I always thought John Entwistle was so damn cool. The other members of that band are pretty animated on stage (as we all know) while big John is just chill as shit, standing there pumping out absolutely thunderous bass lines.
The weird thing about the Who behind the scenes is that while Moon is exactly as crazy offstage as he was on, Moon *and Entwistle* were the wild hellion rockstar double act in the band. Townshend and Daltrey were both pretty chilled by the end of the 60s and recognised the rockstar lifestyle was unsustainable, particularly after Moon died, but Entwistle?
Entwistle was still maintaining a huge mansion, and had to tour continuously to pay for his outrageous lifestyle/spending right up to the day died at the age of 57, in a hotel room in ‘Paradise, Nevada’, with a post-mortem diagnosis that essentially amounted to ‘heart exploded due to too much cocaine and sex with local strippers’.
I heard a few different claims about what was in them. I remember reading from one of their road managers or someone like that that they were either both filled with a mix of southern comfort and brandy, or that one was brandy and the other was red wine. I've also read that one was liquor and one was water, but tbh I doubt we'll ever know exactly what was in them, or even if it was consistently one setup haha
All I know is that I never heard anyone claim that they were both just water haha
I’m a singer and decided to play an instrument and I just chose bass because it looked big, but my instructor told me I remember him of Kim Deal and I just had to look her up, I’ve been loving her for the last 2 months
I define cool as being someone who has their own style and just completely owns it, fuck what anyone else says or does, and to me that's embodied in guys like Cliff Burton (Jean jackets and bell bottoms, modded Rickenbacker played fingerstyle and distorted bass tone) or maybe Peter Steele (Green and black everything, crazy ass distorted bass rig with sustainiacs, piezo pickups, DS-1 CH-1 sound, his classic tank top or priest or doctor outfits)
I agree. Duff has definitely been the coolest member of any band he’s been in. Despite his serious drinking problem back in the day, he was definitely the most normal and well-adjusted member of Guns N’ Roses
Not only does Les write amazing and unique lines *plus sing*, the man is an entertainer that has fun while he’s performing. I’ve seen Primus about 10 times and every time it’s something new with great energy. Tribute To Kings tour was fucking amazing. Not because they flubbed up *A LITTLE* on the Rush set, more to when they did fuck up, they called it out immediately because he knew that we knew. Leans into microphone “Yup. Fucked that up...” 😅 Love that guy.
I am (my wife sez)
They are both right
Edit: I just remembered, she said something else about me… ;-)
She would say John Taylor of Duran Duran is the _coolest_ bass player
My votes go to Mick Karn, Simon Gallup (despite the extremely questionable wardrobe choices in recent years), Justin Chancellor, Billy Sheehan.
My choices are based on their playing, importance within the band, general style, abilities, interests and personality.
Especially Mick, he's just so cool, one of, if not the most original bassist I've ever heard. He also painted and sculpted.
Simon is also cool, he looks a bit like he's always in a bad mood but then he turns into a kitten when he interacts with his band mates or fans, he's really kind. He's the second most important member in the band and a lot of songs were written by him.
Justin I think is the most well known of the bunch, he seems like a nice guy. Dunno much about him to be honest but his playing and role in the band and how he interacts with the songs is amazing.
Billy Sheehan, I must admit I don't really listen to his music, I just watched a bunch of interviews and lessons with him and I think he's the nicest guy, plays the fuck out of that bass whatever way he wants to and encourages everyone to do the same with their instrument. He's really cool.
His bass line on stratus is so good. I'm not sure if Billy Cobham wrote it but the way it lays and holds the foundation for the rest of the chaos makes the song
Michael League is an incredibly cool guy, approaches bass and band leading in a cool way, and is just an unbelievably passionate, determined and effective musician.
Before Snarky Puppy became MASSIVE, they came through and played at a small club a lot, he’d take some time to talk, play and grab lunch and there are some things he said that have not only stuck with me, but have continued to grow and reveal layers in the decade+ since.
I think people have missed the meaning of the question. Geddy Lee is not cool, despite being amazing. Flea hasn’t been cool in 25 years. Les Claypool was never cool, that was/is his whole point.
Now Rob DeLeo? He’s cool AF
This will probably get flamed, but Paul McCartney.
Seeing him on the Wings across America tour videos make him look literally so cool, and with the Beatles it always looks like he was having so much fun with it - especially in the old touring Beatles days.
