History Main / LeadBassist

* [[Music/FallOutBoy Pete Wentz]]: When your [[Music/AshleeSimpson marriage]], indiscreet photos, and EstrogenBrigade are more common knowledge than what you do for a living ... you're a Type C, full stop. (and to complete the top 3 subtypes there, he's also the band's main lyricist.)

* [[Music/FallOutBoy Pete Wentz]]: When your [[Music/AshleeSimpson marriage]], indiscreet photos, and EstrogenBrigade are more common knowledge than what you do for a living ... you're a Type C, full stop. (Type B also counts, given he's the band's main lyricist.)

* Nicky Wire of ManicStreetPreachers is a Type C. He has been the most well-known member of the band since Edwards disappeared, thanks to being the primary lyric writer and his flamboyant stage presence.

* Lemmy Kilmister, pictured atop this page, was the long-time singer and bandleader of Music/{{Motorhead}}, an iconic elder statesman of old-school heavy metal, and [[Webcomic/{{Achewood}} the mayor-for-life of Drinkin' Island]].

* Not only is Walter Becker a famously virtuosic bass player, but after the first few albums, [[HeterosexualLifePartners he and Donald Fagen]] pretty much ''were'' Music/SteelyDan. Co-face and co-songwriter of the band with Fagen.

* Tina Weymouth of the Music/TalkingHeads also sang lead with the Music/TomTomClub and along with husband/drummer Chris Frantz is the face of the band. Within Talking Heads she has shades of category D given their catalog was all over the place stylistically and bass guitar was a prominent and central feature in many of their more notable hits (Psycho Killer especially) but not enough for full inclusion admittedly.

Contrast NobodyLovesTheBassist. SisterTrope of LeadDrummer. Does not refer to a bassist [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail made out of lead]].

* Marco Hietala is the lead vocalist for Tarot. In Music/{{Nightwish}}, he was the secondary vocalist and second-most prolific composer (well behind keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, but exceeding guitarist Emppu Vuorinen).

* Pär Sundström of Music/{{Sabaton}} is the secondary FaceOfTheBand alongside lead vocalist Joakim Brodén. In addition to co-writing the songs with Joakim and having about as much interview time, Pär has regularly sung backing vocals since the 2012 lineup change (he and Joakim are the only founding members remaining).

[[quoteright:350:[[Music/{{Motorhead}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lemmy_7342.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:The Ace of Spades doesn't need to play lead guitar to be awesome.]]

* [[Manga/KOn Mio Akiyama]] is a type B and ([[ComedicUnderwearExposure less-than-willing]]) C.
* Ditto with [[Manga/{{Fuuka}} Yuu Haruna]], who is initially a Type B (being the co-vocalist of his band) but more or less has elements of Type C as well.
* [[Film/WaynesWorld Cassandra]] is both the B and C of her band Crucial Taunt, to the point that her manager's plan in the sequel is to distance her from the rest of the band.

** The nameless singer in ''VideoGame/GuitarHero On Tour'' is a type B.
* [[Music/{{Gorillaz}} Murdoc Niccals]]: Type C--he co-founded the band, and makes most of their headlines in his semi-cartoon universe by virtue of being an AxeCrazy PsychopathicManchild.

* [[Series/{{Lost}} Charlie Pace]] (Drive Shaft 4 ever!) is Type C.

* The 2nd Gym Leader in VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2, Roxie is the leader of her band. Both Type B as the band's singer and Type C as a Gym Leader.

* Murdoc Niccals of Music/{{Gorillaz}} is a Type C for invoking the birth and demise of the band and a MagnificentBastard InUniverse, as well as having a large fanbase out of universe for both being CreepyAwesome as well as his bass playing in songs like "Feel Good Inc."

So NobodyLovesTheBassist, eh? Think again. That dude in the spotlight, the one everyone's cheering for, the famous face everybody remembers ... is it me, or is that axe he/she's wielding suspiciously oversized? VINDICATION! The Lead Bassist takes up an instrument that screams "[[EnsembleDarkhorse anonymous role-player]]," and somehow rides it to fame. For one reason or another, he's better-known than the band's lead guitarist, or even the lead singer.

