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Every legendary band has one — that unsung hero holding everything together from the shadows. Join us as we count down our picks for the most essential yet overlooked musicians who quietly defined the sound of their iconic groups! From bass virtuosos to rhythmic masterminds, these are the secret weapons every great band couldn't survive without. Which underrated musician do you think deserves more recognition? Let us know in the comments below!
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00:08Welcome to WatchMojo, and today, we're counting down our picks for those musicians who hold
00:13down an integral aspect of their respective groups.
00:29Number 30, Elliot Easton, The Cars.
00:40Sure, Rick Ocasek wrote the hits for The Cars, and Greg Hawks provided the quirky new wave
00:45synths.
00:46Still, it's lead guitarist Elliot Easton, who was the engine that kept The Cars grounded
00:51in rock and roll.
00:52Easton's secret weapon status lies in his ability to craft highly melodic, hyper-concise
00:57solos that functioned as songs within songs.
01:07Whether delivering the rockabilly bounce of my best friend's girl, or the blistering precise
01:12phrasing on Just What I Needed, his left-handed mastery bridged the gap between avant-garde
01:17pop and classic rock guitar heroics.
01:20Easton never wasted a single note, providing the essential bite and musical sophistication
01:25that elevated The Cars from a trendy synth-pop act into timeless, multi-platinum rock icons.
01:31The Cars
01:38Number 29, Rick Allen, Def Leppard.
01:47Rick Allen wasn't just Def Leppard's drummer, he was their sonic anchor.
01:52Following his 1984 arm amputation, his transition to a custom electronic kit
01:57redefined the band's identity.
01:58By triggering heavily processed, consistent acoustic samples with his left foot,
02:03Allen created an ultra-precise, massive, and distinct drum sound
02:07that became the foundation for the Multi-Platinum Hysteria album.
02:17Elsewhere, while Allen shaped their futuristic rhythm,
02:20original guitarist Pete Willis forged their classic heavy metal roots.
02:24Willis' raw, driving rhythm work and co-writing on On Through the Night and High and Dry
02:29established the band's dual guitar blueprint.
02:32Together, Willis' early grit and Allen's resilient innovation
02:36formed the secret formula that propelled Def Leppard from Nawabum rockers
02:39into global pop metal icons.
02:59The bass guitar was never stuck in the background when it came to progressive rockers' Yes.
03:05Instead, founder and bassist Chris Squire ran the proverbial show,
03:08anchoring their complex arrangements by transforming the bass into a melodic lead instrument.
03:13Squire played aggressively with a pick,
03:15and his style combined a growling metallic crunch with melodic counterlines.
03:22Hearing, hearing your wonder stories
03:29These creative decisions perfectly filled the gaps between John Anderson's soaring vocals
03:34and Steve Howe's intricate guitar work, defining the very shape of progressive rock.
03:39They also helped make Chris Squire an influence for generations of bass players to emerge in his wake.
04:03There's no denying how Bono commands the spotlight in U2, while guitarist The Edge layers echoing ambience.
04:10However, another equally undeniable truth is how Larry Mullen Jr. drives the band's rhythmic pulse.
04:16Mullen provides the structural foundation that stops U2's atmospheric sound from drifting.
04:21His secret lies in his background with marching bands,
04:24which forged a highly distinctive militaristic drumming style.
04:36Rather than relying on traditional rock patterns,
04:39Mullen plays with a crisp metronomic precision and a unique rigidity.
04:43By utilizing alternating single strokes and occasionally setting up a floor tom to his left to act as a second
04:48bass drum,
04:49he creates the powerful driving anchors heard on anthems like Sunday Bloody Sunday and Pride in the Name of Love.
04:55Give a name of love
05:00One more, you won't leave our love
05:0526. Chad Smith, Red Hot Chili Peppers
05:09Chad Smith's secret weapon status comes from his masterful fusion of hard rock muscle
05:19and deep fluid funk as drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
05:22He hits the acoustic kit with explosive heavy metal power, yet maintains an infectious, loose groove.
05:28This dual nature allows him to anchor Flea's frenetic bass lines on tracks like Give It Away while driving stadium
05:34anthems like Danny California.
