The Best New Wave Bassists Of All Time Ranked

Although new wave shares punk’s do-it-yourself artistic philosophy, the artists were more influenced by the light strains of 1960s pop while opposed to mainstream “corporate” rock, which they considered creatively stagnant, and the generally abrasive and political bents of punk rock. In the early 1980s, new wave acts embraced a crossover of rock music with African and African-American styles. Adam and the Ants and Bow Wow Wow, both acts with ties to former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren, used Burundi-style drumming. Talking Heads’ album Remain in Light was marketed and positively reviewed as a breakthrough melding of new wave and African styles, although drummer Chris Frantz said he found out about this supposed African influence after the fact. Second British Invasion acts were influenced by funk and disco. New wave was closely tied to punk, and came and went more quickly in the UK and Western Europe than in the US. At the time punk began, it was a major phenomenon in the UK and a minor one in the US. When new wave acts started being noticed in the US, the term “punk” meant little to mainstream audiences, and it was common for rock clubs and discos to play British dance mixes and videos between live sets by American guitar acts. By the 2000s, critical consensus favored “new wave” to be an umbrella term that encompasses power pop, synth-pop, ska revival, and the soft strains of punk rock. In the UK, some post-punk music developments became mainstream. Here are all of the best New Wave Bassists of all time ranked.

See more: The Best Metal Singers Of All Time Ranked

See more: The Best Pop Drummers Of All Time Ranked

7. Sting (The Police)

“A true pioneer that helped in putting the bass up front, center stage! A legendary bassist! Many may think that Sting’s lines are easy to play, but trying singing and playing at the same time… Pure craziness! He’s minimalist and it’s cool. He really knows how to play bass!”

6. Garry Gary Beers (INXS)

“An amazing bassist who really brings the INXS music together. He only gets better with age. I’ve seen him live and he is fantastic to watch. He is incredible. When he was younger he was great. Now he is unbelievably fantastic. He gets better and better as each year goes by.”

5. Deon Estus (Wham!)

“Well, it seems that George Michael and those “Choose Life” shirts and that bubble gum pop distracted y’all. Hear “I’m Your Man”, “Edge of Heaven” and “Wake Me Up…”. Again very dynamic basslines. Too bad people can´t see beyond singers…the guy plays!”

4. Kathy Valentine ( The Go-Go’s)

“Kathy Valentine (GoGo’s): a guitar player playing bass…it worked. “We´ve Got The Beat”…whoa! Not complicated but it would make me jump around the room like crazy. There was more to the GoGos than Belinda…but listen again closely to the likes of “Our Lips Are Sealed” and you’ll see Kate’s sound is a big part of the gogo sound.”

3. John Taylor (Duran Duran)

“John Taylor talent as a fantastic bass player has been grossly underrated for far too long. His brilliant and complex bass line in “Rio” is pretty extraordinary for a then-early-twenty-something self-taught bass player. The rest of the Rio album, and many more showcase his amazing talent. It is a shame that Duran Duran was labeled as a “pretty boy” fluff band through the 80’s and continues to be largely ignored for their true talent. Not many bands from the 80’s have had this staying power.”

2. Bruce Thomas (E. Costello & The Attractions)

“Elvis Costello and the Attractions would never have been so tight without him. Just listen to the “Get Happy” album for unassailable evidence. Astonishingly tight, inventive and technically superb as part of one of the finest bands of their type ever created – the Attractions. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer too. Check out ‘Lipstick Vogue’ or the album ‘This Year’s Model’ to see what the fuss was about”

1. Mark King (Level 42)

“Mark King plays of speed and precision. It helps, too, that the written music he plays is so vibrant. Too few Americans likely pay attention to him, though I certainly am one who does. A very great vocalist too. You listen to the songs of Level 42 and you’ll understand.”