Big Ears
Music Lover
This is a very difficult question. A top ten of bassist/singers would be easier or the best singers who also play bass. John Entwistle and Chris Squire are probably the best bassists who can/could also be lead singers (at least on solo projects). They are the greatest rock bassists, but as lead singers were in the shadow of Townshend and Anderson respectively.
Jack Bruce is one hell of a bassist, has a crooning voice and is known as a lead singer.
Greg Lake is the best singer who plays bass and is an underrated guitarist. His voice is a high quality choir-boy style (Squire was a choir boy). He plays keyboards too, so I would describe him as a multi-instrumentalist (like Paul McCartney).
Dare I say it? Glenn Hughes, Phil Lynott, Jim Dewar, Burke Shelley and others are singers/writers first and bassists second in my view.
Glenn Hughes was lead singer and bassist with Trapeze. Mel Galley was also a more than capable lead singer, but tended to concentrate on guitar. While with Trapeze, Glenn was offered a role in Deep Purple and agreed to join. They (Jon Lord and Purple) then set about looking for a lead singer, and because this was difficult, they considered him for the job. Eventually, they appointed a young and then unknown David Coverdale, who had sent Jon Lord a tape. To this day, I find it absolutely bizarre that Glenn did not leave Trapeze for DP as lead singer. Indeed, after recording Come Taste the Band, he was often criticised in the press for singing at all! Coverdale is not a bad singer and they both worked well together, but, when all is said and done, Glenn Hughes is a great singer.
Mel Galley was very underrated as a guitarist as well as a singer and continued Trapeze as an excellent band without Glenn. He joined Whitesnake for a while, but always deserved better. Tragically, he injured his arm, which effected his ability to play, and died of cancer of the oesophegus in 2008. Movingly he said:
"I have been very lucky. I have seen some great bands, and played with many great musicians. And I have enjoyed some tremendous experiences. I am thankful that I can say a proper goodbye to all the friends I have made, who are now rallying 'round me".
Jack Bruce is one hell of a bassist, has a crooning voice and is known as a lead singer.
Greg Lake is the best singer who plays bass and is an underrated guitarist. His voice is a high quality choir-boy style (Squire was a choir boy). He plays keyboards too, so I would describe him as a multi-instrumentalist (like Paul McCartney).
Dare I say it? Glenn Hughes, Phil Lynott, Jim Dewar, Burke Shelley and others are singers/writers first and bassists second in my view.
Glenn Hughes was lead singer and bassist with Trapeze. Mel Galley was also a more than capable lead singer, but tended to concentrate on guitar. While with Trapeze, Glenn was offered a role in Deep Purple and agreed to join. They (Jon Lord and Purple) then set about looking for a lead singer, and because this was difficult, they considered him for the job. Eventually, they appointed a young and then unknown David Coverdale, who had sent Jon Lord a tape. To this day, I find it absolutely bizarre that Glenn did not leave Trapeze for DP as lead singer. Indeed, after recording Come Taste the Band, he was often criticised in the press for singing at all! Coverdale is not a bad singer and they both worked well together, but, when all is said and done, Glenn Hughes is a great singer.
Mel Galley was very underrated as a guitarist as well as a singer and continued Trapeze as an excellent band without Glenn. He joined Whitesnake for a while, but always deserved better. Tragically, he injured his arm, which effected his ability to play, and died of cancer of the oesophegus in 2008. Movingly he said:
"I have been very lucky. I have seen some great bands, and played with many great musicians. And I have enjoyed some tremendous experiences. I am thankful that I can say a proper goodbye to all the friends I have made, who are now rallying 'round me".
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