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6[[quoteright:350:[[Music/ThePolice https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thepolicelive.png]]]]
7%%
8->''"Bass solo, take one. (echo)"''
9-->-- '''[[Music/{{Metallica}} Cliff Burton]]''', before the start of "Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth)"
10
11So 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 they're 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, they're better-known than the band's lead guitarist, or even the lead singer.
12
13But what could cause such a perversion of the natural order? There are four fundamental factors that can give birth to a Lead Bassist:
14
15'''The Virtuoso''': This bassist is so famously skilled, with their fingers racing over the whole instrument and driving the ensemble with melodic, expressive lines, to the point that they overshadow the band's other musicians--who may be excellent in their own right. Lead bassists may add chime-like harmonics, play melody lines, chords, and do two-handed tapping. Some would even go as far as do improvised soloing.
16
17'''The Singer''': This musician is mainly famous for being a lead vocalist, or part of a VocalTagTeam. The fact that they play a bass may be secondary, and may even go unnoticed by casual fans, even though they are a strong player.
18
19'''The Band Frontman''': This bass player is well known for non-musical reasons, such as:
20# Being a founder or guiding creative spirit of the band.
21# Engaging in notorious behavior, such as drunken misadventures or a newsworthy love life.
22# Being [[MrFanservice Mr.]] or MsFanservice %%(the latter of whom can be the TokenGirlBassist).
23# Having a successful career in acting or another field outside of music.
24# Having a successful [[BreakupBreakout career when leaving the band]].
25# [[DeadArtistsAreBetter Dying tragically]] ... or at least memorably.
26# Being a well-respected figure in a scene with numerous non-musical contributions.
27# Drawing most of the bands' album cover art.
28# Co-producing many of the band's albums.
29
30'''The Genre Lead''': Rather than rock or popular music, this bassist plays jazz, funk, African folk music, etc., genres in which the bass cuts a larger figure--sometimes even a central one.
31
32Bassists may qualify under more than one of these tropes: Music/PaulMcCartney, for example, manages to flawlessly embody the first three types.
33
34'''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 "frontpeople" such as the singer or lead guitarist. ''If the bassist is the least-known member of the band, they don't belong here, however well-regarded they are'' (future musicologists will dub this the "[[Music/TheWho Entwistle]]-[[Music/LedZeppelin Jones]] barrier").
35
36Contrast NobodyLovesTheBassist. See also FemaleRockersPlayBass (The Singer combines this with MaleBandFemaleSinger). A SisterTrope to LeadDrummer and LeadSingerPlaysLeadGuitar. Does not refer to a bassist [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail made out of lead]].
37
38----
39!!Examples:
40[[foldercontrol]]
41
42[[folder: Real Life]]
43* Before switching primarily to the guitar, Abbath Doom Occulta was the bassist/singer/frontman for Music/{{Immortal}}.
44* Martin Eric Ain was the spokesman during his tenure with Music/CelticFrost.
45* Juan Alderete de la Peña of Vato Negro is the lead instrumentalist for his band's unique style of bass-driven noise rock, and has a sizable internet following because of his online effects-pedal reviews.
46* 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. On top of that, she's also the sole founding member left in the band after Moore's departure. She's also considered very attractive.
47* Cliff Burton, late bassist of Music/{{Metallica}} for their first 3 albums before his death in a freak bus crash in 1986. Also a primary songwriter for the band, as well as being famous for the freak accident that killed him.
48* Tom Araya is lead vocalist and frontman of Music/{{Slayer}}.
49* During her stint with Music/{{Kittie}}, Talena Atfield was the band's undisputed MsFanservice.
50* Not only was 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.
51* Jean Baudin of Nuclear Rabbit: A Virtuoso (rocks an 11-string bass!) and Band Frontman (he's the founder/leader).
52* Sean Beasley of Music/DyingFetus constitutes half of a VocalTagTeam with John Gallagher.
53* Jeff Becerra of Music/{{Possessed}} was a Singer-type bassist in the band's original lineup. Post-reunion, he's delegated bass duties due to the spinal cord injury he suffered in 1989.
54* Jason Netherton is now the frontman for Music/MiseryIndex and was once the frontman of Dying Fetus.
55* Brett Beavers was the bassist and bandleader for Music/MartinaMcBride and Music/LeeAnnWomack, and has since become a songwriter and producer.
56* Adam Biggs of Music/RiversOfNihil has got a huge amount of technical ability, though the years have made him less hell-bent on showcasing it at every opportunity, serves as the second vocalist, contrasting Jake Dieffenbach's mid-ranged bellow with higher rasps and the occasional guttural lows, writes the vast majority of the lyrics and shares primary songwriting duties with Brody Uttley, his basslines factor heavily into their established style and seldom do exactly what the guitar does, often playing lead lines or creating a melodic backdrop instead of necessarily playing rhythm all the time.
57* Jack Blades has been the [[VocalTagTeam co-lead singer]] for both Music/NightRanger and the {{supergroup}} Music/DamnYankees.
58* Andreas Blomqvist of Music/{{Seventh Wonder}} is his band's big name, famous both as a founder and for his fret-tapping speed runs.
59* Derek Boyer of Music/{{Suffocation}} is notorious for his bizarre 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.
