In Prog the bassist HAS TO BE on his toes, and a master of the instrument, sure there are great bassists in other genres - but in Prog it many times is the main rhythmic carrier. Well done!!! GREAT SHOW!!!!
I’m really glad you included John Myung and Les Claypool! Even if Primus isn’t prog in general, Les is just too good to leave out of any bassist list. Also holy moly I did not realize how much stuff Tony Levin was on, I knew he was on King Crimson, Yes, ABWH, Liquid Tension Experiment, and some other, but DAMN I did not realize he played with like, dozens of people. Crazy!
I never had a doubt who number 1 was going to be. Any other choice would be just plain crazy. Chris Squire, the greatest bass player ever, helped make YES the best prog band ever. I miss that guy so much.
Wow such a great list, Chris Squire undisputed bass god. Great to see Jon Camp there, would be higher for me, in a band without a lead guitarist he carried the weight perfectly. Another fantastic job Scot!
Glad that you put chris in the first place, you also said his full name wich is something that nobody does, tho i would have appresciated that segment even more if you actually explained the reason as to why no one comes close to him. I wholeheartedly agree tho, in my opinion, chris is the only bass player that i've known so far, who's technique is so individualistic, unique and personal, nobody has ever been able to recreate it accordingly, despite the many other famous bass players claiming to be directly inspired by him, no one sounds like him in the slightest, not even entwhistle, who's constantly associated with him (i personally don't see the sound resemblence between them, but that's just me). I'm not a musician so i can't really speak on a technical level on what makes his sound so unreplicable, yet i i'm pretty much an indirect expert on all things fashion, and i can safely say that not only he's the best bass player in the world, the prettiest as well, he's also the most fashionable, my wardrobe has greatly improved due to him, his fashion sense never seems to age, i wished that the rest of the band were just as presentable, but that's ok, nobody overshadowed his stage presence anyways. I can go so much in depth but i'm gonna stop here, cheerio :)
For me it is Geddy then Squire but both are so awesome! I am not a huge ELP or King Crimson fan. Both have some good albums but also some not so good ones. IMO. but I would acknowledge the greatness of Tony Levine and Greg Lake. How can you not?
Another great list Scot! Zero surprise at number one🙂I appreciate the mini biographies. I've seen Levin play with King Crimson, PG and others but didn't know he had such a looong list of bands in his past. Shulman got a nod👍 Greg lake was so good at letting Emerson and Palmer take the spotlight on stage. Modesty and power at the same time seems to be a trait of great bass players! Lots of great information here. Thanks!
Great show, here are some of my favourite bassist: Kristian Karl Hultgren - Wobbler, Nicolai Hængsle Eilertsen - Elephant9, Pär Hallgren - Hooffoot, David Dosnon - Taal, Fabio Zuffanti - La Maschera Di Cera. Cheers and prog on.
Great list, in a Top 50 you can include Dave Hope, Gary Strater, Ray Bennett, Glenn Cornick, Helmut Hattler, Janick Top, Francis Moze, Bert Ruiter, Doug Ferguson, Bill McCormick, Klaus Peter Matziol. John G. Perry, Mike Howlett, Lee Jackson, Colin Bass, Jon Gustafsson, Tony Reeves, Peter Vink, Jan Patrick Djivas, Ares Tovalozzi, among others.
Love squire and geddy near the top but for me ray shulman pound for pound is my favorite of all time and without a doubt no one can dispute it- the most criminally underated bassist ever-just the fact that he in the greatest band ever should make him be at number 1.
It was tempting to “shock the world” and put Ray at number one. He is THAT good. But ultimately Squire’s body of work and overall impact on future bass players made him my clear cut number one. Now best overall musician? Ray just might be #1 in my book!!!
Greg Lake's bass playing is sometimes overlooked because people focus their attention (understandably and justifiably) on his superb singing. John Wetton is, similarly, a superb singer and superb bassist. Ray Shulman is another excellent bassist who is not always credited, possibly because he plays so many other instruments! Anyway. these '25 Best...' videos are remarkably entertaining especially as I am not familiar with the more modern singers and instrumentalists so it's an education for me, too.
Hey scot great list. So glad you had Jonas Reingold John Glascock Mike Rutherford etc. as a bass player I pretty much agree with everyone but no Dave Hope? Cool to see Ray Shulman to I saw Gentle Giant open for Jethro Tull in 72.
How did I know that the Fish was gonna be nr.1 LOL! 🐟🐟🐟 Funny thing is, in general I didn't think bass was that important/noticeable. Until I got into YES and heard those classic albums....🐟🐟 Now fish remind me of Chris and vice versa.
I always found the similarity between Greg Lake and John Wetton amazing both great singing very close style/sound and bass almost like they were twins they could have shared the #3 spot.
