Most Badass Bass Players

Thin Lizzy's Phil Lynott just had so much soul in his playing.I realize John Entwistle is better technically but for me Phil just had a great feel and soulfulness about him that I appreciate a little more.God bless you Phil,you were truly something great and you are missed.Now you are making "Thunder and Lightning" in Heaven.R.I.P.

The great Who bass shredder.Innovator of heavy bass distortion.Pete Townsend may have been the guitarist in the band but John was the lead player.R.I.P.

Iron Maiden's god of four strings.One of the fastest bassists in the world.Steve is a bass player who can create a melody and a thundering rhythm at the same time.

All hail Black Sabbath's thunder-maker!The king of heavy atmospheric bass.Go listen to the intro bass solo in "N.I.B." from Sabbath.

Snotty,heavily distorted bass lines are a Motley Crue signature.Nikki's bass playing puts the "boom" in such songs such as "Dr.Feelgood" and "Primal Scream".

Even though Kurt Cobain never cared for being a real technical guitarist,Nirvana's Krist Novoselic is actually a very virtuosic bass player even on the Nirvana records.

Aside from all the controversy tied with black metal band Mayhem,musicianship was never in short supply.Necrobutcher is one of the heaviest,most outrageous bass players in the world.

75% of the funk brought to the Red Hot Chili Peppers came from Flea's slapping technique.The combination of punk and funk became the main formula the band's innovative style.

Metallica's "lead bass" lines in their early records almost gave the impression that there was a third guitarist in the band.Cliff Burton is one thrash metal's greatest bassists.R.I.P.

Although mainly known as Slayer's vocalist,Tom Araya's thundering bass playing is a big part of the band's dark and sledgehammer-like rhythm.For a good example,go listen to Slayer's first album,Show No Mercy.