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mudbean · June 8th, 2009, 04:13 AM

We saw The Grass Roots at the Cherry Festival here in town today ... nice to see them - Midnight Confessions has always been one of my favorite tunes ... Rob Grill, bass player, fronts the band. I like bass players up front and center.

Picked up their latest album, a live release from '08 ... and got me an autograph, too.

Who are your favorite bass front men (or women!)?

mud

Mike Bruce · June 8th, 2009, 07:45 AM

Once upon a time it was Suzi Quatro...

Skrik · June 8th, 2009, 08:12 AM

Phil Lynott

Gunny · June 8th, 2009, 08:50 AM

Sting.

fidopunk · June 8th, 2009, 09:41 AM

Fat Mike.

robb3566 · June 8th, 2009, 10:09 AM

Technically not 'front and center,' but Macca, Geddy Lee and Jack Bruce!

Didn't Suzi Quatro play Leather Tuscadero on 'Happy Days?'

play_loud · June 8th, 2009, 10:19 AM

Petty fronting Mudcrutch... Very underrated bassist imo. Probably because he is more famous for his other talents.

Skrik · June 8th, 2009, 12:44 PM

That bloke in Level 42 whose name I never remember without Googling him.

*Googles*

Mark King.

(I didn't know Allan Holdsworth used to be in Level 42...)

4mal · June 8th, 2009, 01:29 PM

Sting. I'm an old (trust me) Police fan. Sting - not the worlds best bassist by far but - he is a great front man! and covering his bass parts and vocal parts live is no easy task.

ccrnnr9 · June 8th, 2009, 02:33 PM

Jack Bruce has and probably will be my musical and more importantly bass idol. I can't imagine being able to play with the style, accuracy, intensity, and creativeness that Bruce does while maintaining frontman status on 80% of Cream's work.

Sting too is a favorite of mine although I must admit Im not aware of a ton of bassist frontmen. 4mal, if you are big Sting fan you should read "Broken Music." It's a memoir he wrote a couple years back. I'm just finishing it up now and really enjoyed it. It has been inspiring and encouraging for me as a beginner bassist.
~Nick

Goluphi · June 8th, 2009, 02:46 PM

Not a huge Primus fan, but Les Claypool is an obvious candidate.

Paul in Colorado · June 8th, 2009, 03:00 PM

I thought the Grassroots used EKO guitars and basses? (They used to have ads in Guitar Player in the '60's)

Old Cane · June 8th, 2009, 03:24 PM

Isn't this really more about the singer (that just happens to play bass) being up front?

ccrnnr9 · June 8th, 2009, 03:29 PM

I think you could argue against that with Jack Bruce. IMO he IS Cream.
~Nick

mudbean · June 8th, 2009, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Cane

Isn't this really more about the singer (that just happens to play bass) being up front?

Well, Rob writes the tunes, too. But ... yeah. Isn't that the definition of a "frontman"?

mud

Scotty Lonesome · June 8th, 2009, 03:39 PM

I'm still getting over the Supreme court ruling allowing bassists to be on stage. Singing or fronting a band? I'm against it.
:-)
Scotty.

Skrik · June 8th, 2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scotty Lonesome

I'm still getting over the Supreme court ruling allowing bassists to be on stage. Singing or fronting a band? I'm against it.
:-)
Scotty.

No politics.

broadcaster · June 8th, 2009, 06:55 PM

I second Jack Bruce.

mudbean · June 9th, 2009, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skrik

No politics.

Har!

Yeah, when I play bass, the guys never let me forget it's a priviledge and not a right to be on stage with 'em. "Shut up, you - you're lucky to be here!"

mud

Skrik · June 9th, 2009, 03:02 AM

Of course, we're forgetting Lemmy.

Old Cane · June 9th, 2009, 12:40 PM

Who?

Mikey3 · June 10th, 2009, 12:00 AM

Geddy Lee hasn't been mentioned yet, and he was the first that came to my mind.

Edit. sorry Geddy was mentioned in another post!

marshman · June 10th, 2009, 12:08 AM

Geddy was the first to pop into my head, followed rapidly by Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy and then Sting.

