“The bass is the foundation,” session legend Carol Kaye once stated, highlighting the instrument’s crucial role: “and with the drummer you create the beat. Whatever you play puts a framework around the rest of the music.” This quote perfectly encapsulates the often-understated power of the bass guitar. A truly great bassline becomes a mantra, endlessly looping in your mind and deepening with each listen, whether it’s Paul McCartney’s mesmerizing riff in “Come Together,” Bootsy Collins’ funky groove from James Brown’s “Sex Machine,” or Tina Weymouth’s minimalist pulse in Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer.” While other instruments often take center stage, the bassist lays down something fundamental – a rhythmic and harmonic bedrock that resonates long after the song fades.
Despite their foundational importance, bassists have historically been undervalued, even within their own bands. Paul McCartney himself reflected on stepping into the bass role in The Beatles, noting, “It wasn’t the number-one job. Nobody wanted to play bass, they wanted to be up front.” This sentiment underscores a common perception, yet the bass guitar boasts a rich and significant legacy in popular music.
From the pioneering upright bass work of Jimmy Blanton in Duke Ellington’s orchestra and bebop innovators like Oscar Pettiford, the tradition extends to jazz luminaries such as Charles Mingus and Ron Carter. Studio legends like Carol Kaye and James Jamerson further cemented the bass’s importance. Rock music saw the rise of bass heroes like Jack Bruce of Cream and John Entwistle of The Who, each pushing the boundaries of the instrument. Funk masters like Bootsy Collins and Larry Graham of Sly and the Family Stone brought infectious grooves to the forefront. Prog rock was elevated by the virtuosity of Chris Squire from Yes and Geddy Lee of Rush. Fusion found its bass gods in Stanley Clarke and Jaco Pastorius, while punk and post-punk were anchored by the distinctive styles of Tina Weymouth and Mike Watt of the Minutemen.
The alternative era ushered in a new wave of bass innovators, from Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth with her intuitive approach to Les Claypool of Primus, known for his outlandish techniques. More recently, contemporary bass icons like Esperanza Spalding and the ubiquitous Thundercat have further propelled the bass to the forefront of modern music, showcasing its versatility and melodic potential.
This celebration of the greatest bassists, much like a similar tribute to drummers, is not about ranking technical skill in a competitive sense. Instead, it’s an appreciation for those bass players who have profoundly shaped the landscape of popular music over the last half-century. Their impact spans genres from rock and funk to country, R&B, disco, hip-hop, and beyond. Within this pantheon, you’ll find undeniable virtuosos alongside those whose minimalist approach to the instrument elevated the entire musical ensemble.
As Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers eloquently described his connection to the bass, “You grab it, slide around on it, and feel it with your hands. You slap, pull, thump, pluck, and pop, and you get yourself into this hypnotic state, if you’re lucky, beyond thought, where you’re not thinking because you’re just a conduit for this rhythm, from wherever it comes from, from God to you and this instrument, through a cord and a speaker.” This list pays homage to 50 musicians who have discovered this transcendent state through the bass guitar, leaving an indelible mark on music and culture.
