Everyone knows the names of legendary guitarists like “Slash” or “Jimmi Hendrix”, but what about the bassists? They rarely get a mention but without them, the most iconic rock bands just wouldn’t be the same.
So here’s to the unsung heroes of rock ‘n’ roll in the form of 10 iconic bassists whose names you really should know.
John Entwistle (The Who)
The Who’s bassist John Entwistle was hugely influential in rock music. Remember that funky bass solo in “My Generation”? That’s down to this guy.
John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
Led Zeppelin definitely would not be the same without their secret weapon, John Paul Jones. He was always spicing things up with tricky rhythms and deadly riffs.
Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
Every member of The Beatles is equally important, so don’t forget the bassist.
Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath)
Geezer Butler not only played bass in Black Sabbath, but came up with a lot of the lyrics too. He earns his place on this list by being one of the founding fathers of heavy metal.
Flea (Red Hot Chilli Peppers)
Flea is probably the one bass player on this list that everybody already knows. His funky slap bass shook things up in the 80s and 90s.
Steve Harris (Iron Maiden)
Harris’s running bass in songs like “The Trooper” raised Iron Maiden up to “iconic” status.
Cliff Burton (Metallica)
Burton’s lightning-fast fingers earned him legendary status during his time with Metallica.
Lemmy Klimister (Motorhead)
That’s right, one of the most iconic faces of rock ‘n’ roll is a bassist.
Peter Hook (Joy Division)
Peter Hook has a big influence on post-punk music. His catchy riffs in
“Love Will Tear Us Apart” definitely played a part in its success as a hit.
Charles Mingus
Mingus was a phenomenal bass player who worked with many jazz legends in the 40s and 50s. His influence was long-lasting and would have impacted many of the bassists who followed.
