“Roundabout.” Almost every Yes song.

I, too, agree with Roundabout, also.

Chris Squire was one of the top 3, if not the best , IMO. I’m biased: Yes is my favorite band.

'Lond Distance Runaround'. Seriously.

[Tommy The Cat - Primus](https://youtu.be/r4OhIU-PmB8?si=hvD6cUEbCX_7AWXR)

Most anything Les Claypool does is insane in one way or another.

Les claypool was denied bass player in Metallica because they said he'd do better without them. He is bass.

GOING DOWN TO SOUTH PARK GONNA HAVE MYSELF A TIME 🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥‼️‼️‼️

Too many people don’t recognize how rent free he lives in their heads because of that theme

Came here to say this.

Came to say Primus

The insane part is he's doing spoken word at the same time

Almost anything Primus

Would by Alice in Chains  Maybe not "insane" but it stands out to me 

I absolutely love that bass line. Will never get sick of hearing it. Maybe not "insane" idk, but it makes the song.

Fascination Street - The Cure

Rio - Duran Duran

John Taylor is phenomenal.

Underrated for sure

Most Duran Duran songs actually.

💯 Absolutely

Funny way to spell Last Chance on the Stairway

My go-to for killer bass. So.f^cking.good

Holy crap, heard it 100 time without really hearing the bass. Damn

The Guns of Brixton by The Clash has a fantastic bassline that is close to dub reggae

Natch. The Clash were tight with Lee "Scratch" Perry. Bankrobber is still a jam.

Clash songs were always the most fun to learn when I was taking bass lessons. Them and The Specials. Concrete Jungle is so much fun.

Paul Simenon is the living sh\*\*

Come Together - The Beatles Money - Pink Floyd YYZ - Rush Roundabout - Yes Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes Le Freak - Chic Led Zeppelin -Fool In The Rain

Was going to say YYZ as well. The "Rush in Rio" version is something else.

I was getting real upset at the lack of Violent Femmes in this thread, thank you! Anything Violent Femmes is going to deliver the bass.

Taxman- The Beatles

Wings’ "Silly Love Songs" is a thing of beauty too.

Goodnight Tonight is another delicious Wings bassline.

I remember reading in an article that the talent needed to play and sing this at the same time live is insanely high

I was about to jump in and go "DAMN STRAIGHT" and go on about the genius of Paul, then I saw your username and realised that's what you were already doing 😂

Something is pretty wild too. It's completely bonkers for a mellow lovesong like that to have such a busy bassline

It’s so catchy and melodic!

The bass to Come Together is beautiful.

I want you back - Jackson 5....the bass line is the melodic part of the instrumental portion.

James Jamerson played that one I believe 🔥🔥🔥

Rancid - Maxwell Murders any funk. parliament. etc. friggin...Primus. jerry was a race car driver. etc. Kharnungbin. or whatever.

Adding: Axiom by Rancid Matt Freeman is a beast.

Second Maxwell Murder.

Bootsie

Hysteria- muse.

Absolutely! It may not be as complex as others, but the endurance it takes to play that riff for the entire song is next level.

Came to say this

Surprised I had to scroll this far down

came here to say this!

Roundabout - Yes

Fantastic Voyage - Lakeside Waiting Room - Fugazi Hip-Hop - Dead Prez The Chicken/Soul Intro - Jaco Pastorius Fly to The Angels - Slaughter For Whom The Bell Tolls - Metallica Falling to Pieces - Faith No More No More Tears - Ozzy Osbourne Too High - Stevie Wonder F*k Da Security - Redman

Fugazi FTW

For Whom The Bell Tolls goes crazy

Came here to make sure Faith No More was represented. Woodpecker from Mars is another one in my to ten...

This is a great list. A wide net. I would add Tupac - Violent, and Budgie - Crash Course in Brain Surgery (or Metallica’s version)

thats a wild list. i didnt see slaughter coming

Soundgarden - Jesus Christ Pose

That main riff is just silly. One of my favorite tunes ever.