60* Ron Broder is the bassist and lead singer of Coroner.
61* Brian Bromberg: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZg1Hs0YfX8 Behold an example of his work]]. All those "guitar" tracks are actually basslines (with the strings tuned up high). He's released several "bass-only" albums. [[NobodyLovesTheBassist Don't love the bassist]]? Too-bad--he's all you've got!
62* Jack Bruce was the bassist and primary singer of Music/{{Cream}}, and had a low key but well-regarded solo career.
63* Michael "Fat Mike" Burkett is the singer and bandleader of Music/{{NOFX}}.
64* Music/JohnCale (Music/VelvetUnderground, solo), Singer and Band Frontman, through his songwriting, [[RecordProducer production]], and multi-instrumental skills.
65* Jerry Casale of Music/{{Devo}} shares lead-singer duties with Music/MarkMothersbaugh.
66* Ken Casey of the Music/DropkickMurphys is the co-lead singer, songwriter, and sole remaining founding member.
67* Erlend Caspersen (Music/BloodRedThrone, [[Music/SpawnOfPossession Spawn of Possession]], Music/DeedsOfFlesh, etc.): a Virtuoso due to his highly influential status among metal bassists.
68* Peter Cetera was the co-lead vocalist of Music/{{Chicago}}, and enjoyed a successful solo career afterward.
69* Al Cisneros (Music/{{Sleep}}, Shrinebuilder): With Sleep, Cisneros was such a key figure in the evolution of Doom Metal that he can be partly credited with the importance of the bass in the genre.
70* Stanley Clarke (Return to Forever, [[Music/YokoKanno The Seatbelts]]) is a genuine jazz celebrity, as well as a bandleader in his own right.
71* Music/{{Primus}}'s Les Claypool is the epitome of Lead Bassist: He's one of the greatest bass players of all time, Primus's lead singer, face of the band, and Primus's sound is centered around his bass playing, which means he hits all four criteria.
72* Bootsy Collins (Music/GeorgeClinton) is one of funk's most recognizable faces and sounds and even sang occasionally (with Bootsy's Rubber Band).
73%%* Max Collins is the singer and frontman of Music/{{Eve 6}}.
74* John Crawford was the primary songwriter for Music/{{Berlin}}.
75* John Cooper is known as the vocalist of Music/{{Skillet}}.
76* John Cowan was the lead vocalist of the bluegrass band New Grass Revival.
77* Joe Dart of Music/{{Vulfpeck}} fits for his incredible technical skill and for his prominence within the band's retro-inspired funk arrangements.
78* Kim Deal was the face of Music/ThePixies alongside Black Francis, sang the occasional lead, and was the lead singer and bandleader of Music/TheBreeders.
79* Russell [=DeCarle=] is the lead singer of CountryMusic band Prairie Oyster.
80* Joey [=DeMaio=] of Music/{{Manowar}} is the band's main songwriter, and famous for his piccolo bass and solos.
81* Jay [=DeMarcus=] of Music/RascalFlatts is somewhat well-known outside the band for several RecordProducer and co-writer credits.
82* Carlos Dengler, formerly of Interpol, was as recognized in the band as the lead singer.
83* James Dewar sang for both the Robin Trower Band and Stone the Crows.
84* Steve [=DiGiorgio=] (Music/{{Death}}, Music/{{Autopsy}}, Control Denied, Dark Haul, Faust, Music/{{Testament}}, Vintersorg, Music/IcedEarth, Sebastian Bach, Charred Walls of the Damned, Music/{{Obituary}}, Sadus, Dragonlord, the list could go on): for his technical skills on the fretless bass and for being in all of those bands [[AttentionDeficitCreatorDisorder and many more]] (for at least one album).
85* John Doe of the punk band Music/XUSBand 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}}''.
86* Leif Edling of Music/{{Candlemass}} is celebrated as the band's main songwriter.
87* Bernard Edwards was a central identifying face of Music/{{Chic}}, a defining contributor to the band's signature funk sound, and a well-known songwriter/producer. He was also [[VocalTagTeam co-lead vocalist]], though this was less well-known to the general public as his lead vocals tended to remain as album tracks.
88* Janet English of Australian band Spiderbait [[VocalTagTeam shares lead vocals]] with LeadDrummer Mark "Kram" Maher.
89* 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.
90* Mike Flores of (Music/{{Origin}}) usually steals the spotlight because of his fast and highly technical playing--not to mention that he's one of the band's main songwriters, an [[StepUpToTheMicrophone occasional stand-in vocalist]], and has the second-longest uninterrupted tenure after [[IAmTheBand Paul]] [[NamedLikeMyName Ryan]].
91* Sharin Foo of Music/TheRaveonettes is half of a VocalTagTeam (alongside Sune Rose Wagner).
92* Dave Fridmann of Music/MercuryRev is a household name in the industry--not only for his band, but as a producer both for them and the Music/FlamingLips.
93* 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.
94* The Brazilian bassist/vocalist Humberto Gessinger has become [[IAmTheBand the only steady member of]] Engenheiros do Hawaii.
