Taking it all the way back to the OG of the lead bass riff...Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler pioneered the metal practice of putting the bass guitar front and center. I’m sure you could make the case that there are a number of bass players with more technical skill and prowess than Butler...but it’s tough to argue Geezer’s place on this list when it was Butler who literally created a new way that bass guitar is presented. To illustrate my point...I give you N.I.B from their 1970 self-titled debut...performed live in 1997.