Who’s the World’s Best!? A Roundup of Famous Bassists from Around the Globe
If you’re a bassist—or simply someone who loves the bass—you probably research various bass players and study their performances, don’t you?
From bassists who have established their own unique playing styles to those who excel at laying down groove, each has a distinct appeal that captivates us.
In this article, we’ll introduce bassists from around the world that you absolutely need to know.
We’ll feature them alongside performance videos, so be sure to enjoy their playing with both your eyes and ears.
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[Who’s the best in the world!?] Roundup of Famous Overseas Bassists (11–20)
CreepColin Charles Greenwood（Radiohead）
Colin Greenwood is the bassist for the English alternative rock band Radiohead.
He is the older brother of the band’s guitarist and keyboardist, Jonny Greenwood.
While not flashy, his solid bass playing makes him the kind of bassist who supports the band’s sound from behind the scenes.
He also has expertise in synthesizers and sampling.
Even on the 1992 single Creep, his steady performance underpins the band’s ensemble.
Tom SawyerGeddy Lee（Rush）
Geddy Lee is the bassist and vocalist of Rush, a pioneering progressive rock band and a national group of Canada.
He was appointed to the Order of Canada in 1996.
His playing style—delivering aggressive phrases with a distorted tone—is as rock as it gets.
Tom Sawyer, released in 1981, is one of the band’s signature songs, and in the video Geddy Lee performs not only on bass but also skillfully uses synthesizers.
Ace Of SpadesLemmy Kilmister（Motorhead）
Lemmy Kilmister is a bassist who has had a major influence in the fields of hard rock, heavy metal, and hardcore.
He was the leader and also the vocalist of the British rock band Motörhead, and he wrote many of their songs.
With his long hair and bearded face—an archetypal rock musician look—he often appeared on British television and was very popular.
The music video for the title track of their 1980 album Ace of Spades, which reached No.
4 on the UK charts, features Lemmy singing in his gravelly voice while playing the bass.
SeptemberVerdine White（Earth, Wind & Fire）
Verdine White, the bassist who underpins the groove of Earth, Wind & Fire—a funk band with major name recognition in Japan—is also the younger brother of the band’s vocalist, Maurice White.
His style, playing as if dancing with big, stepping movements, lifts your spirits just by watching.
The video is the music video for the 1978 smash hit “September,” featuring Verdine energetically performing alongside the other members.
My WaySid Vicious（Sex Pistols）
When it comes to charismatic bassists in the punk rock world, Sid Vicious is the name that comes to mind.
He was the bassist for the British punk rock band the Sex Pistols, and his tumultuous life, cut short at a young age, has become legendary.
It’s also well known that he couldn’t originally play the bass and learned after joining the band.
After the Sex Pistols broke up, he began a solo career, and in 1978 he drew attention by covering Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” with a punk rock arrangement.
MoneyRoger Waters（Pink Floyd）
Roger Waters is a musician who served as the bassist for Pink Floyd, a band that represents progressive rock.
As the band’s leader, he became the principal songwriter from the 1970s onward, and The Dark Side of the Moon, the 1973 album for which he wrote all the lyrics, was a massive hit.
After leaving the band, he launched a solo career, and he also took part when Pink Floyd reunited from 2005 onward.
Money, the first track on side B of The Dark Side of the Moon, features a distinctive 7/4 rhythm and has continued to be performed at Roger’s concerts during his solo career.
Who’s the Best in the World!? A Roundup of Famous Overseas Bassists (21–30)
AttitudeDuff McKagan（Guns N’ Roses）
When it comes to the bass player for Guns N’ Roses, it’s Duff McKagan.
Because he’s tall, his bass playing has an especially powerful presence.
People tend to think Guns is all about the vocals and guitar, but don’t forget about him, too.