Not exactly frontmen, but Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmidt both had some opportunities to sing lead in the Eagles, and the bassplayer in Nuge's band had lots of singin' duties if memory serves...

Tim Armstrong · June 10th, 2009, 12:10 AM

The late great James Dewar on bass/lead vocals with Robin Trower...

Tim

robb3566 · June 10th, 2009, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skrik

Of course, we're forgetting Lemmy.

Can't believe I forgot him...

Also Richard Hell of the Voidoids.

Mr. Saba · June 15th, 2009, 05:36 PM

Mark Sandman of Morphine...

Bluesbob · June 16th, 2009, 10:03 AM

I watched a Cheryl Crow concert on the "tube" last night. I love her, I love her old Guild, and I wish I could sing and play at the same time, or at least better than I am able to. Sometimes I have a hard time even singing back-up "aah's" and "ooh's". That's why I'm so in awe of front-persons like her and Sir Paul, Jack (I really can't sing one Cream song and get the bass-line right), Sting, Geddy...et al.

hekawi · June 16th, 2009, 01:46 PM

Gene Simmons:

Nick Lowe in his days with Rockpile:

Pinball_Wizard · June 25th, 2009, 11:44 AM

Sting
Jack Bruce (Sunshine of you love. man)
Nikki Sixx
Gene Simmons
Sid Vicious

JPark · June 25th, 2009, 11:51 AM

I think they've been mentioned, but...

Geddy Lee
Paul Mccartney

...and also Chris Murphy of Sloan.

4mal · June 25th, 2009, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Cane

Isn't this really more about the singer (that just happens to play bass) being up front?

unless of course you're Marcus Miller or Victor Wooten, Stanley Clarke etc... how else do you get to front a band ?

Righto - I'd forgotten about Nick! So put me down for Sting, then Nick. I've been learning Walking on the Moon the last day or so and its a trickier line than I thought ...

Guy's that are monster bassists and great singers but aren't really frontmen in the classical sense...

John Wetton - bassist and lead singer King Crimson of the Starless & Bible Black era - a band with no front man per se...
Chris Squire - In any other band he would have been the front man.
John Deacon - little as I liked Queen - I certainly can't slag their playing or vocal abilities

giantslayer · June 26th, 2009, 02:42 AM

Skillet's bass player, John Cooper, is also their lead singer and frontman.

idoru · June 26th, 2009, 10:54 AM

Roger Waters. Tasteful minimalism on bass as a counterpoint to all that screaming, perhaps?

dan1952 · June 26th, 2009, 10:59 AM

Joey Spampinato of NRBQ - not always the front man, but sings a lot of the songs.
Too bad the band is not together right now...

geoff_in_nc · June 26th, 2009, 12:12 PM

John Doe of X

Paul in Colorado · June 27th, 2009, 12:54 AM

Jesse Colin Young when he was in the Youngbloods.

tuuur · June 27th, 2009, 04:06 AM

Toody of Portland band Dead Moon.

Not that she actually fronted that band, but she did sing lead vocals in quite a few songs and was always standing up front on stage.

JohnSS · June 27th, 2009, 11:06 PM

how about these names?

Larry Graham
Phil Lynott
Tom Robinson (TRB)
Rick Danko
Johnette Napolitano
Aimee Mann
Chris Hillman

Shoved BassVIII · June 29th, 2009, 03:30 AM

Kip winger

zenandzen · June 29th, 2009, 04:40 AM

Richard Page was the lead singer and bassist in 1980s U.S. band Mr. Mister

June 8th, 2009, 04:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
mudbean Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal Semi-Desert Semi-Paradise Age: 50 Posts: 3,189 10 Photos	Bass Players Up Front We saw The Grass Roots at the Cherry Festival here in town today ... nice to see them - Midnight Confessions has always been one of my favorite tunes ... Rob Grill, bass player, fronts the band. I like bass players up front and center. Picked up their latest album, a live release from '08 ... and got me an autograph, too. Who are your favorite bass front men (or women!)? mud __________________ MudBean Music Nekkid Bart: "This is the worst day of my life." Laffing Homer: "Worst day SO FAR!!"