95* There's a funny example of this trope also in Brazil: a forró band became viral on Website/YouTube simply because of the [[NarmCharm narmtastic]] dance of the bass player Junior Groovador [[https://youtu.be/K5qZkbhoCmQ during the recording of the song]]. While there's [[https://youtu.be/f1oEiBZaMk8 another]] [[https://youtu.be/-MpkjtyfeD0 known]] [[https://youtu.be/qtBpbSiIKSA videos]] [[https://youtu.be/B1N-9-pj-r4 of him]] throughout the Internet, the rest of the band didn't have the same popularity. Music/TenaciousD even brought him to their concert at Rock in Rio!
96* Rodrigo González is the co-vocalist of the German punk rock band Music/DieArzte.
97* Kim Gordon, Music/SonicYouth's co-singer.
98* Dylan Gould of Brand of Sacrifice is well-known for his photography and videography business [=StayGoulden=], which has made him the go-to for any deathcore or technical death metal act who wants to have someone handle visual media on a tour.
99* Larry Graham is the inventor of the "slapping" technique, which he popularized with both Music/SlyAndTheFamilyStone and Graham Central Station.
100* Keith Grimwood of Music/TroutFishingInAmerica is a Singer, since he splits lead vocals about 50-50 with guitarist Ezra Idlet and they write most of their songs together.
101* Steve Grisaffe has been the lead singer and bassist of the country band River Road since 1997.
102* Steve Harris of Music/IronMaiden is a seminal figure among bass players, writes most of the band's songs and is as recognized as Music/BruceDickinson. He's also generally considered an incredibly gifted player from a technical point of view. His galloping bass is a huge part of the band’s signature style and sound.
103* Johnny Hedlund is the lead singer of Music/{{Unleashed}}.
104* Mike Herrera was known as the singer for MxPx, and later as the frontman of his own band Tumbledown.
105* Marco Hietala is the lead vocalist for Music/{{Tarot}}. In Music/{{Nightwish|Band}}, he was the secondary vocalist and second-most prolific composer (exceeding guitarist and co-founder Emppu Vuorinen, but still well behind keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen).
106* Billy Hocher was the lead singer and bassist for the 70's rock band Bulldog, which had a minor hit with "No".
107* Morgan from the Italian new wave Bluvertigo is both Virtuoso and Singer, but he's been transitioning to Band Frontman of the "successful career in another field" variety thanks to his appearances on reality TV and talent shows.
108* Peter Hook was the co-founder of Music/JoyDivision and Music/NewOrder, and famous for his distinctively high-pitched, melodic playing.
109* Mark Hoppus of Music/{{Blink182}} shares frontman and [[VocalTagTeam singing duties]] with guitarist Tom Delonge (and later, Matt Skiba), and is also lead singer of the band +44.
110* Music/TrevorHorn is the frontman of Music/TheBuggles and an in-demand RecordProducer.
111* Hiroki Ikegawa is Crossfaith's MrFanservice, standing out even from an entire band of pretty-boys. Thanks to his swoon-worthy mug and relative proficiency in English, he's become the go-to spokesperson (along with singer Kenta Koie) in Western-media appearances.
112* Chris Barker AKA Chris No. 2 is the bassist of Music/AntiFlag , and is also in a VocalTagTeam with guitarist Justin Sane. They have different singing styles, with Barker's vocals being harsh and raspy versus Sane's more standard melodic style; therefore, Barker is the lead vocalist on many of the band's more aggressive songs. He is also the most vocal on stage, yelling political slogans and hyping up the crowd at almost all times.
113* Music/{{Japan}} bassist Mick Karn was known for his melodic fretless playing.
114* Music/RicardoIorio, bassist and singer of the Argentinian bands V8, Hermética, and Almafuerte, is considered a seminal figure in his country's metal and popular-music scenes ... bordering on national-hero status.
115* James Jamerson (Funk Brothers/Motown Records session musician) is both a famous virtuoso and a purveyor of essentially bass-driven funk genres.
116* Gary Jarman of The Cribs is half of a VocalTagTeam type with his twin brother, Ryan.
117* During his tenure with Music/{{Newsboys}}, Phil Joel was co-writer of the majority of the band's songs and often took co-lead or lead vocals on them. He was also ''the'' LongHairedPrettyBoy of the ChristianRock scene at the time, possessing an [[https://i.pinimg.com/564x/dc/f3/22/dcf3227408d81a9e45246a8b31f6bcf1.jpg absolutely dazzling]] head of [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold curly golden hair]] that made him a focal point on stage.
118* Janice Marie Johnson was both the lead vocalist and lead bassist of A Taste of Honey.
119* Percy Jones (Brand X, Tunnels, various Music/BrianEno albums): A Virtuoso, without a doubt, and on ''fretless'' electric bass, to boot.
120* Jesse F. Keeler, of dance-punk duo Death from Above 1979, has dominated and largely defined the band's sound with his uniquely distorted, grinding bass.
121* Mike Kerr of British HardRock band Music/RoyalBlood is not only the lead singer but the ''lone instrumentalist'' except for the drummer.
122%%* Steve Kilbey is the lead singer of Music/TheChurch.
123* Lemmy Kilmister 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]]. Without Lemmy, Motörhead would not have existed as we know it.
124* Mark King of Level 42 is a renowned virtuoso, lead singer, and the band's frontman.
