Entertainment For Lively Minds
Best Rhythm Sections (Bass & Drums)
Posted by Rigid Digit on 6 August 2009 - 7:45pm.
Lead Singers are usually the Public Face of the Band
Lead Guitarists are usually the heroes.
Bassists & Drummers usually are third and fourth on the list
Q: What do you call someone who hangs around with musicians?
A: A drummer
So, to rectify this apparent anomaly of importance I offer:
Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr
Bill Wyman & Charlie Watts
John Entwhistle & Keith Moon
Jack Bruce & Ginger Baker
John Paul Jones & John Bonham
And to add to the list -
Tony Butler & Mark Brzezicki
(I've just been listening to The Crossing - Big Country's finest (nearly an) hour
I've missed loads I'm sure - so who are they?
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Sly and Robbie
Seconded
They have always been good and were superb at the Island records 50th anniversary gigs earlier this year.
Bargepole commends you
for remembering the mighty Big Country - a great and cruelly underrated band in their time.
On an unfashionable note, can i suggest Chris Squire and Bill Bruford.And Phil Lesh and Micky Hart.
I'm liking the third person thing, Bargepole
very Chris Eubank!
Didn't he go off the rails
have to sell his truck and ended up sleeping in Lindford Christie's shed?
Not sure,
but you can follow him on Twitter
http://twitter.com/chris_eubank
- just the thought of him saying "follow me on Twitter" is amusing :-)
Al Jackson Jr and Lewie Steinberg/Duck Dunn
Seconded
End of discussion. It's not about them being technically brilliant ('cause they so are) just such a visceral pleasure to listen to...
Thirded.
The winners.
Any incarnation of the Funk Brothers
Wetton/Bruford
King Crimson's most terrifying pairing on the bottom end and the traps.
Bruford's book was recommended on here ages ago, and I can safely say it's the best book I've read by a member of a rock band.
Bastard!
that was gonna be my call but I've been too busy arguing my corner on Industrial Music.
I hope you're proud of yourself! ;D
No problem!
Glad to be of service. They were great weren't they? Read Bruford's book if you haven't already.
it's on that list
of mine Andrew, and yes John and Bill slayed!
Bruford & Squire were pretty good as well
As were Collins & Rutherford, particularly in the 70s.
can I chip in
Greg and Carl?
Bruford or Bastard?
I met Bruford at the "band on the Wall" in manchester(great venue)
I noted he was paricularly "arsey" when undoubted fans/drummers asked him anything about there mutual trade, viz, Tub Thumping.
I remeber thinking "why not just drink your beer in the dressing room? if being merely civil is so tough for you" also feeling rather sorry for the somewhat deflated & disappointed admirers.
I know what they say about meeting heroes but...Anyway the set which comprised of instrumentals with titles such as "emotional shirt" e.c.t. was unquestionably shite.
I wish the man no luck.
and no, Im not a drummer
Unlucky I think
I have known Bill Bruford for many years, not through his music though, and have found him always to be a delightful gent. Perhaps you just caught him on a bad day.
Seconded...
He's been unfailing urbane, charming and witty on the occasions I've met him.
Thirded
I've exchanged a number of emails with him in recent times and he's far more patient than he has any need to be.
Bruford or...
Ooops sorry gents,
I guess you may be right about the "bad day",still it WAS a bad gig. Maybe, hence the curmudgeonly attitude.
Blockheads
Norman Watt-Roy & Charlie Charles (originally).
good call
foxton and buckler (jam)
mills and berry (rem)
deal and loverling (pixies)
Metal Combo's
Geezer Butler and Bill Ward of Black Sabbath
Steve Harris and Nicko Mcbride of Iron Maiden (killers of the rhythm section in rock band!)
Billy Gould and Mike Bordin of Faith No More
Justin Chancellor and Danny Casey of Tool
Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones
...of course
Two words
Fleetwood and Mac. I've always felt John McVie was terribly overlooked in any assessment of the Mac's success or Great Bass Players Of Our Time.
Agreed...
On the 'Rumours' Classic Albums DVD Mick Fleetwood is listening to McVie's bass playing on a song and starts freaking out at how good he is. He was absolutely right to do so.
Some Others...
Bootsy Collins & Jabo Starks (The J.B.'s)
Flabba Holt & Style Scott (Roots Radics)
Andy Fraser & Simon Kirke (Free)
Attractions
Pete Thomas and Bruce Thomas even though EC would disagree.
From RT's touring band Danny Thompson and Michael Jerome swing like motherfuckers.
