Enduring Rhythm Sections

Forostar

Forostar

Ancient Mariner
Hiya! I thought it was nice to make an overview of enduring rhythm sections. Some bass players and drummers have been playing together for a long time. The years mentioned are the uninterrupted periods, meaning: not having another bassist and/or drummer as replacement in that period, rather than: the band took a break, was temporarily broken up or not (that) active. Let's only mention people who are at least (around) 20 years together. People can have worked together for a longer time, but I thought it was nice to especially focus on how long they stuck together without one or two leaving, to emphasize the good relation and loyalty. I haven't stopped adding names yet. Just wanted to open the topic already. Please suggest some more if you know more examples. The rhythm sections don't have to be active anymore. I don't mind the music genre.

To add: Jag Panzer

John McVie (bass) and Mick Fleetwood (drums)
Fleetwood Mac (1967-???)
50 years

Dusty Hill (bass) and Frank Beard (drums)
ZZ Top (1969-???)
48 years

Rinus Gerritsen (bass) and Cesar Zuiderwijk (drums)
Golden Earring (1970-???)
47 years

Tom Hamilton (bass) and Joey Kramer (drums)
Aerosmith (1970-???)
47 years

Geddy Lee (bass) and Neil Peart (drums)
Rush (1974-???)
43 years

Chris Squire (bass) and Alan White (drums)
Yes (1972-2015)
43 years

Adam Clayton (bass) and Larry Mullen Jr. (drums)
U2 (1976-???)
41 years

Rick Savage (bass) and Rick Allen (Drums)
Def Leppard (1978-???)
39 years

Percy Heath (bass) and Connie Kay (drums)
The Modern Jazz Quartet (1955-1994)
39 years

Rick Danko (bass) and Levon Helm (drums)
The Hawks / The Band (1960-1999)
39 years

Billy Gould (bass) and Mike Bordin (drums)
Faith No More (1979-???)
38 years

Eddie Jackson (bass) and Scott Rockenfield (drums)
The Mob / Queensrÿche (1981-???)
36 years

Steve Harris (bass) and Nicko McBrain (drums)
Iron Maiden (1983-???)
34 years

Mike Gordon (bass) and Jon Fishman (drums)
Phish (1983-???)
34 years

Frank Bello (bass) and Charlie Benante (drums)
Anthrax (1984-???)
33 years

Pete Trewavas (bass) and Ian Mosley (drums)
Marillion (1984-???)
33 years

Roger Glover (bass) and Ian Paice (drums)
Deep Purple (1984-???)
33 years

Dave Edwardson (bass) and Jason Roeder (drums)
Neurosis (1985-???)
32 years

"Fat" Mike Burkett (bass) and Erik "Smelly" Sandin (drums)
NOFX (1986-???)
31 years

Michael Anthony (bass) and Alex Van Halen (drums)
Van Halen (1974-2005)
31 years

Bones Hillman (bass) and Rob Hirst (drums)
Midnight Oil (1987–???)
30 years

Bill Wyman (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums)
Rolling Stones (1963-1993)
30 years

Jeremy "Jez" Cunningham (bass) and Charlie Heather (drums)
The Levellers (1988–???)
29 years

Nocturno Culto (Ted Skjellum) (bass) and Fenriz (Gylve Fenris Nagell) (drums)
Darkthrone (1988–???)
29 years

Alex Webster (bass) and Paul Mazurkiewicz (drums)
Cannibal Corpse (1988–???)
29 years

John Gallagher (bass) and Joe Hasselvander (drums)
Raven (1988–???)
29 years

Johnny Hedlund (bass) and Anders Schultz (drums)
Unleashed (1989–???)
28 years

Ian Hill (bass) and Scott Travis (drums)
Judas Priest (1989-???)
28 years

Glen Benton (bass) and Steve Asheim (drums)
Deicide (1989-???)
28 years

Joey Vera (bass) and Gonzo Sandoval (drums)
Armored Saint (1990-???)
27 years

Ben Shepherd (bass) and Matt Cameron (drums)
Soundgarden (1990-???)
27 years

Shane Embury (bass) and Danny Herrera (drums)
Napalm Death (1991-???)
26 years

Gene Simmons (bass) and Eric Singer (drums)
Kiss (1991-???)
26 years

Mike Rutherford (bass) and Phil Collins (drums)
Genesis (1970-1996)
26 years

John Deacon (bass) and Roger Taylor (drums)
Queen (1971-1997)
26 years

John Myung (bass) and Mike Portnoy (drums)
Dream Theater (1985-2010)
25 years

Darryl Jones (bass) and Charlie Watts (drums)
Rolling Stones (1993-???)
24 years

Brian Marshall (bass) and Scott Phillips (drums)
Creed / Alter Bridge (1993-????)
24 years

