100 Greatest Metal Bassists
Criteria:
Innovation: There are two types of innovation: Technical and Stylistic. Technical refers to an innovation in bass playing techniques or methods. Stylistic is about doing something new in terms of the role of the bass in a pop/rock ensemble.
Influence: Not to be confused with innovation, influence is simply how much the player influenced others. That is, other professional bass players, not how many kids on your street they influenced.
Creativity: This is pretty much the category of music writing... this is about how clever or inventive the lines are... This is not to be confused with stylistic innovation. Though they do gain creativity points if their lines are innovative, they don't necessarily have to be innovative to be creativite. They don't have to reshape the bass world or anything like that, they just have to be clever lines.
Technical ability: This is about the player's technique. Speed, precision, sense of rhythm/ability to hold the 'pocket', ability to play odd time signatures, as well as technique versatility... ie. being able to play slap and fingerstyle well will score you more points than just being good at finger style.
Versatility: Versatility refers to not only versatility of musical genres, but also versatility in musical roles. Just like a guitarist is more highly regarded if he or she can perform well as a rhythm or lead player, it's the same with bassists. Bassists are the glue that holds the band together, and if the bassist can't fit in wherever the band, as a unit, needs them, they are not being very much of an asset to the band. Also included in this is instrumental versatility. This means playing a stringed instrument, besides bass guitar, in the role of a bass.
Innovation: There are two types of innovation: Technical and Stylistic. Technical refers to an innovation in bass playing techniques or methods. Stylistic is about doing something new in terms of the role of the bass in a pop/rock ensemble.
Influence: Not to be confused with innovation, influence is simply how much the player influenced others. That is, other professional bass players, not how many kids on your street they influenced.
Creativity: This is pretty much the category of music writing... this is about how clever or inventive the lines are... This is not to be confused with stylistic innovation. Though they do gain creativity points if their lines are innovative, they don't necessarily have to be innovative to be creativite. They don't have to reshape the bass world or anything like that, they just have to be clever lines.
Technical ability: This is about the player's technique. Speed, precision, sense of rhythm/ability to hold the 'pocket', ability to play odd time signatures, as well as technique versatility... ie. being able to play slap and fingerstyle well will score you more points than just being good at finger style.
Versatility: Versatility refers to not only versatility of musical genres, but also versatility in musical roles. Just like a guitarist is more highly regarded if he or she can perform well as a rhythm or lead player, it's the same with bassists. Bassists are the glue that holds the band together, and if the bassist can't fit in wherever the band, as a unit, needs them, they are not being very much of an asset to the band. Also included in this is instrumental versatility. This means playing a stringed instrument, besides bass guitar, in the role of a bass.
Greatest Metal Bassists
1. Geezer Butler
(Black Sabbath)
2. Steve Harris
(Iron Maiden)
3. Cliff Burton
(Metallica)
4. Steve DiGiorgio
(Testament, Death)
5. Alex Webster
(Cannibal Corpse, Blotted Science)
(Black Sabbath)
2. Steve Harris
(Iron Maiden)
3. Cliff Burton
(Metallica)
4. Steve DiGiorgio
(Testament, Death)
5. Alex Webster
(Cannibal Corpse, Blotted Science)
6. John Myung
(Dream Theater)
7. Sean Malone
(Cynic, Gordian Knot)
8. Roger Patterson
(Atheist)
9. Tony Choy
(Atheist)
10. Michael Lepond
(Symphony X)
11. Ryan Martinie
(Mudvayne)
12. Jason Netherton
(Dying Fetus, Misery Index)
13. Justin Chancellor
(Tool)
14. Robert Trujillo
(Suicidal Tendencies, Metallica, Ozzy, Jerry Cantrell)
15. Stefan Fimmers
(Necrophagist)
16. Phil Lynott
(Thin Lizzy)
17. Neil Murray
(Whitesnake, Empire)
18. John Alderete
(Racer X)
19. Tim Commerford
(Rage Against the Machine)
20. Al Cisneros
(Om, Sleep, Shrinebuilder)
21. Billy Sheehan
(Steve Vai, Mr. Big, Niacin)
22. Rainer Landfermann
(Pavor)
23. Randy Coven
(Steve Vai)
24. DD Verni
(Overkill)
25. Jason Newsted
(Metallica, Floatsam and Jetsam, Ozzy, Voivod)
26. Marcel Jacob
(Talisman, Yngwie Malmsteen)
27. Mike Inez
(Alice In Chains, Ozzy)
28. Bill Gould
(Faith No More)
29. Joey DeMaio
(Manowar)
30. Brian Gibson
(Lightning Bolt)
31. Linus of Hollywood
(Paul Gilbert)
32. David Ellefson
(Megadeth)
33. Pete Perez
(Spastic Inc.)