125* Bakithi Kumalo is a lead ''musician'' and soloist whose fretless bass generally carries the melody--for example, check out nearly half the tracks of Music/PaulSimon's ''Graceland''.
126* 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.
127* Greg Lake was the vocalist of Music/KingCrimson, Music/EmersonLakeAndPalmer, and (briefly) Music/{{Asia}}.
128* Joe Lally of Music/{{Fugazi}} often carries the melody in the band's songs, sometimes relegating the guitars to near-rhythm capacity, and has also contributed a couple of lead vocals.
129* At the time, Ronnie Lane was the best-known member of both the Small Faces and the Faces, though Steve Marriott and Music/RodStewart would later eclipse him in fame. Lane was also a frequent songwriter for both groups.
130* Dominic "Forest" [=LaPointe=] (Augury, Beyond Creation, Atheretic, Quo Vadis, etc.): Mastering a left-handed 6-string fretless bass guitar is bound to get quite some attention.
131* Sonny [=LeMaire=], bassist of Exile, sang lead vocals on several occasions after lead vocalist J. P. Pennington quit in 1989, including the singles "Nobody's Talking" and "Yet". He also recorded with the band Burnin' Daylight in 1997, and has written hit singles for Music/DiamondRio, Music/ClayWalker, Andy Griggs, Music/RestlessHeart, and Sons of the Desert.
132* Geddy Lee, lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist of Music/{{Rush|Band}}, combines multiple types. On top of his multiple roles in the band including frontman, he's also considered one of the greatest bassists of all time (skilled enough to overshadow guitarist Alex Lifeson, but not drummer Neil Peart, who is even more often considered one of the best drummers of all time), and has great stage presence during concerts. ProgressiveRock is also a genre where bass is often emphasized, so many of their basslines are as much of a lead instrument as the guitar (check out "Digital Man" and "Malignant Narcissism" for examples of this).
133* Music/WhiteWizzard's Jon Leon earns his Band Frontman status by being the founder and only permanent member of a RevolvingDoorBand.
134* Music/SymphonyX's Mike [=LePond=] with his incredible technical skill and flashy, virtuosic playstyle that nonetheless can take a backseat to playing for the song when need be. His [[AttentionDeficitCreatorDisorder myriad other projects]] certainly help, and he was also known for being a Cliff Burton-like figure in his early days, where he played in various bar bands; plenty of people who knew him from that time knew him as the incredibly talented bassist playing in perpetual local openers.
135* 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 songwriter 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.
136* Tony Lewis was the lead singer, and the bass guitarist of Music/TheOutfield, though he only wrote a few of the songs, which were mostly written by the band's guitarist John Spinks.
137* John Lodge of Music/TheMoodyBlues is part of a VocalTagTeam (and co-songwriter) with Justin Hayward.
138* Bruce Loose and the late Will Shatter of Music/{{Flipper}} were co-vocalists ''and'' co-bassists, depending on the song.
139* Garry Lowe is Big Sugar's most ear-catching ''and'' eye-catching member: amidst a nattily dressed hard-rock/blues band with country influences stands a shirtless, wild-haired Jamaican churning out funk jams and R&B riffs.
140* 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 face or joint face of those bands. This, and his skills as a songwriter and [[RecordProducer producer]], earn him the labels of the Virtuoso and the Band Frontman.
141* Marcus Luscombe is the lead singer of Music/{{Cormorant}}.
142* During his time with Music/ThinLizzy, Phil Lynott was the principal songwriter and singer.
143* Singer-songwriter Aimee Mann was the bassist and lead singer for Til Tuesday, and still frequently plays the bass in her solo output.
144* Michael Manring's latter-day output consists of solo fretless-bass performances, leading one admirer to quip "he's not so much a bass player as he is a one-man band who just happens to play bass."
145* Ryan Martinie of Music/{{Mudvayne}} is the band's musical focus of attention, renowned for his unique, percussive style that owes not a little to flamenco.
146* Terry [=McBride=] was the bassist and lead singer of the country band [=McBride=] & the Ride in TheNineties, and later became noted for his songwriting (including for Music/BrooksAndDunn, who later had him play bass in their road band).
147* Music/PaulMcCartney: Songwriter, musician, singer of [[Music/TheBeatles one of the biggest bands ever]], with a substantial career after that. Probably the best-known bassist of all, helped by turning the violin-looking Hofner bass into an IconicItem. In the band's latter years he was basically the main leader.
148* 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. "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGCdLKXNF3w Everybody Wants to Rule the World]]" and "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ1Za4u2bFo 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.
149* Tatsu Mikami has even acknowledged it when everyone else in Church of Misery left by saying that the band wasn't going anywhere and that he had already written another entire album and just needed to find a new lineup.
150* Mike Mills sang and co-wrote several Music/{{REM}} songs, and served as the public face of the band (with Michael Stipe).
151* Music/CharlesMingus, Jazz [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_bass double bassist]], was a highly influential musician, composer and bandleader. He became one of the most iconic bandleaders of the 1950's and 1960's alongside the likes of Music/MilesDavis, Music/JohnColtrane and Music/CharlieParker, as well as one of the most ambitious composers. He's the first, and so far only, jazz musician to have his entire (gigantic) catalog acquired by the Library of Congress.
