Best rock bass player

+1 on Steve Harris.

Also: Rick Danko (The Band). Fine work on the first two records.

Steve Harris and the Bass player from Dream Theater.

Jack Cassidy and Phil Lesh took the rock bass guitar where it never had gone before. Fat humbucking pick-ups on their Guild Starfires was the foundation of the San Francisco sound.
Who ever played bass on Funkadelic's One Nation Under a Groove deserves mention here as we'll.

Who ever played bass on Funkadelic's One Nation Under a Groove deserves mention here as we'll.

I believe that's Bootsy, Baby! (Collins)

Martykl,
I was thinking of the second track, Groovallegiance. The bass player is either Rodney skeet Curtis or Cordell boogie Mosson. Bootsy Collins style was not as harmonic as this bass solo suggests. Anyone who loves the bass owes it to themselves to check out this track as well as Mann's Fate on Hot Tuna's first album. Two of my favorite go to songs as far as the electric bass guitar is concerned.

A lot of good players already listed, let me add Leo Lyons of Tens Years After.

My list (includes funk & soul) …... most already mention but here goes anyway.
James Jamerson.. underpinned the Motown sound. Marvin Gaye sought him out to play on 'What's Going On' .
Paul McCartney … for his melodic lines … listen to I Want You (She's So Heavy) from Abbey Road
Bernard Edwards (Chic) … some of my favourite bass lines Check out "Good Times' Same bass line used on Sugar Hill Gang's 'Rapper's Delight"
Larry Graham … the father of slap.
John Entwistle …. 'Thunderfinger' …influenced many other bassists.
+ many more
Also have to mention Doug Wimbish (Living Colour, Jungle Funk) I had the pleasure of seeing him play live a couple of times … my jaw was on the floor!

Im going to mention Glenn Cornick from Jethro Tull. Bass lines are powerful and somewhat jazzy

Yeah, Doug Wimbish applying that funk to 80s techno. Saw him with Tackhead; he used lots of effects and played a Jimi Hendrix solo on his bass.

I finally investigated and found the name of the bass player from the original soundtrack recording of Hair. I've always loved the fun loving bouncing musical bass lines there!

He is Jimmy Lewis who apparently had an impressive resume prior.

I need to dig deeper into some of those classic artist's recordings that he played on.

Have to give the nod to Tony Levin for his work with King Crimson especially. Also John Wetton and Chris Squire are "musts" for this list. Possibly the greatest bass player that gets very little recognition but is immensely prolific is Mr. Leland Sklar.

Falconquest,
All worthy choices. Each great in his own way.

Honorable mention for Dee Murray of Elton John's classic band.

a couple not mentioned above whom i've always admired:
graham maby (joe jackson, freedy johnson et al)--a really lyrical player who really frames some excellent-sounding records. i have a special weakness for him cause he also played with they might be giants, the only palatable children's music ever
cris curtwood (meat puppets)--in their very brief heyday they were the best band in america, and he swung like a mofo. i understand he because a serious, dysfunctional junkie, but "up on the sun" is as good as brainfry gets

Loomis,
I actually mentioned Graham Maby as one of my favorites much earlier in this thread. He has a great bouncy, percussive and energetic feel in his playing.

sorry, rox. agree with your take 100%--he's a bouncy guy.

So many great ones mentioned....I second (or third or fourth) Lesh, Entwistle and Graham Maby (so glad he is getting props here--his work with JJ is amazing! Geddy Lee (don't like Rush but his skills cannot be disputed) and Dee Murray--yep! Did anyone mention John Paul Jones? What about Leland Sklar and all the studio work he has done--awesome bass guitarist!

Rob Wasserman, a true artist on the bass, but not yet mentioned. And Led Zep would not have been one of the best rock bands of all time without John Paul Jones. First four Allman Brothers Band albums allowed Berry Oakley to show his wonderful talents (c'mon, the intro to Whipping Post is one of rock's best ever bass lines) and let's not forget Adam Clayton of U2.

Does Wasserman play electric? I know he's a fine upright player. How about Jim Fielder (Blood, Sweat and Tears, in their heyday, also appears on Freak Out and Buffalo Springfield Again)...

Wasserman plays on a great Rock/Jazz (as opposed to Jazz/Rock!;) record; 'Cosmic Farm' and totally kills it! The record has a 'fat' & 'beefy' bass sound!

Larry Klein and Bernard Edwards, though not necessarily rock oriented.

Many greats listed.
Agree with Falconquest and Dodgealum for
Leland Sklar

Yup .... Wasserman plays electric. A really cool electric upright and a more "traditional" electric bass guitar. Listen to his "Duets" and "Trios" albums for some excellent tunes.

Late to this thread, but I have to give a +1 to Geddy Lee. The man is simply amazing...

Gerry McAvoy , from Rory Gallagher's band , and the late John Kahn .

the Bass player from Dream Theater.

John Myung.  (you had better be good if you're going to keep up with the musicians in this band!)

Gary Thain of Uriah Heep, Keef Hartley - 1948-75 RIP
.
Felix Pappalardi of Mountain RIP + one of the Best Voices in Rock
Pekka Pohjola RIP
Jack Bruce RIP
Chris Squire RIP
Michael Rutherford
Patrick Djivas of Area, Premiata Forneria Marconi
John Wetton RIP
Tiziano Ricci of Banco del Mutuo Soccorso
Greg Lake RIP
Geddy Lee
Tim Bogert of Cactus, Beck Bogert & Appice