rogo Posted February 9, 2022 Share Posted February 9, 2022 I’ve always been amazed at bassists who can sing and play at the same time, and there’s quite a few bass players with amazing voices, look at Randy Meisner for instance. So, who’s your favourite singing bass player? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted February 9, 2022 Share Posted February 9, 2022 (edited) Phil Lynott. Edited February 10, 2022 by Owen because he had the wrong double consanant. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted February 9, 2022 Share Posted February 9, 2022 Glen Benton David Vincent Ron Broder Pete Cetera 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skankdelvar Posted February 9, 2022 Share Posted February 9, 2022 Randy Meisner - good call. Assuming we're talking about bassists who sing lead or bass-playing frontmen I have been known to admire the work of: Sting Lemmy Phil Lynott Macca Geddy Jack Bruce Greg Lake Suzi Quatro Gene Simmons Rick Danko Benjamin Orr (The Cars) Burke Shelley Brian Wilson and for his ethereal harmony vocals, Mr Timothy Schmitt. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAYNESWORLD Posted February 9, 2022 Share Posted February 9, 2022 On the difficulty scale of juggling both singing and playing Mark King even if we like slapping or not. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronJ Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Sting absolutely has to be at the top of the list for me. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JottoSW1 Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 John Wetton 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyonbass Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 James Dewar 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raymondo Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 (edited) All of the above and ME, for just one sweet memorable night! I could never play anything other than root note wonders when inflicting my singing voice on to the world but... During the brief period that I was playing 5-6 gigs a week and doing nothing else for a living, I found myself singing like a canary ( albeit one that sounds like a foghorn!), and flailing my fingers up and down the fretboard like some Geddy Lee tribute act. One memorable night, in The Courtyard Cabaret Bar (true story!) I was dutifully ploughing through a cover of Lyin' Eyes ( takes up 6+ mins ...handy for filling out the set 😉 ) and during "my verse" I found myself thinking about the bass line and how I could change it next time around AND what I could have for supper when I got home! THREE things all at the same time... I have never been so proud. 😎 Of course I am now back to only being able to play Down Down by Quo whilst warbling backing vocals these days but, you'll never take my moment of glory away from me. P.S. My absolute favourite is ( sadly was) Burke Shelley.👍 Edited February 10, 2022 by Raymondo 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cato Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 (edited) Esperanza Spalding. Meshell Ndegeocello Edited February 10, 2022 by Cato 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassfinger Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Lemmy. May as well lock the thread now. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amnesia Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 You can argue whether this counts as 'singing' or not...but...Tom Araya from Slayer. Dug P from King's X perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sausage Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Les Claypool maybe more vocals than singing but he would be difficult to do his job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 I'd add Hamish Stuart to the list - he used to play bass occasionally, Still does, in fact. Martin Turner, also. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikel Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Chris Squire. You could argue he "Only" sang harmony, but what harmony, and while playing those amazing bass lines. Oh, and Phil Lynott. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillyBass Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 I can't believe nobody has mentioned the greatest singing, bass playing, rock god ever. David Paton. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cetera Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 (edited) Peter Cetera (Chicago) by far.... Then: Joe Puerta (Ambrosia) David Paton (Pilot) Gene Simmons (KISS) Sting (Police etc) DUg Pinnick (Kings X) Geddy Lee (Rush) Jack Blades (Night Ranger/Damn Yankees) Kip Winger (Winger) Tiran Porter (Doobie Bros) Phil Lynott (Thin Lizzy) Timothy B Schmit (Eagles) Paul McCartney (Beatles etc) Edited February 10, 2022 by cetera 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Larry Graham and Bootsy Collins both led their own bands and did the lead vocals. Looking at who everyone else has been mentioned, against general perception there are a helluva lot of bassists that are band leaders/front men and not some anonymous bloke lurking among the amps. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 1 hour ago, Paul S said: I'd add Hamish Stuart to the list - he used to play bass occasionally, Still does, in fact. Martin Turner, also. I’d add Alan Gorrie to the list as well - loved the AWB when he and Hamish swapped lead vocals and bass duties. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WinterMute Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 McCartney has to be on this list surely? Otherwise, Geddy Lee was the reason I picked up a bass, I was already singing, so learning to play whilst singing just made it natural for me, it's a skill I've neglected of late. Jack Bruce, Burke Shelley, Phil Lynott, Lemmy and Greg Lake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Honourable mention for Ronnie James Dio, who played bass & sang in all the bands he fronted prior to Rainbow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteb Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 No one has mentioned Glenn Hughes - a tendency to perhaps oversing at times, but what a voice and a good bass player as well... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debasser Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Geddy Lee. Many may not like his voice, but personally I love it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted February 10, 2022 Share Posted February 10, 2022 Timmy C - check out the Wakrat album, it’s awesome. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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