on was so bad that he could only play high notes in order to hear himself!

   

4. Kim Deal of the Pixies

   Although vocalist and guitarist for The Breeders, it was her bass work with the Pixies that made Kim Deal an icon. She was famous for her minimal bass playing, claiming that a lot of bassists don't know how to "pedal through something." Although penning one of Pixies' most popular tracks, Gigantic, tensions between Deal and Black Francis grew and grew until the band split in 1992. She joined them for their reunion in 2004, but left again in 2013. She's now been permanently replaced by Paz Lenchantin.

   

5. Carlos D of Interpol

   Interpol would not be the band they are if it wasn't for Carlos D's unforgettable bass style. Taking inspiration from Peter Hook, Carlos D was one of the key ingredients of the band. Leaving the band in 2010, Carlos famously hated playing bass guitar, apparently stating that it was not his instrument of choice. Imagine what he could of done with one of his favourites, then?

   

6. Paul McCartney

   We obviously couldn't forget about the most famous bassist of all time. Macca not only highlighted the bass guitar as a lead instrument, but also came up with hooks and lines that will be a part of music forever. McCartney himself is particularly proud of his playing of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club band and, unbelievably, he's completely self-taught.

   

7. Chris Wolstenholme of Muse

   Famously penning the term "rock neck", which apparently you get from too much head banging, Wolstenholme brought a furious rock edge to Bellamy's intrinsic guitar playing. His style is heavy and performed with an expert's eye.

   

8. John Entwistle of The Who

   The Ox - as he was known to fans - was a solid presence in the maelstrom of The Who. Amid the racket of Keith Moon's kinetic drumming, Pete Townshend's windmilling guitar and Roger Daltrey's rock god vocal, the athletic but solid pulse of Entwistle's bass added heart to the band's sound. Just listen to the bass solo on My Generation if you don't believe us.

   

9. Lemmy

   Motörhead's attack was mainly down to the wall of thrash that came from "Fast" Eddie Clarke's guitar, but Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister's growling bass intro to Ace Of Spades is as punk as anything the Pistols or The Clash ever produced.

   

10. John Deacon of Queen

    Another band of virtuoso performers, in the middle of which was a solid bass player. Along with writing some of Queen's best-loved hits like You're my Best Friend and I Want To Break Free, remember the beautiful glissandos on Bohemian Rhapsody and the dancefloor heart beat of Another One Bites The Dust.

    

11. Andy Rourke of The Smiths

    As many people have said, Rourke's basslines for The Smiths were a "song within a song" - just direct your ears to What Difference Does It Make, This Charming Man, Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now and countless others.