'''Type B''': The Singer. This musician is mainly famous for being a lead vocalist, or part of a VocalTagTeam. The fact that he plays a bass is secondary, and may even go unnoticed by casual fans.

* The nameless singer in ''VideoGame/GuitarHero On Tour'' is a type B.

* Mike Mills sang several Music/{{REM}} songs, and in public often served as co-FaceOfTheBand (with Michael Stipe).

* Marco Hietala is the lead vocalist for Tarot. In Music/{{Nightwish}}, he's the secondary vocalist and second-most prolific composer (well behind keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, but exceeding guitarist Emppu Vuorinen).

* Kip Music/{{Winger}} was his band's lead singer and [[TheLancer lancer]] (TheHero, of course, was Winger's hair).

'''This is not a list of "Good Bassists" or "Bassists I Like."''' This page is for bass players who, for one reason or another, garner a distinctly ''larger'' share of public notice than more traditional band "frontmen" such as the singer or lead guitarist. ''If the bassist is the least-known member of the band, he doesn't belong here, however well-regarded he is'' (future musicologists will dub this the "[[Music/TheWho Entwistle]]-[[Music/LedZeppelin J.P. Jones]] barrier").

* Derek Boyer of Music/{{Suffocation}} is notorious for his bizarro antics, both onstage and off, while his enormous bass sound, distinctive tone, and considerable technical prowess factor heavily into Suffocation's current sound and live reputation.

* Peter Cetera was the co-lead vocalist of Music/{{Chicago}}, and enjoyed a successful solo career afterwards.
* Al Cisneros (Music/{{Sleep}}, Shrinebuilder): Type B, C and D. With Sleep, Cisneros was such a key figures in the evolution of Doom Metal that he can be partly credited with the importance of the bass in the genre.

* Bootsy Collins (Music/GeorgeClinton) is one of funk's most recognizable faces and sounds, and even sang occasionally (with Bootsy's Rubber Band).

* Flea (Michael Balzary) of Music/RedHotChiliPeppers is considered a leading pioneer of his craft. He's also arguably the most famous member of the band, with his memorable nickname, distinctive appearance and acting roles doing him great service. He's also technically the only continuous member of the band, since vocalist Anthony Kiedis was fired for at least a month during the 80s.

* Teddy Gentry of Music/{{Alabama}}. Although the band has only ever released singles with Randy Owen on lead vocals (except "Mountain Music", where Gentry and guitarist Jeff Cook each sing one line[[note]]drummer Mark Herndon never sang, and left the group in the 2000s[[/note]]), both Gentry and Cook have sung lead on several album cuts. In addition, Gentry wrote hit singles for Music/{{Shenandoah}} and Music/GeorgeStrait, and has produced for Emerson Drive.

* Morgan from the italian new wave Music/{{Bluvertigo}} is both Type A and C, but he's been transitioning to Type B thanks to his appearences on reality TV and talent shows.

* Hiroki Ikegawa is Crossfaith's MrFanservice, standing out even from an entire band of pretty-boys. Thanks to his swoonworthy mug and relative proficiency in English, he's become co-FaceOfTheBand (along with singer Kenta Koie) in Western-media appearances.

* Gary Jarman of the Cribs is half of a VocalTagTeam type with his twin Brother, Ryan.

* Mike Kerr of British HardRock band Music/RoyalBlood is not only the lead singer, but the ''lone instrumentalist'' except for the drummer.

* Bakithi Kumalo is a lead ''musician'' and soloist whose fretless bass generally carries the melody--for an example, check out nearly half the tracks of Music/PaulSimon's ''Graceland''.
* Lead vocalist Hansi Kürsch of Music/BlindGuardian was also the band's bassist up until ''Nightfall in Middle Earth,'' arguably their most famous album. Nowadays, this factoid has mostly been lost to time and fans, especially newer ones, know him only for his considerable vocal prowess.

* Dominic "Forest" [=LaPointe=] (Augury, Beyond Creation, Atheretic, Quo Vadis etc.): Type A. Mastering a [[UpToEleven left-handed 6-string fretless bass guitar]] is bound to get quite some attention.

