Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Trending News

Promoted
Drop Dead Fred
Lv 7
Drop Dead Fred asked in Entertainment & MusicMusicRock and Pop · 1 decade ago

The coolest men (or women) to ever swing around a bass guitar?

Now a common misconception is that the bassist is the uncool one, this is wrong and this query is aimed to prove it.

But firstly, some ground rules, their primary role in their bands must be as a bassist, no permanent bassist/vocalists (backing vocals or the odd lead appearance are acceptable though). And also reasons are good.

No upright bassists as they're in a cool league of their own, don't believe me, look at Lee Rocker from The Stray Cats or Charles Mingus.

Okay, my contributions:

Peter Hook - Joy Division and New Order:

I have to go with my man Peter Hook cause I mean he moves like a drunk, has his bass far lower than most practical bass players, yet he still plays like a god and has contributed much to society through his basslines. Class, pure class.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnMYEJAuk54

Paul Simonon - The Clash:

Sure he may not have contributed much other than "The Guns of Brixon" to players of the glorious four, but he was in one of the most famous music photos of all time:

http://www.bbcamerica.com/media/216/simonon.jpg

And HE WEARS A HAT!!!!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1119/563590264_08ef...

Update:

EVH: Claypool is ineligible cause he is also the vocalist of Primus, even if he is awesome.

Update 2:

And remember we are after COOLEST, not the best. I mean he might be a genius at it, but a dweeb is a dweeb.

25 Answers

Relevance
  • Johnny Rocker 89
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    I have to go with John Entwistle of The Who. To stand on stage and show little to no emotion while playing bass like THAT and get the nicknames "The Ox" and "Thunderfingers" is amazing. Other cool bassists:

    Sting, Paul Simonon, Les Claypool

    Source(s): Paul Simonon is the coolest to ever swing a bass.
  • Sheik Yerbouti
    1 decade ago

    Les Claypool, Justin Chancellor, Mike Starr and Cliff Burton. Flea is pretty cool too.

    I know Les Claypool is the vocalist in Primus, but i cant help it. He is cool.

    (Anesthesia)Pulling Teeth is one of the coolest bass solos ever.

    Mike Starr bass contributions to Alice In Chains are cool. The beginning of Would, Rain When I Die and Rooster are fantastic.

  • Toadstool
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    Phil Lesh of Grateful Dead

    Have you seen his bass and what he can do with it? He loves the instrument to death, his passion for it is strong.

    And how about Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath, he plays so fast, he has his bass solo at the start of N.I.B., he's just really impressive to hear on their albums.

    Something that makes both of these primary bassists spectacular is their ability to turn the bass into a totally different roled instrument in the band. Lesh revolutionized how the bass is played in a song, and Geezer just played with lightning speed and accuracy while creating that Black Sabbath sound.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Flea

    Les Claypool

    If I'm not mistaken, Lemmy from Motorhead was a bassist. I don't like him as a singer, atleast , but I know a ton of people do.

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Cliff Burtion, FIrst Bassist for Matallica, awesome head banger

  • Bored @ Work
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Cliff Burton

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KpxOmksHrY

    Steve Harris

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq_j3OVQhSI

    Michael Anthony

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ewsHwVOyyE

    John Entwistle

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfDE-ZvfOwU&feature...

    Ben Sheppard

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_UM9tmc5rU

    Eric Avery

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhJEIkAWJVA

  • LexLuger
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    I agree with the choices of Les Claypool and Tina Weymouth , I have also always thought Michael Anthony was pretty talented

  • galacticpainting
    1 decade ago

    There is only one answer and that is Billy Sheehan of the Steve Vai Band.Steve Vai + Billy Sheehan

    Source(s): 40+ yrs rockin
  • ?
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    Simon Gallup from The Cure because he's just too cool!!!

    OR

    Dejan Kralj from The Gufs because he's really cool, dedicated, and just a really nice guy! Check-out The Gufs @ www.thegufs.com and their myspace account. "Smile " is their signature track, but they've got a lot of really great material!!!

    OR

    Howie Epstein from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (the late Howie Epstein- too sad! So talented)...

  • David R
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    Has to be Sixx and Harris from Maiden...totally would be cool to hang with Sixx for the partying and Harris just because the guy is a genius song writer

  • Show more answers (15)
Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.