Archive for September 2010

Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx has finished writing his second book, titled This is Gonna Hurt, which he plans to release on March 22, 2011. The hardback will be a mix of a photo book and journal, with stories and interviews accompanying the photos to provide background and insight into the Sixx’s work and emotions. His side project, Sixx: A.M.,...

Dream Theater’s John Myung was interviewed by MusicRadar.com after being voted “Greatest Bassist of All Time” in their online poll. In response to the title, the bassist exclaimed, “…I, in no way, feel that it’s true in the sense of the title of the award, because there’s so many great players all over the world who contribute amazing music. So,...

Here’s a clip featuring some beautiful and funky playing by San Francisco native Bobby Vega (with one sweet bass). Bobby has played with top names on the West Coast, including Tower of Power, Jerry Garcia, and Booker T.

A bass amp played by Dave Ellefson on numerous Megadeth tours is being auctioned on eBay, with all proceeds being donated to the American Cancer Society. The Hartke HyDrive 112C combo amp, which is signed by every member of Megadeth, was used backstage for rehearsals and warm-ups on the Rust in Peace 20th anniversary tour, the Big Four tour, the...

Metal bass veteran Marco Mendoza has released his second solo album, Casa Mendoza, through Mascot Records. The 13-track release is a mix of originals with some covers mixed in, all in a rock style with Latin flavor mixed in. Mendoza has an impressive resume that includes playing with White Snake, Ted Nugent, and Thin Lizzy, with whom he will be...

Q: Through the years I have often heard the term “well rounded player”. I have been wondering what makes a “well rounded player” in your opinion? A: Well, I would imagine that any well rounded player has more than just a few tricks up their sleeve, but is instead both versatile and flexible in their abilities and approach. This concept...

Stu Hamm’s take on the Led Zeppelin classic, “Going to California.” [Editor’s note: check out our transcription of this performance.]

After coming off a tour with Chick Corea’s Freedom Band, bassist extraordinaire Christian McBride is once again hitting the road with Corea in a trio that is rounded out by drummer Brian Blade. The tour stretches from September to November and spans the U.S. and Canada before they head to Japan in December. The trio grew together as they were...

Meet Skip Taylor, a bassist from Slidell, Louisiana, and our player in the spotlight for September 28, 2010. Bio: Skip Taylor is a seasoned bass player, producer and writer with a impressive list of accomplishments. Being from the South, I played a lot of southern rock and funk. A student of Larry Graham and Bootsy, I established my own band...

Sometimes it takes a tragedy to realize one’s true potential, and likely nobody knows it more than bassist Tony Grey, whose life took a turn at the age of 18 after a horrific car accident left him with a broken back. During his recovery, his father bought him a bass guitar and Grey really took to it, especially with the...

Here’s a clip of James Genus’ bass solo to open up the Randy Brecker tune, “Harpoon”. The performance comes from a date with the Brecker Brothers in Madrid, Spain in 1994.

A documentary on the creation of Rush’s 2112 and Moving Pictures albums has been released on DVD, as part of the Classic Albums series. Rush: 2112 & Moving Pictures chronicles the writing and recording process through demonstrations, archive videos, and interviews of band members Geddy Lee, Neil Peart, and Alex Lifeson, as well as producer Terry Brown. The two albums...