152%%* [[Music/ProtestTheHero Arif Mirabdolbaghi]]: Types A and C, for writing the band's lyrics until recently.
153* Colin Moulding of Music/{{XTC}} was co-singer along with Andy Partridge.
154* Chris Murphy of Music/{{Sloan}} is a Singer, part of a VocalTagTeam.
155* Danny Myrick fronted the 1990s band Western Flyer. Several years after they broke up, he became a successful songwriter (including "She's Country" by Music/JasonAldean) and producer.
156* Arthur von Nagel was the original vocalist of Music/{{Cormorant}}, as well as the lyricist.
157%%* Johnette Napolitano (of Concrete Blonde): Type B and C - Concrete Blonde is basically [[IAmTheBand Napolitano and whoever she decides to play/record with]].
158* Before nearly embodying the NobodyLovesTheBassist trope during his Music/{{Metallica}} tenure, the put-upon Music/JasonNewsted was Flotsam & Jetsam's main lyricist. Post-Metallica, he became the vocalist/songwriter of his own self-named group.
159* Tomomi Ogawa was co-vocalist, main lyricist, and well-liked mascot of Music/{{SCANDAL|JapaneseBand}} (not the Patty Smyth band, the Japanese one).
160* Richard Page was the lead singer (and male-model face) of the '80s band Mr. Mister.
161* For better or worse, Nick Oliveri has made his mark in several bands:
162** He's often credited with co-creating "stoner metal" as a member of Music/{{Kyuss}}.
163** With Music/QueensOfTheStoneAge, he famously wore out his welcome with epic drug abuse, capped off by spousal abuse.
164** After his QOTSA tenure, Oliveri founded and sang lead for the band Mondo Generator.
165* Benjamin Orr of Music/TheCars was the co-lead singer and frontman along with Ric Ocasek.
166* Merril Osmond of The Osmonds was and sometimes still is the lead singer and frontman of the band whenever they tour. It's him who sings on the band's best known hit records such as Down By The Lazy River, Let Me In, and Love Me For A Reason. Though he did occasionally share with his brothers; Donny in the case of One Bad Apple, and Jay in the case of Crazy Horses.
167* The virtuosic bass skills of Music/{{Atheist}}'s Roger Patterson were responsible for a good bit of the band's early buzz). Later, his tragic death contributed to his fame in TechnicalDeathMetal circles.
168* Jaco Pastorius became world-famous for his revolutionary fretless-bass skills as a member of Music/WeatherReport and as solo artist. Unfortunately, he became nearly as famous for his sudden alcoholic descent and unfortunate death.
169%%* Aaron Pauley of Music/OfMiceAndMen became a Type B in 2017.
170* Dickie Peterson was the lead singer for Music/BlueCheer, those proto-metal pioneers of the psychedelic era.
171* Doug Phelps of Music/TheKentuckyHeadhunters is a Singer, contributing lead and backing vocals as well as bass guitar. Although he was in several lineups of the band, he did not become a lead bassist until 2008 after Anthony Kenney departed.
172* Doug Pinnick handles lead vocals for Music/KingsX.
173%%* Genesis P-Orridge of Music/ThrobbingGristle is types B and C.
174%%* Music/RiseAgainst's Joe Principe is definitely a Type A.
175%%* Music/SuziQuatro, singer-songwriter, bass guitar player, and actor. Type B
176* [[Music/TheRamones Dee Dee Ramone]], was initially the lead singer of the Ramones. While Joey took over the role early on, Dee Dee continued to [[StepUpToTheMicrophone sing lead]] for some songs. He was always part of the songwriting, even after he left the band. He is also the one who kicked off many songs live with his strident shout, "1-2-3-4!"
177%%* Pretty much the only reason anyone paid attention to the band Dogstar was because Creator/KeanuReeves played bass.
178* Reita of Music/TheGazette is notorious not only for his virtuosic musicianship, but for his look--in the VisualKei world, apparently, the iconic noseband makes the man.
179* Paulo Ricardo is a noted singer, and the band frontman of the Brazilian group RPM.
180* John Rich was originally a Singer in Music/{{Lonestar}}, where he [[VocalTagTeam traded]] lead vocals with Richie [=McDonald=]. After being fired from the band in 1998 with no official replacement, he became a Band Frontman as one-half of Music/BigAndRich (although he no longer plays bass), along with a large list of songwriting and production credits for other artists.
181* Tyson Ritter of Music/TheAllAmericanRejects is both a Singer and Band Frontman, doing acting and modeling outside of the band. While Ritter no longer plays bass guitar live, he still records it in the studio.
182* [[Music/DoesItOffendYouYeah James Rushnet]], for his ability to make some [[EpicRiff catchy riffs on the bass]], being the singer, and dance-punk is mostly inspired by PostPunk which is a pretty bassy genre.
183* The late Renato Russo of Brazilian band Music/LegiaoUrbana, a Singer and Band Frontman, albeit he didn't always play bass (he couldn't do so for the band's debut after slitting his wrists and the RockTrio had a bassist join, remanining there for two more albums).
184* Troy Sanders of Music/{{Mastodon}} is the co-lead singer with [[LeadSingerPlaysLeadGuitar Brent Hinds]] and [[LeadDrummer Brann Dailor]].
