- Jaco Pastorius
John Francis "Jaco" Pastorius III (December 1, 1951 - September 21, 1987) was a bassist and songwriter widely acknowledged for his virtuosity of the fretless bass, as well as his command of varied musical styles and his many compositions. His playing style was noteworthy for containing "dazzling solos in the higher register" and "fluid machine-gun-like passages that demanded attention," often featuring his instrument in lead rather than rhythm section. - Marcus Miller
Marcus Miller (born June 14, 1959 in New York) is a jazz musician, composer and producer, perhaps best known as a bass guitarist with Miles Davis, Luther Vandross and David Sanborn. Miller is classically trained as a clarinetist, and also plays bass clarinet, keyboard, saxophone, and guitar, and is a capable singer. - Victor Wooten
Victor Lemonte Wooten (born September 11, 1964 in Hampton, Virginia) is an American electric bass guitar player. He is widely regarded among his musical peers as both a technical virtuoso on the electric bass as well as a skilled musician and composer. Wooten has won the "Bass Player of the Year" award from "Bass Player Magazine" three times in a row, and was the first person to win the award more than once. - John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle (October 9, 1944 - June 27, 2002) was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, and horn player, who was best known as the bass guitarist for rock band The Who. He is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rock bassists of all time, creating an aggressive lead sound that helped influence contemporary and later bassists such as Steve Harris, Lemmy, Geddy Lee, Phil Lesh, Noel Redding, Billy Sheehan, Chris Squire, … - Jack Bruce
John Symon Asher "Jack" Bruce (born May 14, 1943) is a Scottish-born musician, composer and singer. He is best-known as an electric bassist, harmonicist and pianist, and was most famous as the vocalist and bassist for the 1960s rock band, Cream. He lives in Suffolk, England. - Stanley Clarke
Stanley Clarke (born 30 June 1951) is an American musician and composer known for his innovative and influential work on double bass and bass guitar as well as his numerous film and television scores. - Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee OC (born Gary Lee Weinrib on July 29, 1953 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian musician best known as the vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush. Lee joined Rush in 1968 at the request of his childhood friend, Alex Lifeson. An award-winning musician, Lee's style, technique, and skill on the bass guitar have proven very influential in the rock and heavy metal genres, inspiring such players as Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, … - John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones (born John Baldwin on January 3, 1946 in Sidcup, London), is an English multi-instrumentalist musician, and was known for being the bassist and the keyboardist for rock band Led Zeppelin from its inception until the band's breakup following the death of John Bonham in 1980. In recent years he has developed a successful solo career, and is widely respected as both a musician and a producer. - Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire (born March 4, 1948), is an English musician best known as the bassist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album. - Tony Levin
Tony Levin (born June 6 1946, Boston, Massachusetts) is an influential American bass player. He has played with Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, Yes, Liquid Tension Experiment, Pink Floyd, John Lennon, Dire Straits, Joan Armatrading, Alice Cooper, Seal, David Bowie, Deodato, Pandora's Box, Carly Simon, California Guitar Trio, Sarah McLachlan, Kevin Max, The Roches and Paul Simon, among many others. - Michael Manring
Michael Manring (born June 1960 in Washington, D.C.) is an electric bassist from the San Francisco Bay Area (Northern California). In addition to a long tenure in the 1980's as house bassist for Windham Hill Records, Manring has recorded with Spastic Ink, Michael Hedges, Alex Skolnick (in the bands Skol-Patrol and Attention Deficit, also featuring Tim Alexander from Primus), Larry Kassin, Tom Darter, Steve Morse, David Cullen, Alex de Grassi, … - Glenn Hughes
Glenn Hughes (born in Cannock, Staffordshire, England on August 21, 1952) is a bassist and vocalist well-known as the lead vocalist for Black Sabbath during the mid 1980s, as well as playing Bass and performing vocals for the Mk. III & IV line-ups of Deep Purple. - Bill Evans
Bill Evans (born 1961 in Los Angeles, California) (AKA, "Bass Man Bill Evans") is a bass guitarist from the Nevada area, he mainly focuses on funk and rock. He currently resides in Las Vegas with his family and enjoys playing at his local church "Canyon Ridge Christian Church". - Roger Waters
George Roger Waters (born September 9, 1943) is an English rock musician; singer, guitarist, bassist, songwriter, and composer. He is best known for his 1965-1985 career with the band Pink Floyd as their main songwriter (after the departure of Syd Barrett), bass player and one of their lead vocalists (along with David Gilmour and, to a lesser extent, Rick Wright). He was also the mastermind behind many of the band's concept albums, … - Mike Watt