However, the first response on here is the right one - Sly and Robbie are the ultimate rhythm section - stupendous. Was fortunate to see them on the Island life 50 tour - they make it look easy.
Not very fashionable, maybe
but Reni and Mani would be my choice.
Cock-on, Kjell.
Whilst the virtuosity of John Squire is rightly applauded, we should remember that the whole Baggy Revolution was founded on Reni and Mani's shuffling, elliptical grooves. Their mutual abilities were synergistic rather than addative.
Along with a loop from James Brown's Soul Power '74...
Not to demean the skills of Messrs. Wren & Mountfield, both of whom are fine players, but I just thought I'd remind everyone what the groove on 'Fool's Gold' is largely dependent upon.
absolutely right
(though 'cock-on' is a horrible expression! What, exactly is it you are putting your cock on?)
Reni...
also, supposedly, the best bassist in the band, and quite a good guitarist.
He was also, at the time of the first album
Shagging a girl called Jo from my Halls Of Residence who was dead fit and all that.
Anyone got any more reasons to hate him?
The fishing hat
True dat.
Chuck Rainey...
and Bernard Purdie on Aja (except Deacon Blues, I think!), Tony Thompson and Bernard Edwards of Chic, Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, loads more that I'm forgetting right now! Two rhythm sections that had a big influence on me when I was just starting as a bassist were John Taylor and Roger Taylor (Duran Duran), and Mick Karn and Steve Jansen (Japan).
In an 80's stylee
Lee Harris and Paul Webb - Talk Talk
Mick Karn and Steve Jansen - Japan
Bill Rieflin and Paul Barker - Ministry
"Big" Paul Ferguson and Youth - Killing Joke
Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers - XTC
Dare I mention Sting and Stu Copeland?
( a bit more up to date)
Bob Weston and Todd Trainer - Shellac
Weymouth & Frantz
Yeah
Good choice my man, they were like an expensive timepiece.
The Duck Dunn and Al Jackson Jr. of art-rock
Tina Weymouth is one of my favourite musicians of all time, in any genre. Criminally under-rated player, largely for reasons of gender, I suspect.
Well said.....
To think that when Talking heads got their record deal David Byrne made her audition to be bass player in the band!!!!
Ferguson and Youth
Not many finer examples of drums and bass working together than the intro to Love Like Blood. The lead guitar work is just seasoning.
Raven
was on the bass by then
Ec would agree that
they are a great rhythm section, he constantly referred to the Attractions as the best band around even in the 90's reunion. Just he now happens to think one of em's a cunt.
what about the other Roger Taylor and the quiet one from Queen?
Well I'd offer up
Bernard Edwards and Tony Thompson of Chic and Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce of The Smiths.
Hard to top Sly & Robbie though.
John Deacon....
is killer!! His basslines are always excellent, Roger Taylor ain't so bad either!!
Da Brudders
Dee Dee & Tommy Ramone
From a slightly different area
From Coltrane's Classic Quartet - Elvin Jones & Jimmy Garrison
I could pick many of Miles' chaps but I'll just pick Paul Chambers & Jimmy Cobb (for Kind of Blue).
I'm sorry
... but Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones were THE Rhythm Section.
and they met Art Pepper, too
Yes, but I picked my favourite recording
Peter Hook & Stephen Morris
.
Peter Hook??
NEVER.Hooky is'nt a Bass player,even though he owns some.
Having said that though, Morris's rather "naive" playing is saved by lots of superb programming.(if he did it all)
How's about...
Richie Hayward and Kenny Gradney (Little Feat)
Joseph 'Zigaboo' Modeliste and George Porter Jr. (The Meters)
If you want fonk power, you got it.
yep, Little Feat
thought of them when I saw the title of the post - wondered how far I'd have to scroll down
Jim Keltner and Tim Drummond
Both on the team on a few Ry Cooder lp's.
They swing like an elepant's tinky
Another pairing...
The Big Figure and John B. Sparks (Dr Feelgood)
The Big Figure
Not just one of the greatest names in rock & roll (threads passim) but also one of Britain's greatest drummers.
How have we got so far without a mention of...
Levon Helm and Rick Danko? (The Band)
Right answer, sir.
But surely
you want to mention Geddy & Neil :)
Oh...
yes.
First Timer
It has to be Hugh Hopper and Robert Wyatt. Good songwriters too.
David Bowie - as usual - (is part) of the answer
It's Dennis Davis and George Murray - RS on the incomparable Station to Station
and don't they swap over
on "Boys Keep Swinging"??