185%%* Mark Sandman of Music/{{Morphine}} was Types B, C, and D, rolled up into in one doomed GenreBusting package.
186* Music/TaijiSawada was famously virtuosic during his stints with Music/XJapan, Music/{{Loudness}}, Music/TheKillingRedAddiction, and other projects, as well as being one of four faces of the band for X Japan, pioneering Loudness's first foray into ThrashMetal, and for some surprising lyrical depth in solo work. He was equally, and sadly, famous for his substance abuse, recurring mental problems, and suspicious death.
187* Nick Schendzielos of Cephalic Carnage, Music/JobForACowboy, and Music/{{Havok}} hits all four on the head, being a renowned for his incredible technical skill and creative playing (he does secondary vocals in Cephalic Carnage and backing live vocals in Havok), and his face is well-known in the bass world between his Website/YouTube channel and frequent NAMM appearances, plus he's become a secondary face for both Job for a Cowboy and Havok due in no small part to his oddball sense of humor and amusing interviews. He also qualifies as a Genre Lead -- his basslines became a ''very'' major and integral part of Job for a Cowboy's sound circa ''Sun Eater''.
188* Marcel "Schmier" Schirmer is the vocalist for Music/{{Destruction}}, one of only two consistent members of the band, and as of 2022 the only founding member still performing for them.
189* Jacob Schmidt of Music/DefeatedSanity is a firm Virtuoso and Band Frontman, as he shares songwriting duties with Lille Gruber and is renowned for both his astounding technical ability and deep knowledge of theory.
190* Tommy Scott of Music/{{Space}} was the group's bassist in its early years, and played on its first album ''Music/{{Spiders|Album}}''.
191* Jason Sellers: Singer and Band Frontman. Originally a bassist in Ricky Skaggs' road band, he recorded two solo albums in the late 1990s and played bass on both. He is now a prominent backing vocalist and songwriter (most notably, he co-wrote Music/JasonAldean and Music/KellyClarkson's "Don't You Wanna Stay"). Sellers is also an ex-husband of Music/LeeAnnWomack.
192* Steve Sevrin of Music/SiouxsieAndTheBanshees was one of the band's primary songwriters, along with frontwoman Siouxsie Sioux.
193* Billy Sheehan: when you can keep up with Music/Steve Vai, it's a given! He's also the frontman for Music/MrBig. With jazz group Niacin, he's arguably a Genre Lead as well.
194* Burke Shelly of Budgie, under the singer, and he co-wrote the band's songs and has been the only consistent member of the group.
195* Gene Simmons of Music/{{Kiss}} is a huge combination of Singer and Band Frontman, writing most songs with Paul Stanley, singing at least half the tracks, and being the most recognizable of the band members ''without'' makeup (he loves to give interviews, has written several books, and has had his own reality show).
196* 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.
197* Nikki Sixx wrote most Music/MotleyCrue songs with LeadDrummer Tommy Lee. His notoriously wild life (including being dead for a few minutes!) was even better known.
198* Zach Smith of Pinback has a very distinct playing style (heavy on chords, tapping, and melody lines on a short-scale bass) and plays VocalTagTeam alongside guitarist Rob Crow.
199* Steve Soto was the one constant of the RevolvingDoorBand the Adolescents.
200* Greg Spawton, the co-founder and main songwriter of Music/BigBigTrain, ''willingly assumed this mantle'' by switching from guitar to bass.
201* Music/{{Squarepusher}}: A Virtuoso and Band Frontman --his bass playing is as well-known as his electronic work.
202* Music/{{Yes}}'s bassist Chris Squire was the prototypical example. He's also the primary backing vocalist for the band, technically making him a Singer. Additionally, until his death, he was the only founding member consistently in ''Yes'', and is generally the most recognizable member.
203* Jeffrey Steele: He was the lead vocalist and bassist in the 1990s country band Boy Howdy (Singer). After they broke up, he had a fruitful career as a singer-songwriter and record producer (Band Frontman).
204* [[Music/TypeONegative Peter Steele]]: Singer and Band Frontman. Wrote all the songs, was the public face of the band, and a sex symbol to female (and some male) fans after his Playgirl magazine shoot. The band's music tended to be bass-driven as well, often using heavy distortion to make Peter's bass function as a rhythm guitar.
205* Music/{{Sting}} of Music/ThePolice and a lengthy solo career. Sting was the singer, and dominated the songwriting. He became the face of the band. Their fans can name the other members, but the average person may only be able to name Sting.
206* David Summer from Spanish band Hombres G: Singer and Band Frontman, main vocalist and composer of songs of the band while also being able to have a successfull solo career.
207* [[Music/DuranDuran John Taylor]]: Band Frontman, especially as he's HeterosexualLifePartners with the only ''consistent'' member of the band, Nick Rhodes. Also a Virtuoso, since John's unorthodox and genre-defying basslines were uncommon at the time, but widely emulated since then.
208%%* Kavyen Temperley of Eskimo Joe: Type B and C.
209* Jeroen Paul Thesseling: Playing with two acclaimed TechnicalDeathMetal (Pestilence and Obscura) bands is bound to get you some respect. Also a Genre Lead of sorts, and he has done flamenco and jazz work and is also somewhat well-known in microtonal music circles. Most people know him for his monster 7-string fretless bass.
