Underpinning Zack de la Roca’s sharp political libretto and Tom Morello’s angular riffage with monster grooves, Timothy Robert Commerford anchors the off-again on-again rap metal masters Rage Against the Machine. Utilizing Geddy Lee’s one finger technique whilst drawing on funk, progressive, and old school hard- rock, Commerford abets his sound with multiple effects spanning delay, wah, phase, and distortion.

Inspired to pick up the instrument by Gene Simmons (or studio cat Neil Jason!) has heard on Kiss Alive ll, Commerford revised his RATM role with grunge-metal supergroup Audioslave for a pair of platinum slabs.

Occasionally dabbling on upright, Tim currently fronts the electro-prog collective Future User, and has anchored yet another rap-metal supergroup – Prophets of Rage with a few of his ex-RATM mates and DJ Lord and Chuck D.

Tim’s primary weapons of choice are MusicMan Stingray and Fender Jazz basses.

WARNING to traditionalists – Commerford has been spotted using a Steinberger bass with Future User!

Dig Tim with RATM:

“Killing in the Name” https://youtu.be/bWXazVhlyxQ

“Bulls on Parade” https://youtu.be/3L4YrGaR8E4

“Sleep Now In the Fire” https://youtu.be/kl4wkIPiTcY

Dig Tim with Audioslave:

“Like a Stone” https://youtu.be/7QU1nvuxaMA

“Revelations” https://youtu.be/4m2q5Fw8gwI

“Killing in the Name Of” https://youtu.be/sQFXKOPJOYM

Dig Tim with Prophets of Rage

“Prophets of Rage” https://youtu.be/2220MdXVPGw

“Hands Up” https://youtu.be/9nWmvf1soTY

Dig Tim with Future User

“Mountain Lion” https://youtu.be/NzW8SnUKms0

Though known to the masses as a Hollywood celebrity husband to …(that’s not what we focus on here at Know Your Bass Player*) … bassist, composer, producer Martyn LeNoble has forged a varied and noble career as a collaborator, side-man, and band member with The Cult, Pornos for Pyros, Jane’s Addiction, Mark Lanegan, Dave Gahan, Tom Morello, and Scott Weiland, to cite a few. Martyn’s usual weapon of choice is the Fender Jazz bass.

In addition to composing for film and television, LeNoble is a dexterous song-player who forged pocket grooves, slaps passages, and melodic counterpoint on some of the most perplexing platters of those aforementioned artists’ careers.

Dig Martyn with Pornos for Pyros “Pets” https://youtu.be/mFkRvF8MeYM

Dig Martyn live with PFP on their signature track https://youtu.be/giPRAcLzNH8

Dig Martyn with WONDERGIRLS with Scott Weiland https://youtu.be/iagKhSJl_LA

Dig Martyn with The Cult https://youtu.be/SWK0E9tWDBs

Dig Martyn with Dave Gahan “Dirty Sticky Floors” https://youtu.be/guB5PHcArLw

He is a versatile bassist who threads grunge, metal, traditional hard rock, alternative, and permutations thereof on record and on stage. 

A member of Alice in Chains since 1993, Mike Inez does it all – from lower register grooves to upper register counterpoint as the situation warrants.  

An engaging performer, educator, composer, sideman, band member, and collaborator – among Mike’s high-profile gigs aside from AIC includes Ozzy Osbourne, Slash’s Snakepit, Heart, and Black Label Society, to cite a select few. 

A hard hitting drop D tuning plectrum player inspired by John Entwistle, Jack Bruce, and Geezer Butler and his mom’s Elton John and Beatles slabs, among Mike’s weapons of choice include: Ampeg SVT, Fender Bassman, Warwick and Spector basses.

A master of metal bass, Roberto Agustin Trujillo has distinguished himself on stage and on record with Metallica, Suicidal Tendencies, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society, and Infectious Grooves, among others.

Plying his craft with a decidedly funky disposition, Robert varies his tools from traditional four to extended range with deft expertise and purpose.

Inspired by James Jamerson, Jaco Pastorius, Sly Stone’s Larry Graham and Geezer Butler – Robert is a versatile finger, plectrum, slap player. Though he studied music “formally” Trujillo developed his own code for bass charts and arrangements. Among Robert’s main weapons of choice include Fender Precision, his signature Warwick bass, Zon, and Yamaha instruments.  

