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Rocco Prestia Facing Health Issues, Needs Kidney Transplant

Rocco Prestia Facing Health Issues, Needs Kidney Transplant

Rocco Prestia is facing serious health issues again, according to reports shared on Tower of Power’s website and Facebook page. The bassist, who is famed for his unique 16th note finger-style funk playing, is in need of a kidney transplant. “As you know, our beloved Rocco Prestia has been a part of Tower of Power since the beginning,” the band...

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Paul McCartney Reportedly Recorded a New Song with Nirvana Members for Upcoming Album

Paul McCartney Reportedly Recorded a New Song with Nirvana Members for Upcoming Album

There’s some buzz building on the web about another collaboration between Paul McCartney and Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear, thanks to a news item from The Macca Report. The report suggests the musicians got together for one of the tracks from McCartney’s upcoming and yet-to-be-titled album. The Macca Report’s Jorie Gracen discovered a track-by-track sneak preview...

Marcus Miller Selling Personal Basses For UNESCO Project

Marcus Miller Selling Personal Basses For UNESCO Project

Just when you thought Marcus Miller couldn’t get any cooler, he tops himself. The legendary bassist was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace last month, and is now selling off several of his personal basses to help fund a special project with the organization. “Several years ago I decided against using my primary bass on tour,” Miller explained on his...

Kathy Valentine Splits from the Go-Go’s

Kathy Valentine Splits from the Go-Go’s

Longtime Go-Go’s bassist Kathy Valentine has left the band she’s been a part of for more than 30 years. “The Go-Go’s have parted ways with bassist Kathy Valentine, citing irreconcilable differences,” the band said in a statement. “The rest of the lineup, original since 1979 (Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Gina Schock and Jane Wiedlin) remains intact. The band looks forward...

Adam Duce Splits from Machine Head

Adam Duce Splits from Machine Head

Bassist Adam Duce has left the ranks of Machine Head, according to a statement on the band’s website. Though he’s hinted at thinking of leaving before, the news comes as a surprise considering Duce founded the band with guitarist/vocalist Robb Flynn in 1991. The group released seven albums with over 2.4 million copies sold during his tenure. “Machine Head and...

Charlie Haden Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Grammys

Charlie Haden Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Grammys

The 55th Annual Grammy Awards was a very special moment for Charlie Haden as the 75-year-old bassist was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award. Over the course of his career, Haden has worked with artists like Ornette Coleman, Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett, Alice Coltrane, Joe Henderson, and Michael Brecker, just to name a few. During his acceptance speech, the bassist explained...

Peter Hook Releases Joy Division Book

Peter Hook Releases Joy Division Book

In a career that only spanned three years and produced two albums, the post-punk rock band Joy Division altered the direction of rock music. Their influence can be heard in the music of U2, The Cure, Interpol, and even the Red Hot Chili Peppers. A fair portion of their success is due to bassist Peter Hook, who details his life...

Marcus Miller Kicking Off New Radio Show

Marcus Miller Kicking Off New Radio Show

Tomorrow marks a new milestone for Marcus Miller. The bassist is hosting a new weekly radio show on SiriusXM’s Real Jazz, where he will feature acoustic and electric jazz as well as “anecdotes about the many stars with whom he’s worked intimately including Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, David Sanborn and his long time writing partner, the late Luther Vandross.” “Miller...

Timothy B. Schmit Recovering from Throat and Neck Cancer

Timothy B. Schmit Recovering from Throat and Neck Cancer

Eagles bassist Timothy B. Schmit is recovering after having surgery for throat and neck cancer late last month. The news was confirmed by his assistant Julie Freeman in a message to the band’s fan site Eaglesfans.com. Freeman stated that Schmit was diagnosed in October and flew to New York for surgery right after The Eagles’ November 17th concert in Las...

David Ellefson Working on Autobiography

David Ellefson Working on Autobiography

David Ellefson revealed that he’s working on an autobiography entitled My Life With Deth, which is expected to be released next year. Written with Joel McIver, the book will chronicle the Megadeth bassist’s years of addiction, recovery and return to faith. “My autobiography is not the usual tale of rock ‘n’ roll woe, but rather something I hope will truly...

Jason Newsted Issues Update on New Band, New Music

Jason Newsted Issues Update on New Band, New Music

Jason Newsted has checked in with a new update since announcing his “return” late last month. According to a new video from his studio, the former Metallica bassist has formed a new heavy metal band called Newsted. “I’m singing lead vocals and playing bass again,” he shared. “We’re busy working on our second batch of new songs that we’ll be...

Esperanza Spalding Wins Smithsonian Magazine American Ingenuity Award

Esperanza Spalding Wins Smithsonian Magazine American Ingenuity Award

Photo by Carlos Pericas The awards for Esperanza Spalding keep coming. This time around, the bassist/vocalist/composer has won Smithsonian Magazine’s American Ingenuity Award in the category of performing arts. This is the first year of the awards, which honor “nine groundbreaking individuals in technology, performing and visual arts, natural and physical sciences, education, historical scholarship, social progress and youth achievement.”...