Bassists
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If you’re a fan of rock music then you’d probably be aware of the significant role bassists play in the band! Bass instruments are important in the production of rock music and only talented bassists can do full justice to the genre! Victor Wooten, of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, is considered one of the greatest bassists of all time. With his intricate jazz melodies and complex R&B music, he revolutionized the musical scene in the 1980s. Jack Bruce is another gifted bassist who played with John Mayall's Blues Breakers and experimented with various sounds in jazz, rock, and R&B music. Another legendary bassist, Jaco Pastorius, actually started out as a drummer but was forced to turn to bass following an injury which prevented him from playing drums. He quickly mastered playing the bass and went on to become one of the most sought-after bassists of his era. While most bassists are males, a few gutsy women have dared to venture into the field and create niches for themselves. Melissa Auf Der Maur, Esperanza Spalding, and Sean Yseult are among the talented female bassists who have taken on the male-dominated bass arena. This section gives you information about the life and works of famous bassists.
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Birthdate: August 19, 1951
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Oadby, United Kingdom
Former Queen bass guitarist and songwriter John Deacon contributed to some of the most popular hits of the band, such as I Want to Break Free and Another One Bites the Dust. He was the last member to enter the band, and the “quietest.” He retired in 1997.
2
Lemmy(Founder of the Rock Band 'Motörhead')
Birthdate: December 24, 1945
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
Died: December 28, 2015
Lemmy was an English musician who founded the popular rock band Motörhead. The only continuous member of Motörhead, Lemmy served as the band's lead singer, primary songwriter, and bassist. Renowned for his gravelly voice, which was counted among the most recognizable voices in rock, Lemmy is also remembered for his military-influenced fashion sense and his signature friendly mutton chops.
3
John Paul Jones
(Musician)
Birthdate: January 3, 1946
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Sidcup, Kent, England
4
Geddy Lee(Lead Vocalist, Bassist and Keyboardist for the Canadian Rock Group 'Rush')
Birthdate: July 29, 1953
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Willowdale, Toronto, Canada
Canadian singer Geddy Lee soared to fame as the lead vocalist, keyboardist, and bassist of the rock band Rush. He and his bandmates of Rush were the first to win the Officer of the Order of Canada as a group. He also released a solo album, My Favourite Headache.
5
Duff McKagan
(Musician, Songwriter)
Birthdate: February 5, 1964
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, United States
6
Tina Weymouth(Musician, Founding Member and Bassist of the New Wave Group ‘Talking Heads’)
Birthdate: November 22, 1950
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Coronado, California, United States
Tina Weymouth is an American singer, author, songwriter, and musician. She is credited with founding the now-defunct new wave group Talking Heads, for which she also served as the bassist. She is also credited with co-founding Tom Tom Club, a side project of Talking Heads. In 2002, Tina Weymouth was made a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
Birthdate: October 19, 1984
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, United States
8
Rick Danko
(Singer-Songwriter, Bassist and Founding Member of 'The Band')
Birthdate: December 29, 1943
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Norfolk County, Canada
Died: December 10, 1999
Canadian singer and The Band member Rick Danko initially performed as a rhythm guitarist and bassist for The Hawks. Part of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Danko struggled with drug addiction and was once even arrested in Japan for smuggling drugs. He died in his sleep after a performance.
Birthdate: April 28, 1953
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Rochester, New York, USA
10
Nikki Sixx(Co-Founder and Bassist of Heavy Metal Band 'Mötley Crüe')
Birthdate: December 11, 1958
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: San Jose, California, United States
Nikki Sixx, the co-founder, songwriter, and bassist of the heavy metal band Mötley Crüe, has also worked with side bands such as Sixx:A.M. Sixx owns a clothing line, has been part of radio shows such as Sixx Sense, and has written a bestselling memoir. He is also a talented photographer.
Birthdate: June 10, 1961
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Dayton, Ohio, USA
Birthdate: May 10, 1957
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Lewisham, South London
Died: February 2, 1979
Punk rock legend Sid Vicious was the lead singer and bassist of the Sex Pistols. He had a tumultuous life and was also accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death. He eventually died of a heroin overdose. His unreleased solo singles were collated and released as a posthumous album.
Birthdate: January 24, 1996
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia
Calum Hood is best known as part of the Australian pop-rock group 5 Seconds of Summer, which has delivered hits such as She Looks So Perfect. He has also written songs for artists such as Makeout. He quit his plans of pursuing a soccer career to venture into music.