34. Dan Lilker
(Nuclear Assault)
35. Doug Wimbish
(Living Color)
36. François Mongrain
(Martyr)
37. Ben Shepherd
(Soundgarden)
38. Rex Brown
(Pantera)
39. Bob Daisley
(Ozzy, Rainbow, Rising Force)
40. Lemmy Kilmister
(Motorhead)
41. Markus Grosskopf
(Helloween)
42. Mem Von Stein
(Exumer)
43. Tom Araya
(Slayer)
44. Greg Christian
(Testament)
45. Sean Beasley
(Dying Fetus)
46. Jimmy Bain
(Thin Lizzy, Dio, Rainbow, solo)
47. Jared Anderson
(Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel)
48. Rufus Philpot
(Planet X)
49. Trey Gunn
(Session Player)
50. Jon Vesano
(Nile)
51. Trevor Dunn
(Fantomas, Mr. Bungle)
52. David Vincent
(Morbid Angel)
53. Troy Norman
(Morbid Angel)
54. Necrobutcher
(Mayhem)
55. Eerie Von
(Danzig)
56. Steve Tucker
(Morbid Angel, Anthrax)
57. Paul Barker
(Ministry)
58. Dominic LaPointe
(Quo Vadis)
59. Jeordie White
(A Perfect Circle)
60. Felipe Andreolli
(Angra)
61. Ron McGoveney
(Phantasm, Hirax)
62. Bobzilla
(Damage Plan)
63. Paul D'Amour
(Tool)
64. Ian Hill
(Judas Priest)
65. Eric Langlois
(Cryptopsy)
66. Scott Clendenin
(Death)
67. Buckethead
(solo)
68. Frank Bello
(Anthrax)
69. Mike Starr
(Alice In Chains)
70. Timi Hansen
(King Diamond, Mercyful Fate)
71. Greg Arama
(Amboy Dukes)
72. Adrian Lambert
(DragonForce)
73. Mike Flores
(Origin)
74. Jim Shepppard
(Nevermore)
75. James MacDonough
(Iced Earth, Megadeth)
76. Chris Kringel
(Portal)
77. Yngwie J. Malmsteen
(solo)
78. Frederic Le Clerq
(Dragonforce)
79. Martin Mendez
(Opeth)
80. Johan DeFarfalla
(Opeth)
81. Tyr
(Emperor)
82. Dan Briggs
(Between the Buried and Me)
83. John Campbell
(Lamb of God)
84. Shane Embruy
(Cryptopsy)
85. Dick Lövgren
(Meshuggah)
86. Christian Olde Wolbers
(Fear Factory)
87. Michael Bishop
(GWAR)
88. Evan Seinfeld
(Biohazard)
89. Kelly Conlon
(Death)
90. Duff McKagen
(Guns N' Roses, Duff McKagans Loaded)
91. Jerry Orne
(WarHorse)
92. Byron Stroud
(Fear Factory)
93. Troy Sanders
(Mastodon)
94. Frank Banx
(Opeth)
95. Jeff Becerra
(Possessed)
96. Alex Camargo
(Cryptopsy)
97. Scott Carlson
(Death)
98. Martin Henriksson
(Dark Tranquility)
99. Paul Romanko
(Shadows Fall)
100. Mike Dean
(Corrosion of Conformity)
(Dream Theater)
7. Sean Malone
(Cynic, Gordian Knot)
8. Roger Patterson
(Atheist)
9. Tony Choy
(Atheist)
10. Michael Lepond
(Symphony X)
11. Ryan Martinie
(Mudvayne)
12. Jason Netherton
(Dying Fetus, Misery Index)
13. Justin Chancellor
(Tool)
14. Robert Trujillo
(Suicidal Tendencies, Metallica, Ozzy, Jerry Cantrell)
15. Stefan Fimmers
(Necrophagist)
16. Phil Lynott
(Thin Lizzy)
17. Neil Murray
(Whitesnake, Empire)
18. John Alderete
(Racer X)
19. Tim Commerford
(Rage Against the Machine)
20. Al Cisneros
(Om, Sleep, Shrinebuilder)
21. Billy Sheehan
(Steve Vai, Mr. Big, Niacin)
22. Rainer Landfermann
(Pavor)
23. Randy Coven
(Steve Vai)
24. DD Verni
(Overkill)
25. Jason Newsted
(Metallica, Floatsam and Jetsam, Ozzy, Voivod)
26. Marcel Jacob
(Talisman, Yngwie Malmsteen)
27. Mike Inez
(Alice In Chains, Ozzy)
28. Bill Gould
(Faith No More)
29. Joey DeMaio
(Manowar)
30. Brian Gibson
(Lightning Bolt)
31. Linus of Hollywood
(Paul Gilbert)
32. David Ellefson
(Megadeth)
33. Pete Perez
(Spastic Inc.)