June 8th, 2009, 08:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
Skrik Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norway Age: 39 Posts: 674	Phil Lynott __________________ "Gary Moore should take his guitar and go home" -- John Lee Hooker

June 8th, 2009, 10:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
robb3566 Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Asbury Park, NJ Posts: 997 20 Photos	Technically not 'front and center,' but Macca, Geddy Lee and Jack Bruce! Didn't Suzi Quatro play Leather Tuscadero on 'Happy Days?' __________________ 'Anybody who needs Bob Dylan to tell him which way the wind is blowing is a serious mental defective.' -Sterling Morrison

June 8th, 2009, 12:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
Skrik Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norway Age: 39 Posts: 674	That bloke in Level 42 whose name I never remember without Googling him. Googles Mark King. (I didn't know Allan Holdsworth used to be in Level 42...) __________________ "Gary Moore should take his guitar and go home" -- John Lee Hooker

June 8th, 2009, 03:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 56 Posts: 5,155 3 Photos	I thought the Grassroots used EKO guitars and basses? (They used to have ads in Guitar Player in the '60's) __________________ www.tuatha.net "There are only two kinds of music. Fast and slow."

June 8th, 2009, 07:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mike Bruce Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 897	Once upon a time it was Suzi Quatro...

June 8th, 2009, 08:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
Gunny Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ajax, near Toronto Posts: 108	Sting.

June 8th, 2009, 09:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
fidopunk TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 49	Fat Mike.

June 8th, 2009, 10:19 AM	#7 (permalink)
play_loud Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sydney Age: 20 Posts: 334	Petty fronting Mudcrutch... Very underrated bassist imo. Probably because he is more famous for his other talents.

June 8th, 2009, 01:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
4mal Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 2,510	Sting. I'm an old (trust me) Police fan. Sting - not the worlds best bassist by far but - he is a great front man! and covering his bass parts and vocal parts live is no easy task.

June 8th, 2009, 02:33 PM	#10 (permalink)
ccrnnr9 Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 23 Posts: 539	Jack Bruce has and probably will be my musical and more importantly bass idol. I can't imagine being able to play with the style, accuracy, intensity, and creativeness that Bruce does while maintaining frontman status on 80% of Cream's work. Sting too is a favorite of mine although I must admit Im not aware of a ton of bassist frontmen. 4mal, if you are big Sting fan you should read "Broken Music." It's a memoir he wrote a couple years back. I'm just finishing it up now and really enjoyed it. It has been inspiring and encouraging for me as a beginner bassist. ~Nick

June 8th, 2009, 02:46 PM	#11 (permalink)
Goluphi Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 456	Not a huge Primus fan, but Les Claypool is an obvious candidate.

June 8th, 2009, 03:24 PM	#13 (permalink)
Old Cane Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Age: 48 Posts: 2,272	Isn't this really more about the singer (that just happens to play bass) being up front? __________________ http://www.myspace.com/otiskeithwatkins

June 8th, 2009, 03:29 PM	#14 (permalink)
ccrnnr9 Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: St. Louis, MO Age: 23 Posts: 539	I think you could argue against that with Jack Bruce. IMO he IS Cream. ~Nick

June 8th, 2009, 03:39 PM	#16 (permalink)
Scotty Lonesome Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: El Cerrito, CA Age: 47 Posts: 321	I'm still getting over the Supreme court ruling allowing bassists to be on stage. Singing or fronting a band? I'm against it. :-) Scotty. __________________ "We were tight, yet loose. Loosely tight." - Jimmy Page

June 8th, 2009, 06:55 PM	#18 (permalink)
broadcaster Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: westconsin Age: 51 Posts: 738	I second Jack Bruce. __________________ groovalicious

June 9th, 2009, 03:02 AM	#20 (permalink)
Skrik Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norway Age: 39 Posts: 674	Of course, we're forgetting Lemmy. __________________ "Gary Moore should take his guitar and go home" -- John Lee Hooker

June 9th, 2009, 12:40 PM	#21 (permalink)
Old Cane Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Age: 48 Posts: 2,272	Who? __________________ http://www.myspace.com/otiskeithwatkins

June 10th, 2009, 12:00 AM	#22 (permalink)
Mikey3 TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Canada Age: 28 Posts: 64 16 Photos	Geddy Lee hasn't been mentioned yet, and he was the first that came to my mind. Edit. sorry Geddy was mentioned in another post!

