Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Christine McVie's masterpiece
  • Macca vs Phil Collins
  • Music theory tricks
  • Kiss From a Rose
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Yes
  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
Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee of Rush rock double-necks during a 2026 reunion show in LA.
Artists Rush’s Geddy Lee, Paul Gilbert and John Petrucci on the guitar genius of Alex Lifeson
 
 
American jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery (1923-1968) performs with a Gibson L-5 semi acoustic guitar in a television studio during a recording for the television series 'Tempo' in 1965
Artists “When I heard Wes, it killed me”: Nile Rodgers’ favourite guitar track of all time
 
 
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
 
 
Sean Hurley plays the Fender 75th Anniversary Precision Bass Collection
Bass Guitars Geezer Butler, Tal Wilkenfeld and Nate Mendel hail the legacy of the P Bass, as Fender celebrates its 75th anniversary
 
 
Ian Anderson in the 1970s
Artists “I gave up guitar when I heard Clapton, the way people are put off tennis when they watch Federer”
 
 
Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom Alex Lifeson 1976 ES-355 Reissue
Artists Epiphone and Alex Lifeson team up for a replica of the Rush guitarist’s iconic 1976 ES-355
 
 
Latest in Guitarists
Ritchie Blackmore takes a solo on his Fender Stratocaster
Guitarists The guitar genius of Ritchie Blackmore in 5 classic tracks
 
 
Ritchie Blackmore performs with Deep Purple for the first time in more than 30 years
Guitarists Watch Ritchie Blackmore perform onstage with Deep Purple for the first time in more than 30 years
 
 
Joe Bonamassa with his two new signature Martin acoustics
Artists Martin unveils a pair of Joe Bonamassa signature acoustics based on his 1937 pre-War vintage unicorn
 
 
AI-generated image of 5 people
Guitarists “So this is the kind of intelligence that will soon be ruling the world?” Brian May uses AI to recreate cover to The Game
 
 
Accorinrin of Otoboke Beaver performs onstage during a concert at the Electric Ballroom on June 21, 2026 in London, England
Gigs & Festivals “I am very sorry”: Japanese punk band apologise for injuring fan with guitar
 
 
Ritchie Blackmore plays his Strat live onstage in 2018
Artists Ritchie Blackmore to play onstage with Deep Purple for the first time since ’93
 
 
Latest in News
rave
Samples SampleRadar: 505 free rave synths samples
 
 
suno
Tech Suno’s Studio 2.0 adds an AI chatbot that can control your project, transform sounds and generate custom plugins
 
 
mike d
Artists "Thank you, Sir Paul": Mike D on how the Beastie Boys got away with sampling five Beatles songs
 
 
Contra Ice logo
Singles And Albums “Passionately fighting against fascism”: Tom Morello, Kathleen Hanna and others team up for Anti-ICE benefit album
 
 
MusicRadar App
Tech The MusicRadar app is live, and free on iOS and Android - grab it today
 
 
Ritchie Blackmore performs with Deep Purple for the first time in more than 30 years
Guitarists Watch Ritchie Blackmore perform onstage with Deep Purple for the first time in more than 30 years
 
 

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...