Who is the best female bass player of the 80s???

roessler, deal, weymouth or gordon???

http://www.51walden.org/Images/51WALDENlogo.jpg

I like Deal & Weymouth of those, also the first Slits record is pretty funky.

n'degeocello?

guess that's '90s though

Kira's got the 10 1/2

what was Gail Ann Dorsey's work like in the late 80s?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Ann_Dorsey

also, no debbie googe?

Sara Lee should be on the list too.

Lorna Doom?

Also, any member of Ut

Myra Melford's left hand?

my hero was marnie from liveskull

http://trickledown.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/marnie.jpg

i only put folks on the list who I thought could actually be the best. Simply playing bass in a band doesnt qualify you as the best. Did Lorna Doom do anything after the Germs? Anyway, since the Germs werent disbanded by 1980, she doesnt belong on the list. I also would be hard pressed to put Dorsey or Googe or Sara Lee on the list either. None of them were impact players, sorta just complimentary players.

EdVonBlue, saying Googe wasn't an impact bass player makes you dum

Being an impact player for my bloody valentine is like being the 3rd best best home run hitter on the 1892 Chicago Cubs...(deadball era, git it???)

lolfail

you really like that shoegazing stuff? Come on.

How could a bass player for the Gang of Four be a complimentary player, not impact?

my hero was marnie from liveskull
my hero was marnie from liveskull
my hero was marnie from liveskull
my hero was marnie from liveskull
my hero was marnie from liveskull

Ed, if you want to believe Googe was just a shoegazer, I won't stop you. There were only four impactful female bassplayers in the 80s. Have fun!

This is really Calum c-man, isn't it?

Sue Garner

How could a bass player for the Gang of Four be a complimentary player, not impact?

No shit! "We Live As We Dream, Alone" and "I Love a Man in a Uniform" are more readily identifiable as influences on the likes of admitted fans like Flea than the earlier stuff.

*the bass playing on

Surprised no one yukked with this yet

http://www.synthmania.com/Famous%20Sounds/Images/tb-303.jpg

deb g of course. but i love lexi mitchell's playing too

weird thread... no Kathy Valentine? Aimee Mann? or is this just late 80s post-punk/indie bands?

My vote is for Sara Lee (from Gang of Four, The B-52s and Robert Fripp's League of Gentlemen)

You're missing some other important ones:

Gina Birch (from The Raincoats)
Patricia Morrison (The Sisters of Mercy,Gun Club,The Damned)
Tessa Pollitt (from The Slits)
Micki Steele (from The Bangles, formerly of The Runaways)
Kathy Valentine (from The Go-Gos)
Tracy Wormworth (The Waitresses, The B-52's, Sting)

Of course, it almost goes without saying that the best bassist in the last 50 years of pop music was Carol Kaye, but her peak was a few decades prior.

none of these really could be considered as the best though, now could they? Like I said, just because someone was a bassist in a band in teh 80s that does not put them in the elite status. There is such a thing as quality, and as fine as these ladies are none of them had the impact or importance to music as the ones I posted in the original post.

Add sara lee to that list, and it will be more authoritative.

Jane Munro - Au Pairs

xp - it's not too late to start a poll instead. make sure it expires 1-1-09.

Higgs, pshuh! only Kim Deal, Kim Gordon, Tina Weymouth, and Kira Roessler matter! EdVonBlue said so on 12-30-08. neva forget.

Klaudia Schiff of Kleenex/Liliput was a pretty unspectacular bassist in 1978, but I'd rate her '80s work highly, especially when the band gets into a groove on stuff like "Terrified" and "A Silver Key Can Open An Iron."

Ah, sorry EVB - will save for future discussion/poll of best funky female bass players in 80s bands.
Weymouth then.

There is such a thing as quality

With regards to to some of the bassists EdVonBlue suggested I think he's confusing their personality and the popularity of their bands among amerindie fuxors, with their musicianship.

Under no circumstances would most bassists consider Kim Deal or Kim Gordon as great bassists. Good songwriters and vital to the personality of their respective bands, perhaps. But Mike Watt subbed for Gordon on most SY 80s recordings, and Deal's lines were pretty trivial for non-bassists to replicate (I did a few for one-off talent shows I was shanghaied into). Can't say I'm familiar with most of Kira's work, though I did like her bass duet recordings with Mike Watt as Dos.