Michael David Watt (born December 20, 1957 in Portsmouth, Virginia) is an American bass guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is best-known for co-founding the punk rock bands The Minutemen and fIREHOSE; as of 2003, he is also the bassist for the reunited Iggy Pop & The Stooges and a member of the art rock/jazz/punk/improv group Banyan as well as many other post-Minutemen projects. Though Watt has not had much mainstream success or visibility, … - Billy Sheehan
Billy Sheehan (born March 19, 1953 in Buffalo, New York,) is an American Bassist known for his work with Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, and Niacin. Sheehan has won "Guitar Player" magazine's "Best Rock Bass Player" readers' poll five times for his "lead bass" playing style. "Guitar Player" has likened his soloing on the four-string instrument to Eddie Van Halen's on the six-string guitar. - Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow (born February 11, 1962) is a nine-time Grammy-winning American blues rock singer, guitarist, bassist, and songwriter. Her music blends country, pop, folk, and blues rock into one mainstream sound. Crow is also a noted political activist who uses her fame to promote causes she supports. - Sid Vicious
Simon John Beverley, formerly Simon John Ritchie (May 10, 1957 - February 2, 1979), better known as Sid Vicious, was an English punk rock musician, the bass player of the Sex Pistols (replacing Glen Matlock). He was deeply involved in the birth of the British punk scene, along with close friend John Lydon (Johnny Rotten, Sex Pistols vocalist). He died of a drug overdose at the age of 21. - Dennis Dunaway
Dennis Dunaway (born December 9, 1948 in Cottage Grove, Oregon) was the bassist for the Alice Cooper group from 1969-1975. He co-wrote such hits as "Eighteen" and "School's Out". Dunaway's bass playing displayed varying influences including Latin ("Below Your Means") and Jazzy Blues ("Crazy Little Child", "Blue Turk") along with many other genres. - John McVie
John Graham McVie (born November 26, 1945) is a British bass guitarist best known as a member of the rock group Fleetwood Mac. He joined Fleetwood Mac shortly after its formation by guitarist Peter Green in 1967, and, along with Mick Fleetwood, is the only original member still with the band. In 1968 he married blues pianist and singer Christine Perfect, who became a member of Fleetwood Mac two years later. John and Christine McVie divorced, however, in 1977, … - Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942 in Hawthorne, California), is an American pop musician, best known as the lead songwriter, bassist, and lead singer of the American rock band The Beach Boys. Wilson was also the band's main producer, composer, and arranger. Early influences included The Four Freshmen and Chuck Berry, among others. Wilson admired Phil Spector, considering him both a mentor and rival. - Stuart Sutcliffe
Stuart Fergusson Victor Sutcliffe (23 June 1940 - 10 April 1962) was a British musician and artist who, until his early death, worked in a style related to Abstract Expressionism. Sutcliffe was an art school friend of John Lennon and was the original bassist of the English rock band The Beatles for two years. Sutcliffe and Lennon are credited with naming the group after Buddy Holly's band the Crickets. - Cliff Burton
Clifford Lee Burton (February 10, 1962 - September 27, 1986) was a bass guitarist, best known for his work with the thrash/heavy metal band Metallica from 1982-86. Burton's early influence was essential in creating the unique musical style for which Metallica would later become famous. Burton first joined the band in 1982, and performed on their debut album "Kill 'Em All" (the title of which came from him), … - Mark King
Mark King (born 20 October 1958, in Cowes, Isle of Wight) is an English musician from the Isle of Wight. He is most famous for being the lead singer and bassist player of the band, Level 42. In the early 1980s King popularized the 1970s-era slap and pop style for playing the bass guitar by incorporating it into pop music. - Bill Wyman
Bill Wyman (born William George Perks on 24 October 1936) was the bassist for the English rock and roll band The Rolling Stones from its founding in 1962 until 1993. - Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow (b. October 4, 1940) is a jazz bass guitarist and composer born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. As a child, Swallow studied piano and trumpet before turning to the double bass at age 14. While attending a prep school, he began trying his hand in jazz improvisation. In 1960 he left Yale, where he was studying composition, and settled in New York City, playing at the time in Jimmy Giuffre's trio along with Paul Bley. - Steve Harris