05:46Functioning as the band's human metronome, his immense physical presence and subtle pocket playing provide the vital rhythmic connective tissue
05:53that transforms their eclectic funk punk energy into stadium rock gold.
05:58Dream of California
06:0725.
06:09McMaris, Motley Crue
06:11Smoking in the boy's room
06:14I was smoking in the boy's room
06:18The sunset strip glam metal of Motley Crue possessed one true musical anchor in the form of guitarist Mick Mars.
06:25Mars was the band's secret weapon because of his heavy guitar tone and a riffing style that could
06:30be speedy, aggressive, and tasteful, often all at the same time. Musical inspiration from old school
06:36blues rock influenced Mars to tune his guitar down a full step to D standard, while also
06:41employing an aggressive, metallic picking style. His approach delivered a thick, punishing sonic
06:53wall that grounded anthems like Dr. Feelgood and Kickstart My Heart, transforming the band's
06:58pop metal hooks into genuinely menacing heavy rock hits.
07:0824. Ace Frehley
07:10The value of former Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley's didn't
07:23only lay in his stinging, blues-based phrasing and aggressive attack. The group's resident
07:28spaceman also retained a quirky, riffing style and intriguing approach to his lead playing.
07:34Ace famously wielded a triple-pickup Gibson Les Paul, while his signature vibrato and double-stop
07:40attack injected street-level grit into Kiss's catchy anthems.
07:55Frehley's fiery solos on tracks like Deuce and Detroit Rock City elevated Kiss from a mere
08:00gimmick into a legitimate hard rock powerhouse. Furthermore, his acclaimed 1978 solo album proved
08:07his stand-alone musical superiority, solidifying his role as the band's artistic spine.
08:2123. Ian Pace
08:23Deep Purple
08:32It's a tough decision, given Deep Purple's legendary MK lineup eras, narrowing things
08:38down to only one secret weapon band member. Bassist and backing vocalist Glenn Hughes could
08:43have easily taken the spot, thanks to his contributions during Deep Purple's MK III era.
08:57At the end of the day, however, we just gotta go with the group's drummer, Ian Pace. Pace provides
09:02the swing that prevents their heavy metal from sounding rigid. Richie Blackmore's riffs and John
09:06Lord's organ may have driven the band's sonic wall, but it was Pace who anchored them with jazz-infused
09:12speed and precision. Plus, as the only constant member through every line of change, Pace is the
09:17literal heartbeat of Deep Purple.
09:3122. Adrian Smith, Iron Maiden
09:44There's a reason why Iron Maiden fans celebrated so joyously when guitarist Adrian Smith returned
09:51to the fold back in 1999. Smith served as a musical architect within Iron Maiden, bringing a disciplined
09:58melodicism together with a commercial songwriting sensibility. This later skill helped transform Maiden
10:03from a raw new wave of British heavy metal icons into global arena headliners.
10:13Elsewhere, Adrian Smith's precise emotional guitar solos and layered backing vocals provided the
10:18essential melodic counterweight to Bruce Dickinson's operatic roar. He is the craftsman who injects
10:25infectious hooks and structural elegance into Iron Maiden's epic sonic symphonies.
10:3521. Rex Brown, Pantera
10:42Bass Lord Rex Brown has held down secret weapon status not only within the iconic heavy metal group
10:48Pantera but also alongside that band's vocalist Phil Anselmo and the doomy supergroup known as Down.
11:01Rex has always been the glue holding it together, locked in perfectly, anchoring the low end with a
11:07gritty yet tasteful sensibility. His jazz-trained background gave him the precision to mirror Dimebag
11:13Daryl's riffs note for note on tracks like Cowboys from Hell. Crucially, when Dimebag launched into
11:18his soaring guitar solos, Rex's thick, overdriven bass lines widened to fill the sonic void, ensuring
11:24the rhythm track never lost its bruising, heavy-as-hell momentum. Rex was the unsung engine driving
11:31Pantera's groove metal machine. 20. Stewart Copeland, The Police
11:45The name Stewart Copeland is one which is mentioned often within the circles of drum aficionados
11:58everywhere, and with good reason as Copeland has long been considered to be one of the best to ever
12:04sit behind a kit. Indeed, it may be difficult to stand out from the rock star icon which is Sting,
12:10but Copeland manages to achieve an equally impactful status thanks to his hard-hitting physical style
12:24and incredibly energetic stage presence. The drummer has even branched out from rock music into the
12:30world of film score composition, lending his creative talents to such films as Highlander 2, The
12:35Quickening. 19. Krist Novoselic, Nirvana
13:00The tallest member of Nirvana might be the most underestimated. Most people discuss
13:05Kurt Cobain's writing or Dave Grohl's drums, but rarely do they give this bassist his due.
