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A few individuals reckon that if you wish to change the world, you do not become a bass player, but go into something more challenging and stimulating such as the Post Office. But does this myth show how bass players really are? Let us step back from our habitual way of seeing bass guitar players as necessary but boring members of the group. Like accountants. Certainly we acknowledge the fine contribution they make to their bands by supplying the bass lines and paying for the beer, but do they essentially do anything really creative? This brief listing of some notable men (and woman) of bass will enable you to see that this seemingly self effacing member of a musical group might be the creative powerhouse.

Let’s begin with the leather jacketed but overpoweringly feminine Suzi Quatro. A vocalist and bass player who had a bunch of hits in Australia and Europe in the early seventies, her popularity in the USA stemmed from her role as Leather Tuscadero in Happy Days.

John Entwistle pioneered using the electric bass guitar as an instrument for soloists. His aggressive approach to the bass guitar influenced many other bassists.

Flea of The Red Hot Chili Peppers fascinated lots of musicians with his popping and slapping technique which was originally invented by Larry Graham of Sly And the Family Stone. Flea’s innovative use of effects pedals has also influenced numerous bass players.

Jack Bruce wrote the majority of supergroup Cream’s hit songs. Among his other achievements are fighting constantly with Cream’s drummer, Ginger Baker and surviving a liver transplant.

Greg Lake is another artist of the early seventies who played with a number of innovators from the glam rock era. Lake is most commonly known for his vocals, bass and guitar work with Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

Rob Bailey is a bassist who plays loud and aggressive. His bass playing is an important element in the music of AC/DC.

Benny Rietveld, a Dutch musician who went to college in Hawaii, is popular for his musical and individualistic style of playing. He worked with Barney Kessell, Sheila E, Huey Lewis and Miles Davis. He’s also made an album featuring Carlos Santana. Talk about diverse.

Paul McCartney played bass with the Beatles. Numerous bass players state he’s really good, but he changed the world with his romantic song lyrics.

Considered by a few to be the king of bass players, Stanley Clarke employs a variation of the pop and slap technique to produce some truly innovative bass guitar music. His 1976 album, School Days, is acclaimed by numerous critics as one of the greatest bass albums ever.

A true bass lead guitar player, Billy Sheehan has won Guitar Player Magazine’s “Best Rock Bass Player” readers’ poll five times. Why a “bass lead guitar player”? Simply because Billy plays bass as though he were playing lead.

So if you’re not familiar with bass guitar players, I am hoping this article has whetted your appetite. Why not spend your next rainy Sunday watching some of their work on YouTube?

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