Player News - Page 14

PBS has just announced bassist, vocalist and composer Esperanza Spalding has been asked to host a new program, “Find The Beat”. The show’s format will include Spalding joining a group, band or solo musician to explore the roots of their music, cultural connections and music history. “Find The Beat” is a joint venture of PBS and the Corporation for Public...

Bob Cranshaw will be honored at the upcoming “Giants of Jazz” concert to be held in South Orange, New Jersey. The Giants of Jazz focuses on celebrating under appreciated players in jazz, and Cranshaw is surely in that category. In addition to working with legendary saxophonist Sonny Rollins on and off for over 50 years, Cranshaw was the house bassist...

Bootsy Collins brings the words of Jimi Hendrix to life in a new 90-minute film included in the West Coast Seattle Boy Box Set. The DVD, entitled Voodoo Child, is Hendrix’s life told using the legendary guitarist’s own words and includes rare footage, photos, and personal drawings. “Every word in the film had to be what Jimi had said… It...

Former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman has announced that he will be answering fan questions online as part of a new column on his official website. Wyman, who laid down the low end for the Stones from 1962 to 1992, will post responses to fan queries as well as reply directly. To kick off the column, Wyman is having a...

After 10 years with the band, bassist Jim LaMarca has left Chimaira. The news was broken by the band, who posted it on their website: “After a decade of good times and achievements, our friend and band mate Jim LaMarca has decided to retire from Chimaira. We wish him nothing but the best as he settles in and starts a...

Though the rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures is on break while the band members return to their main gigs, bassist John Paul Jones says the trio will be regrouping soon for their second album. In an interview with BBC 6 Music, the former Led Zeppelin member explained that the process shouldn’t take long. “Some stuff we’ve worked on, but we’re...

Guns N’ Roses bassist Tommy Stinson is thanking his fans for contributing to his recent auction, which helped to raise money for the Timkatec schools in Haiti. To show his appreciation, Stinson is giving away a free MP3 and video of a new song, which he recorded in the restaurant of the Conrad Hotel in Brussels, Belgium. ”Thanks to you,...

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea has teamed up with Gorillaz mastermind Damon Albarn on yet another supergroup. Albarn reports that the band also includes Afrobeat drumming master Tony Allen and some of his “favorite African musicians will be involved also.” They are mostly done recording an album, though they still don’t have a name. “Flea of course is an...

Funk master Bootsy Collins has announced his debut into the world of fine art. According to his new art website, the project is “the release of an art piece of which 300 drafts will exist, all numbered and signed.” Bootsy said on his Facebook page that the work will be a “MASSIVE piece of art,” and that each piece will...

Les Claypool recently sent a heartfelt newsletter reaching out to his fans for help. In the email, he thanked fans for supporting the recent Primus tour, and went on to share some bad news he’d received following his Oddity Faire Tour. “I received the very traumatic news from my brother Ron that his little baby boy, Matthew, had been emergency...

Bassist Krist Novoselic will be appearing on the next Foo Fighters album, according to recent interviews with frontman Dave Grohl. Novoselic and Grohl were the respective bassist and drummer for the iconic grunge band Nirvana, and have not recorded together since the group’s final track, “You Know You’re Right,” in 1993. Krist will be contributing his bass talents on at...

Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament has opened a skate park in his hometown of Big Sandy, Montana. Ament funded the $40,000 project so he could “give the kids around here something to do,” besides school sports. The park is finished now, and Ament says he plans on buying some skateboards and gear to keep handy for kids who don’t have...