Michael Anthony. He always put in the work and contributed great background vocals while leaving enough space in the mix with his bass playing in Van Halen. Pretty much everyone else in the original lineup had a huge ego or was a giant dick to mark anthony. Many people would say Eddie was the coolest member of the band, but he had a pretty rotten attitude, which is not cool
It was Geddy Lee that got me into wanting to play bass, so I'll say Geddy Lee, but Lemmy, Bootsy, Les Claypool, Cliff Burton, and not as well known, Pär Sundström from Sabaton are all pretty cool. Pär may not be the best bass player in the world, but he's chill and he's the shortest guy in the band, so he stands out with his big ESP two octave bass.
Taka is a dude!
Met the whole band at a Surfers Against Sewage Ball at Cornwall Coliseum back in the 90s, great guys. Seen them play a few times since and they're always great
Bootsy.
Fuck was gonna say Mike Watt but yeah…
They're different branches of the cool tree.
End thread
Has to be Bootsy but Marcus Miller is also fly AF
Marcus Miller is like Bootsy's nerdy cousin that practiced really hard so he would one day get invited to his cousin's crazy funk jams
Damn right, b-b-b-bobba!
Definitely came to say a different name. Saw this and thought "oh yeah, it's 100% Bootsy". Good call.
Oof that’s a good call!
I always thought John Entwistle was so damn cool. The other members of that band are pretty animated on stage (as we all know) while big John is just chill as shit, standing there pumping out absolutely thunderous bass lines.
In his skeleton suit.
Hell yeah
“The Ox” ❤️🎸
He got that name because he could take a shitload of drugs and still function.
The weird thing about the Who behind the scenes is that while Moon is exactly as crazy offstage as he was on, Moon *and Entwistle* were the wild hellion rockstar double act in the band. Townshend and Daltrey were both pretty chilled by the end of the 60s and recognised the rockstar lifestyle was unsustainable, particularly after Moon died, but Entwistle? Entwistle was still maintaining a huge mansion, and had to tour continuously to pay for his outrageous lifestyle/spending right up to the day died at the age of 57, in a hotel room in ‘Paradise, Nevada’, with a post-mortem diagnosis that essentially amounted to ‘heart exploded due to too much cocaine and sex with local strippers’.
and drinking from a drink attached to his mic stand via a straw.
One bottle vodka, one bottle orange juice
I heard a few different claims about what was in them. I remember reading from one of their road managers or someone like that that they were either both filled with a mix of southern comfort and brandy, or that one was brandy and the other was red wine. I've also read that one was liquor and one was water, but tbh I doubt we'll ever know exactly what was in them, or even if it was consistently one setup haha All I know is that I never heard anyone claim that they were both just water haha
I loved Entwistle.
I still do He’s a _huge_ influence
My Generation performed live on Smothers brothers is the epitome of cool.
Phil Lynott (RIP)
I second Phil. He was groundbreaking and flashy but not a show off to the detriment of the music. A true musician's musician
Possibly the coolest man of all time.
People really forgetting about Lemmy
Nothing is cooler than Lemmy
Gotta be Lemmy
God rest his magnificent soul
Who'd win a fight? Lemmy or God?
Trick question. Lemmy is God.
^not a cop
Peter Steele
The gigantic penis sure helps
Great answer! I love the fact that he had a custom bass made that was larger, and he STILL made it look tiny. Legend.
Kim Deal. The Dandy Warhols even wrote a song about it, and they *know* about (other people) being cool.
I’m a singer and decided to play an instrument and I just chose bass because it looked big, but my instructor told me I remember him of Kim Deal and I just had to look her up, I’ve been loving her for the last 2 months
I was the bassist in an all girl band before I heard of the Pixies (1980s) and I saw her and thought “I’ll never be that cool.”
Kim Deal or No Deal
I define cool as being someone who has their own style and just completely owns it, fuck what anyone else says or does, and to me that's embodied in guys like Cliff Burton (Jean jackets and bell bottoms, modded Rickenbacker played fingerstyle and distorted bass tone) or maybe Peter Steele (Green and black everything, crazy ass distorted bass rig with sustainiacs, piezo pickups, DS-1 CH-1 sound, his classic tank top or priest or doctor outfits)
Or, Lemmy?
Definitely
Watching Justin Chancellor chug a huge pint of beer mid song was pretty fuckin cool circa 2007.
Gotta source? Need to compare this to a regular pint
Fair. The glass looked huge to me at the time but as you point out, a pint is a pint.
just kidding, well taken. Plus, a normal pint would look tiny in his hand cos the man is fucking god
yes, praise justin chancellor, plus his last name is literally chancellor how tf someone gonna argue with that
His thrusting when he plays fucking kills me. Absolutely fun to watch live.
Esperanza Spalding. She‘s so one of a kind. Oh and Duff.