June 10th, 2009, 12:08 AM	#23 (permalink)
marshman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: SE PA Age: 41 Posts: 2,011	Geddy was the first to pop into my head, followed rapidly by Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy and then Sting. Not exactly frontmen, but Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmidt both had some opportunities to sing lead in the Eagles, and the bassplayer in Nuge's band had lots of singin' duties if memory serves... __________________ 42

June 10th, 2009, 12:10 AM	#24 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,144	The late great James Dewar on bass/lead vocals with Robin Trower... Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

June 15th, 2009, 05:36 PM	#26 (permalink)
Mr. Saba TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Upper Marlboro, MD Age: 51 Posts: 46	Mark Sandman of Morphine...

June 16th, 2009, 10:03 AM	#27 (permalink)
Bluesbob Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: East Suffolk L.I. Posts: 1,244 20 Photos	Not a front-"man"... I watched a Cheryl Crow concert on the "tube" last night. I love her, I love her old Guild, and I wish I could sing and play at the same time, or at least better than I am able to. Sometimes I have a hard time even singing back-up "aah's" and "ooh's". That's why I'm so in awe of front-persons like her and Sir Paul, Jack (I really can't sing one Cream song and get the bass-line right), Sting, Geddy...et al. __________________ What, me worry?

June 16th, 2009, 01:46 PM	#28 (permalink)
hekawi Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: greenville, sc Posts: 2,610	Gene Simmons: Nick Lowe in his days with Rockpile: __________________ ____________________________________________ "Rule Number One: Obey All Rules" - Barney Fife

June 25th, 2009, 11:44 AM	#29 (permalink)
Pinball_Wizard Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 300	Sting Jack Bruce (Sunshine of you love. man) Nikki Sixx Gene Simmons Sid Vicious __________________ "Born Free to Be"

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June 25th, 2009, 11:51 AM	#30 (permalink)
JPark Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Saint John, NB Age: 19 Posts: 1,200	I think they've been mentioned, but... Geddy Lee Paul Mccartney ...and also Chris Murphy of Sloan. __________________

June 26th, 2009, 02:42 AM	#32 (permalink)
giantslayer Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Age: 23 Posts: 510	Skillet's bass player, John Cooper, is also their lead singer and frontman.

June 26th, 2009, 10:54 AM	#33 (permalink)
idoru Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Age: 33 Posts: 125	Roger Waters. Tasteful minimalism on bass as a counterpoint to all that screaming, perhaps?

June 26th, 2009, 10:59 AM	#34 (permalink)
dan1952 Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Anderson, IN Age: 57 Posts: 285	Joey Spampinato of NRBQ - not always the front man, but sings a lot of the songs. Too bad the band is not together right now...

June 26th, 2009, 12:12 PM	#35 (permalink)
geoff_in_nc Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: "Raleigh-wood" Age: 45 Posts: 437	John Doe of X __________________ Every picture tells a story, donut.

June 27th, 2009, 12:54 AM	#36 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 56 Posts: 5,155 3 Photos	Jesse Colin Young when he was in the Youngbloods. __________________ www.tuatha.net "There are only two kinds of music. Fast and slow."

June 27th, 2009, 04:06 AM	#37 (permalink)
tuuur Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: the Netherlands Age: 41 Posts: 1,830 7 Photos	Toody of Portland band Dead Moon. Not that she actually fronted that band, but she did sing lead vocals in quite a few songs and was always standing up front on stage. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/tuuur

June 27th, 2009, 11:06 PM	#38 (permalink)
JohnSS Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 284	how about these names? Larry Graham Phil Lynott Tom Robinson (TRB) Rick Danko Johnette Napolitano Aimee Mann Chris Hillman

June 29th, 2009, 03:30 AM	#39 (permalink)
Shoved BassVIII Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lima Ohio Age: 27 Posts: 632	Kip winger

June 29th, 2009, 04:40 AM	#40 (permalink)
zenandzen TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Australia Age: 53 Posts: 15	Richard Page was the lead singer and bassist in 1980s U.S. band Mr. Mister