Les Claypool plays the bass like an alien who just discovered music. He’s the frontman of Primus, and he sounds like a cartoon on a sugar rush. His technique is absurd. He slaps, pops, taps, and makes sounds you’ve never heard come out of a stringed instrument.
30 Best Bassists Of All Time : 100 Greatest Bassists of All Time – VCRGJR
Here’s a hilarious detail: He was once famously rejected from joining Metallica. He auditioned to replace Cliff Burton. They said he was “too funky.” Imagine! He was too weird for Metallica! So, he went and became one of the most iconic and influential bassists of all time. Good call, Les.
The Punk Rock God: Mike Watt
Mike Watt of the Minutemen is proof that you don’t need flashy solos to be a legend. He plays with pure, raw energy. He treats his bass like a machine gun. His lines are choppy, frantic, and full of right-angled turns.
He famously drove his band across America in a tiny van. They played songs that were under one minute long. He taught a generation of punks that you don’t need to be a virtuoso. You just need a loud amp and a big heart. His bass sounds like it’s constantly yelling, “Let’s go!”