13:11Krist Novoselic gives the band a thumping heartbeat through several intense tracks.
13:15Listen closely and you'll hear a musician that always knows when to stand out or blend in.
13:28On efforts like Blue, the bass player adds another layer of grunge to this song from Bleach.
13:33His work on deep tracks like Lounge Act also showcases his style, leading off a great piece from
13:39Nevermind. Novoselic is an essential part of the group's DNA, making the music even heavier.
13:52Novoselic is an essential part of the group's DNA, making the music even more.
13:5318. Mike Mills, R.E.M.
14:02With their influential sound, R.E.M. became a staple of rock music in the 1980s and 1990s. Their output
14:10relied on
14:10four talented members to make it all happen. Mike Mills was their bassist, using his underrated
14:16bass parts to balance out Peter Buck's guitar. His playing and writing were an indispensable element
14:21of their work. Alongside singer Michael Stipe, Mills provided backing vocals to enrich the beautiful
14:32melodies. He even sang lead on tracks such as Near Wild Heaven and often takes lead vocals on live
14:39performances of Don't Go Back to Rockville. As a multi-instrumentalist, the artist builds upon an
14:44impressive roster of bandmates. 17. Ray Manzarek, The Doors
15:00At the beginning of The Doors' career, Ray Manzarek was a vital force for the band. He's
15:13also one of the pillars of the group's sound. Playing the organ on rock tunes,
15:17the instrumentalists made the music even more unique. Jim Morrison's words took them to a
15:21psychedelic space while Manzarek grounded them with his keys. The band member gives tracks
15:26like Light My Fire their spark. As a keyboardist he had many opportunities to shine with cool
15:41arrangements and legendary intros. His career is filled with his incredible performances from
15:47Hello I Love You to Backdoor Man. 16. Tony Banks, Genesis
16:11As an influential progressive band, Genesis helped to push the genre forward in the 1970s. The group
16:18cultivated some of the finest musicians of the decade, including Tony Banks. The keyboardist brought
16:23a classical flair to their best work, including the epic Birth of Fifth.
16:34When the group changed their style, Banks created some amazing synth parts in the 1980s.
16:39The track, The Brazilian, is one example of his versatility. Filling out the dynamic roster,
16:44this player makes the work of Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins even better. Through the years,
16:49he brought new ideas to an eclectic catalogue.
16:52I could say day and you say night. Tell me it's bad when I know that it's right. It's always
16:58the same. It's just a shame.
17:0115. Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac
17:12While this singer was tremendously successful, she was also in a band with other spotlight-stealing legends.
17:19Some listeners forget that Christine McVie wrote quality music during Fleetwood Mac's most popular era.
17:24This includes both hits and underrated deep tracks. Her contributions to Rumors include everything from
17:30Don't Stop to the soulful ballad Songbird.
17:41McVie's beautiful voice only adds to the fantastic collective. In a group with Lindsey Buckingham and
17:47Stevie Nicks, this artist made her own stamp on their music. Her songwriting provided the band with some of
17:52its finest work in the 1970s and 1980s.
18:0314. Charlie Watts, The Rolling Stones
18:15Throughout much of the band's history, The Rolling Stones had Charlie Watts backing them up.
18:21His drumming was always right for the song, never too audacious or distracting. Watts held each
18:26composition in the palms of his hands. This style gets overlooked by some, taken for granted in a
18:32sea of other drum techniques.
18:41Tracks like I Can't Get No Satisfaction or Sympathy for the Devil would be incomplete without his work. He
18:47kept time through their most successful run, creating drum parts for many hits in the 1960s and 1970s. The Stones
18:54have
18:55kept touring after their drummer's death, but they'll never be able to replace his singular talent.