210* [[Music/{{Overkill}} D.D. Verni]] is the only founding member remaining other than Bobby in addition to his basslines playing a very prominent role in the band's sound.
211* Music/SidVicious: Band Frontman, with a giant, 72-point "C" [[DreadfulMusician (and he couldn't even play!)]]
212%%* Peter "Peavy" Wagner (Music/RageBand): Type B and C.
213* Music/RogerWaters: The lead creative force and co-lead singer of Music/PinkFloyd between Music/SydBarrett's departure and the band's 1980s resurrection. Even now he has successful solo tours.
214* Mike Watt was Music/{{Minutemen}}'s main songwriter, played a central musical role in the group's funk/jazz-influenced punk sound, and has enjoyed a BreakupBreakout as replacement bassist for a number of well-known bands, including the reunited [[Music/TheStooges Stooges]].
215%%* Norman Watt-Roy from [[Music/IanDuryAndTheBlockheads The Blockheads]]: Type A. Has become Type C since Dury's death with fans chanting "''Norman, Norman, Norman...''" during solos. He is also unquestionably the fan-favorite Blockheads member.
216* Music/CannibalCorpse's Alex Webster is not only known for his ''extreme'' technical proficiency, but has also become a major, genre-affecting influence on metal bassists.
217* [[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 Band Frontman. He's also the band's main lyricist.
218* John Wetton was the lead singer and resident bass virtuoso of late '70s Music/KingCrimson, Music/{{UK}}, and Music/{{Asia}}.
219* Tina Weymouth of 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 a Genre Lead 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", which Weymouth co-wrote, especially) but not enough for full inclusion admittedly.
220* Verdine White of Music/EarthWindAndFire is in category A, C and D. Not only is he a top-notch funk bassist, he's the only one (with bandleader/founder Maurice White's passing in 2016) to be with the band from Day One. During the Seventies, one of the highlights of the band's concerts was his bass solo where he would be playing suspended in mid-air.
221* Music/TheBeachBoys' Music/BrianWilson is the band's best-known member, renowned for his singing voice, as the genius behind the group's most seminal albums (even though he played less and less bass by that time), and for his later struggles with substance abuse and mental issues.
222* Doug Wimbish of Music/LivingColour. On top of his own solo work, he's also done work for Tackhead, Jungle Funk, The Rolling Stones, and many others.
223* Kip Music/{{Winger}} is his band's lead singer and [[TheLancer lancer]]. (TheHero, of course, is Winger's hair).
224* Nicky Wire of Music/ManicStreetPreachers is a Band Frontman. He has been the most well-known member of the band since Richey Edwards disappeared, thanks to being the primary lyric writer and to his flamboyant stage presence.
225%%* Jah Wobble was Type A in Music/PublicImageLtd and added Type C in his other ventures.
226%%* Victor Wooten: Type A. Arguably Type D, but that would require his conforming to a genre.
227* Rob Wright is the lead singer of Nomeansno. He's also a founding member, and a virtuoso bassist who gives the band's punk recordings a startlingly progressive undergirding.
228%%* [[Music/ChthoniC Doris Yeh]]: Type C to a [[MsFanservice T]]. Also Type B for her role of supporting vocals.
229* Music/DaYoopers have gone through several bassists (Jim Pennell, Joe [=DeLongchamp=], Dave "Doc" Bradbury, Reggie Lusardi). Each of them has gotten at least one turn on lead vocal, with Bradbury notably singing one of their most famous songs "Grandpa Got Run Over by a Beer Truck" and [=DeLongchamp=] writing the title track of their third album ''Camp Fever''. Jim Bellmore, who became lead guitarist and songwriter after Joe Potila retired in 1995, also plays nearly all of the bass parts in-studio.
230* Miracles of Modern Science's bassist Evan Younger is also the lead singer.
231%%* Stuart Zender (Music/{{Jamiroquai}}, Azur) Type D.
232* Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio. While singer/guitarist Matt Skiba is more well known (especially now he's in [[Music/Blink182 that other band]]), bassist Dan is co-lead vocalist and songwriter; a Singer all over.
233* Dallon Weekes is the founder, singer, songwriter, and face of Music/IDontKnowHowButTheyFoundMe, although it should be noted that the band only has one other member, drummer Ryan Seaman. Dallon was also the LeadBassist of his old band, Music/TheBrobecks, though he shared singing and writing credits with other members.
234* Pär Sundström of Music/{{Sabaton}} is the secondary front man 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). He's also one of the band's managers.
235* Michael League of Snarky Puppy is the band's founder and primary songwriter, and they play bass-heavy genres anyway (jazz-funk fusion).
236* Edgar Meyer is a world-renowned acoustic upright bassist, active in multiple genres, including classical, bluegrass, and jazz.
237* Music/AetherRealm frontman Vincent Jones is the band's bassist and lead singer.
238[[/folder]]
239
240[[folder: Fictional & Quasi-Fictional Examples]]
241* Mio Akiyama in ''Manga/KOn'' is a Singer and ([[ComedicUnderwearExposure less-than-willing]]) Band Frontwoman.