34. Dan Lilker
(Nuclear Assault)
35. Doug Wimbish
(Living Color)
36. François Mongrain
(Martyr)
37. Ben Shepherd
(Soundgarden)
38. Rex Brown
(Pantera)
39. Bob Daisley
(Ozzy, Rainbow, Rising Force)
40. Lemmy Kilmister
(Motorhead)
41. Markus Grosskopf
(Helloween)
42. Mem Von Stein
(Exumer)
43. Tom Araya
(Slayer)
44. Greg Christian
(Testament)
45. Sean Beasley
(Dying Fetus)
46. Jimmy Bain
(Thin Lizzy, Dio, Rainbow, solo)
47. Jared Anderson
(Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel)
48. Rufus Philpot
(Planet X)
49. Trey Gunn
(Session Player)
50. Jon Vesano
(Nile)
51. Trevor Dunn
(Fantomas, Mr. Bungle)
52. David Vincent
(Morbid Angel)
53. Troy Norman
(Morbid Angel)
54. Necrobutcher
(Mayhem)
55. Eerie Von
(Danzig)
56. Steve Tucker
(Morbid Angel, Anthrax)
57. Paul Barker
(Ministry)
58. Dominic LaPointe
(Quo Vadis)
59. Jeordie White
(A Perfect Circle)
60. Felipe Andreolli
(Angra)
61. Ron McGoveney
(Phantasm, Hirax)
62. Bobzilla
(Damage Plan)
63. Paul D'Amour
(Tool)
64. Ian Hill
(Judas Priest)
65. Eric Langlois
(Cryptopsy)
66. Scott Clendenin
(Death)
67. Buckethead
(solo)
68. Frank Bello
(Anthrax)
69. Mike Starr
(Alice In Chains)
70. Timi Hansen
(King Diamond, Mercyful Fate)
71. Greg Arama
(Amboy Dukes)
72. Adrian Lambert
(DragonForce)
73. Mike Flores
(Origin)
74. Jim Shepppard
(Nevermore)
75. James MacDonough
(Iced Earth, Megadeth)
76. Chris Kringel
(Portal)
77. Yngwie J. Malmsteen
(solo)
78. Frederic Le Clerq
(Dragonforce)
79. Martin Mendez
(Opeth)
80. Johan DeFarfalla
(Opeth)
81. Tyr
(Emperor)
82. Dan Briggs
(Between the Buried and Me)
83. John Campbell
(Lamb of God)
84. Shane Embruy
(Cryptopsy)
85. Dick Lövgren
(Meshuggah)
86. Christian Olde Wolbers
(Fear Factory)
87. Michael Bishop
(GWAR)
88. Evan Seinfeld
(Biohazard)
89. Kelly Conlon
(Death)
90. Duff McKagen
(Guns N' Roses, Duff McKagans Loaded)
91. Jerry Orne
(WarHorse)
92. Byron Stroud
(Fear Factory)
93. Troy Sanders
(Mastodon)
94. Frank Banx
(Opeth)
95. Jeff Becerra
(Possessed)
96. Alex Camargo
(Cryptopsy)
97. Scott Carlson
(Death)
98. Martin Henriksson
(Dark Tranquility)
99. Paul Romanko
(Shadows Fall)
100. Mike Dean
(Corrosion of Conformity)
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Edited By: Joe, Lew
Last Updated: 2017-05-06Newly added names are in Red