19:00But what's puzzling you is just the nature of my game.
19:0713. Michael Anthony, Van Halen
19:19When you think of Van Halen, you probably imagine Eddie's guitar playing or the frontmen. There's one other member that
19:26doesn't always get the credit he deserves.
19:28Bassist Michael Anthony carries the songs with steady parts that let the guitarist run wild,
19:33while his playing might be more subtle. His backing vocals stand out on various classics.
19:47These provide the extra boost that turns songs like Panama into arena anthems.
19:52They also come in handy for the band's second era with Sammy Hagar. Anthony appeared in multiple eras of the
19:58group,
19:58later being swapped out for Wolfgang Van Halen in the 2000s.
20:0912. Malcolm Young, ACDC
20:20Sometimes overshadowed by his brother Angus, Malcolm Young has another key ingredient in the ACDC formula.
20:26The Australian musician co-created a musical framework that sent shockwaves through speakers.
20:32Together, he and his brother used power chords to energize rock music in the 1970s and 1980s.
20:38Young's rhythm and backing vocals were as important as a sibling's stage presence.
20:44TNT
20:50During the Bon Scott era, the artist added strong work to hits like TNT and Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.
20:57There's also his writing contributions to classic albums like Back in Black.
21:01He's yet another reason to rediscover this electric group's career.
21:1111. Richard Wright, Pink Floyd
21:26From the beginning of his band, Richard Wright was there. His keyboard skills brought another layer
21:32to their progressive sound. You can trace his artistry from the Sid Barrett days to the later
21:36years with David Gilmour. Lending his talents to amazing albums, the musician also supplied songwriting
21:42credits to some of their greatest work like Time.
21:52From the dark side of the moon to the wall, Wright was a constant among other musical giants like Roger
21:58Waters, Nick Mason, and David Gilmour. As a writer and vocalist, the multi-talented artist did much more
22:04than sit behind a keyboard.
22:06Out there on your own, sitting naked by the phone, will you touch me?
22:1610. John Deacon, Queen
22:27This epic quartet created some of the best rock anthems ever. They also feature a bass player that
22:33deserves more attention. Along with Roger Taylor, John Deacon isn't just a part of this stellar rhythm
22:38section. He further proves that each member of Queen is multi-talented. Deacon lays down some great
22:44bass parts, but he can also write. His work on Another One Bites the Dust might be the most
22:57recognizable, but it only scratches the surface. He only adds to the magnificence of his bandmates
23:02Freddie Mercury and Brian Mang. If you explore their catalog, you'll see that this bassist earns
23:07his place among rock icons.
23:209. Kim Deal, Pixies
23:23Bass players sometimes get a bad rap, often hanging in the back of the stage, holding down the rhythm and
23:36not getting super involved up front with the audience. Not so with Kim Deal, former bassist of
23:41indie rock band Pixies, who not only enjoyed a rabid fan following, but also helped co-write some of
23:47the band's biggest hits and live favorites.
24:01Deal also stepped up within the Pixies on both co-lead and backing vocals.
24:05eschewing not only bass player stereotypes, but also strengthening the role of women in rock.
24:11Not bad for someone who didn't even own a bass when she joined the band.
24:258. John Entwistle, The Who
24:35As yet another bassist on our list, and spoiler alert, there are more to come. John Entwistle
24:41attacked his chosen instrument with a dizzying ferocity throughout the 60s and 70s, earning fans
24:46and admirers along the way.
24:57Sure, it may be tough to stand out when you're sharing a band with hard rock heroes Pete Townsend,
25:02Roger Daltrey, and Keith Moon, but Entwistle held his own, even branching out with his own group in
25:08later years. Playing such high-profile shows as Woodstock 99, songwriting and musical chops,
25:14John Entwistle. John Entwistle was in no shortage of either one.
25:18Can we have eternal life?
25:21Can we have eternal life?
25:22Can we have eternal life?
25:23Can we have eternal life?
25:41Can we have eternal life?
25:44Can we have eternal life?
25:53Can we have eternal life?
25:56Can we have eternal life?
26:04The fact that Sabbath possessed a one-guitar line-up, that of band-founder Tony Iommi, made it
26:10possible for Butler to spread his creative wigs as both songwriter and bassist, often
26:15playing against Iommi's riffs with memorable melodies of his own.