Jonas Björler (bass) and Adrian Erlandsson (drums)
At the Gates (1993-???)
24 years

Mike Inez (bass) and Sean Kinney (drums)
Alice in Chains (1993-????)
24 years

Trevor Bolder (bass) and Lee Kerslake (drums)
Uriah Heep (1983-2007)
24 years

Hugh McDonald (bass) and Tico Torres (drums)
Bon Jovi (1994-???)
23 years

Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister (bass) and Mikkey Dee (drums)
Motörhead (1992-2015)
23 years

Necrobutcher (bass) and Hellhammer (drums)
Mayhem (1995-???)
22 years

Christian "Speesy" Giesler (bass) and Jürgen "Ventor" Reil (drums)
Kreator (1996–???)
21 years

Phil Lesh (bass) and Mickey Hart (drums)
Grateful Dead (1974-1995)
21 years

Paulo Jr. (bass) and Igor Cavalera (drums)
Sepultura (1985-2006)
21 years

Rex Brown (bass) and Vinnie Paul (drums)
Pantera (1982-2003)
21 years

Frank Watkins (bass) and Donald Tardy (drums)
Obituary (1989-2010)
21 years

Jens Becker (bass) and Stefan Arnold (drums)
Grave Digger (1997-???)
20 years

Pól MacAmhlaigh (bass) and Simon Ó Laoghaire (drums)
Primordial (1997 - ???)
20 years

Roger Waters (bass) and Nick Mason (drums)
Pink Floyd (1965-1985)
20 years

Jean-Michel Labadie (bass) and Mario Duplantier (drums)
Gojira (1998-???)
19 years

Tobias Exxel (bass) and Felix Bohnke (drums)
Edguy (1998–???)
19 years

Michael Lepond (bass) and Jason Rullo (drums)
Symphony X (1999–???)
18 years

Troy Sanders (bass) and Brann Dailor (drums)
Mastodon (2000–???)
17 years
 
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Why is this research relevant in your mind? And why just rhythm section and not the whole line-up? It's a genuine question, I'm not trying to be mean.
 
Roger Glover (bass) and Ian Paice (drums)
Deep Purple (1969-1973, 1984-???)
37 years - Sure, there was an interruption, but they have been playing together again for as long as I'm alive.
 
Forostar said:
Mike Rutherford (bass) and Phil Collins (drums)
Genesis (1970-???)
47 years
Click to expand...
Collins left the group in 1996 and only returned for one reunion tour in 2007, so you can't really say that they've been playing together continuously since 1970.
 
He also diminished his role as a drummer once he became the frontman. Rutherford might've played more guitar and less bass too, not sure.
 
edit:
You are right about Genesis, guys. There is another drummer on Calling All Stations of course. :facepalm:Will repair.
Srogyy said:
Why is this research relevant in your mind? And why just rhythm section and not the whole line-up? It's a genuine question, I'm not trying to be mean.
Click to expand...
I don't like to speak about relevance. But I can tell I am very interested in rhythm, in drums, in drummers in general. Also in rhythm sections. On this forum there is lots of talk about production, about vocals and about guitars. Time for something else. Every once in a while I like to view at music from a different point of view. Here you can see who are the loyal, enduring rhythm sections, the people who co-shaped the sound and style of bands for a long time. Also it can be nice to see 'Arry and Nicko or other combinations in this context.
 
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Well, Mario Duplantier (drums) and Jean-Michel Labadie (bass) of Gojira have played together since '98. The whole band have stayed together since then (replacing the original bass player in their early days was the only line-up change). But their sound is kind of a monolith for the most part, so speaking about a rhythm section and a lead section doesn't really apply here.
 
Robert Trujillo and Lars Ulrich are about to qualify for this, 15 years in February '18. Metallica may be the only band to qualify twice.

Also,

John Deacon (bass) & Roger Taylor (drums)
Queen (1971-1991)
 
Thanks.

For the very practical reason, I will now only add 20+ years rhythm sections. It's getting out of hand. ;-)
The lower number of years I've already added will stay in case the couples are still active.
 
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Discounting the huge break where they haven't done anything (1998-2009) Mike Bordin & Billy Gould of Faith No More have been playing together since the bands inception in the early 80's; they're both founding members. In fact 1979 according to Wiki.

Billy Gould (bass) and Mike Bordin (drums)
Faith No More (1979-present)

And Sepultura were pretty settled too.

Paulo Jr. (bass) and Igor Cavalera (drums)
Sepultura (1985-2006)
 
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John McVie (bass) and Mick Fleetwood (drums)
Fleetwood Mac (1967-1995, 1997-???)

48 years and counting. Yep, there was a small interruption, but I still think they deserve a mention.
 
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