Bootsy Collins and Buckethead Recruit Bass All-Stars for “Metal Health”
Bootsy Collins is known for his funk mastery, but his new album with Buckethead draws in metal, rock, and more. Metal Health is a collaborative effort that explores genres as well as themes of mental, social, and psychological well-being. Collins explained the direction in an interview with VIBE.
“I had to check my life to make sure I was ready to inform people and let people know the challenge that comes with mental health in a way that doesn’t destruct or tear down all of us who suffer from that problem,” he said. “By me and Buckethead doing this record, I got a chance to vibe with him—and I’ve been knowing him ever since 1991, when we did his first record—just by vibing with him, made me realize that it’s time because I didn’t feel so all alone going through it for all these years.”
“I realized that I’m not the only one that’s having problems like this,” he continued. “I started hearing it in him. I started hearing it in myself. I said, ‘Man, we need to do not only a record just to be doing a record. Let’s do a record with a purpose, which would probably help people and ourselves as well.’”
The duo also called on their talented friends for guest spots. Metal Health features cameos by Samuel L. Jackson, Eric Gales, Jennifer Batten, Nat Alien, Barbie T, Ouiwey Collins, and more. On the bass side of things, Collins is joined by Robert Trujillo, Victor Wooten, Manou Gallo, and Billy Sheehan. Wooten was featured in the title track released earlier this year.
Listen to Collins, Buckethead, and Trujillo shred on “Water Walkin'”:
Metal Health is out now digitally via Apple Music, Amazon Music, and more.
Metal Health Track List:
- Funk Can Save You
- Total Psycho (feat. Manou Gallo)
- Metal Health Revibed (feat. Victor Wooten)
- Game on Fire (feat. Ouiwey Collins)
- Self Replicate
- Water Walkin’ (feat. Robert Trujillo)
- Bucket Girls (feat. Nate Alien8 & Barbie T)
- B3 Trilogy (feat. Robert Trujillo)
- Full Goner (feat. Tobotius)
- Bernie in Da Sky (feat. Billy Sheehan)
- Space Bass Evolution
- Free Bucket (feat. Jennifer Batten)
- Street People (feat. Tobotius)
- Afflictions (feat. Samuel L. Jackson)
- Manic Depression (feat. Eric Gales)
- My Recovery Day
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