Stephen Percy Harris (born March 12, 1956 in Leytonstone, London, England) is the bassist and primary composer of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. In addition, he plays keyboards, sings backing vocals, and is the leader and sole owner of the band. He founded the band as a teenager in 1975. Along with Dave Murray, they are the only members of the band that have appeared on all of the band's albums, and Harris is the only member to remain in the band throughout its duration. - Doug Wimbish
Doug Wimbish (born September 22, 1956) is a bass player, primarily known for his studio work for the rap/hip hop label Sugarhill Records and his membership of the band Living Colour. He has played for a vast range of artists, among which Jeff Beck, Mick Jagger, Madonna, George Clinton, Depeche Mode, and Mos Def. Wimbish is considered to be a pioneer in hip hop bass playing and in the use of effects with bass playing. - Jimmy Haslip
Jimmy Haslip is an electric bass player and record producer best known as a founding and current member of the pioneering fusion group The Yellowjackets. He was also an early user of the 5-string electric bass. Haslip is notable for his versatiliy of tone, including being able to very closely achieve the tone of an upright acoustic bass on an electric bass guitar, his melodic bass lines, and his expressive solos. - Bootsy Collins
William "Bootsy" Collins (born October 26, 1951 in Cincinnati, Ohio) is a funk bassist, singer, and songwriter. - Geezer Butler
Terence Michael Joseph "Geezer" Butler (born 17 July, 1949 in Aston, Birmingham, England) is the founding bassist for heavy metal band Black Sabbath. His nickname supposedly arises from his habit as a teenager of referring to everyone as "Geezer". He is currently involved in Heaven and Hell. Geezer formed his first band, "Rare Breed", with schoolmate John "Ozzy" Osbourne in the autumn of 1967. Separated for a time, Ozzy and Geezer reunited in the blues foursome, … - Stuart Hamm
Stuart 'Stu' Hamm (born February 8, 1960) is an American bass player, known for his session and live work with numerous artists as well for his virtuosic playing style and solo recordings. - James Jamerson
James Jamerson (January 29, 1938 - August 2, 1983) was an American musician. He was the uncredited bassist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s, and he has become regarded as one of the most influential bass guitar players in modern music history. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. - Guy Pratt
Guy Pratt is a well-known session bassist and also a songwriter, actor and comedian. He was born January 3 1962 in London, England, son of actor Mike Pratt. In 1996, Pratt married Gala Wright, the daughter of Richard Wright. Pratt is best known for his work as a session player. He has worked with Pink Floyd, Kirsty MacColl, The Smiths, Lemon Jelly, The Orb, All Saints, Icehouse, Madonna, Stephen Duffy, Robbie Robertson, Roxy Music, Michael Jackson, Gary Moore, … - Bill Laswell
Bill Laswell (born February 12, 1955 in Salem, Illinois and raised in Albion, Michigan) is an American bassist, producer and record label owner. He is married to Ethiopian singer Gigi. Laswell ranks among the most prolific of musicians, being involved in hundreds of recordings with many musicians from all over the world. Laswell's music draws upon many different genres, most notably funk, various world musics, jazz, dub and ambient, … - J
Jun Onose, or "J", is the former bassist of the Japanese band Luna Sea. He was born August 12, 1970. He still plays bass, but also sings lead vocals in his own band. His website domain is an acronym of his favorite phrase "Wake Up Mother Fucker!". In 1997, J put out his first solo work, a single called "Burn Out", which contained the title song and a cover of "Call Me", originally by Blondie. - Larry Graham
Larry Graham, Jr. (born August 14, 1946 in Beaumont, Texas) is an American baritone singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as both the bass player in the popular and influential psychedelic soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone, and as the founder and frontman of Graham Central Station. He is credited with the invention of the slapping technique, which radically expanded the tonal palette of the bass, … - Mike Huckabee
Michael Dale "Mike" Huckabee (born August 24, 1955) is the former governor of the U.S. state of Arkansas, having served from 1996 to 2007, who is a candidate in the United States presidential election, 2008. He was only the third Republican governor of the state since Reconstruction. He officially announced his candidacy for the United States presidential election, 2008 on January 28, 2007. - Jason Newsted
Jason Curtis Newsted (born March 3 1963, Battle Creek, Michigan) is an American bass guitarist currently a member of Voivod and Rock Star Supernova, but he is best known as a former member of the band Metallica from 1986-2001, replacing Cliff Burton shortly after his death. He currently resides in Walnut Creek, California. - Dave Allen
Dave Allen (born December 1955) was the bassist for the post-punk band, Gang of Four. In 1981, he left Gang of Four to found Shriekback. He later founded World Domination Recordings and two of its bands, The Elastic Purejoy and Low Pop Suicide (with Rick Boston). He appeared on several LPs and EPs with each of these bands, …
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