The greatest bass players of all time
Paul McCartney - Paul McCartney is one of the most prolific songwriters, multi-instrumentalists, and, of course, bass players of all time.
Geddy Lee -
The front man of the iconic Canadian rock band Rush is one of the greatest bass players ever.
Thundercat -
Stephen Lee Bruner, aka Thundercat, is one of the greatest contemporary bass players.
Flea -
The iconic Red Hot Chili Peppers bass player is a driving force in the band.
Sting -
From 'Every Breath You Take' to 'Roxanne,' Sting's brilliant bass playing helped make The Police a hugely successful band.
Carol Kaye -
Carol Kaye is arguably the most iconic female bass player of all time.
Charles Mingus -
Charles Mingus is one of two upright bassists on this list, and probably the most famous one.
Kim Gordon -
The bassist for the alternative pioneers Sonic Youth was one of the first female rock bass players to appear on the scene.
Bootsy Collins -
Indeed, 1970's soul and funk bass wouldn't be the same without Bootsy Collins.
Jack Bruce -
One must be a really good bass player to team up with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker in Cream.
Kim Deal - She was the woman behind some of the most iconic, yet beautifully simple, bass lines in alt rock. Oh, and she sang, too!
Larry Graham -
Larry Graham is credited as the inventor of the slap-bass technique.
Steve Harris -
One of the founders of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, Steve Harris is also the man behind the band's legendary galloping sound.
Peter Hook -
The co-founder of Joy Division and New Order is also an iconic bass player.
Tim Commerford -
From Rage Against the Machine to Audioslave, Tim Commerford's bass playing is tight and a roaring driving force. He truly deserves a spot on this list.
Willie Dixon -
Bluesman Willie Dixon worked with artists such as Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley. Dixon is a huge influence for many bass players.
Pino Palladino -
Pino Palladino is one the most prolific session bassists of all time.
Jaco Pastorius -
Many a bass player first thought about purchasing a fretless bass after listening to bass virtuoso Jaco Pastorius play.