1980 Rock Hit Named Among the Top Bass Lines of All Time - It's Instantly Recognizable

The rock music of the early 1980s had a unique style that stemmed from the trends of the 1970s in music, such as progressive rock, disco and soft rock. The '80s wasn't a decade really known for its bass performances, but every era has its own bass heroes.

While the year 1980 brought the start of a new decade, it was just before the real change of the 1980s took shape with hair metal exploding. The Sunset Strip took over the music scene for nearly a decade during the 1980s until grunge kicked it to the curb.

Now, a 1980 rock hit has been named one of the greatest bass lines of all time. This song has a memorable bass line that sticks in your head.

A 1980 Rock Song Has a Catchy Bass Line That Won't Go Away

The song is Queen and "Another One Bites the Dust." What's not to love about this disco-happy number? The track marked a departure for Queen's sound at the time, but it also became one of their most popular hits.

In a feature for Guitar World magazine by their Bass Player magazine staff about the greatest bass guitar lines ever created, "Another One Bites the Dust" makes the final roster. John Deacon absolutely deserves the ranking, and this bass line is simply infectious and one of the most recognizable bass lines of all time.

"Often touted as the moment when Queen 'went disco,' abandoning their glam-rock and proto-heavy metal roots, 'Another One Bites the Dust' (or 'Duster' as Freddie Mercury actually sings it) was more akin to a funk tune," Guitar World states in the feature. "Granted, John Deacon didn't apply slap or pop to the line, but in terms of sheer in-the-pocketness this beautifully warm, clean line has few equals."

Slap or pop bass is overrated. Okay, not really, but as a bass player, my point is that Deacon did was was right for the song, and boy, did it work. "Another One Bites the Dust" is a rock anthem with a fun disco beat, and it meshes Queen's classic sound with a dance feel and even a touch of glam-rock and metal. This song has something for nearly everyone, and the bass line is a strong part of that appeal.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 6:59 AM.