GREAT JAZZ & ROCK BASSISTS

YOUR CHOICES

If your choice is not in the above lists please email me
and I will give them a well deserved mention here.
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Gerald Veasley

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, jazz bass guitarist, Gerald Veasley was introduced to gospel and R&B as a child and then as a teenager, in the late '60s and 1970s, he played in various R&B bands in West Philly. He was a huge fan, Weather Report and Smokey Robinson and soon became inspired by Jaco Pastorius, Anthony Jackson, and Stanley Clarke, and it wasn't long until he switched to playing his new love .. jazz. At this time he found plenty of work as a studio musician, supporting many prominent musicians. Then in 1988 Weather Report's Joe Zawinul hired him as a sideman. During this period he released his debut solo album "Look Ahead" in 1992 and in 1995 he left Joe to concerntrate on his solo career. He has gone on to release 7 more albums (to date) - ''Signs'', ''Soul Control'', ''Love Letters'', ''On the Fast Track'', ''Velvet'', ''At the Jazz Base!'' and his latest album released in 2008 ''Your Move'', reached No.12 on the U.S. Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart.
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Tim Bogert
Tim Bogert
Well known for his electric bass solos, New Yorker Tim Bogert started as a child on piano, changing to claranet and playing saxophone in his high school marching band. Still playing sax, he formed the band called The Belltones. It wasn't till the band elvolved into The Chessmen opening for the like of The Shirelles, The Crest and The Earl, Tim picked up the electric bass. In 1965 he went on tour with Rick Martin and the Showmen, where he met Mark Stein. He and Mark formed a band The Pigeons which elvolved into Vanilla Fudge. Tim's unique combination of melodic ingenuity, and gutsy roaring speed, brought new dimensions to the role of the electric bass player back in 1967. Following the breakup of Vanilla Fudge in 1970, Tim went on with Carmine to form Cactus followed by the super group and Beck, Bogert & Appice, featuring guitarist Jeff Beck and drummer Carmine Appice. Over the years Tim has performed with many world class players and bands including Jake E. Lee, Rod Stewart, Billy Cobham, Steve Perry, Bobby and the Midnights, Rick Derringer, Vince Martell, Ronnie Laws, Boxer and Ginger Baker. He played bass guitar on Bo Diddley's The 20th Anniversary Of Rock 'n' Roll all-star album and was inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame in 1999. He still plays and tours with the reunited Vanilla Fudge and Cactus reunions.
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Mel Schacher

Bassist/lead bassist Mel Schacher was born in Flint, Michigan. At the age of 7 he was learning to play his Dad's banjo, by 12 he was learning guitar and playing in local groups by his early teens. At 16 he started out on his professional career with Question Mark and the Mysterians, touring America supporting their hit "96 Tears". In 1968, Mel, with friends Don Brewer and Mark Farner founded the rock band Grand Funk Railroad aka Grand Funk, where his "lead bass" style helped create the Grand Funk unique sound and his strong approach to music has inspired countless musicians to blend rock-solid support punctuated with fluid riffs. In 1970 they sold more albums than any other American band. The 70's also saw them continually in the charts with hits including "We're An American Band", "The Loco-Motion", "Shinin' On", "Some Kind of Wonderful", and "Bad Time". When the band split he co-founded the band "Flint" producing a self titled album with Frank Zappa guesting on 2 tracks, "Better You Than Me" and "You'll Never Be The Same". Mel rejoined Grand Funk Railroad during their reunion tour in 1996. He still plays and tours with the band today.
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Leland "Lee" Bruce Sklar

Born in Wisconsin, but raised in Southern California, Leland Sklar's long career started when his college friend, James Taylor asked him to play bass for him. As James' fame grew, this led to other bands and artists wanting Lee's bass lines. Over the years, as a session musician, he has contributed to thousands of albums recording with The Section, Air Supply, Glen Campbell, Eric Carmen, Donovan, America, Hoyt Axton, Kim Carnes, Clint Black, Suzy Bogguss, David Cassidy, Ray Charles, Roberta Flack, Carole Bayer Sager, Roger McGuinn, Joe Cocker, Rita Coolidge, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Robbie Williams, Neil Diamond, Phil Collins, The Doors, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Engelbert Humperdinck, Arlo Guthrie, Merle Haggard, Carole King, Richard Marx, The Manhattan Transfer, Yumi Matsutoya, Amy Grant, Ricky Martin, Lisa Loeb, Steve Lukather, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Reba McEntire, Enrique Iglesias, Julio Iglesias, Bernadette Peters, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, LeAnn Rimes, Shawn Phillips, Johnny Rivers, Miyuki Nakajima, Randy Newman, Aaron Neville, Dolly Parton, Bette Midler, Jimmy Webb, The Spencer Davis Group, Rick Springfield, Rod Stewart, Warren Zevon, The Weather Girls, Tanya Tucker, Terence Trent d'Arby, Barbra Streisand, George Strait, Donna Summer, Michael W. Smith, Neil Sedaka, Ricky Skaggs and this is mentioning only a few. He has also recorded sound tracks to films and television shows, to date Annabelle's Wish, Black Dog, Catwalk, Conspiracy Theory, Coyote Ugly, Doctor Detroit, Dr. T & the Women, For Love of the Game, Legally Blonde, Message in a Bottle, Metropolis, Phantom of the Paradise, The Postman, The Prince of Egypt, Sleepwalkers, Love Maximum. Lee, nicknamed "Father Time" has also toured with Toto beginning in 2007 until the band broke up in 2008. He was filling in for Mike Porcaro, who was recovering from a hand injury.