What I love about Greg Lake is that he never played anything "show-offy" but, when he had to, he played the most incredibly intricate, technically difficult stuff like he was throwing it away. An amazing musician. And yes, Chris Squire is in a class by himself. His parts, his sense of voice leading, his counterpoint, his tone, his rhythmic variations, his groove. Absolutely ungodly. My only criticism is that he was not a great soloist and he did and extensive solo at every show. That tarnished the status a bit. But still...my all time fave.
An outstanding top 10, Scott! Geddy Lee at #2 - yes, Yes, YES! And then the Yes genius himself at #1. I will say that I've never seen fingers fly faster than Entwistle's when I saw them live in '82...so it's great to hear he influenced Squire, who, even if you include all Rock bassists still ought to be #1!
@@TheProgCorner I'm embarrassed to say I wasn't familiar with Jaco 'til you mentioned his name and I looked him up, Scott. Now, I do recognize Weather Report! I've just never listened to them much. I'll have to really check them out! Thanks!
@@TheProgCorner Good to know Scott, thanks! I just watched the "Watch" (have you heard this band play Genesis?!?! 😲😳) play "Fountains of Salamacis"... I never really realized how much Rutherford's bass playing drives that song until I watched this. Unreal. This song alone makes your top 10 placement of him absolutely bang on, imo. Cheers.
OK Scot, I guess I'm staying! Lol! Obviously Mr Squire at the top was a no brainer. Great list, great vid! I thought about having Tony Levin a little higher than 7, but then someone 6 through 2 would have to be lower. So I guess that thought was a wash. Scot you got me going now. Have to go jam Long Distance Runaround and The Fish❗🐡🐟🐠😎
Patrick Djivas-from PFM should be mentioned. I recently bought several discs from Iron Butterfly (RIP Doug Ingle), had "In-a Gadda..."since '67, Lee Dorman did some fantastic bass playing (borderline overplaying) on those first 4or 5 albums, it may not be prog but there are some great lines, which is always good. P.S. Geezer Butler (again not prog) is brilliant....Ray Shulman was an incredible musician.
Chris Squire is my all-time favorite (rock) bassist as well. But my favorite living bass player is Dave Larue. I'm kind of sad that you didn't at LEAST give hi and honorable mention. I first saw him when he played with John Petrucci on the 2002 (I think) G3 tour. But what got me REALLY liking him was the his playing on Joe Satriani's "live!" album & DVD in 2006, and his INCREDIBLE performances with Flying Colors. Do you have an opinion-one way or the other about J.S & F.C.?
@@TheProgCorner Another bassist I'm getting to like more & more is Kasim Sultan. He's been off & on with BOC for the last several years, but his resume' also includes Joan Jett, Meatloaf, and Todd Rundgren. I don't know how else to say this, but he has a very "cool" presence onstage. Danny Miranda is very entertaining to WATCH when he's with BOC, but I think Mr. Sultan has a much better SOUND.
When you reading Tony Levin's resume', you forgot one, and it's a pretty surprising omission. Ever heard of a little album called "A Momentary Lapse of Reason?"
@@TheProgCorner Yeah. Too much to keep track of. I started saying a long time ago that the list of bands he HASN'T played with is probably shorter than the ones that he HAS. Doesn't he ever get tired?/
I think John Myung is Japanese, not Korean. He has said in interviews that his biggest influences are/were Yes & Chris Squire, Rush & Geddy Lee, and Iron Maiden & Steve Harris. I know that's kind of redundant, but that's pretty much exactly the way he said it.
John is diaspra, in this case korean-american, at least that's what the wiki said, BUT if you mean japanese in relation to his approach to bass playing, i wholeheartedly agree
Before watching, I can say my top 5 follow my top 5 bands, but I'll admit that except for my #1 I usually don't specifically pay attention to the bass players. But, to be transparent, my top 5 are: 5. John Deacon 4. Mike Rutherford 3. Roger Waters 2. John Lodge 1. Chris Squire Now to see where, if any, these guys ranked are your list. Although my guess is that our #1s will be the same.
I'd personally give the nod to Geddy over Chris. Chris used a pick! Seriously though, once you get to the top 3-5 of any "top X" list, it gets so subjective. The level of skill and musicianship at that point is really just phenomenal.
Yes but the WAY Chris used a plectrum was unlike ANYONE else!!! Half thumb meat, half plastic. Created sounds no one had ever heard before. Or since. (But Geddy is a MONSTER too so…)
@@TheProgCorner I was just talking smack for fun. Chris was amazing. Geddy tried to replicate Chris' sound and ended up developing his own in the process...
Top list : I will have a top in a slightly different order 1 Chris Squire 2 Greg Lake 3 John Wetton and will have put Gary Strater in top 4 5 Geddy Lee
Surprised Levin isn't #1. I rate him along with Jaco for skill, tone and originality. No one else on the list is quite at that level IMO. Sometimes they seem better because their playing is more flamboyant but for sheer class and taste. Tony is the man. I LOVE Wetton too.