Tina Weymouth, among those you've suggested, is actually a great writer of minimalist funky basslines, though its hard to say whether she, David Byrne, or Bernie Worrell contributed most to bass character of the classic TH tracks from the decade of the 80s.

Sara Lee, on the other hand, was a member of Gang of Four, the B-52's, League of Gentleman, and The Raging Hormones; had long-running stints backing Robin Hitchcock, Indigo Girls, Thompson Twins, and Ani DiFranco; and notable session work with Joan Osborne, Ryuichi Sakamoto & Fiona Apple. She has a characteristic sound, so she's not really a faceless session player, and fit herself into a pretty wide variety of musical settings.

So for me, it's sort of a tossup between Weymouth and Lee, and the breadth of her work gives Lee an edge.

But Mike Watt subbed for Gordon on most SY 80s recordings,

is ilm all sock puppets now?

Why do you think the bass is the most important instrument?

KG: Well, it’s kind of like the glue in between the drums and the higher end. Y’know it’s really right in the middle and it plays melody and rhythm. I mean, believe me, I don’t even consider myself a bass player. I don’t even think of myself as a musician, really. (Laughs)

sounds complimentary to me. I never got to see her up close and personal live and never really thought about the bass parts on early Sonic Youth records, so I've never thought of Kim Gordon as a "best" "bass player". She could be showing healthy modesty in that quote, and any discussion ranking musicians will bog down into "What do we mean by 'best'" Chuck Berry vs. Jeff Beck argument.

Steve, I'm not saying she didn't write the lines, just that I'd read somewhere in the years prior to the interweb that it was faster and simpler to get an on tempo recordings with Mike Watt. I'm sure she's much improved since. The first time I saw them in person was for the Goo tour, and she was a little sloppy (especially when also doing vocals), but on the whole pretty okay.

I'd read somewhere in the years prior to the interweb that it was faster and simpler to get an on tempo recordings with Mike Watt.

― derelict

Not to bust your chops, but there's a VAST difference between that statement and, "Mike Watt subbed for Gordon on most SY 80s recordings."

This thread is fucked by "waht is quality, really?"

This thread is fucked by "waht is quality, really?"

Tina Weymouth, among those you've suggested, is actually a great writer of minimalist funky basslines, though its hard to say whether she, David Byrne, or Bernie Worrell contributed most to bass character of the classic TH tracks from the decade of the 80s.

[quote]
With regards to to some of the bassists EdVonBlue suggested I think he's confusing their personality and the popularity of their bands among amerindie fuxors, with their musicianship.

Under no circumstances would most bassists consider Kim Deal or Kim Gordon as great bassists.
[/quote]

Just because I have a different criteria for what makes a good bassist that doesnt mean I'm confuisng personallity and popularity for quality. Technical skill ranks at the bottom of my list of criteria. Technical skill has very little to do with creating interesting music or making an impact on a bands sound. When it comes to the impact that Gordon had on her band, there are few bassists from the 80s--male or female--that compare.

When it comes to the impact that Gordon had on her band, there are few bassists from the 80s--male or female--that compare.

OK, I love Sonic Youth, from s/t to Rather Ripped, and this statement is just so wrong.

This thread would be more interesting if you actually elaborated on what you mean by "impact". Describe what happened with Gordon and SY! I agree that something happened! But you don't say anything. Give it a try. It would be a lot more fun to read than your arbitrary empty adjectives you spew out now.

sorry, where is it said that mike watt plays a bunch of bass on sonic youth records? i know he shows up from time to time ...

OK from Wikipedia:
* Sonic Youth
o 1986 EVOL (SST, reissued 1994 by DGC) - Watt plays bass on "In The Kingdom #19" and "Bubblegum".
o 1988 Daydream Nation (Blast First Records, reissued 1994 by DGC and in a 2-CD deluxe edition in 2007 by Chronicles/Geffen) - Watt, via a message left on Thurston Moore's answering machine, appears on "Providence".
o 1988 The Whitey Album (Blast First, reissued 1994 by DGC), as Ciccone Youth - Watt's home demo recording of his version of Madonna's "Burning Up" appears on the record; he also contributes the liner notes to the DGC reissue.
o 2004 Corporate Ghost: The Videos: 1990-2002 (Chronicles/Geffen/Universal Home Video) - Watt appears in the videos for "My Friend Goo" and "100%" and provides commentary for both of those videos as well as "Scooter & Jinx", plus appears on the disc's bonus documentary.