I think it's Carlos Alomar drumming on BKS
And...
Dennis Davis did a heroic job with the bass, helped out by Tony Visconti, who overdubbed some of the very difficult bits towards the end.
I love the fact that those guys could move in next door to me
and I wouldn't know who they were, yet they've played on some of my favourite records of all time. Has anyone ever seen a photograph of Dennis Davis and George Murray?
lemmy
Lemmy and any drummer, thats a rhythm section par excellence.
it's also who I'd want behind in a tap room fight
....
But only Philthy Animal bought the very best out
in the Lemster
Well I'd like to speak up for
Simon King, his drumming with ver 'Wind is outstanding, he really is one of rock's great unsung heroes in my book. Every bit as good as Liebezeit in getting a rhythm and working the sucker!
Go back and listen to Space Ritual and repent.
Steve Harris and Nicko McBrain
Still galloping after all these years.
(Puts foot on monitor)
Holger Czukay and Jaki Liebezeit
Absolutely incomparable
Have we had...
...James Jamerson and Benny Benjamin yet, because if we haven't, we should have.
I know I know,But...
Mark King & any Drummer he choses competent enough.
There's been a few good ones;
Phil Gould, Mark Brzezicki, Drummie Zeb,Billy Cobham,Neil Conti, Gary Husband,Phil Collins and others.
Now,it may be considered "cool" in some circles, to knock the Guvoner, but any one who disagees with me,can.... just F**k right off!
I sense a shift in the force
What's happening ? No-one banging on about anything to do with Fairport Convention or spin-offs of said band. All very strange.
Oh Me !, The Funk Brothers.
You missed a bit.
Up there, it's between the words "Danny Thompson" and "motherfuckers". I didn't realise we needed your permission to start banging on.
"I didn't realise we needed your permission to start banging on.
Read my post again and tell me where i said you need my permission or anything remotely similar. strange man
Atlantic
Tommy Cogbill on bass, Roger Hawkins on drums - Muscle Shoels.. must be up there.
Jet Black & JJ Burnell from The Stranglers
OK, Jet keeps it simple but then he has to with JJ's amazing bass playing.
Don't laugh but New Model Army's Rob Heaton and Stuart Morrow were excellent too, I remember seeing them live and as a bassist myself thinking how the f**k does the bass player do that!?
If you're into the bass, I'd recommend giving New Model Army's "Vengeance" album an unprejudiced listen, rest of their stuff is turgid - but that album is good.
Not the best...
Not the best (that'd be James Jamerson with Benny Benjamin/Uriel Jones/Pistol Allen and Duck Dunn with Al Jackson) but how about Andrew Bodnar and Steve Goulding of the Rumour?
No love for Bob Babbitt?
And apologies if I have missed any reference to Pete & Bruce Thomas of the Attractions.
Danny Thompson & Terry Cox
Danny Thompson & Terry Cox
Colin Moulding & Terry Chambers
( two Terrys, spooky... )
Jaco Pastorius and Alex Acuña
... weren't too shabby either
Well, Jaco Pastorius *was* pretty shabby...
just not musically.
Rick Laird and Billy Cobham
anyone?
Derek Smalls
and 22 deceased drummers.
The intro to Big Bottom
is a good as they come.
Williams and Rudd - Surely!
Honourable mentions to...
Tallent and Weinberg
Wire and Moore
Reni and Mani
Woody and Bedders
Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd
AC/DC wouldn't be AC/DC without them.
Don't forget Malcom
It doesn't have to be complicated to be great.
Thr three important bits of AC/DC stand at the back of the stage and don't move much.
Point of order...
One of them sits down :-)
It would be so...
if Slim Jim Phantom joined AC/DC. But as of the present moment he has not.
Kirke and Fraser
The tightest pair ever. 17yr old Fraser and 19yr old Kirke when Free were becoming the greatest band these shores have ever produced. Check out Fraser on 'Mr.Big' from Free Live -stunning how a bass solo can drive the rest of the band so wonderfully - and Kirke on 'Be My Friend' from Highway - a textbook example of the light and shade dynamics of driving a ballad, building tension and then pushing the whole band into the fade out.
I'd have gone with this if it hadn't already been submitted.
