Best rock bass player

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.