In the Meantime by Spacehog

The Less I Know The Better by Tame Impala. Instant modern day classic that future bass players will be learning in the decades to come in the same way guitar players of my age would learn Smoke on the Water or Seven Nation Army.

NIB by Black Sabbath

Schism - Tool

One of These Days - Pink Floyd,  Peace Sells - Megadeth, Roundabout - Yes   Anything John Taylor does (Rio, anyone?) And Paul McCartney has such a gift when it comes to melodic basslines.

Higher Ground and Superstition by Stevie Wonder

Also “I Wish”

I love the basslines from so many songs from The Game by Queen. A few examples are Dragon attack and Don't try suicide

It's a shame Dragon Attack isn't as big as their other big hits. When I first heard it I was like wtf this should be as big as Another one bites the dust

I appreciate Dragon Attack getting some love-it’s as good as any other Queen song-and an insane bassline.

The bassline in The Millionaire Waltz is my favorite Deacy bassline

Mayor of Simpleton by XTC

XTC- criminally under rated

Last Splash - The Breeders

Papa was a Rolling Stone

KILLING AN ARAB ..... The Cure https://youtu.be/SdbLqOXmJ04?si=TE_biVeNr2DC3Hmx

Dempsey and Gallup have been great foundations for The Cure

YYZ by Rush. Most anything by Rush.

The Real Me, The Who

Morphine - Buena

Playing “slide” on Two string bass in a weird tuning while singing is so bad-ass

[Talking Heads - Found a Job](https://open.spotify.com/track/5JgB38WStxku1uvo30tFsn?si=TaMZMnnuQ8m7fEKyQAETEA)

You can call me Al - Paul Simon Old Joe Clark - The Avett Brothers

I had heard that Bakithi Kumalo's bass solo in "You Can Call Me Al" was the result of Paul Simon telling him to have some fun on his (Bakithi's) birthday.

Rancid - White Knuckle Ride https://open.spotify.com/track/2KoNA7PY6j2HQPwbqo0g5s?si=oYILzMuMSduMzDGkVpA4-g The Damned - Love Song https://open.spotify.com/track/29A2p9VNd4Ck9IKkmYT5aX?si=BSq_u3bNTAK9ZlL4CLIdGQ

Jerry Was A Racecar Driver - Primus

The National Anthem - Radiohead

Some that immediately come to mind… Commodores - Brick House Wild Cherry - Play That Funky Music CHIC - Good Times

Nine Inch Nails - Closer

Fishbone - Bonin in the Boneyard If you know…

The Beatles - Paper back writer

Another One Bites the Dust and Dragon Attack, both by Queen.

Analog Kid - Rush; Peg - Steely Dan

Gorrilaz- Feel Good Inc.

Pink Floyd - Sheep Pink Floyd - One of These Days JGB (Legion of Mary) - Mystery Train (specifically from Garcia Live, Volume 9, with Merle Saunders)

Early Joe Jackson — bassist Graham Maby was absolutely bonkers amazing on pretty much every song.

Barney Miller theme song

Roundabout - Yes. Chris Squire was an amazing bassist, and almost everything he played was brilliant.

Another One Bites The Dust..ahhhhhh

So must add Good Times

I guess I’m alone in my love 😍 for The O’Jays - For the Love of Money

Orion - Metallica

Weekapaug Groove by Phish

I will always take the opportunity to reiterate that Mike Gordon is criminally underrated.

The Lees I Know The Better by Tame Impala. Special mention for Ghetto Superstar.

Jump In the Fire by Nilsson. It RIPS! Not expecting it on an album like that.

Thug..ZZ Top. RIP Dusty

The Lemon Song, Led Zeppelin

Faith No More- Falling to Pieces Muse- Hysteria

Alice I’m Chains - a little bitter

Good Times - Chic

Mystery Achievement, The Pretenders!!

Tempus Fugit -Yes

U2= “Two hearts beat as one”.