In addition to his well-earned status as a world-class player, Mr. Trujillo was a major force as co-producer in the creation of the Jaco Pastorius documentary and occasionally plays Jaco’s restored “Bass of Doom” in concert.     

Robert Trujillo Sound & Vision…

Black Label Society: “Demise of Sanity”  https://youtu.be/iNeQz5JVxXI

Infectious Grooves “Violently and Funky” https://youtu.be/1f7XwCsx4fs

Ozzy Osborne “Gets Me Through” https://youtu.be/2AsLRPzqdpc

Metallica

“Hard Wired” https://youtu.be/uhBHL3v4d3I

“The Day that Never Comes” https://youtu.be/76m2kmsAxhA

Metallica & Lou Reed: “Sweet Jane” https://youtu.be/aoyoBUoy6UI

She was among the alternative / indie rock era’s most identifiable and inventive bassists during her six year membership in Throwing Muses. Whereas most post-punk players traveled a limited roots-only route, Leslie Langston was a dexterous, melodic player who anchored Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly’s compositions with passages that exuded funk and soul influences. Retired from the music biz, nowadays Leslie is an independent clinical social worker.

Leslie Langston Sound & Vision…

“Devil’s Roof” http://bit.ly/2BuQwHh

“Dizzy” http://bit.ly/2EHFVek

“Dragonhead” http://bit.ly/2F2cyBf

Spanning recording studios to arenas to concert halls to the festivals to the pubs, Brian Stanley is the go-to bassist for some of rock’s top composers. He is, to my ears, the consummate “song player,” drawing from an expansive knowledge of pop, jazz, blues, and soul which emerges in his style, tone, grooves… and conversations! Among Mr. Stanley’s laudable credits include The Beach Boys, Garland Jeffreys, Bryan Adams, Willie Nile, Jules Shear, Tommy Shaw, Mike Scott, and G.E. Smith to cite a few.

Dig Brian Stanley on Know Your Bass Player on Film: Season One – New York City 2016 Euphoria Studios https://bit.ly/32vpFXI

As the anchor of Ian Hunter’s finest post-Mott the Hoople / Hunter-Ronson ensemble, The Rant Band, Paul Page tethers his bandleader’s half-century canon with pocket passages that exude a passion for soul, rhythm & blues, and old-school glam.  Prowling the bandstand with a weathered Fender P, Page’s improv on “All American Alien Boy” harmonically twists, swoops, and growls, quoting a lick or two from Jaco’s masterstroke. Mr. Page has backed legends aplenty including Dion, Lou Christie, John Cale, and Gary U.S. Bonds, and waxed sides with Martin’s Folly, among others.

Dig Paul Page on Know Your Bass Player On Film – Season One : New York City 2015 Euphoria Studios https://bit.ly/32vnZ0m

Among the premier hard rock bassists on stage and in the studio, the late James Stewart Bain was also a multi-instrumentalist and composer.

In addition to his tenure in Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow and Dio, Jimmy also toured and waxed seminal sides with Phil Lynott (keyboards, co-writer), Thin Lizzy, Gary Moore, and The Scorpions among many others.

Primarily a pocket player, among Bain’s weapons of choice were Fender Precision, Gibson Thunderbird, and Yamaha BB, along with Ashdown cabinets and amplifiers.

Dig KYBP Adjunct Professor Tony Senatore’s rendition of “Rainbow in the Dark” – co-written
by Jimmy Bain with Ronnie James Dio,  https://youtu.be/rcl-T4C2ovk

Dig Jimmy on lead vocal with his band Wild Horses “Reservation” https://youtu.be/pHaiZ8_MVEE …and Wild
Horses https://youtu.be/oCYApcmHEog

Dig Jimmy on “With Love” by Thin Lizzy  https://youtu.be/lqOwLMOhUhQ

Dig Jimmy with Gary Moore “Hiroshima” https://youtu.be/GazQAsIgMf4

Dig KYBP Adjunct Professor Tony Sentore’s rendition of “Stand Up and Shout” https://youtu.be/NdK50IsS81o