14
Flea (Musician)(Musician, Actor, a Member and Bassist of the Rock Band ‘Red Hot Chili Peppers’)
Birthdate: October 16, 1962
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Michael Balzary, or Flea, is best known as the bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He has also been part of the supergroup Atoms for Peace, appeared in films such as The Big Lebowski, and voiced Donnie Thornberry in The Wild Thornberrys franchise. He also co-owns a music-oriented non-profit.
15
Robert Trujillo
(Bassist for American heavy metal band Metallica)
Birthdate: October 23, 1964
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States
16
Jermaine Jackson
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: December 11, 1954
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Gary, Indiana, United States
Birthdate: February 13, 1942
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Washington, District of Columbia, USA
Birthdate: June 23, 1956
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
Randy Jackson started his career playing bass guitar for various artists, He then started his stint as a producer with Columbia and MCA Records. He is best known for his appearance as a judge on American Idol. He has also been the executive producer of America's Best Dance Crew.
19
Benjamin Orr(Best Known as the Bassist, Co-founder, and Co-lead Vocalist of the Rock Band 'The Cars')
Birthdate: September 8, 1947
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Lakewood, Ohio, United States
Died: October 3, 2000
Birthdate: August 13, 1951
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Peoria, Illinois, USA
Died: December 16, 2007
Birthdate: March 15, 1940
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Berkeley, California, United States
Birthdate: March 24, 1935
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Everett, Washington, USA
Birthdate: August 16, 1985
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Folk rock singer Taylor Goldsmith is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the band Dawes. He has previously been part of the band Simon Dawes. He is married to singer Mandy Moore and has written quite a few songs for her album Silver Landings.
24
Charles Mingus(One of The Greatest Jazz Musicians & Composers in History)
Birthdate: April 22, 1922
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Nogales, Arizona, United States
Died: January 5, 1979
Jazz double bassist and pianist Charles Mingus is remembered for his stints with artists such as Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Dannie Richmond, and Herbie Hancock, and was named to the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame. His scores and recordings are preserved in the Library of Congress.
25
Victoria De Angelis
(Bassist best known as a member of the Italian pop-rock band MÃ¥neskin)
Birthdate: April 28, 2000
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Rome, Italy
26
Tyson Ritter(Lead Singer and Bassist of The Alternative Rock Band 'The All-American Rejects')
Birthdate: April 24, 1984
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States
Birthdate: November 12, 1968
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Portland, Oregon, USA
28
Laura Jane Grace
(Musician)
Birthdate: November 8, 1980
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Fort Benning, Georgia, USA
Birthdate: March 13, 1960
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Chinnor, England
30
Martyn LeNoble
(Dutch Bassist and a Founding Member of the Alternative Rock Band 'Porno for Pyros')
Birthdate: April 14, 1969
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Vlaardingen, Netherlands
Martyn LeNoble is a Dutch musician and bass guitarist who has contributed to the success of many bands like Porno for Pyros, Thelonious Monster, The Cult, and Jane's Addiction. Martyn LeNoble, who has courted controversy in the past due to his drug addiction, is currently working on a solo album.
31
Michael Kiwanuka
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: May 3, 1987
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Muswell Hill, London, England
Birthdate: August 27, 1970
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Kingsbury, London, England
33
Tony Levin
(Bassist, Blogger, Jazz musician)
Birthdate: June 6, 1946
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
34
James Jamerson
(Bass player)
Birthdate: January 29, 1936
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Died: August 2, 1983
Birthdate: October 29, 1944
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Birmingham, England
Birthdate: May 4, 1937
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Ferndale, Michigan, U.S.
37
Tom Araya
(Vocalist and Bassist of American thrash metal band Slayer)
Birthdate: June 6, 1961
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Viña del Mar, Chile
Birthdate: December 20, 1957
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Portsmouth, Virginia, United States U.S.
Birthdate: May 27, 1946
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Bidston, England
Died: November 27, 2013
Birthdate: June 27, 1942
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Birthdate: August 6, 1937
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Shenandoah, Iowa Shenandoah, Iowa, U.S.
Died: July 11, 2014
Birthdate: April 22, 1974
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Yerevan
Birthdate: April 26, 1959
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Birthdate: August 27, 1956
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Paddington, London, England, UK
45
Mike Rutherford
(Guitarist)
Birthdate: October 2, 1950
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK
Birthdate: June 24, 1978
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Birthdate: November 20, 1975
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Rochester, New York, USA
48
David Gates
(Singer-songwriter)
Birthdate: December 11, 1940
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
Birthdate: September 17, 1926
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, United States
Died: October 21, 1965
Birthdate: April 9, 1954
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States