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Lee Rocker

Bassist Lee Rocker began taking classical cello lessons at eight years old, but influenced by rock n roll he took up electric bass, before hearing the blues of Carl Perkins and Muddy Water when he took to the acoustic bass. He jammed with his school friends Jimmy McDonnell aka Slim Jim Phantom and Brian Setzer, who in 1979 became The Stray Cats, who went on to revive rockabilly music around the world. Lee's powerful, original songs, virtuoso musicianship, and vibrant vocals, brought depth and substance to a neglected style of music to a new generation who loved it. From 1984 has worked with Earl Slick, Carl Perkins, Dave Edmunds, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jeff Beck, Willie Nelson and others. In more recent years Lee has founded his band Black Cat Bone; 2002, he toured the U.S. with ex-Elvis Presley guitarist Scotty Moore; 2003 The Stray Cats reunited for an 18-city tour of Europe, and 2007 saw another successful rocking Stray Cat world tour. Orange County Weekly quote: “there has never been a rock ‘n’ roll bass player more fun to watch in concert than Lee Rocker.”
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Jance Garfat

US bassist Jance Garfat started his career with different bands around Union City, New Jersey before joining the pop-country rock band Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show in 1972 as their full-time bassist. Jance added a fuller depth and a solid bottom line to their sound. At the height of their success Dr Hook were top of the charts in 42 countries. They were known more for there singles rather than an album band and Jance can be heard on all the bands tracks from 1972 to 1985, such as 'A Little Bit More', 'Only Sixteen', 'If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body', 'Sexy Eyes', 'Cover Of The Rolling Stone', 'More Like The Movies', 'Ballad Of Lucy Jordan', 'When Your In Love with a Beautiful Woman' and dozens more. This great band amassed 60 gold and platinum singles and albums.
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Mike Dirnt
Mike Dirnt
Born Michael Ryan Pritchard, Mike Dirnt at the age of 14 formed the band Sweet Children, with friend Billie Joe Armstrong. Two years later in 1989 with the addition of John Kiffmeyer aka Al Sobrante they formed Green Day, gathering a big fanbase on the punk rock scene in Berkeley, California. In 1994 thier break-through and third album "Dookie" sold over 10 million copies, Mike's basslines on "Longview" showed the world what an awesome bassist he is. The band has sold over 60 million records worldwide, won three Grammy Awards; Best Alternative Album for Dookie, Best Rock Album for American Idiot, and Record of the Year for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams.". Mike has also played with bands Squirtgun, the Screeching Weasel, the Network, and Crummy Musicians, and currently plays with The Frustrators as well as Green Day. Mike is working on a new Green Day studio album set to be released sometime in 2008.
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Bill Dickinson
SORRY
NO
PHOTO
Studio musician and session player, Bill Dickinson is a well known and very respected electic bass guitarist in Los Angeles, where back in the late 60's and 70's he used to play every Tuesday night with his friend and then fellow session guitarist Lee Mack "Captain Fingers" Ritenour at The Baked Potato. As well as playing the Californian scene Bill has a busy life playing sessions in the shadows of the L.A. studios recording with the likes of Seals & Croft, Willie Bobo, Righteous Brothers, John Pisano, Michael Franks, Dave Grusin to mention a few.
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Tommy Shannon

Tommy Shannon joined his first band The Avengers at the age of 13, but got his big break some years later when he met Johnny Winter in The Fog at Dallas and they formed a project known as The Progressive Blues Experiment, Edgar Winter joined them onstage wat Woodstock. In 1970 Tommy moved to San Francisco forming the band Krakerjack. 1977 sees him in Houston with Allen Hayes opening for bands Bachman-Turner Overdrive and KISS. Next he met up with Stevie Ray Vaughan in The Fog at Dallas and joined Stevies band Double Trouble. Since SRV's sad, untimely death Tommy has played, recorded and-or toured with The Mighty Zor, the Arc Angels, Storyville, Susan Tedeschi, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Hubert Sumlin, Mike McCready, Johnny Lang, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, Eric Johnson, David Grissom, Mato Nanji and Jeff Beck.
