Famous British Bassists

Vote for Your Favourite British Bassists

This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

John Deacon

(Musician)

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.

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.

John Paul Jones

(Musician)

Birthdate: January 3, 1946

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Sidcup, Kent, England

Height: 5'8" (173 cm)

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Sid Vicious

(Musician)

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.

Adam Clayton

(Bassist of the rock band U2)

Birthdate: March 13, 1960

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Chinnor, England

Height: 5'10" (178 cm)

Martin Kemp

(English Musician and Actor)

Birthdate: October 10, 1961

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Highbury, London, United Kingdom

Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

Michael Kiwanuka

(Singer-songwriter)

Birthdate: May 3, 1987

Sun Sign: Taurus

Birthplace: Muswell Hill, London, England

Tony Kanal

(Musician)

Birthdate: August 27, 1970

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Kingsbury, London, England

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Chris Squire

(English Musician, Singer and Songwriter)

Birthdate: March 4, 1948

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Kingsbury, London, England

Died: June 28, 2015

Denny Laine

(Musician)

Birthdate: October 29, 1944

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Birmingham, England

Died: December 5, 2023

Lewis Collins

(Actor)

Birthdate: May 27, 1946

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Bidston, England

Died: November 27, 2013

Height: 5'11" (180 cm)

Mike Rutherford

(Guitarist)

Birthdate: October 2, 1950

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK

Height: 6'3" (190 cm)

Glen Matlock

(Musician)

Birthdate: August 27, 1956

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Paddington, London, England, UK

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)

Guy Berryman

(Scottish Musician and Songwriter)

Birthdate: April 12, 1978

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: Kirkcaldy, United Kingdom

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Eddy Grant

(Musician)

Birthdate: March 5, 1948

Sun Sign: Pisces

Birthplace: Plaisance, British Guiana [now Guyana]

Noel Redding

(English Rock Musician and Singer)

Birthdate: December 25, 1945

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Folkestone, England

Died: May 11, 2003

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Max George

(Singer-songwriter)

Birthdate: September 6, 1988

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Manchester

Max George went from being a Preston North End footballer to the frontman of The Wanted, delivering hits such as Heart Vacancy. He was also seen in the reality series The Wanted Life, participated in Strictly Come Dancing, and appeared in the recurring role of Clint in Glee.

John Wetton

(Singer)

Birthdate: June 12, 1949

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Derby, Derbyshire, England

Died: January 13, 2017

Dougie Payne

(Bassist)

Birthdate: November 14, 1972

Sun Sign: Scorpio

Birthplace: Glasgow, United Kingdom

Glenn Hughes

(English Rock Singer and Vocalist)

Birthdate: August 21, 1952

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Cannock, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom

Colin Greenwood

(Musician)

Birthdate: June 26, 1969

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Oxford, England

Height: 5'9" (175 cm)

Pete Farndon

(Former English bassist and founding member of the rock band the Pretenders.)

Birthdate: June 12, 1952

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Hereford, England

Died: April 14, 1983

Ian Hill

(Musician, best known as the bassist and mainstay for the British heavy metal band Judas Priest)

Birthdate: January 20, 1951

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: West Bromwich, England

John Illsley

(English Musician Bassist and Guitarist)

Birthdate: June 24, 1949

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Leicester, England

Andy Fraser

(Musician, Bassist, Songwriter)

Birthdate: July 3, 1952

Sun Sign: Cancer

Birthplace: Paddington, London, England

Died: March 16, 2015

Bill Nelson

(Singer)

Birthdate: December 18, 1948

Sun Sign: Sagittarius

Birthplace: Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Alan Lancaster

(Best known as a founding member and bassist)

Birthdate: February 7, 1949

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Peckham, London, England

Died: September 26, 2021

Charlie Jones

(Bassist)

Birthdate: October 13, 1965

Sun Sign: Libra

Birthplace: Bristol

David Steele

(Musician who was a member of the Beat and Fine Young Cannibals)

Birthdate: September 8, 1960

Sun Sign: Virgo

Birthplace: Cowes, Isle of Wight, England

Stephen Street

(Record Producer)

Birthdate: March 29, 1960

Sun Sign: Aries

Birthplace: London, England

Heinz Burt

(Bassist)

Birthdate: July 24, 1942

Sun Sign: Leo

Birthplace: Detmold, Germany

Died: April 7, 2000

Gavin Bryars

(English Composer and Double Bassist)

Birthdate: January 16, 1943

Sun Sign: Capricorn

Birthplace: Yorkshire, England

Lyn-Z

(Musical Artist)

Birthdate: May 22, 1976

Sun Sign: Gemini

Birthplace: Dunoon

Height: 5'7" (170 cm)