The low-end lifers who got booted, bruised, or just plain blanked…
Being a bassist is a thankless job sometimes. You’re holding it down in the background while the singer throws tantrums and the guitarist tries to mate with their pedalboard. But what happens when your own bandmates can’t stand you? Whether it was creative clashes, wild behaviour, or just bad luck, these 10 bassists found themselves on the outs with the very bands they helped build. Let’s crank it up and dive in… 🤘
1. Jason Newsted – Metallica’s “Newkid” Who Never Graduated
After Cliff Burton’s tragic death, Jason Newsted stepped into the lion’s den—and promptly got his head bitten off. Metallica hazed the poor lad for years, burying his bass in the …And Justice for All mix and treating him like a roadie who wandered into the studio. Despite sticking around for over a decade and co-founding Newsted, his departure in 2001 screamed: “I’ve had enough, lads.” The metal gods never gave him a proper welcome—just a long, cold shoulder.
“I was never really in Metallica.” – Jason Newsted 😢
2. Michael Anthony – The Nice-Guy Outsider in the Van Halen Clan
Michael Anthony had the best backing vocals in rock and a bass tone fatter than Eddie’s guitar stack—but he was still treated like the spare wheel on the Van Halen tour bus. Eddie later claimed Mike “didn’t even play on some records” and was “just a hired hand.” Cold. Despite decades of loyal service, he was booted in favour of Wolfgang Van Halen—Eddie’s son—proving that in Van Halen, blood runs thicker than basslines. 🩸
3. Kim Deal – The Pixies’ Spark Who Out-Shone the Boss
Frank Black may’ve been the brains, but Kim Deal was the beating heart of The Pixies. Her vocals and bass work lit up Gigantic and gave the band a mystique Frank couldn’t match. So of course, tension brewed. Power struggles and ego clashing led to her being pushed to the sidelines, then eventually out the door. She went on to shine with The Breeders, leaving Frank to sulk in his Black Francis cave. 🐍
4. D’arcy Wretzky – Pumpkin Turned Scapegoat
The Smashing Pumpkins were basically a Billy Corgan solo project disguised as a band. D’arcy was a founding member, but by the late ’90s, she was out—sidelined by inner turmoil and substance issues (and let’s be real, Billy’s control freakery). Corgan claimed she “quit,” D’arcy said she was ousted, and fans just mourned the original lineup’s magic. 🎃
5. Glen Matlock – The Sex Pistols’ Songsmith Too Tuneful for Anarchy
Matlock helped write God Save The Queen and Anarchy in the UK—punk’s very DNA. But according to the Pistols, he liked The Beatles too much and washed his feet too often. Seriously. Legend has it he was fired for being “too clean.” John Lydon later admitted: “He left because he was tired of all the bullshit.” Fair, tbh. Sid Vicious may’ve looked cooler, but Glen could actually play. 💅
6. Dee Dee Ramone – Heart, Soul, and Headache of the Bruddahs
Dee Dee was the Ramones. He wrote most of the songs, screamed the slogans, and lived the chaos. But his drug problems, unpredictable behaviour, and desire to be a rapper (remember Dee Dee King?!) strained even the most dysfunctional punk family. He left in ’89, though his legacy still looms large over CBGB’s ghost. Gabba Gabba goodbye. 🧠💔
7. Kim Gordon – When the Band Is a Marriage
Kim Gordon was Sonic Youth, both figuratively and literally—married to Thurston Moore and holding down the groove with style and fury. But when their marriage crumbled, so did the band. Kim was done not just with Thurston, but with Sonic Youth altogether. It wasn’t hatred from the band, but a deep heartbreak that ended one of indie rock’s most iconic partnerships. 💔🎸
8. David Ellefson – Megadeth’s Co-Founder Caught in Mustaine’s Revolving Door
Being in Megadeth is like surviving Squid Game. Ellefson co-founded the band, got fired, came back, and then got very publicly kicked again in 2021 after a scandal. Dave Mustaine is infamous for his control issues, and Ellefson’s dismissal had the stink of a PR axe swinging fast. Mustaine’s quotes ranged from “It’s not personal” to “I had no choice,” but it sure didn’t sound like brotherhood. ☠️🎯
9. Ron McGovney – Metallica’s Placeholder Who Funded the Dream
The original Metallica bassist, McGovney was more wallet than wall-of-sound. He fronted the money, drove the van, and put up with a lot of Lars’ nonsense. Problem? He couldn’t keep up musically and didn’t mesh with the band’s wild ambition. Enter Cliff Burton. Ron was out before the first album dropped, and his legacy is more “guy who owned the gear” than “metal icon.” Still, someone had to pay the bills early on. 💸
10. Paul Simonon – The Clash’s Icon Who Smashed the Moment, Not the Band
That bass smash on the cover of London Calling? That’s Paul. He was the visual and punk heartbeat of The Clash, but behind the scenes, he wasn’t always in sync with the band’s political drive and creative shifts. Mick and Joe were pulling one way, Paul another. By the end, things were fractious as hell. He wasn’t hated—but things weren’t exactly rock the casbah behind the curtain either. 🪩💥
🎤 Honourable Mentions:
- Bill Wyman (The Rolling Stones) – Felt like a ghost in the world’s loudest band.
- Tom Hamilton (Aerosmith) – Often undercut by the toxic twins’ power plays.
- Andy Rourke (The Smiths) – Financially shafted despite giving the groove.
- Pete Farndon (The Pretenders) – Fired before his tragic death due to drug issues.
🎧 Low-end thunder doesn’t mean you’re loved, mun. Sometimes being the bassist is like being the drummer’s emotional support animal—there, dependable, but invisible until it all blows up.
Would these bassists make it onto your fantasy “Fired But Fabulous” supergroup? Let us know and we’ll draft a cartoon banner faster than Lars Ulrich suing Napster. 🤪🎸
