Skip to main content
Become a MusicRadar VIP - it's free
- Join our community
SampleRadar
Access over 90,000 royalty-free samples
The MusicRadar app
Full access and custom feeds
MusicRadar Newsletters
The latest music and gear news inboxed
Earn Member Badges
Climb the MusicRadar charts
Coming soon: VIP-only Giveaways
Win pro-grade music gear and more
Join the conversation
Connect with other musicians and fans
BECOME A MUSICRADAR VIP
For the quickest way to join, enter your email below. We’ll send a confirmation email and sign you up to MusicRadar newsletters with the latest music news, gear reviews, tutorials and exclusive offers.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
Get VIP Access Quick

Become a MusicRadar VIP for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to Become a MusicRadar VIP !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Start reading to unlock your first badge
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Hot music news

Hot music news

The latest news from the hottest artists.

Explore
Make better music

Make better music

Explore tutorials, tips and guides for creating music.

Explore

Your membership perks

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Explore now

Get the MusicRadar Newsletter

Get the latest music news, gear reviews, deals and tutorials delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up here

Sign Out
MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Software & Apps
  • Controllers
  • Buying Guides
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • About us
More
  • Styles' sonic secret
  • I'm Still Standing
  • Stevie Wonder’s '70s synth guru
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Artists
  2. Guitarists

Interview: Geddy Lee's 5 favourite bassists of all time

News
By Roger Newell
Published 1 January 2013

The players who've inspired him

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Interview: Geddy Lee's 5 favourite bassists of all time

Interview: Geddy Lee's 5 favourite bassists of all time

BASS EXPO We aim to please here at MusicRadar, and it doesn't get much better than sitting down with legendary Rush frontman Geddy Lee to talk bass.

In no particular order, what follows is a list of Geddy Lee's five favourite bassists of all time, and words from the man himself that explain his inclusions. Read on!

Page 1 of 6
Page 1 of 6
Jack Casady

Jack Casady

"Back in the early days, Jack Casady. I thought he was probably one of the most inventive players I’d ever heard and was really the reason I fell in love with Jefferson Airplane."

Page 2 of 6
Page 2 of 6
Jack Bruce

Jack Bruce

"Jack Bruce of course was my hero when I first started playing. Just him coming out with that bluesy, jazzy style on bass and he brought a kind of aggressive tone to the Cream."

Page 3 of 6
Page 3 of 6
Chris Squire

Chris Squire

"Chris Squire is incredibly inventive and imaginative writer of bass melodies. He’ll always be a pinnacle of great bass players."

Page 4 of 6
Page 4 of 6
Jeff Berlin

Jeff Berlin

"He's more of a jazz bass player now but he used to play kind of fusion, rock and jazz with Bill Bruford on Bill’s solo records. Bruford was a fantastic band and Jeff is still among the top bass players out there, different calibre, he’s just off the planet."

Page 5 of 6
Page 5 of 6
Les Claypool

Les Claypool

"We must not forget Les Claypool from Primus. A true style-seeking venture on bass, really original, an incredible player and he’s influenced me with his attitude towards bass playing."

Page 6 of 6
Page 6 of 6
CATEGORIES
Guitars
Roger Newell
Read more
Rush andf Angine de Poitrine composite image
Bands "They're fantastic!": Rush’s Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson give thumbs up to Angine De Poitrine
 
 
Geddy Lee of band Rush sings at the KIA Forum on Sunday, June 7, 2026
Gigs & Festivals “He has turned back time”: Geddy Lee on the vocal prep he had to do for Rush’s 50 Something tour
 
 
Gavin Harrison
Artists Gavin Harrison says his jam with Rush on the Neil Peart documentary was a tribute – not an audition
 
 
Paul McCartney
Artists Revisiting a classic Paul McCartney interview from our archive
 
 
Al Di Meola
Artists “Jaco was unbelievable”: Al Di Meola recalls his collaborations with Jaco Pastorius, Phil Collins and more
 
 
Anika Nilles (L) and Geddy Lee of Rush perform in concert during the Rush: Fifty Something
Drummers “I haven't really listened to Rush music”: Anika Nilles on her preparation for the 50 Something tour
 
 
Latest in Guitarists
 Zakk Wylde- portrait shoot Zakk Wylde, American guitarist best known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne and his band Black Label Society, United Kingdom, 2013
Guitarists “Acoustics are this whole other world of guitar”: Zakk Wylde talks about his penchant for the lighter side of rock guitar
 
 
Paul Kossoff [left] takes a solo on his Les Paul Standard; Eric Clapton plays a Firebird in '69.
Artists “Eric Clapton walks into our dressing room and says to Paul, ‘Show me how you do that vibrato.’ Paul says, ‘You got to be kidding me!’”
 
 
Scott LePage of Polyphia points the way during a 2024 live show.
Guitarists How Scott LePage finds Polyphia’s wildest guitar tones
 
 
Brian Johnson from ACDC performs with Dave Grohl (R) of the Foo Fighters during the taping of the Vax Live fundraising concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on May 2, 2021
Guitarists “Sobbing like a baby”: Dave Grohl reveals how jamming with AC/DC reduced him to a blubbing wreck
 
 
Queens of the Stone Age play the Tonight Show in 2026.
Artists Troy Van Leeuwen and Jon Theodore on learning to love mistakes and the making of QOTSA’s Perfecth album
 
 
Brian May performs on stage during The Sunflower Jam at Royal Albert Hall on September 16, 2012 in London
Guitarists “If I can’t hear it in my head, I can’t play it”: Brian May on his thoughtful, noodle-free guitar style
 
 
Latest in News
Rush logo on a Sphere background
Gigs & Festivals “Gonna be so much fun!!" Rush confirm five date Sphere residency for May 2027
 
 
Battersea Power Station photo
Singles And Albums “It was very different”: Pink Floyd announce reissue of Animals, their first Britannia Row album
 
 
 Zakk Wylde- portrait shoot Zakk Wylde, American guitarist best known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne and his band Black Label Society, United Kingdom, 2013
Guitarists “Acoustics are this whole other world of guitar”: Zakk Wylde talks about his penchant for the lighter side of rock guitar
 
 
2026 logo
Streaming Spotify Wrapped is coming soon – time to get ready
 
 
Shed Seven Spandau Ballet
Artists Shed Seven tell us why their own gold-tipped single deserves its moment of Olympic glory
 
 
Anika Nilles drum collection
Drummers “To add energy and bring the power": Anika Nilles launches her new artist collection with thicker drumsticks
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...