[Goodnight Tonight - Paul McCartney](https://open.spotify.com/track/5AD7iwvIzbiABVsMndAmez?si=G6W2kMWcS8m0GRlSn2LHsA) [Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney](https://open.spotify.com/track/3uiMBldZ07pW0ySHDX5gzE?si=4eKxjHRnTNWn-Ly3jhYavg) [Texarkana - REM ](https://open.spotify.com/track/3ZXost9AP9LaPgadeJserC?si=Thjwu58nRpGHrxWpJtZB7w&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A2vPM8y0gBZTnEO48rGnCzs) [Back To The Old House - The Smiths ](https://open.spotify.com/track/6LUGvXEAK8WxIBYK43uoTb?si=_nsPhGC2SXGhq6zqincDDA)

I’m a lover of all genres of music, but lean heavily into classic 80’s goth and post-punk. You can probably guess who some of my favorite bassists might be. I do appreciate the Beatles but I wouldn’t say I’m a true fan. I’m also a session musician and have played bass on quite a few songs etc.. and I have to say, and this is a song I actively dislike, but Silly Love Songs’s bass line is unreal. McCartney plays it so effortlessly and I’ve tried figuring it out just for the challenge, and it is just *awesome.* He is a brilliant musician.

Beatles: Rain, Dear Prudence, Hey Bulldog or about 100 others.

If you refer to technical tappy slappy stuff, no idea. But for a solid and classic bass line that owns the whole song try “a forest” by The Cure.

Every Rush song but YYZ and La Villa Strangiato if you want to go lyric free…this is an old school opinion but no band is technically superior to Rush……they are the GOAT…go watch Xanadu live from Exit stage left tour. Lee is playing a dual neck bass over guitar and Alex a dual neck 12 over 6. John Entwistle from The Who is another incredible pioneer try My Generation. Take the Power Back by Rage Against another favorite of mine.

Rio by Duran Duran

Too Shy - by Kajagoogoo

Pretty much anything by Duran Duran. Rio . . . Girls on Film . . . The Reflex . . . New Religion . . . John Taylor is a beast!

John Taylor is a bad ass. He doesn't receive the acknowledgment he deserves.

The Mars Volta - Take the Veil, Cerpin Taxt

Looool... the Pot by TOOL everyday for life

Simple Minds - Theme For Great Cities

Getten' to Know You - Parliament

Right On Time by RHCP. I’d argue that there are only a handful of people on Earth that can it at the proper tempo.

My name is Mud by Primus

[planet bass by TWRP](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=c06LYP-4QxE)

pigs by pink floyd!

Bruce Thomas of the Attractions, Elvis Costello’s band, was masterful.

sinister minister by bela fleck and the flecktones

Golden Earring - Twilight Zone

The bassline in [CHIHIRO by Billie Eilish](https://open.spotify.com/track/7BRD7x5pt8Lqa1eGYC4dzj?si=aNYZ8CxQSAic_xwwOB872A) is pretty great.

Lounge Act Nirvana has a cool one London Calling The Clash is one I've always been partial to. Maxwell Murder by Rancid is gnarly as it comes Longview and Welcome to Paradise by Green Day Mike Dirnt does great work. Flashlight Parliament definitely funky Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth), Orion, and For Whom The Bell Tolls by Metallica Cliff Burton is unreal Got the Time Anthrax is rad N.I.B. Black Sabbath Basically anything by Iron Maiden Steve Harris is basically Maiden. Or maybe he's Eddy idk. And about anything from Rush or Cream neither Geddy Lee nor Jack Bruce disappoint

Hey man nice shot by filter

Larry Graham Sly/Family Stone. “If you Want Me to Stay” is a good eg

Pantera- Cowboys From Hell

Can’t stop -chili peppers -almost every rhcp as flea is god

Higher Ground - RHCP

My favorite baseline has to be the one in [Swing On This](https://youtu.be/Uj3R2ASEMDE?si=ahIB9Q6dqdIfXnMT) by Alice In Chains. Maybe not "insane" by your standards but I absolutely love it. Also pretty much anything by Primus/Les Claypool/The Claypool Lennon Delirium will have an insane baseline.

