I think these 2 are probably the 2 best bassists that rock has endured. Who do you think is the better bass player?

im surprised that nobody responded to you. Personnally, i prefer Les Claypool cause he's more creative and he plays other kinds of music than funky basslines. Overall i prefer Primus to RHCP.

I agree with egg. I don't think Flea even approaches Les' technical ability or creativity...or weirdness factor, for that matter.

Easy. Les Claypool.

It's definitely Claypool - more inventive, better dexterity and unquestionable musical integrity.

That said, Claypool's not the best bass player that's ever lived, but he's very high on the list of candidates.

As for Flea - he's a good player, but he doesn't quite cut it as a virtuoso. I'd argue that Trevor Dunn has an advantage over him too.

There's tons of great bass players - what about Fred Frith, Jaco Pastorius, Charles Mingus and Tony Levin? (I know Levin plays a Chapman Stick before the pedantic squad get involved). Some of them aren't strictly rock but they're cruelly ignored sometimes.

Go ahead and laugh, but Beatles-era McCartney kicks all their asses for both muscularity and melodicism.

quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
Go ahead and laugh, but Beatles-era McCartney kicks all their asses for both muscularity and melodicism.

Hmmm...

McCartney vs Levin, Dunn, Claypool, Pastorius, Mingus, Frith and Flea?

Interesting.

You'll not get me to put Paul down - he's a great songwriter and an emmensely important figurehead in popular music, but as a virtuosic bass player? (scratches chin)

I'd have to go for Fred Frith. In my own crazy imagination, if I had to hire any of those guys to record bass on a song it would be Frith (as much as I'd love the chance to work with either McCartney or Dunn).

while i prefer rhcp ten to one over primus, there's just no ignoring the fact that les claypool is the most creative and dextrous bassist of recent times.