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Clifford Burton

Clifford Burton was born in Castro Valley, California, to hippy parents. He studied classical piano at six, bass guitar at 14, spending four to six hours a day perfecting his bass guitar skills, and took a music course at Napa Valley Junior College. He formed Trauma, it was while with this band Ron McGovney heard Clifford perform his solo, "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth", asking him to join Metallica. Clifford joined Metallica only after they relocated to the San Francisco, California Bay Area. Clifford had a major say in Metallica's music, look, and direction, his early influence and driving bassline, was the essential ingredient in creating the unique musical style for which Metallica would later become famous. he exposed early Metallica to a variety of music styles from The Misfits, Pink Floyd, The Velvet Underground, and Thin Lizzy, to classical pianist Glenn Gould. Clifford's first appeared with Metallica at The Stone, in San Francisco, CA on March 5th, 1983. His final performance was in Stockholm, Sweden on September 26, 1986, only hours before the tragic road accident. R.I.P.
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Dave Bronze

Dave Bronze was born in Billericay, Essex, England. He joined the Robin Trower band in 1983, making 4 albums over the next 4 years. Also in the 80's, he played and recorded in No Stiletto Shoes band with Gary Brooker and Art of Noise. In 1990 he formed "Be Sharpe" with Jerry Stevenson on keyboards and guitar & drummer, Bob Jenkins. Between 1990 and 1994 Dave was a member of the Dr Feelgood Band and the Procol Harum band, touring and recording with both bands. Dave joined the Eric Clapton Band in 1994 which he toured with throughout the '90's and into the 2000's; as well as recording, touring and playing with Jeff Beck, Robin Trower, Eric Clapton, Dr. Feelgood, Sting, Duane Eddy, Tina Turner, George Harrison, Leo Sayer, Procol Harum, The Hamsters, Chris Farlowe, Gary Brooker, Be Sharp, Phil Collins, Stuart Copeland, Bo Diddly, Roger Daltry, David Gilmore, Mike Rutherford, Steve Windwood, Paul Carrack, Belinda Carlisle, Brian Ferry, Mickey Jupp, Ray Davis ..... to name but a few! Dave was also voted British Blues Connections 2000 Bass Player Of The Year.
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Lemmy Kilmister

Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister, bass playing frontman of the seminal punk-metal crossover band, Motörhead, hails from Stoke-on-Trent, UK, but raised in Anglesey, Wales. In the 60's he roadied for Jimi Hendrix & The Nice and played in several bands including Sam Gopal, The Rockin' Vickers and Opal Butterfly. 1971 sees him in the space rock UK Underground band Hawkwind, 1973's"Silver Machine", reached No.3. In 1975 he went on to form a new band The Bastard, soon renamed Motörhead, which he still fronts today. Lemmy has appearance in number of films and television productions, and as well as his career with Motorhead he has recorded with The Damned, The Young & Moody Band, Robert Calvert, Albert Jarvinen Band, Nina Hagen, Fast Eddie Clarke, Shonen Knife, Myth Dreams of World, The Ramones, Jetboy, Probot, The Head Cat, Ugly Kid Joe, Skew Siskin and still makes guest appearances with Hawkwind.
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Jay Bentley

Jay Bentley was born in Kansas in 1964. He was a founder member of the legendary punk rock group 'Bad Religion' in 1980 while still at El Camino High School. He left BR for a few of years and played in number of bands, including Epitaph and TSOL, but returned to 'Bad Religion' in the late 80's, which is his most proud and well-known collaboration, with the punk masters.This has established him as one of Punk Rock's finest bass players, Jay Bentley has never failed to impress with his slick skills for over 26 years.
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Michael Henderson
Michael Henderson.
Michael Henderson played bass with the Fantastic Four, Detroit Emeralds, Billy Preston, and other Motown acts from the age of 13. He later toured extensively with Stevie Wonder & Aretha Franklin before joining Miles Davis for 7 years. Sessioned with all the jazz greats, his latest projects being Children on the Corner and Bass Player's Ball.
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Jerome Rimson
Jerome Rimson
Bass virtuoso originally from Detroit City, playing soul, jazz and rock with full solid
enthusiasm and empathy. His amazing career stretchs over 4 decades from the
Detroit Emeralds to Freddie Mercury to Mark Knofner to Van Morrison,
with dozens more in between. World respected bass sessionist.
FULLER BIOGRAPHY
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Norman Watt-Roy

Norman Watt-Roy one of the most accomplished bass players in the UK, who
helped Ian Dury & the Blockheads come to fame . Norman has also
contributed his talents to recording artists as diverse as
the Clash and Frankie goes to Holly-wood.