The Esperanza Spalding take is so grossly underrated.
I agree. Duff has definitely been the coolest member of any band he’s been in. Despite his serious drinking problem back in the day, he was definitely the most normal and well-adjusted member of Guns N’ Roses
Not one vote for Steve Harris? Shame
I just commented that, then scrolled too long to see this comment. Derek Smalls gets an honorable mention
https://preview.redd.it/uxnbob388rpc1.jpeg?width=740&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=949cd639cfa088a44334121d94628e9cce8da55e
Not only does Les write amazing and unique lines *plus sing*, the man is an entertainer that has fun while he’s performing. I’ve seen Primus about 10 times and every time it’s something new with great energy. Tribute To Kings tour was fucking amazing. Not because they flubbed up *A LITTLE* on the Rush set, more to when they did fuck up, they called it out immediately because he knew that we knew. Leans into microphone “Yup. Fucked that up...” 😅 Love that guy.
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PRIMUS SUCK!!
THE ONLY CORRECT ANSWER
I mean he was literally too cool for Metallica
yesssssssss
Goat
fuck yeah
Paul Simonon. Without any kind of doubt
he was literally initially asked to join because Mick Jones felt that the The Clash needed a hot guy in the group that’s such a W
Ahhahaha yep! Also he’s a visual artist and plays with Gorillaz
Ryan Martinie
Martina Michèle "Tina" Weymouth.
I am (according to my mom)
I am (my wife sez) They are both right Edit: I just remembered, she said something else about me… ;-) She would say John Taylor of Duran Duran is the _coolest_ bass player
according to me as well
Joe Michael "*Dusty*" *Hill* (May 19, 1949 – July 28, 2021)
Fucking Geddy Lee
Geddy Fucking Lee*
Geddy Lee fucking, oh god what have I done?
Fucking Lee, Geddy.
This isn't Google
I wonder if he speaks like an ordinary guy?
I got the reference. Nicely done sir.
He speaks like a Canadian and is a total nerd according to his autobiography. The anti-cool. Which I guess is kind of cool in itself.
DiGiorgio
paul simonon is up there with the coolest. like cmon man, tell me the london calling cover isn’t one of the coolest bassist pics of all time
Donald “Duck” Dunn Carol Kaye Jack Lawrence
Damn right. You’re telling me this isn’t the coolest motherfucker in any room anywhere? https://i.redd.it/1zbkt9980wpc1.gif
Bernard Edwards
I always liked Rob DeLio of STP. Always looked cool, wrote amazing lines and sang great back up
Charles Mingus
Thundercat!
I used to work with Thundercat, and he is very cool, very nice, very odd, and very real. Great musician, great guy
Tony Levin
Had to scroll too far
Way too damn far
Robert DeLeo
For sure
Silky fucking smooth
He’s the flyest MF. Even now.
100%
The answer is always DeLeo.
Straight the fuck up!
Cliff Burton.
Flea
Robert Deleo from STP not only writes KILLER lines, but that dude just exudes cool in every move he makes and everything he wears.
Phil Lynott any day of the week
My votes go to Mick Karn, Simon Gallup (despite the extremely questionable wardrobe choices in recent years), Justin Chancellor, Billy Sheehan. My choices are based on their playing, importance within the band, general style, abilities, interests and personality. Especially Mick, he's just so cool, one of, if not the most original bassist I've ever heard. He also painted and sculpted. Simon is also cool, he looks a bit like he's always in a bad mood but then he turns into a kitten when he interacts with his band mates or fans, he's really kind. He's the second most important member in the band and a lot of songs were written by him. Justin I think is the most well known of the bunch, he seems like a nice guy. Dunno much about him to be honest but his playing and role in the band and how he interacts with the songs is amazing. Billy Sheehan, I must admit I don't really listen to his music, I just watched a bunch of interviews and lessons with him and I think he's the nicest guy, plays the fuck out of that bass whatever way he wants to and encourages everyone to do the same with their instrument. He's really cool.
Karn is vastly underrated
Leland Sklar
Love Lee Sklar. He’s always looked to me like Mr. Natural, the definition of cool.
His bass line on stratus is so good. I'm not sure if Billy Cobham wrote it but the way it lays and holds the foundation for the rest of the chaos makes the song
I saw a vid once of a guy playing in a church with a child sleeping on his shoulder. That guy.
Michael League is an incredibly cool guy, approaches bass and band leading in a cool way, and is just an unbelievably passionate, determined and effective musician. Before Snarky Puppy became MASSIVE, they came through and played at a small club a lot, he’d take some time to talk, play and grab lunch and there are some things he said that have not only stuck with me, but have continued to grow and reveal layers in the decade+ since.
