Been going over this this co-workers (okay, co-worker) after listening to UK Subs on the way to work and while several names floated around there were the notable ones we could come up with although I know I'm missing others that just aren't coming to mind. None of m top 5 were really based upon playing technique as you'd find in jazz or prog bands (this is punk after all!) but more on attitude and originality.
1. The Mighty Mike Watt!
The man who claims to be self-taught from listening only to Blue Oyster Cult records! Exactly how fucking cool is that!? Watt still claims to this day he never intended to play bass but picked it up after D. Boon claimed 6 stings were better than 4. Some of Watt's best playing? 'It's Expected, I'm Gone' from his Minutemen days and 'What Gets Heard' from his fIREHOSE era. I actually met him - sorta. He bumped into me on the way to the stage and nearly knocked me on my ass. He never turned around or apologized. In fact, he didn't even acknowledge me at all. I didn't care, I love the guy.
2. Dee Dee Ramone
"The righteous asshole of all punk bass players" Dee Dee was truly an original. Watch ANY performance of his and sit there and wonder how he held his bass lines so tight while jumping around and looking so lost (no, it wasn't the heroin). I still argue that most punk bass players (or self-professed ones like that shithead in Green Day) steal, have stolen and will continue steal from Dee Dee's technique. His whole "1,2,3,4" count off to every Ramones song was his trademark, his bass lines, forever written in punk history. Dee Dee's best playing? Like ANYTHING HE EVER DID!
3. Klaus Fluoride (Dead Kennedys)
Probably the most nerdy-looking bass player ever (except for that douchebag in Weezer - but hey, if you like Weezer we can't be friends, okay?) Klaus was like the John Entwhistle of punk bass in that he was always bringing his bass out to the fore evenly competing with East Bay Ray's Echoplexed surf guitar lines and D.H. Peligro's rapid-fire drumming. Klaus's bass always sounded fucked to me - as if he was purposefully over-driving it in order to make a name for himself but after re-listening to their first album to start to understand that punk bass players were meant to be loud. As in REALLY FUCKING LOUD. Best playing? 'Chemical Warfare,' 'DMSO', 'Holiday In Cambodia', and 'Bus Through The Barrier' (Klaus solo).
4. Paul Simonon
No one is a bigger fan of The Clash then me (okay, I've met others that are bigger). Simonon took a different approach to punk bass style in that he took laid-back reggae groove to much of Jone's pseudo-ska style and lead fills and Strummer's bombastic rhythms and what he pulled off was amazing. Never thought he was ever given the full credit due and much of that could have been from him not being heard the mix of The Clash's studio recordings as he should have been. Plus, in his heyday, Simonon was one of the sexist bass players, ever! So what if he sucked in his cheekbones and looked like a sultry supermodel the guy was sexy. Simonon's best playing? 'Guns Of Brixton', 'This Is England', "Armageddon Time'.
5. Graham Maby
Who? Graham Maby was/is Joe Jackson's bass player. Even though the guy stills plays with Joe in more of a softer jazz-esque style I dare say his was one of the true unsung originals of punk bass playing. Even Flea (and take his opinion for what's its worth) noted Maby of one of his main influences. What I liked about Maby, like I do with Klaus, is that he was LOUD often drowning out Gary Sanford's Strat and pretty much becoming the soul rhythm section of Jackson's early recordings. Maby's best playing? 'Sunday Papers', 'Fools In Love', 'I'm The Man' 'One More Time' and 'Don't Wanna Be Like That'.
So there you have it. I know I'm missing others but I'm tired of brain-farting about it and choose these five.
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Originally Posted by ppg960
