Best Bassists that AREN'T Slap/Poppers or Funk

[thunderdan]

Dean Deleo, Duff, and Inez come to mind.

[Tommy2Tone84]

As a lifelong bass player, the gold standard kinda rock bass players to me are guys like Mikey and Gene Simmons. I don’t even like Kiss, but there is an immaculate sense of pocket in everything they play and they play to the song.

Others I dig:
-Guy from Sade (not gonna bother lookin up his name but he’s great)
-John Siegler / T Bone Wolk - bass on Hall and Oates 80s hits is split between these two. Both animals.
Pino - all the great 80s fretless stuff outside of Sledgehammer is him

Finally, some things we can agree on. Gene and Mike are both criminally underrated.

If a rock or VH fan shit talks Mike I automatically know they are ignorant

[Tommy2Tone84]

Dean Deleo, Duff, and Inez come to mind.

All top players, Dan. Mike Inez is my second favorite Ozzy bassist. Bob Daisley is my #1.

I would add Juan Aldrete, Rachel Bolan and Frank Bello

[FreddyFender]

Finally, some things we can agree on. Gene and Mike are both criminally underrated.

If a rock or VH fan shit talks Mike I automatically know they are ignorant

Yep, Mike's the kind of bassist that can get a crowd moving... If someone isn't giving Mike respect I assume they some sort of guitar player, and thus not qualified to speak on the subject.

[SchenkerFan]

If we're talking in general, I'd say James Jamerson, Paul McCartney, John Entwistle are up there.

Sludge bands: Geezer, Bob Daisley.

Most of the best dudes came from the 60s and 70s. Everyone in rock started dumbing it down massively in the 80s. And then you had dudes like Steve Harris and Billy Sheehan who put notes all over the place and couldn't just let the music breathe.

[Gibsonite]

They don't get much love around here, but The Tragically Hip's Gord Sinclair is a fucking great bassist. He always had a monster tone going on anytime I saw them

[BiggusDickus]

Peter Cetera

[Tommy2Tone84]

Finally, some things we can agree on. Gene and Mike are both criminally underrated.

If a rock or VH fan shit talks Mike I automatically know they are ignorant

Yep, Mike's the kind of bassist that can get a crowd moving... If someone isn't giving Mike respect I assume they some sort of guitar player, and thus not qualified to speak on the subject.

Or doesn’t understand music at all. It’s been a popular, hip thing to slag on Mike’s playing for decades. Same with Gene. In reality they are much better than many of their peers of the 70s and 80s.

[Nobodyspecial]

James Jamerson
Carol Kaye
Barry Sparks

[BDG135]

Eddie Jackson - Queensryche

[Mister Freeze]

If it’s picking, Duff and Mike Dirnt. Very creative basslines.

Duff is also fantastic for GnR - usually adds something fantastic, like the bass in Sweet Child is a semi-hidden weapon - adds melody and drive to the song.

Evryone needs love
You know that it's true
Someday you'll find someone
That'll fall in love with you

You just heard the bass line in your head, didn't you?

[SterileEyes1]

If it’s picking, Duff and Mike Dirnt. Very creative basslines.

Duff is also fantastic for GnR - usually adds something fantastic, like the bass in Sweet Child is a semi-hidden weapon - adds melody and drive to the song.

Evryone needs love
You know that it's true
Someday you'll find someone
That'll fall in love with you

You just heard the bass line in your head, didn't you?

Every time!

[Grendel]

Ben Shepard - Soundgarden