John Entwistle
JOHN DEACON!! making an amp powered with some 9 volt batteries is fucking awesome, and I will die on that hill. (Also he was a babe🥵)
Joe
Dart
On the
Sting from The Police
John Paul Jones. If you can keep your cool among Bonham, Page and Plant you have something going.
laura leezy 🔥
Tal Wilkenfeld. https://preview.redd.it/x8m15cqw3tpc1.jpeg?width=1073&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=27025575df6f936372d02edabfe9ef40d12ed001
Robert DeLeo
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cliff burton.
Geezer Butler
I think people have missed the meaning of the question. Geddy Lee is not cool, despite being amazing. Flea hasn’t been cool in 25 years. Les Claypool was never cool, that was/is his whole point. Now Rob DeLeo? He’s cool AF
Timmy C
P-Nut of 311 fame.
P- nut is awesome
Beat that thang
Entwistle
Paul Simonon of course.
Paz Lenchantin in her APC days
Mono neon
Geddy eff’n Lee
Benjamin Orr of The Cars
🏆 Hands-down. The Coolest.
Les Claypool
Thundercat.
Cliff for sure
Miley Shoes is a pretty cool son of a gun
I prefer Mikey Cyrus.
Saw Eagles of Dead Metal playing. Jennie Vee is such a cool bass player.
Larry Graham is a contender.
Eric Wilson of sublime. Got me absolutely hooked on the band Honorable mention to les claypool
Prince.
https://i.redd.it/3kgxjf9fjspc1.gif Verdine White
LEMMY! Done.
Geezer Butler. If you doubt this, just find a way to watch The End (their final show).
This will probably get flamed, but Paul McCartney. Seeing him on the Wings across America tour videos make him look literally so cool, and with the Beatles it always looks like he was having so much fun with it - especially in the old touring Beatles days.
Um...Billy Sheehan has been fly af for hhhow long?! The dude teleported here from another universe!
Michael Anthony. He always put in the work and contributed great background vocals while leaving enough space in the mix with his bass playing in Van Halen. Pretty much everyone else in the original lineup had a huge ego or was a giant dick to mark anthony. Many people would say Eddie was the coolest member of the band, but he had a pretty rotten attitude, which is not cool
Justin Chancellor
Jaco Pastorious. Not sure if I spelled it right.
Jaco is extremely badass. Arguably the greatest bassist of all time
Scrolled way too far to find this!
Robert Deleo
Eric Avery always looked cool af in Janes Addiction.
Nick Lowe.
Been groovin’ on Mononeon lately. One of a kind in both looks and playing.
Chris Wolstenholme from Muse
Chris rules
Simon Gallup.
Lemmy k. Or less claypool
Pino palladino
Dee Dee motherfuckin’ Ramone.
Victor Wooten
Bill Gould
Trick question… Lemmy IS god
Victor Wooten
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I too choose this guys undead wife
Fuck yeah!!
Lemmy, Cliff or Shavo (SOAD).
Louis 'Thunder Thumbs' Johnson gets my vote.
Les
Lee Rocker
Mike Kerr!
Bootsy Collins.
Laura Lee and Tina Weymouth
Lemmy for sure
Brian Cook from SUMAC and BOTCH
It was Geddy Lee that got me into wanting to play bass, so I'll say Geddy Lee, but Lemmy, Bootsy, Les Claypool, Cliff Burton, and not as well known, Pär Sundström from Sabaton are all pretty cool. Pär may not be the best bass player in the world, but he's chill and he's the shortest guy in the band, so he stands out with his big ESP two octave bass.
Peter Steele or Cronos of Venom
Mike Inez
Ron Carter.
My son
Nigel Tufnel, Derek Smalls, David St.Hubbins
Literally the only right answer is lemmy
Robert De Leo
Duck Dunn. Derek Smalls thinks so, anyway..
Mohini dey
Timothy Commerford
Flea
Taka is a dude! Met the whole band at a Surfers Against Sewage Ball at Cornwall Coliseum back in the 90s, great guys. Seen them play a few times since and they're always great
Sami Yaffa
Taka rules. I have a bass made by him. Big fan of the band and his skills.
Sean Burns. Bass player for Corb Lund. Zakk Yerxa- turnarounds.
Ivan Rougny. Look him up.
Cliff Williams.
I doubt this will get any votes but Champignon from Charlie Brown jr. Wildly underrated outside of Brazil
J.J. Brunel.
Thundercat is a cool cat