Bassists - Page 81

Usually when we mark an anniversary, it is cause for celebration. Today isn’t one of those anniversaries. Twenty-five years ago today, the world lost a man many say was the greatest bass player ever. Jaco Pastorius, at the age of 35, died days after a violent altercation at a Florida bar. In the 25 years since Jaco’s passing, a lot...

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” might be a familiar phrase to most of us, but Victor Wooten has evidently never heard of it. Or, if he has, he’s never heeded its advice. With his ground-breaking A Show Of Hands CD, Wooten launched himself into the limelight of the bass community (and the greater music community too), proving himself...

Josh Townsend is a bassist with one very cool nickname (“Bass Mountain”). Josh, like many others in the spotlight here, has awesome parents who helped him get his start in music at an early age. But it wasn’t until his high school years did he discover the bass, and that – as is also the case with many – was...

While Van Halen’s tour is on hold, due to Eddie Van Halen’s emergency surgery, Wolfgang Van Halen is going to be staying busy. The bassist is joining Creed and Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti on tour. Tremonti is touring in support of his solo effort, All I Was, and had planned to tour with bassist Brian Marshall. Marshall plays with...

Nathan East’s prolific playing has graced so many albums, it would probably be easier to list who he hasn’t work with rather than who he has. The Philadelphia-born, San Diego-raised bassist picked up his first 4-string at 14 after studying cello in school and went on to be one of the world’s most in-demand session players. He’s been called on...

Meet Ben Clarke, a bassist who got his start on clarinet and sax and moved on from there to the most awesome instrument on the planet. Ben is our player in the spotlight for the week of September 11, 2012. Bio: Starting formal musical training on clarinet, then baritone & tenor saxes in Junior High. Picked up the guitar and...

Elton John has chosen Matt Bissonette to play bass in his band following the passing of Bob Birch, who died in August. The bassist is currently rehearsing with the “Candle in the Wind” singer in preparation of an upcoming North American tour that begins September 11th in Jackson, Mississippi. Bissonette, who’s resume includes work with David Lee Roth, Joe Satriani,...

A few months after parting ways with Blue Oyster Cult, Rudy Sarzo has joined the ranks of Queensrÿche, or at least singer Geoff Tate’s version of the band. Tate split from the group earlier this year and announced the new lineup on the group’s website. Joining Tate and Sarzo ar Bobby Blotzer, Glen Drover, Kelly Gray and Randy Gane. Sarzo...

Trip Wamsley has been pushing the convention of bass playing for years by experimenting with extended range basses, piccolo tuning, and out-of-this world technique. He’s one of those guys who can seemingly play anything with ease. Besides his phenomenal playing, his style is creativity knows no bounds. His creativity is found in his supportive bass lines as well as his...

It is always a thrill to share the story of one of the next generation’s great up-and-coming bassists. Meet Lucy Kiefert, who at the young age of 12 is already on the path to something special. Plus, her grandmother plays bass too. Now that’s our kind of family. Lucy is our player in the spotlight for the week of September...

John Stockfish, the original bassist for Canadian folk artist Gordon Lightfoot, has passed away of natural causes in his hometown of Windsor, Ontario. He was 69. Stockfish trained at the Royal Conservatory of Music, but honed his chops by touring North America and Europe with Tommy Danton and the Echoes. It was in 1965 that he connected with Lightfoot led...

Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament has teamed up with singer-songwriter Joseph Arthur and drummer Richard Stuverud to form a new band dubbed RNDM. The trio is set to have a busy fall too, with the release of their debut album, Acts, on October 30, with a tour kicking off a few days later on November 2nd. Ament and Stuverud have...