@@TheProgCorner Fair point! Are apples better than oranges and bananas? For me, it's Tony's jazz pedigree, his use of the stick. funk fingers, versatility, taste, and *that* tone.
Nitpicking: I'd have put Rutherford and Levin in top 5, ranked Dream Theater's Myung in top 10(Myung is the the best part of DT, IMHO), great list though. Also: Dave Hope/Billy Greer(Kansas), Dougie Thompson(Supertramp)
Jeff Berlin was in YES for half a tour, He replaced Tony Levin the ABWH line up. So he was also in The Real YES (sans Squire, which is how it would have to be). Geddy Played with YES as well. Greg Lake and John Wetton, so many bands shared, Greg Played in Asia when John left halfway through the Alpha Tour. Unfortunately for ASIA the corporation, he is the guy on their ASIA Lake and Palmer live in Japan Pro Shot show. He's great but he's not John Wetton, (nor is John him), and he he did not play for very long with the band, you can sense a bit of hesitation in all of them. Hard enough to take over singing songs on the radio every day, but to do that on Camera and keep that Bass holding the Band together. (Bass and Drums have to be Spot on or it's chaos). Their reunion show with John 20 years later is much better. They get visibly younger as the show goes on. #1 & #2 and #3 & #4 are interchangeable IMhO. I think Geddy was technically better, Chris more creative. Waters is good like Sting is. You nailed it with the Choice of Notes. A Minimalist. Maybe #25, but as a Prog influencer, but it's not even as a Bass Player, he's a Prog Mind. He should not be higher than John Myung and John should be Much Higher. Exciting, I knew but was still breathless waiting on the edge of my seat for the envelope to open..... I need to get out and interact with some people I think. Cheers! I'll look up the Guitarists and Drummers list. 🍁
Chris Squire was so subtile. He was unbelievable. A shame he was a bit lazy and never took Yes as a leader. He gave the torch to someone else. And in all those years he only issued one solo album, and what an album! Who wouldn't have like more Fish Out Of Water?
Squire was a singularity. He was very lazy and was in love with being a rock star. Drugs didn’t help back in the day either… That said, his genius is undeniable. The only true slam dunk in these rankings. Guitar? Drums? Even keys you have Wakey vs Emo…
Sorry if I get a bit personal here but I don't think "lazy" is a word that describes chris well, in fact there's a huge difference between being late, and being lazy. Despite him always being late to rehersal, the guy was incredibly proliphic, and hold Yes's integrity for as long as he lived, despite the constant arguing, style/line-up changes that the band had. Sure, he can be described as quite "asocial" when he wasn't busy in the music world, and maybe a bit socially awkward in his childhood, yet lazy makes no sense in this case. I also don't understand how the word lazy was used in this comment, if it's meant to be used as genuine criticism or a straight up insult. Also, everyone in the 70s were obsessed with the idea of wanting to be a rockstar, some more than others, but it's pretty standard for that time period, people back then were ridiculously gullible, no wonders that he, as well as the rest of Yes, were greatly influenced by that ideal. Still, no one so far, at least in the prog/rock community ever considered chris as a bad person/musician, despite all of those small "defects" that he might have had. I hope that my omnipresent CS bias didn't shine trough this time.
Great list, couldn't disagree. Well, Roger Waters maybe. And no italians? Also, I'd like to add Victor Wooten, he is prog enough I think. And Pedro Aznar from Argentina
Two polish bassist that I never heard of! I need to check them out. PS Free City Of Danzig existed untill 1939 😉 Greetings from Poland Edit: Aaah he was born in 1938 Sorry
For me, Geddy is the best ever! But I can’t argue against Chris Squire, only a hatter could!! Now, you kinda let me down again…. How can you leave out Dave Hope??? Come on, Kansas!!! Possibly one of a handful of greatest album runs; Kansas (John Brown album)- Point of Know Return, 5 fantastic albums in a row! Prog as only a few American bands have been able to put out!!! Scot…. We gotta get ya to spend a weekend, remembering just how bad-ass Kansas was/is😀😎🙏🏼
I would include Monolith to the impressive run of greatness!!! Dave Hope is the one guy I wish I would have included because I am a huge Kansas fan. He was/is kinda the forgotten member…
Roger Waters is a rock genius. Certainly. But he's a pretty mediocre bass player, especially compared to all those big names. I would have mentioned Dave Hope and Billy Greer from Kansas, Tim Esau and John Jowitt from IQ, Graeme Murray from Pallas, Steve Gee from Landmarq, Clive Mitten from 12th Night, Thierry Sidhoum from Ange, Carl Cadden-James from Shadow Gallery and so much more.
i was a huge YES fan, maybe more so than you. years ago i had a girlfriend who loved Rush, yeah a chick Rush fan, they do exist and btw, she was hot. BUT if she ever sees this vid and the top prog drummers vid, she will probably think of me and after all these years that probably won't be too pleasnt for her, thanks!