Anyway, out of the original list, Weymouth by like a hundred miles, though Kira's great, too. Agree that Lee belongs in the running. Don't think of either of the Kim's as great bass players, though I dig em both. I dunno... One kind of greatness is all about musicianship (chops, versatility, personal style), but working a relatively small bag of tricks to complete the perfect sound is a kind of greatness, too. That's why the, "she doesn't count, you're just nomming her cuz you dig the band," stuff kinda bums me out.

Anway, no mentions yet of Lorax in the old Melvins (BULLHEAD!) and Kendra on the early Dream Syndicate stuff. Couple of my favorites.

soyrizo headache, i really dont see it as my place to give you a history lesson on the impact Kim Gordon had on Sonic Youth. If you need to be educated on this thenI suggest you read Goodbye 20th century-the SOnic Youth biography which details her impact on the band. In alot of ways Gordon was the face of the band, gave them direction, was their bullshit detector, and added creative touches beyond just bass lines. I mean anyone could have just played a bass. But imo to be an exceptional bass player you have to do more than just play your bass lines. In that regard Gordon was, as I said before, withuot many peers.

If this, then you're not really talking about "best bass player" at all. Your question is more like, "Who was the most crucial female bandmember that happened to play bass?"

By asking about the best bass player, you imply that we're gonna talk about who was best at, you know, playing bass.

Then why not say that Tina was the best bass player cuz she had the most awesome clothes while playing bass. Or Kim Deal cuz she was so super for helping her heroin sister while playing bass. Either you're talking about the best bass player, or you're talking about the best person in some other sense. Be more clearer.

There are many ways that a bass player can contribute to a band besides just playing bass lines--I've already listed a few of these above. But helping out a family member (unless that family member is in the band) doesnt really add anything to a group. So I think your example about Kim Deal is way off in regard to what she added to the Pixies.

This is one of those joke things, right?

No, that is not implied. That is only assumed by knuckleheads who think that all it takes to be a great bass player is to be able to play bass lines.

Aaaah ok, so this was just a random double filter thread to allow yourself to mask your lack of 80s female bassists knowledge when you got called on it?

Vicki Blue, Runaways bassist, later became a TV/video producer in the 80s and thereafter, including a Runaways documentary (which does relate back to the band, see?) She was INCREDIBLY impactful! Just not in an EVB-approved way I guess.

contenderizer, yes. This is why I suspected this was a Calum c-man thread from the mid-go.

There are many ways that a bass player can contribute to a band besides just playing bass lines.

― EdVonBlue

Anyway, thanx for informative tid bits. More tid bits pls.

http://theimaginaryworld.com/crk12.jpg

fortified with bass

Was there ever a female Les Claypool?

better yet, was there ever a bass version of The Great Kat?

I think some people here are mocking in order to cover up their simple-mindedness. To say that someone who is making videos in the 80s should be considered as one of the best bass players of the 80s doesnt really make any sense.
If you ladies cant understand that being a great bass player means bringing more to your band than simply playing the bass lines, then quite frankly you seem pretty lost. Try to think outside the box. Try to show some creative thought that goes beyond the rock journalist talking points that the mainstream rock media feeds you. Then maybe you will see that there is more to being a bass player than simply playing the required bass lines. Or not.
Either way, good luck to you ladies--you need it.

better yet, was there ever a bass version of The Great Kat?
omg

I wish a Scroggins played bass in ESG, cuz then I could just say that. But no.

When I saw them a few years ago, the bass was played by a younger woman who I think was a Scroggins, but I'm not sure. She was great, though not 80s.

If you ladies cant understand that being a great bass player means bringing more to your band than simply playing the bass lines, then quite frankly you seem pretty lost. Try to think outside the box.

― EdVonBlue

Now it's like that yelling guy in Full Metal Jacket.

Shasta's sock puppet commentary not only OTM but alive and WAY off script! This thread is getting good!

that video is not from the 80s...what part of the 80s do you not understand???

http://www.ringtonesfactory.com/files/images/jazzyjeff.jpg

EVB = Insta Art Brut song generator

I think some people here are mocking
in order to cover up their simple-mindedness
(simple minds)

To say that someone who is making videos in the 80s
should be considered as one of the best bass players of the 80s
doesnt really make any sense
doesnt really make any sense
doesnt really make any sense

If you ladies cant understand that
being a great bass player means bringing more to your band than simply playing the bass lines

then
then
then
quite frankly you seem pretty lost
Try to think outside the box

Try to show some creative thought
that goes beyond the rock journalist
talking points that the mainstream rock media
feeds you

Then maybe you will see that there is more
to being a bass player than simply playing the required bass lines.