242* Ditto with Yuu Haruna in ''Manga/{{Fuuka}}'', who is initially a Singer (being the co-vocalist of his band) but more or less has elements of a Band Frontman as well.
243* Cassandra in ''Film/WaynesWorld'' is both the Singer and Band Frontwoman 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.
244%%* ''[[VideoGame/GuitarHero Guitar Hero: World Tour]]'':
245%%** Shirley Crowley for having an impressive solo career.
246%%** The nameless singer in ''Guitar Hero On Tour'' is a type B.
247* Murdoc Niccals of Music/{{Gorillaz}} is a Band Frontman -- he co-founded the band, and makes most of their headlines in his semi-cartoon universe by virtue of being an AxCrazy PsychopathicManchild.
248* Yamato/[[DubNameChange Matt]] Ishida in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' and ''Anime/DigimonAdventureTri'' is the bassist and vocalist of his bands. He has several fangirls, notably Jun Motomiya.
249* Kikuri Hiroi in ''Manga/BocchiTheRock'' is a Virtuoso, Singer, ''and'' Band Frontwoman. She's an excellent bassist (able to play with a ''[[ImpracticalMusicalInstrumentSkills shamisen pick]]''), the lead vocalist, and the most showy, loudmouthed, and eccentric member of her band.
250%%* Charlie Pace in ''Series/{{Lost}}'' (Drive Shaft 4 ever!) is Type C.
251* ComicBook/ScottPilgrim is not only the hero of his eponymous comic series and [[Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld movie]], but he's also the sole original member of his band.
252* The second Gym Leader in ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'', Roxie is the leader of her band. Both a Singer as the band's lead vocalist and Band Frontwoman as a Gym Leader. Naturally, it also carries over to her anime appearance. You know the two other trainers you face in the Virbank Gym in the game? They're her ''bandmates'' in the anime.
253* [[Film/ThisIsSpinalTap Spinal Tap]]: On "Big Bottom," David, Nigel, and Derek treat the listener to a triple-bass assault! (Harry Shearer rocks a double-neck.)
254%%* [[{{Anime/Interstella 5555}} Stella]]: Type C MsFanservice.
255* ''ComicBook/AdventureTimeMarcelineAndTheScreamQueens'' reveals [[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime Marceline]] to be a Singer-type, so much that [[CanonForeigner her bandmates have never been seen on the show]].
256* 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.
257* In ''Iron Zion'', Jan Doornenbal is Virtuoso (and gets into musical duels with his band members), a Singer, whenever a song has Dutch or Frisian lyrics (he sings along with his brother) and something of a Genre Lead, since a double bass is unusual in Heavy Metal, and also having a classical side project with his brother.
258* Sgt. Floyd Pepper of the Electric Mayhem in Franchise/TheMuppets is a Band Frontman. Although Dr. Teeth leads the band, Floyd is easily the most recognizable member after [[BreakoutCharacter Animal]], overshadowing Dr. Teeth, and the one who talks the most to Kermit. He also often sings lead vocals whenever the band is shown performing.
259* Mae Borowski of ''VideoGame/NightInTheWoods'' is a Band Frontwoman by virtue of being the PlayerCharacter who just happens to play bass; the four friends never perform in public, leaving their actual memorability up in the air. Then again, depending on how well you play during each practice, she potentially demonstrates an amazing talent at improvising songs that she has ''never'' performed before.
260* AW Yrjänä of the Finnish band CMX is both Band Frontman, being a founding member of the band, and Singer, being the lead vocalist.
261%%* Andy [=McCluskey=] of Music/OrchestralManoeuvresInTheDark is Type B as the band's frontman.
262* Davide Biale of ''Webvideo/Davie504'' is this to a tee - all of his videos are about him slapping the '''bass'''.
263* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': Kyoka Jiro is the singer and bassist of the band Class 1-A forms for the School Festival.
264* ''Anime/BangDream'': Rei "LAYER" Wakana is the main singer and bassist for her band Raise A Suilen, making her a Singer-type Lead Bassist.
265* A PlayedForLaughs/ Meta Band Frontman occurs in the musical ''Theatre/RideTheCyclone''. The show's score is written for a four-piece band, and the Bassist is a bit character in the show: a rat named Virgil, who is chewing through the power cable of the [[FortuneTeller mechanical fortune teller]]/ narrator "The Amazing Karnak." Virgil serves as the frontman, appearing in-costume (punky leather jacket and rubber rat mask) at the beginning of the show before rejoining the musicians.
266--> '''The Amazing Karnak''': Meet my executioner. A rat I've named Virgil. For the last two years, Virgil has been steadily chewing on my power cable. In little over an hour, Virgil shall chew his way through the rubber, biting down on 200 volts of electricity; instantly killing us both. As there is nothing more base than death, I've decided that for tonight's concert Virgil will play the bass.
267* In ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'', it's heavily implied that Jake, despite being a prime case of NobodyLovesTheBassist, is actually the band's most skilled member.
268* ''VisualNovel/BuriedStars'' features Do-yoon Han as the bassist who is by far the most well-regarded member of the band Masquerade. There's debate in-universe over whether he's a Virtuoso or a Band Frontman. An interview confirms that the reality TV show producer "discovered Do-yoon among his other bandmates" primarily because of his striking appearance.
269[[/folder]]
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