My last article was about the beast that is the guitar solo, the reason I got into rock’n’roll at all. I wrote a lot about how the solo came about and what it means for rock in general. I was just reading the article, as you do as an egomaniac, narcissistic writer, and just had the thought,

„What about the bass player?“

Well, here we go !!

The bass player is the most underrated member of the band.

They never get the girl, they never get their songs on the album, even though some of the best songs have been written by that shy guy sitting in the corner shaking his head at interviews as the singer and guitar player talk about how fantastic they play and how good looking they are.

The bass player was always the last guy to be picked for a team, the first guy to be bullied and more than often had to be the designated driver because „Well, he ain’t that important, you know“.

I’m writing this article to change your mind !!

I had the pleasure to play bass on a tour or two for my good friends, The Cellophane Suckers, at a time where their bass player Jan was unable to play.

Man, that changed my whole perspective!!

Firstly, how great is it to go on stage not having to worry about your image because no-one is watching you anyway?

Secondly, if you fuck up, no one notices, and most importantly:

Thirdly, you learn how fuckin’ good your drummer is !!

I had so much fun playing bass that I secretly wish- I know how shitty this sounds- that Jan will get sick again just so I can throw away my cowboy boots, cowboy hat and shades for a while and be able to go on stage wearing my chucks, Janis Joplin shirt and my Jack Daniels baseball cap !

I love you, Jan !!

And man, that right hand !!

It’s gotta sit with the snare, you gotta be one with your drummer, it’s hard man, but when you get it down it’s so much fuckin’ fun !!

Since that time, I’ve listened to music in a completely different light. Instead of just listening to the guitar riffs and solos I find myself listenin’ to what the bass player does and how what they play can change a song !

Listen to “Sweet Child O’ Mine“, yeah the intro is awesome and all, but what’s the first earworm you have? It’s Duffs bass line !!

One of the most underrated bassists of all time in my humble opinion, Guns N’ Roses would have been nothing without Duffs feeling for melodies that fit perfectly under Slash’ and Izzy’s guitar riffs.

And have you ever listened to what’s goin’ on in the background of “Detroit Rock City“? Gene’s bass line helps to make the song even if you don’t realise it. Many music journalists make fun of Gene saying that he can’t play for shit- they can eat my plectrum ! Listen to “100,000 Years“, “Sure Know Something” or “Hard Luck Woman” and tell me again why he sucks?

He might be a twat, but that’s a story for another day !

As a reader, you might be asking yourself at this point „He’s talking about bass players but no mention of Bootsy Collins or Stu Hamm or even Flea“, well, it’s because I like to write about what I know and that’s hard rock and heavy metal, so I stay in my comfort zone !!

Cliff Williams you may think has one of the most boring jobs in the world, bass player for AC/DC, but have you ever tried playing along and keeping perfect time with that stuff? And that in front of 100,000 people? I think not, respect to him for being so minimalistic that it’s almost impossible !

Phil Lynott !! “Dancing In The Moonlight“, probably the grooviest rock ballad ever, listen to that bass line, remember he’s singin at the same time !!!

Now tell me the bass player isn’t „that important“ –

Lemmy. Need I say more ?

There are so many great bass players in rock’n’roll and heavy metal that just don’t get justice for what they do.  The perfect example is Jason Newstead getting turned almost all the way down on Metallica‘s And Justice Fort All.  ‘Justice for Jason’ I call that album.  It’s obvious that Jason had a fuckin’ hard time coming in after the best rock and metal bass player of all time, Mr. Cliff Burton. But it wasn’t his fault, he got hired to do a job, did it well and was punished for it.

It should have been Lars.

Cliff Burton was a fuckin’ phenomenon. Dude was 24 when he died and only played on 3 Metallica records, but what he did in that short time is unbelievable,  truly.  “Anesthesia” alone is proof that the bass player should get the girl that the drummer is trying to pull. Cliff put the punk into Metallica in a way that no one else could, he could outplay anyone at that time and probably today too, but still knew where to keep it easy and where to go mental.

R.I.P. Cliff !!

Geezer Butler ! No Geezer, no Sabbath !! Not only is his bass playing responsible for heavy metal, but he wrote almost all of the lyrics too.  Imagine Sabbath with lyrics that Ozzy had written:

„Finished with my woman cause, where’s the coke dude?“ 

or classics like

„Dealers gather with their whatever”

“Give it to me, I’ll love you forever“

I love Ozzy, but thank fuck for Geezer !!!

I hope that after reading this you might feel the same as  I do and maybe instead of running up to the guitarist or singer asking for an autograph, give that 4-string dude some love !!

As I said in my last article about guitar solos, I could go on forever but the internet ain’t big enough. So here are my top 10 bass lines !!! (aforementioned songs not included) and listen to the rhythm section !!

I love some because of the simplicity, some because of the sound but all of ’em cause of the bass !!

by Glen Clarke

(Read my bonus article about keyboard players at the end of the playlist!)

1: Metallica (Cliff Burton) – “Orion”

2: Fleetwood Mac (John McVie) – “The Chain” (listen to the whole song)

3: Kvelertak (Marvin Nygaard) – “Nattesferd”

4: Pink Floyd (Roger Waters) – “One of These Days”

5: Cellophane Suckers (Jan Litzinger) – “I’ve Been In Love”

6: Guns N’ Roses (Duff McKagan) – “Rocket Queen”

7: Megadeth (Dave Ellefson) “My Last Words”

8: Gluecifer (Stu Manx) – “Easy Living “

9: Motörhead (Lemmy) – “Stay Clean”

10: Hellacopters (Kenny Hakansson) – Toys and Flavors

Glen’s Rockmaggedon – Keyboard Players

I’ve written about guitarists and bass players, one of my next articles will be about drummers; but this one is about keyboard players. Don ‘t need them unless you’re Pink Floyd.

by Glen Clarke