26:18Add to this Butler's open mind for more modern musical influences, and you have one
26:23seriously effective secret weapon.
26:43A band is only as good as their drummer.
26:46This holds quite a bit of water when it comes to the case of Meg White and the White Stripes,
26:50as this musician's simplistic and regressive drum work is just what the doctor ordered when
26:55it comes to her band's straight-ahead brand of rock and roll.
26:58Jack White's garage rock riffing and direct songwriting demands an equally direct approach
27:02to the drums, an approach which Meg was only too happy to provide.
27:15To be honest, it probably wouldn't sound quite right any other way, with Meg's four-on-the-floor
27:21style driving home White's songwriting and allowing it maximum impact.
27:31Number 5, Izzy Stradlin, Guns N' Roses.
27:43If you were to look at a selection of Guns N' Roses classics from the band's back catalog,
27:48it's highly likely that this secret weapon was responsible for some of the songwriting.
27:52Izzy Stradlin may not enjoy as big a rock star status as lead man Slash, but Stradlin's
27:58talent is without question, having penned or co-written the massive hits 14 Years and Patience.
28:11The guitar player even took lead vocals on tracks like the memorable Dustin Bones, before
28:15embarking on a solo career of his own with Izzy Stradlin and the Juju Hounds after parting
28:20ways with Guns.
28:26Number 4, Alex Lifeson, Rush.
28:36What do you do when you're in a power trio alongside drummer Neil Peart and bassist Geddy
28:42Lee?
28:42You speak softly and carry a big axe.
28:45It may seem strange that a guitar player with a pedigree the size of Alex Lifeson might
28:49be considered to be a secret weapon in a prog rock band, but for Lifeson, it's always
28:54been a careful balancing act between the guitarist's frenetic fretwork skills and humble, unassuming
28:59personality.
29:09Rush's muscular progressive rock relies on the sum of its parts, and it's Alex Lifeson's
29:13reliably impressive ratio in that equation, which makes him the band's devastating secret
29:29weapon.
29:30Number 3, Cliff Burton, Metallica.
29:40Adding to the list of bassists who bucked stereotypes, the legacy of Metallica's Cliff Burton is one
29:46which has not been diminished, despite the metal legend's tragic death while on tour in Sweden
29:51in 1986.
29:52Burton was not a quiet bassist, preferring instead to amplify his sound with an approach which
29:57was both melodic and forward-thinking.
30:08One need only to look to Burton's work on such Metallica classics as Orion and For Whom
30:13the bell tolls to hear how this bass player moved outside the box to create some of his
30:18band's most memorable musical moments.
30:27Number 2, Ringo Starr, The Beatles.
30:37Sure, this Beatle has always been the brunt of good-natured jokes by the band's worldwide fanbase,
30:43but the work of this trailblazing drummer and songwriter speaks for itself when it comes
30:48to his inhabiting a wildly varied creative headspace.
30:57Ringo Starr has not only written and recorded plenty of LPs on his own, but the former Beatles'
31:02approach to drumming while performing alongside John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison,
31:07was forward-thinking and bold for the time, embodying a progressive spirit which helped
31:11craft numerous classics along the way.
31:21Number 1, John Paul Jones, Led Zeppelin.
31:26Babe, babe, babe, babe, you know I've got to rumble.
31:36What can we say about John Paul Jones?
31:38Standing just out of the limelight, Jones was a songwriter, keyboardist, and bass player
31:44extraordinaire, anchoring Led Zeppelin during his tenure with the Hard Rockers.
31:48Jones didn't stop there, however, and continued to be creative long after Zeppelin called it
31:59today.
32:05Collaborating with artists as varied as Lenny Kravitz, Diamanda Galas, and even Dave Grohl,
32:10with whom Jones formed the rock supergroup, Them Crooked Vultures.
32:13Remaining relevant for over four decades?
32:16That's what we call the sign of a true musical secret weapon.
32:26Who are some other secret weapon band members from groups you love?
32:29Sound off in the comments.
32:31Who are some other characters thatps us from all groups?
32:31Very much.
32:32We will do nothing.
32:32Thank you very much.
32:34Movie to friends.
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