Reader Spotlight: Stuart Clayton

Meet Stuart Clayton, our player in the spotlight for November 17, 2009.

Bio:

I have been a pro bassist for about eight years. During that time I have had six instructional books published with Sanctuary Publishing and worked for Bass Guitar Magazine (UK) since its first issue. I am currently the bassist with Carl Palmer’s Band (of Emerson Lake and Palmer fame) and have toured the USA, Europe and the UK with him over the last three years.

Location:

United Kingdom

Day gig:

My ‘day job’ is Head of Bass at the Bristol Institute of Modern Music, where I teach several different levels. I also run my own publishing company Bassline Publishing, which publishes the Level 42 Bass Transcription Books, The Stuart Hamm Bass Book, The John Entwistle Bass Book and many other titles.

Years experience:

19 years

Bands & Gigs:

I play bass for Carl Palmer, of Emerson Lake and Palmer. We’re about to head out on a European tour.

Gear:

• GB Guitars’ Rumour basses
• EBS HD350 amps and Proline cabs
• Boss GT10B Effects processor
• I also have a Jaydee Supernatural Mark King bass and a Kubicki X-Factor

Why I play the bass:

Mark King. Seeing Mark playing on the Level 42 Live at Wembley video was a real eye-opener. I had never considered being a musician before that, but I’ve never looked back since! After studying Mark’s playing, I moved on to players such as Billy Sheehan, Stu Hamm, Michael Manring, Victor Wooten, Jaco… and Gene Simmons!

My bass superpower/claim to fame

The thing I am most proud of is my publishing company, Bassline Publishing. And my solo arrangement of ‘The Simpsons’!!

My influences

Mark King, Billy Sheehan, Gene Simmons, Victor Wooten, James Jamerson, Andrew Levy, Bernard Edwards, Jaco Pastorius, Michael Manring, the list goes on….!

More on the web:

• Official web site (although in a state of neglect!)
• Bassline Publishing
• MySpace