FULLER BIOGRAPHY
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	Phil Brodie Band "Muso" Information Page ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PLEASE SIGN THE JAMES JAMERSON PETITION CLICK HERE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 100 Greatest 'Rock'&'Jazz' BASSISTS 50 Greatest Bass Lines also check out YOUR CHOICES
	100 Greatest JAZZ bassists [late 2005 list] 1. Charles Mingus 2. Jaco Pastorius 3. Paul Chambers 4. Stanley Clarke 5. Ron Carter 6. Dave Holland 7. John Patitucci 8. Charlie Haden 9. Ray Brown 10. Steve Swallow 11. Milt "The Judge" Hinton 12. Paul Jackson 13. Eddie Gomez 14. Marcus Miller 15. Scott LaFaro 16. Tony Levin 17. Gary Willis 18. Victor Wooten 19. Brian Bromberg 20. Miroslav Vitous 21. "Slam" Stewart 22. Jeff Berlin 23. Cecil McBee 24. Steve Rodby 25. Joseph Patrick Moore 26. Alain Caron 27. Steve Bailey 28. Gary Peacock 29. Nathan East 30. Jimmy Garrison 31. Anthony Cox 32. Gary Grainger 33. Glen Moore 34. Jimmy Blanton 35. Frank Felix 36. James Genus 37. Eberhard Weber 38. Chris Wood 39. Abraham Laboriel 40. Jimmy Johnson 41. Dave Carpenter 42. Jimmy Haslip 43. Christian McBride 44. Oscar Pettiford 45. Melvin Davis 46. Lincoln Goines 47. Neils-Henning Orsted Pedersen 48. Michael Manring 49. Ben Allison 50. Dennis Irwin 51. Richard Davis 52. David Dyson 53. Larry Grenadier 54. Larry Graham 55. Reggie Workman 56. David Friesen 57. Monk Montgomery 58. Verdine White 59. Scott Ambush 60. Charnett Moffett 61. George "Pops" Foster 62. Alphonso Johnson 63. Mark Egan 64. Tom Kennedy 65. T.M. Stevens 66. Percy Heath 67. Bob Cranshaw 68. Red Callender 69. Adam Nitti 70. Anthony Jackson 71. Marc Johnson 72. Mark King 73. Dominic Richards 74. Carol Kaye 75. George Mraz 76. Jeff Andrews 77. Daryl Jones 78. Louis Johnson 79. Will Lee 80. Ben Street 81. Steve Hunter 82. Palle Danielsson 83. Curtis Counce 84. Charlie Biddle 85. Bill Dickens 86. William Parker 87. Kermit Driscoll 88. Tommy Potter 89. Walter Booker 90. Wayman Tisdale 91. John Kirby 92. Anders Jormin 93. Jesse Murphy 94. David Piltch 95. Rufus Reid 96. John Clayton 97. Edgar Meyer 98. Francisco Centino 99. Walter Page 100. Eugene Wright		100 Greatest ROCK bassists [late 2005 list] 1. James Jamerson (Funk Brothers, session man) 2. John Entwistle (The Who) 3. Larry Graham (Sly & The Family Stone) 4. Chris Squire (Yes) 5. Jack Bruce (Cream) 6. Tony Levin (King Crimson, session man) 7. Geddy Lee (Rush) 8. Paul McCartney (The Beatles) 9. Louis Johnson (Brothers Johnson, session man) 10. Anthony Jackson (session man) 11. Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) 12. Marcus Miller (session man) 13. Les Claypool (Primus) 14. Chuck Rainey (session man) 15. Billy Sheehan (Niacin, Mr. Big, Steve Vai) 16. Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath) 17. Will Lee (session man) 18. Michael Manring (Attention Deficit, session man) 19. Nathan East (Eric Clapton, session man) 20. Rocco Prestia (Tower Of Power) 21. John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) 22. Abe Laboriel (session man) 23. Stuart Hamm (Joe Satriani) 24. Donald "Duck" Dunn (The MGs) 25. Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs) 26. Bob Babbitt (Funk Brothers, session man) 27. Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead) 28. Steve Harris (Iron Maiden) 29. Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) 30. Cliff Lee Burton (Metallica) 31. John Myung (Dream Theater) 32. John Deacon (Queen) 33. Willie Weeks (session man) 34. Carol Kaye (session woman) 35. Aston "Family Man" Barrett (Bob Marley/The Wailers) 36. Verdine White (Earth, Wind & Fire) 37. David Hungate (Toto, session man) 38. Robert "Kool" Bell (Kool & The Gang) 39. Joe Osborne (session man) 40. Phil Chen (Rod Stewart, session man) 41. Oteil Burbridge (Allman Brothers Band) 42. Freddie Washington (session man) 43. Nathan Watts (session man) 44. Louis Satterfield (Earth Wind & Fire, session man) 45. Andy West (Dixie Dregs) 46. Bootsy Collins (Funkadelic) 47. John Wetton (King Crimson) 48. Greg Lake (ELP) 49. Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge) 50. Mark King (Level 42) 51. Mike Watt (Minutemen) 52. Bernard Odum (James Brown, session man) 53. George Porter Jr. (Meters, session man) 54. Mike Gordon (Phish) 55. Bernard Edwards (Chic) 56. Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne) 57. Willie Dixon (session man) 58. Andy Fraser (Free) 59. Trey Gunn (King Crimson) 60. Dave Schools (Widespread Panic) 61. Berry Oakley (Allman Brothers Band) 62. Jerry Jemmott (session man) 63. Roger Glover (Deep Purple) 64. Bill Black (Elvis Presley) 65. "Sweet" Charles Sherrell (James Brown, session man) 66. Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) 67. Billy Cox (Band Of Gypsys) 68. Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) 69. Gary "Mani" Mounfield (Stone Roses) 70. Felix Pappalardi (Mountain) 71. Mike Rutherford (Genesis) 72. David Ellefson (Megadeth) 73. Matt Freeman (Rancid) 74. Ronnie Baker (MFSB) 75. John Alderete (Racer X, Mars Volta) 76. Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies) 77. Duff McKagen (Guns N Roses) 78. Marshall Lytle (Bill Haley & The Comets) 79. Bill Gould (Faith No More) 80. Ray Pohlman (session man) 81. Me'Shell NdegéOcello (session woman, solo) 82. Doug Pinnick (King's X) 83. Tommy Cogbill (session man) 84. Glen Cornick (Jethro Tull) 85. Pino Palladino (session man) 86. Randy Coven (Steve Vai/freelance) 87. Tim Commerford (Rage Against The Machine) 88. Doug Wimbish (Living Color) 89. Thomas Miller (Symphony X) 90. Mick Karn (session man) 91. Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam) 92. Ron Wood (Jeff Beck Group) 93. Michael Lepond (Symphony X) 94. Dave Hope (Kansas) 95. Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones) 96. Leo Lyons (Ten Years After) 97. Timothy B Schmit (Eagles) 98. Rex Brown (Pantera) 99. Bobby Sheehan (Blues Traveler) 100. Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith)
		50 Great Rock Basslines [ 2005 ] 1. Another One Bites The Dust (Queen) 2. Roundabout (Yes) 3. Money (Pink Floyd) 4. Super Freak (Rick James) 5. Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin (Sly & Family Stone) 6. Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell) 7. Dazed And Confused (Led Zeppelin) 8. Badge (Cream) 9. Higher Ground (Red Hot Chili Peppers) 10. Taxman (The Beatles) 11. Freewill (Rush) 12. Brick House (The Commodores) 13. Thela Hun Ginjeet (King Crimson) 14. NIB (Black Sabbath) 15. Good Times (chic) 16. Bernadette (Four Tops/James Jamerson) 17. London Calling (The Clash) 18. Sunshine Of Your Love (Cream) 19. Jeremy (Pearl Jam) 20. Ramble On (Led Zeppelin) 21. No More Tears (Ozzy Osbourne) 22. Boris The Spider (The Who) 23. The Lemon Song (Led Zeppelin) 24. The Boys Are Back In Town (Thin Lizzy) 25. Come As You Are (Nirvana) 26. Stand By Me (Ben E King) 27. Come Together (The Beatles) 28. White Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane) 29. Would (Alice In Chains) 30. Sweet Emotion (Aerosmith) 31. Schism (Tool) 32. Lowrider (War) 33. Guns Of Brixton (The Clash) 34. Take The Power Back (Rage Against The Machine) 35. Longview (Green Day) 36. Heart Of The Sunrise (Yes) 37. Young Lust (Pink Floyd) 38. The Joker (Steve Miller Band) 39. Pump It Up (Elvis Costello) 40. Should I Stay Or Should I Go (The Clash) 41. Jerry Was A Racecar Driver (Primus) 42. Break On Through (The Doors) 43. Only In Dreams (Weezer) 44. Sober (Tool) 45. Coffee Shop (Red Hot Chili Peppers) 46. Whipping Post (Allman Brothers Band) 47. Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochran) 48. After Midnight (JJ Cale) 49. Last Ride In (Green Day) 50. The Big Money (Rush) The above lists are with courtesy of Digital Dream Door Site They are not compiled by myself. They have a page for your comments ~ which I am sure you have many!