The great thing about Free was the amount of space in their music, and how good Fraser, Kirke and Kossoff were at occupying that space. Although Kossoff never seemed entirely comfortable with having to rein in his natural instinct towards Freddie King/Michael Bloomfield-style soloing, the fact he did was part of what made Free special. In fact, were it not for the general hackneyed awfulness of Paul Rodgers' lyrics, I reckon their position in The Canon would be a good deal higher than it is
And since Levon Helm & Rick Danko have been mentioned upthread, has anyone ever noticed just how much Free's sound owed to The Band? Those loping drums on The Unfaithful Servant could be Simon Kirke, if you didn't know who came first. Furthermore, My Brother Jake almost sounds like it could be an out-take from The Band's second album.
Mr Big live
I've posted this clip before but it bears another viewing for anyone who doubts the veracity of niallb's assertions :-)
you chaps better check 'dis out then
18:00 August 8, 2009
My Planet Rocks: Andy Fraser & Simon Kirke
In this vintage My Planet Rocks, Free's rhythm section tell Mark about their influences and their favourite music
that's tonight BTW ;D
Solo face
Great performance, and a fine example of guitar solo grimacing from Paul Kossoff.
BTW, Russell Brand has clearly watched this video intently...
The Meters
George Porter Jr. & Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste
My work here is done.
And an honourable mention
For Dusty Hill and Frank Beard
How did it take me so long to remember
Vinnie Colaiuta and Tal Wilkenfeld?
Musical, sinuously powerful, cute. (The last adjective applies only to half of the team...)
Yeah...
Tal's nothing to write home about. :)
Brown Sauce
Maggie Philbin & Noel Edmonds
Matt Abts & the late Allen Woody
of Gov't Mule. Simon Kirke and Boz Burrell were also pretty tight.
The Majestics
Now that "Tutti Frutti" has finally appeared on DVD, I hope we haven't forgotten that classy rhythm section, Fud O'Donnell and Bomba Macateer of the Majestics.
Yes indeed!
It is also worth noting (as others have before) that the origin of Sting's nickname is somewhat suspicious.
"Fud" is the kind of nickname that is bestowed upon band members by their fellows.
If he really did get the nickname from wearing a stripey jumper, I think his peers are more likely to have called him "Bumble" rather than the elegant, mysterious, "Sting".
In the same way that both of John Mellor's
noms de rock were self chosen. It's the only way to get a decent nickname :-)
Animal and Sgt Floyd Pepper
These two guys laid down a pretty impressive beat, if memory serves...
Good choice!
Apols for double-posting Garrison / Jones - hadn't read it all in enough detail and missed your earlier tip of the hat to that stellar pairing
Elvis Jones - force of nature
Yeah - Elvin Jones was simply phenomenal, wasn't he? My favourite footage of him is from the outdoor gig in Belgium 1965 on the John Coltrane Jazz Icons DVD. Jones is playing so hard in "My Favourite Things" that HUGE SWATHES OF STEAM start coming off him. Has to be seen to be believed...
I didn't know that existed!
Thanks for the tip - I have ordered it from Amazon!
Animal & St Floyd Peper
.. were in reality London session musician veterans - the rhythm section for the Ted Heath band and later the house band for Frank Skinner on TV - and swang like Battersea Funfair in all and every circumstance - once saw the Syd Lawrence band as a teenager in the 1980s (with my folks) and the drummer was with Syd at the time - wonderful wonderful noise
Phil Lynott and Brian Downey...
at their best they were rock solid and very, very musical.
Yes indeed
as the live album recorded in Derby proves (unlike Live & Dangerous, recorded mostly in the studio). The druming on "Fighting" makes the old hairs stand up on the back of the neck.
Banshees: Kenny Morris/Severin or Budgie/Severin
Both great combinations, think Budgie shades it.
Mike Howlett & Pierre Moerlin
Jazz-Rock psychedelia of Allen, Hillage et al only possible because of the foundation that they had to build on.
And what about Ray Shulman & Pugwash Weathers? Or John Wetton and Rob Townsend?
Or if you want to get esoteric - Guy Evans on drums and Hugh Banton on Pedal bass (no offence to Nic Potter) - Guy Evans is undersold and unsung, but undoubtedly one of the finest rock drummers of ANY year.
Have we had
the Ox and the Loon? Probably, but worth saying again.
oh yeah, I forgot,
Pino Palladino and that free/Paul Rodgers/remake record with Jason Bonham (It's good, you know!)
have we had...
Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce from The Smiths? Andy Rourke is funky!
Over a hundred posts in and no one's mentioned...
Flea and Chad Smith. Go to your rooms and don't come down until you're sorry.
Also, honourable mentions for Brad Wilk and Tim C from Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave, and Noel and Mitch from the Jimi Hendrix Experience.
