See now I'm really not sure, coz tbh I can't really hear anything special in Flea's bass playing (I'm not saying I could play it better but you know). But Joh Entwistle seems to be a bit more electric (just listen to Boris The SPider!!)
P.S. If you have to ask who John Entwistle is don't bother voting!!
Though I'm partial to Entwhistle and the music of the Who, I don't think it's a stretch to suggest that Flea is held in higher or at least as high of regard within the music community. Big3 mentioned Les Claypool four years ago, that's another name at the top of my list of modern bass players.
i have a funny feeling that if it weren't for the ox there wouldn't be a flea.
they both push the envelope but in flea's case that envelope had already been pushed open quite a bit by guys exactly like entwistle. they're both gateway musicians that offer insights to fans to find new and better musicians. anyone calling claypool the top of the pile really neeRAB to check out squarepusher.
as for the sock thing being indicative of a mental disorder.... read up on the man a bit first. it's representative of the fact that they have absolutely nothing to hide with their music. he feels spiritually naked when playing, there's no facade to overcome, simply expression and the band chooses to reflect that in the choice of their stage wear (or lack of).
as for maccartney sucking at the bass. try singing one of his tunes while playing the bass.
Oh I def do too, but I much prefer the album art from the first. Freaky Styley and Uplift Mofo are two of my all-time favorite albums. Although I prefer Les Claypool over "the squarepusher"... :
not sure what that point was but since two of you asked... squarepusher is tom jenkinson's alter-ego. he's often cited as one of the pioneers in the so called 'intelligent dance music' genre along with aphex twin. the main distinction in jenkinson's case is his ability to actually play an instrument proficiently as well as manipulating electronic devices to his musical will (that's not to say there isn't a bunch of glitchy DnB to be found on his albums)
while he's not technically a 'rock' bassist, if you don't think that last clip rocks even just a little then you're either dead or far too narrow minded to bother ever conversing with again hahaha.
have to agree on that album cover as well hehe. with the exception of blood sugar sex magic their album cover art never did much for me.
as for claypool, as you said earlier different strokes heheh. it's not that i don't like him or admire his talents i just don't find his output to really stretch out that much. he plays rock songs with freak out bass and that's about it. he has tons of ability but i find him almost lacking in diversity. it's like he created his own style and now he's stuck playing it forever.
Flea to me is more adventerous, I don't know that the ox would have done Pea. And frankly, if you can't hear anything special about Flea's bass playing you shouldn't have made the thread since then (to you) entwhistle would be better. I think Flea is amazing and he has some of the coolest Bass riRAB I've ever heard (suck my kiss, give it away)
I voted Entwistle but think Flea is great as well, just a totally different sort of bass player. Les Claypool and Robert Trujillo top my bassists league with an honorable mention to Mark King of Level 42, a great "slap" bassist.