10 Greatest Bass Players In Rock Music History

Most of the metal community has prided itself on the complexity of their music. I mean, you're not going to pay to see someone like Dream Theater and then expect to see a bunch of guys jamming on stage for an hour for the hell of it. This was the land of musical legends, and they certainly didn't skimp out on the bass players with Cliff Burton.

While having some of his best work in his early 20's, Burton paved the way for so many bassists who came after him, playing wild solos that made many people question whether he actually played a really detuned guitar. It's not like they're wrong either, given that the bass breaks of songs like Orion and Anaesthesia feel like they're on the verge of exploding every time you hear them.

What Burton really brought to the table was a vast knowledge of harmony, which led to some of the most epic moments of Metallica's career.

Though you might never hear what Burton actually sounded like behind a microphone, you can hear his voice across legendary basslines like For Whom the Bell Tolls and even blasting through some earlier cuts like the Four Horsemen.

Despite being killed in a bus accident in 1986, Cliff Burton did more for the bass community by the age of 24 than any bass player could have hoped to accomplish.