Few musicians are as inseparable from their instrument as Geddy Lee is from the bass guitar. As the driving force of Rush, Lee elevated the bass from a background rhythm tool to a melodic and expressive voice within rock music. His distinctive style helped shape progressive rock, earning him recognition as one of the greatest bass players of all time.
So when Rolling Stone asked Lee to name his 10 favourite bassists of all time, the Rush frontman delivered a list that not only reflects his influences but also celebrates the artistry of the instrument.
Geddy Lee on Becoming a Bassist
Ironically, Lee never set out to play bass. Like many young musicians of his era, he dreamed of being a guitarist. “Back in my day, nobody chose to be the bass player,” Lee recalled. “You were always a guitarist, and somebody said, ‘Well, we need a bass player,’ so they had a vote and you became the bass player. That’s how I became a bass player: I was voted in.”
But what started as chance grew into destiny. Over time, Lee turned the bass into a lead instrument, commanding attention with complex riffs, melodic runs, and inventive improvisation.
The Common Thread: Melody
When asked about what defines a great bassist, Lee said the key factor for him was melody.
“One common denominator for me was always the ability to play melodically, and to enhance the song on a subterranean level,” he explained. Instead of just holding down rhythm, Lee admired bassists who contributed an extra musical dimension — something that revealed itself more with each listen.
Honouring Legends of the Bass
Unsurprisingly, Lee’s list features some of the most iconic bassists in history, along with a few names casual fans might not expect. Among them is James Jamerson, the unsung hero of Motown. “I was exposed to a lot of Motown music,” Lee said. “All the early bands I played in, we played Motown songs. The common factor was Jamerson’s bass work.”
He also highlighted Paul McCartney, calling him an often-overlooked bass genius:
“McCartney gets overlooked as a bassist, but as a pop bassist goes, he’s such a melodic player. He wasn’t originally the bass player for The Beatles, but he adapted and came at the instrument from a much more melodic place.”
Other legends on the list include John Entwistle of The Who, whom Lee praised for daring to put bass solos in pop music (“Seriously? A pop song with bass solos?”), and Jack Bruce of Cream, who Lee described as pivotal to his own love of bass.
Modern players also earned a spot, with Lee praising Flea of Red Hot Chili Peppers for his explosive energy — “he blows my mind” — and Les Claypool of Primus for pushing the boundaries of what the instrument can do.
Geddy Lee’s 10 Favourite Bassists of All Time
- James Jamerson (Motown)
- John Entwistle (The Who)
- Jack Bruce (Cream)
- Chris Squire (Yes)
- John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin)
- Jaco Pastorius (Weather Report)
- Paul McCartney (The Beatles)
- Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
- Les Claypool (Primus)
- Jeff Berlin
A Legacy Built on Inspiration
Lee’s list reflects a wide spectrum of styles — from Motown soul to prog-rock complexity, from funk-punk chaos to jazz fusion mastery. Each bassist he picked shaped the way the instrument could be played, and in turn, influenced his own groundbreaking career with Rush.
By spotlighting these players, Geddy Lee not only acknowledges the giants who came before him but also inspires a new generation to see the bass as more than just background rhythm — but as a true voice in music.