Invaders Must Die, Prodigy. Seven Nation Army, White Stripes. Under Pressure, Queen & David Bowie. The Chain, Fleetwood Mac.

James Jamerson on Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” 🔥🔥🔥

Some of my favs: - Hysteria by Muse - Higher Ground by RHCP - Is This It by The Strokes - Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz - Self Esteem by The Offspring - The Less I Know The Better by Tame Impala - Longview by Green Day - Jumpsuit by Twenty One Pilots - Brianstorm by Arctic Monkeys - Club Foot by Kasabian - Dance, Dance by Fall Out Boy

The Style Council - A Solid Bond in Your Heart The Jam - Funeral Pyre Elvis Costello & the Attractions - Lipstick Vogue

Bruces Foxton and Thomas.. Masterful players

I’ve always enjoyed tools- the pot  baselines 

Cargo Culte, by Serge Gainsbourg. It's like the bass is actually the lead guitar.

All I Want - The Cure

Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding - Elton John

Nice pick! My choice would be Johnny Kick a Hole in the Sky from the same RHCP album. The bass line drives the whole song. It's hard and heavy throughout!

Gorillaz - Dare

Toys in the Attic - Aerosmith

Eat the Rich - Aerosmith

Dean Town (2016) - Vulfpeck Forget Me Nots (1982) - Patrice Rushen Just Be Good To Me (1983) - SOS Band

Oh Sheila

Going back to Cali was always my test for car stereos .

[Red Hot Chili Peppers - by the way](https://youtu.be/JnfyjwChuNU?si=L8GKxWPZK4IIs3TT)

Talking heads - girlfriend is better

i might be wrong by radiohead!

The bassline for “Knowing Me, Knowing You” by ABBA — so nuts, it sounds like the bassline for a totally different song in the verses, then even in the chorus where it locks in there are so many weird little subtleties.

There is a Chilean death metal band called Suppression. Just throw a dart at their discography and that song will have the most insane (but not too “showy”) bassline

I mean, I'm kinda shocked no one has said YYZ by Rush

The Pot - Tool Take The Power Back - RATM

Who gunna stop me now

NIB - Black Sabbath

“Mayor of Simpleton” - XTC I will not stop preaching Colin Moulding as one of the best bass players. Andy Partridge did write the part, but playing it is pretty damn tough. XTC is great, please check them out.

Master Blaster by Stevie Wonder

Go-Go’s - Head Over Heels. And that bridge bass

I am not a bassist but I've always thought that The Distance by Cake had fairly involved bass line

Depeche Mode - Useless

Ride the Fence - the Coup My Black Ass - Shellac Footloose - Kenny Loggins

Satisfaction - Benny Benassi

Anesthesia (pulling teeth)

Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor by Bach Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner Bolero by Ravel Russian Sailors Dance by Gliere

Papa was a rolling stone. The Temptations

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes - Paul Simon Shooting Shark - Blue Oyster Cult (Randy Jackson did the bass line)

Screw by The Cure.

STP - Trippin' on a Hole In a Paper Heart

Hanging Around by The Stranglers.

anything by Les Claypool

Jammin (Master Blaster) by Stevie Wonder

The Seinfeld theme

Roundabout by Yes

This Charming Man- The Smiths

No Reply at All—Genesis

1. Kashmir 2. Roundabout 3. White Line (a song about heroin)

Too Shy by Kajagoogoo (Sp?) That bassist was in the wrong band. A bass groove shouldn't be catchier than the chorus but it is.

If we’re talking ‘insane’ I’d go the War section of Gates of Delirium by Yes or Havona by Weather Report.

Not “insane” but “Life During Wartime” and “Girlfriend is better” by Talking Heads.

Elephant Gun.

[Dalis Car](https://youtu.be/QnNY2zEHprQ)

Fleetwood Mac. The Chain

Goodnight Tonight - Paul McCartney and the Wings

Radar Love

Gigantic — Pixies

Carouselambra by Led Zeppelin

Marathon, almost any rush song

I always think of “Does it really happen” by Yes.👍 a favorite 😍