YOUR CHOICES If your choice is not in the above lists please email me and I will give them a well deserved mention here. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Gerald Veasley Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, jazz bass guitarist, Gerald Veasley was introduced to gospel and R&B as a child and then as a teenager, in the late '60s and 1970s, he played in various R&B bands in West Philly. He was a huge fan, Weather Report and Smokey Robinson and soon became inspired by Jaco Pastorius, Anthony Jackson, and Stanley Clarke, and it wasn't long until he switched to playing his new love .. jazz. At this time he found plenty of work as a studio musician, supporting many prominent musicians. Then in 1988 Weather Report's Joe Zawinul hired him as a sideman. During this period he released his debut solo album "Look Ahead" in 1992 and in 1995 he left Joe to concerntrate on his solo career. He has gone on to release 7 more albums (to date) - ''Signs'', ''Soul Control'', ''Love Letters'', ''On the Fast Track'', ''Velvet'', ''At the Jazz Base!'' and his latest album released in 2008 ''Your Move'', reached No.12 on the U.S. Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Tim Bogert Well known for his electric bass solos, New Yorker Tim Bogert started as a child on piano, changing to claranet and playing saxophone in his high school marching band. Still playing sax, he formed the band called The Belltones. It wasn't till the band elvolved into The Chessmen opening for the like of The Shirelles, The Crest and The Earl, Tim picked up the electric bass. In 1965 he went on tour with Rick Martin and the Showmen, where he met Mark Stein. He and Mark formed a band The Pigeons which elvolved into Vanilla Fudge. Tim's unique combination of melodic ingenuity, and gutsy roaring speed, brought new dimensions to the role of the electric bass player back in 1967. Following the breakup of Vanilla Fudge in 1970, Tim went on with Carmine to form Cactus followed by the super group and Beck, Bogert & Appice, featuring guitarist Jeff Beck and drummer Carmine Appice. Over the years Tim has performed with many world class players and bands including Jake E. Lee, Rod Stewart, Billy Cobham, Steve Perry, Bobby and the Midnights, Rick Derringer, Vince Martell, Ronnie Laws, Boxer and Ginger Baker. He played bass guitar on Bo Diddley's The 20th Anniversary Of Rock 'n' Roll all-star album and was inducted into the Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame in 1999. He still plays and tours with the reunited Vanilla Fudge and Cactus reunions. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Mel Schacher Bassist/lead bassist Mel Schacher was born in Flint, Michigan. At the age of 7 he was learning to play his Dad's banjo, by 12 he was learning guitar and playing in local groups by his early teens. At 16 he started out on his professional career with Question Mark and the Mysterians, touring America supporting their hit "96 Tears". In 1968, Mel, with friends Don Brewer and Mark Farner founded the rock band Grand Funk Railroad aka Grand Funk, where his "lead bass" style helped create the Grand Funk unique sound and his strong approach to music has inspired countless musicians to blend rock-solid support punctuated with fluid riffs. In 1970 they sold more albums than any other American band. The 70's also saw them continually in the charts with hits including "We're An American Band", "The Loco-Motion", "Shinin' On", "Some Kind of Wonderful", and "Bad Time". When the band split he co-founded the band "Flint" producing a self titled album with Frank Zappa guesting on 2 tracks, "Better You Than Me" and "You'll Never Be The Same". Mel rejoined Grand Funk Railroad during their reunion tour in 1996. He still plays and tours with the band today. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Leland "Lee" Bruce Sklar Born in Wisconsin, but raised in Southern California, Leland Sklar's long career started when his college friend, James Taylor asked him to play bass for him. As James' fame grew, this led to other bands and artists wanting Lee's bass lines. Over the years, as a session musician, he has contributed to thousands of albums recording with The Section, Air Supply, Glen Campbell, Eric Carmen, Donovan, America, Hoyt Axton, Kim Carnes, Clint Black, Suzy Bogguss, David Cassidy, Ray Charles, Roberta Flack, Carole Bayer Sager, Roger McGuinn, Joe Cocker, Rita Coolidge, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Robbie Williams, Neil Diamond, Phil Collins, The Doors, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Engelbert Humperdinck, Arlo Guthrie, Merle Haggard, Carole King, Richard Marx, The Manhattan Transfer, Yumi Matsutoya, Amy Grant, Ricky Martin, Lisa Loeb, Steve Lukather, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, Reba McEntire, Enrique Iglesias, Julio Iglesias, Bernadette Peters, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, LeAnn Rimes, Shawn Phillips, Johnny Rivers, Miyuki Nakajima, Randy Newman, Aaron Neville, Dolly Parton, Bette Midler, Jimmy Webb, The Spencer Davis Group, Rick Springfield, Rod Stewart, Warren Zevon, The Weather Girls, Tanya Tucker, Terence Trent d'Arby, Barbra Streisand, George Strait, Donna Summer, Michael W. Smith, Neil Sedaka, Ricky Skaggs and this is mentioning only a few. He has also recorded sound tracks to films and television shows, to date Annabelle's Wish, Black Dog, Catwalk, Conspiracy Theory, Coyote Ugly, Doctor Detroit, Dr. T & the Women, For Love of the Game, Legally Blonde, Message in a Bottle, Metropolis, Phantom of the Paradise, The Postman, The Prince of Egypt, Sleepwalkers, Love Maximum. Lee, nicknamed "Father Time" has also toured with Toto beginning in 2007 until the band broke up in 2008. He was filling in for Mike Porcaro, who was recovering from a hand injury. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Lee Rocker Bassist Lee Rocker began taking classical cello lessons at eight years old, but influenced by rock n roll he took up electric bass, before hearing the blues of Carl Perkins and Muddy Water when he took to the acoustic bass. He jammed with his school friends Jimmy McDonnell aka Slim Jim Phantom and Brian Setzer, who in 1979 became The Stray Cats, who went on to revive rockabilly music around the world. Lee's powerful, original songs, virtuoso musicianship, and vibrant vocals, brought depth and substance to a neglected style of music to a new generation who loved it. From 1984 has worked with Earl Slick, Carl Perkins, Dave Edmunds, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jeff Beck, Willie Nelson and others. In more recent years Lee has founded his band Black Cat Bone; 2002, he toured the U.S. with ex-Elvis Presley guitarist Scotty Moore; 2003 The Stray Cats reunited for an 18-city tour of Europe, and 2007 saw another successful rocking Stray Cat world tour. Orange County Weekly quote: “there has never been a rock ‘n’ roll bass player more fun to watch in concert than Lee Rocker.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Jance Garfat US bassist Jance Garfat started his career with different bands around Union City, New Jersey before joining the pop-country rock band Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show in 1972 as their full-time bassist. Jance added a fuller depth and a solid bottom line to their sound. At the height of their success Dr Hook were top of the charts in 42 countries. They were known more for there singles rather than an album band and Jance can be heard on all the bands tracks from 1972 to 1985, such as 'A Little Bit More', 'Only Sixteen', 'If I Said You Had A Beautiful Body', 'Sexy Eyes', 'Cover Of The Rolling Stone', 'More Like The Movies', 'Ballad Of Lucy Jordan', 'When Your In Love with a Beautiful Woman' and dozens more. This great band amassed 60 gold and platinum singles and albums. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Mike Dirnt Born Michael Ryan Pritchard, Mike Dirnt at the age of 14 formed the band Sweet Children, with friend Billie Joe Armstrong. Two years later in 1989 with the addition of John Kiffmeyer aka Al Sobrante they formed Green Day, gathering a big fanbase on the punk rock scene in Berkeley, California. In 1994 thier break-through and third album "Dookie" sold over 10 million copies, Mike's basslines on "Longview" showed the world what an awesome bassist he is. The band has sold over 60 million records worldwide, won three Grammy Awards; Best Alternative Album for Dookie, Best Rock Album for American Idiot, and Record of the Year for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams.". Mike has also played with bands Squirtgun, the Screeching Weasel, the Network, and Crummy Musicians, and currently plays with The Frustrators as well as Green Day. Mike is working on a new Green Day studio album set to be released sometime in 2008. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Bill Dickinson SORRY NO PHOTO Studio musician and session player, Bill Dickinson is a well known and very respected electic bass guitarist in Los Angeles, where back in the late 60's and 70's he used to play every Tuesday night with his friend and then fellow session guitarist Lee Mack "Captain Fingers" Ritenour at The Baked Potato. As well as playing the Californian scene Bill has a busy life playing sessions in the shadows of the L.A. studios recording with the likes of Seals & Croft, Willie Bobo, Righteous Brothers, John Pisano, Michael Franks, Dave Grusin to mention a few. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Tommy Shannon Tommy Shannon joined his first band The Avengers at the age of 13, but got his big break some years later when he met Johnny Winter in The Fog at Dallas and they formed a project known as The Progressive Blues Experiment, Edgar Winter joined them onstage wat Woodstock. In 1970 Tommy moved to San Francisco forming the band Krakerjack. 1977 sees him in Houston with Allen Hayes opening for bands Bachman-Turner Overdrive and KISS. Next he met up with Stevie Ray Vaughan in The Fog at Dallas and joined Stevies band Double Trouble. Since SRV's sad, untimely death Tommy has played, recorded and-or toured with The Mighty Zor, the Arc Angels, Storyville, Susan Tedeschi, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Hubert Sumlin, Mike McCready, Johnny Lang, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, Eric Johnson, David Grissom, Mato Nanji and Jeff Beck. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Clifford Burton Clifford Burton was born in Castro Valley, California, to hippy parents. He studied classical piano at six, bass guitar at 14, spending four to six hours a day perfecting his bass guitar skills, and took a music course at Napa Valley Junior College. He formed Trauma, it was while with this band Ron McGovney heard Clifford perform his solo, "(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth", asking him to join Metallica. Clifford joined Metallica only after they relocated to the San Francisco, California Bay Area. Clifford had a major say in Metallica's music, look, and direction, his early influence and driving bassline, was the essential ingredient in creating the unique musical style for which Metallica would later become famous. he exposed early Metallica to a variety of music styles from The Misfits, Pink Floyd, The Velvet Underground, and Thin Lizzy, to classical pianist Glenn Gould. Clifford's first appeared with Metallica at The Stone, in San Francisco, CA on March 5th, 1983. His final performance was in Stockholm, Sweden on September 26, 1986, only hours before the tragic road accident. R.I.P. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Dave Bronze Dave Bronze was born in Billericay, Essex, England. He joined the Robin Trower band in 1983, making 4 albums over the next 4 years. Also in the 80's, he played and recorded in No Stiletto Shoes band with Gary Brooker and Art of Noise. In 1990 he formed "Be Sharpe" with Jerry Stevenson on keyboards and guitar & drummer, Bob Jenkins. Between 1990 and 1994 Dave was a member of the Dr Feelgood Band and the Procol Harum band, touring and recording with both bands. Dave joined the Eric Clapton Band in 1994 which he toured with throughout the '90's and into the 2000's; as well as recording, touring and playing with Jeff Beck, Robin Trower, Eric Clapton, Dr. Feelgood, Sting, Duane Eddy, Tina Turner, George Harrison, Leo Sayer, Procol Harum, The Hamsters, Chris Farlowe, Gary Brooker, Be Sharp, Phil Collins, Stuart Copeland, Bo Diddly, Roger Daltry, David Gilmore, Mike Rutherford, Steve Windwood, Paul Carrack, Belinda Carlisle, Brian Ferry, Mickey Jupp, Ray Davis ..... to name but a few! Dave was also voted British Blues Connections 2000 Bass Player Of The Year. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Lemmy Kilmister Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister, bass playing frontman of the seminal punk-metal crossover band, Motörhead, hails from Stoke-on-Trent, UK, but raised in Anglesey, Wales. In the 60's he roadied for Jimi Hendrix & The Nice and played in several bands including Sam Gopal, The Rockin' Vickers and Opal Butterfly. 1971 sees him in the space rock UK Underground band Hawkwind, 1973's"Silver Machine", reached No.3. In 1975 he went on to form a new band The Bastard, soon renamed Motörhead, which he still fronts today. Lemmy has appearance in number of films and television productions, and as well as his career with Motorhead he has recorded with The Damned, The Young & Moody Band, Robert Calvert, Albert Jarvinen Band, Nina Hagen, Fast Eddie Clarke, Shonen Knife, Myth Dreams of World, The Ramones, Jetboy, Probot, The Head Cat, Ugly Kid Joe, Skew Siskin and still makes guest appearances with Hawkwind. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Jay Bentley Jay Bentley was born in Kansas in 1964. He was a founder member of the legendary punk rock group 'Bad Religion' in 1980 while still at El Camino High School. He left BR for a few of years and played in number of bands, including Epitaph and TSOL, but returned to 'Bad Religion' in the late 80's, which is his most proud and well-known collaboration, with the punk masters.This has established him as one of Punk Rock's finest bass players, Jay Bentley has never failed to impress with his slick skills for over 26 years. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Michael Henderson Michael Henderson played bass with the Fantastic Four, Detroit Emeralds, Billy Preston, and other Motown acts from the age of 13. He later toured extensively with Stevie Wonder & Aretha Franklin before joining Miles Davis for 7 years. Sessioned with all the jazz greats, his latest projects being Children on the Corner and Bass Player's Ball. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Jerome Rimson Bass virtuoso originally from Detroit City, playing soul, jazz and rock with full solid enthusiasm and empathy. His amazing career stretchs over 4 decades from the Detroit Emeralds to Freddie Mercury to Mark Knofner to Van Morrison, with dozens more in between. World respected bass sessionist. FULLER BIOGRAPHY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Norman Watt-Roy Norman Watt-Roy one of the most accomplished bass players in the UK, who helped Ian Dury & the Blockheads come to fame . Norman has also contributed his talents to recording artists as diverse as the Clash and Frankie goes to Holly-wood. FULLER BIOGRAPHY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ PLEASE SIGN THE JAMES JAMERSON PETITION CLICK HERE ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ !! Support your local music venues !!