Or not.

Either way...

GOOD LUCK TO YOU LADIES YOU NEED IT
GOOD LUCK TO YOU LADIES YOU NEED IT
GOOD LUCK TO YOU LADIES YOU NEED IT
GOOD LUCK TO YOU LADIES YOU NEED IT
GOOD LUCK TO YOU LADIES YOU NEED IT
GOOD LUCK TO YOU LADIES YOU NEED IT
GOOD LUCK TO YOU LADIES YOU NEED IT
GOOD LUCK TO YOU LADIES YOU NEED IT

You ladies.

This thread is too entertaining to just cast aside. So, by way of extending it, let's bump it by adding this fairly jaw-dropping thread:

why are there so many women bassplayers?

EVB = PEW?

haha, guess who was the first poster in that thread just linked by myonga!

HMMMMMM

that's a great thread too :)

also someone in that one says:
Also, NO girls play upright bass that I have seen, except for European classical music[

Aristazabal!! :)

Jo Bench from Bolt Thrower certainly deserves a shout out here. I can't imagine there was any woman playing bass in a heavier band in the 80s. Period.

Jordan's "NO girls play upright bass" comment was before Esperanza Spalding: jazz singer/bassist-- sounds kinda like Flora Purim or Minnie Ripperton

My vote's with Sara Lee.

who is it

Uhm, in the above mentioned book, the author (a cat named Browne) says that Gordon was in charge of Sonic youths aesthetic (page 384). Tell me what other female bass player of the 80s (who is not listed in my OP)whom you could say that about?

My mom was in charge of Sonic Youth's aesthetic.

Enid

Donut, I thought it was Shakey Mo's mom.

no no, Shakey Mo was giving suggestions to Thurston as to what Thurston should do should he find out certain things about "his" or one's mom. Different.

Thought that was Shakey's bro.

Doh, you're right!

Anyway, whoever played fuzz bass here:

Aww, I like many of those mentioned but Mann deserves another look as an instrumentalist. Played some nice acoustic bass bits, she did, before she got All Serious n' Shit.

i know nothing of amie man except that she spells her name funny, had that mellow dramatic video in the 80s and that she was part of the early 80s boston area scene...what from that would inspire me to want to know more??? Should I really try to track down some of her bass work or will it be a huge waste of time--tell me honestly now.

I dunno, ed. She was totally in charge of Til Tuesday's aesthetic.

If you're gonna go to Boston for the springtime check out Julianna Hatfield, she used to play bass.

Aimee Mann was a Berklee grad, so she's probably the best trained bassist mentioned so far. She used to do Ibanez bass and string endorsements in Bass Player magazine. I'm sure Weymouth had her chance at endorsements as well.

Just listened to Bush Tetra's Boom in the Night compilation. Laura Kennedy's bass really carries just about every track. I'd be tempted to pick her not as the best, but as my favorite bass playing 80's gal were the Tetra's ouvre a bit larger.

it seems the folks here are stuck on the idea of technical proficiency when it comes to pickin a great bass player. To me that is just one small aspect of the equation. There are other criteria: how much the person contributes to the song writing, the band's overal sound and aesthetic, how creative they are--or even how non-intrusive they are. Are they playing bass just because the song needs a bass part OR is their bass part actually adding something to the song? Then you have to consider if their bass sound and parts WORK with the band. Someone could be a great technical player, but if they are in a punk band for instance, that might actually be a detriment.

Thread idea: great punk bands detrimented by overly technical bass playing

i know nothing of amie man except that she spells her name funny
Definitely PEW or C-.

<quote>Thread idea: great punk bands detrimented by overly technical bass playing</quote>
That's a great idea, you should totally run along and go start that thread immediately and spend all your time there! Run Forest Run!

zing

http://www.discogs.com/image/R-150-2282-1130586209.jpeg

Michie Nakatani of Shonen Knife couldn't play very well by traditional terminologies, but she was a songwriter and singer, and her parts are integral to the format of the tunes as she chose not to play like the Ramones, but a more traditional bass style that adds counterpoint.

Ed, I think mostly I just really like the bass solo at the beginning of "Coming up Close." From the second, roundly ignored, TT album. Very supple.