* Phil Lesh of the Music/GratefulDead was not only the member of the Grateful Dead to put on the most successful solo shows after the Grateful Dead disbanded, but he even took over some leadership responsibilities of the band after Jerry Garcia passed away. Though not a major song writer of the band, he did influence the sound and assist in some of the band's hits in writing. Lesh is also known in many ways as one of the first Bass players to break away from the traditional timekeeping role within the beat of the song being played, further influencing the classic sound of the Grateful Dead.

* Music/NickLowe can play several instruments, but has often functioned as the bassist in bands which he has played in or lead -- and has sometimes been the facke or joint face of those bands. That puts him in type B, but his skills as a songwriter and [[RecordProducer producer]] probably move him more into type C.

* Music/PaulMcCartney: A, B, and C. Probably the best known bassist of all, helped by turning the violin-looking Hofner bass into an IconicItem.

* Reita of Music/TheGazette is notorious not only for his virtuosic musicianship, but for his look--in the VisualKei world, apparently, the iconic nose band makes the man.

* [[Music/DoesItOffendYouYeah James Rushnet]], type A for his ability to make some [[EpicRiff catchy riffs on the bass]], type B for being the singer, and type D since dance punk is mostly inspired by PostPunk which is a pretty bassy genre.

* Actor Creator/GarySinise is also a bassist, and founder of the Lt. Dan Band. Twice, he got to pluck his bass on ''{{Series/CSINY}}'', and four-stringers everywhere rejoiced.

* Music/{{Yes}}'s bassist Chris Squire was the prototypical Type A. He's also the primary backing vocalist for the band, technically making him a Type B. Additionally, until his death he was the only founding member consistently in ''Yes'', and is generally the most recognizable member, making him a Type C ''as well''.

* Nicky Wire of ManicStreetPreachers is a Type C. He has been the most well known member of the band since Edwards disappeared, thanks to being the primary lyric writer and his flamboyant stage presence.

* ''[[VideoGame/GuitarHero Guitar Hero: World Tour]]'': Shirley Crowley becomes a FaceOfTheBand example, having a impressive solo career.

* ComicBook/ScottPilgrim is not only the hero of his eponymous comic series and movie, he's the sole original member of his band.

* Somewhat subverted for Murderface in ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}'', since [[NobodyLovesTheBassist the band claims they mix out his parts in post]], but during concerts he displays a talent for playing the bass with his penis.

* ''Anime/BangDream Girls Band Party'': Rei "LAYER" Wakana is the main singer and bassist for her band Raise A Suilen, making her a Type B Lead Bassist.

* ''Anime/BangDream Girls Band Party'': Rei "LAYER" Wakana is the singer and bassist for her band Raise A Suilen, making her Type B.

* John Doe of the punk band [[Music/XUSBand X]] is the band's founder, bassist, co-songwriter, and the male half of its VocalTagTeam. He's also had notable TV and movie roles, including a recurring stint on ''Series/{{Roswell}}''.

* John Doe of the punk band [[MusicXUSband X]] is the band's founder, bassist, co-songwriter, and the male half of its VocalTagTeam. He's also had notable TV and movie roles, including a recurring stint on ''Series/{{Roswell}}''.

* John Doe of the punk band Music/{{X}} is the band's founder, bassist, co-songwriter, and the male half of its VocalTagTeam. He's also had notable TV and movie roles, including a recurring stint on ''Series/{{Roswell}}''.
* Leif Edling of {{Music/Candlemass}} is celebrated as the band's main songwriter.

* Curt Smith, the bassist and co-founder of Music/TearsForFears, is popular among fans because he's the lead singer on some of the band's biggest hits (e.g. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and "Mad World"). It also helps that Smith was [[PrettyBoy gorgeous]] when he was younger -- it's often said that he had the voice of an angel ''and'' the face of an angel.

* Emma Anzai of Music/SickPuppies is just as well known as lead singer/guitarist Shim Moore. Due to their nature as a 3 piece band, Anzai's bass has a lot of room to shine,and each album sees her stepping up to the mic more and more often from simple backing vocals, to vocal tag team and outright taking the lead here and there. She's also considered very attractive.