They're good musicians alright...
but Red Hot Chilli Peppers are such pillocks, aren't they?! All that nonsense involving putting their privates in socks and playing with their shirts off to show off their 'abs'. Don't they have shirts in America? Or underpants, for that matter?
they do
but XXL is the smallest size they have in many stores
thing is tho
they may be accomplished musicians but the noise they make is 'orrible!
tonight I took a notion for 801 ~ Live
now that was a rhythm section!
If I had a body like Anthony Kiedis I would nude up all the time
to be honest.
do you
make as 'orrible a noise as he does?
if not, wander free and as nature intended, I may even applaud you (come a cold wet October day in Glasgow)
Russ Kunkel and Leland Sklar
Beautifully laid back rhythm section.
Now there's a good shout!
Great musicians...
I once met Leland Sklar after a Phil Collins concert and asked him what shampoo he used on his beard. I did not receive an answer.
Barry Adamson & John Doyle
out of Magazine.
Carl Radle and Jim Gordon......
.........who played with Delaney and Bonnie, Joe Cockers's Mad Dogs and Englishmen, Derek and The Domino's. Listen to all those records and you'll hear why they deserve to be up there as top rhythm section, if not as number 1, they definitely deserve a top 3 positioning.
TR808 and TB303
They defined an era and their sound still lives on today
(OK, so it's a TR909 but it's close enough)
This site has gone to the dogs.....
Jeezus, guys, I semi-oficially retire myself and 128 posts down this easy question and still no mention of the legend what is Mattacks/Pegg. Come on, wakey wakey!!! (And I don't just mean Fairport mega-jigging, check out the ridiculous catalogue of sessions they did together way back then) The best example of their tightasthis blend would be, in my never humble opinion, It'll be me, the live version from Guitar/vocal, by the then Richard and Linda Thompson band. Is it on Spotty?
"Stunning return to form"
***** Uncut
"Some crowd pleasers and old favourites - like he's never been away"
***** Mojo
"We're too cool for all that stars shit - but it was pretty good - if you like that sort of thing"
The Word
We were just trying
to flush you out, Retro.
Welcome back. I'm glad that the vague sense of disquiet occasioned by your lengthy absence ("Is he suffering from swine flu*, or mortally offended by one correction too many? Has an old Morris dancing injury flared up, rendering him unable to type?") has been put to rest...
Nice R&L T track. It is on Spotify, both on the expanded Hokey Pokey - which I own - and on the In Concert 1975 album, which has some extra applause and some chat at the end.
*How often do doctors catch ailments from their patients? Must be something of an occupational hazard...
conversely
how's retro's hit rate for iatrogenic illnesses? I think we should be told :)
I looked it up
induced inadvertently by a physician or surgeon or by medical treatment or diagnostic procedure
Hooray! We're back in business!
Welcome back Retro! We've missed you...
And can I put in a mention at this point for Doug C. Benberg and Dougie Thompson of da 'Tramp?
Colin Grigson & Spider Webb
Yes, I have been listening to Bad News (again)
Andy Metcalfe and Morris Windsor
Some of my favorite music.
Bill MacCormick and Simon Phillips
tight, free and loose - check out 801 Live
wot no
Headon/Simenon?
Headon/Simenon
yer right, sorry... I feel so cheap now
Clampdown! Oh Lordy! :0
The Blockheads
Charley Charles and Norman Watt-Roy on "New Boots And Panties" God I love youtube.
Black Grape
and Bernard & Tony from Chic for me.
Wackerman/Thunes...
Colaiuta/Barrow
Thompson/Fowler
Humphrey/Fowler
Wackerman/O'Hearn
Dunbar/Erroneous
...or indeed any combination of any rhythm section ever employed by Zappa. Hands down.
Also: Jim Hugart and Bill Goodwin, providing the bang n' bass for Tom Waits on Nighthawks
Bozio/O'Hearne
for me and Thompson/Fowler for sure
If we are talking per album
If we are talking per album then Trevor Bolder and Woody Woodmansey are total value for money.
Other notable combos are Mullen/ Clayton, Greenwood/ Selway, Buckler/ Foxton, Rourke/ Joyce, Frantz/ Weymouth, Holm/ Dyrasson, Laye/ Sharrock, Mendel/ Hawkins, Turner/ Jupp, Waters/ Mason, Love/O`Hare/Quinn, Pattinson/ DeFreitas. There may be more, I`ll have a look at my itunes library and get back to you.