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It would be near impossible to top the stories Jerry Scheff can tell from his 45-year career in music. Being Elvis’ bassist alone would be worthy of a book. Add to that his time with Bob Dylan, the Doors, Roy Orbison, Elvis Costello, the Association, Neil Diamond, Johnny Mathis, the Everly Brothers, John Denver, Nancy Sinatra and many many others,...

After 15 years of holding down the low end for Ratt, bassist Robbie Crane has announced his departure from the group, whose hits include “Round and Round,” “Wanted Man,” and “Lay It Down.” The news comes just after the band announced plans for a new album and tour this year. In talking with Arizona radio station 93.3 KDKB, Crane says...

A new interview with Cannibal Corpse bassist and songwriter Alex Webster has been posted by O2 Academy TV. During the interview, Webster speaks on what it takes to become a successful death metal band, consistency, and how to release negative energy. Cannibal Corpse’s latest album, Torture, was released in March and sold 9,600 copies in the U.S. during its first...

Paul McCartney has just announced that RAM, the 1971 album recorded with his wife Linda, will be re-released across a variety of formats with new content. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is an album from a long, long time ago, when the world was different,” McCartney said. “This is an album that is part of my history – it goes back...

Bass legend Ron Carter‘s list of credits and musical accomplishments are among the most impressive – if not the most impressive – among bassists in music history. His appearances on more than 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, joining the ranks of Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is nearing his 75th...

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Duff McKagan opened up about his thoughts on his upcoming induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Guns N’ Roses. “I don’t [know what’s going to happen]. I know I’m going to go. I can’t, at all, speak for anybody else. And won’t. I’ll be there with...

BBC 2-Scotland recently aired this hour-long documentary on the life and music of bassist Jack Bruce. The documentary includes interviews with Bootsy Collins, U2’s Adam Clayton and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, as well as Bruce’s band mates Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker. Bruce returned to Scotland for the documentary, and re-recorded six songs he calls pivotal to his...

Between the Buried and Me bassist Dan Briggs has announced that his new project, dubbed Trioscapes, will be making its album debut on May 8, 2012 with the release of Separate Realities. The group was formed last year after Briggs got in touch with tenor saxophonist Walter Fancourt and drummer Matt Lynch to work up a rendition of the Mahavishnu...

Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister revealed that he’s working on a solo album in a recent interview with SF Weekly’s Dave Pehling. The veteran metal bassist says he’s most of the way through the effort, which will be chock full of guest artists. “I’m three-quarters of the way though a solo album right now. I’ve got two tracks with The Damned,...

Aguilar Amplification has unveiled the AG 4P-60 P-bass pickup, modeled after company president Dave Boonshoft’s personal 1964 Fender Precision Bass. The vintage-style pickup is described as having just the right amount of “mid-range nose” to cut through a band while retaining hefty low end. Designed as a direct replacement for Fender Precision and other P-style basses, the pickup is built...

Disturbed bassist John Moyer will now be a full-time member of Adrenaline Mob, a metal group composed of ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, Symphony X vocalist Russell Allen and guitarist Mike Orlando. Moyer will be replacing Fozzy bassist Paul DiLeo, who had to bow out due to scheduling conflicts. “Mike Portnoy called me about auditioning for his new band, Adrenaline...

Megadeth bassist David Ellefson has announced his first self-published book is coming. Unsung will feature previously unpublished and unreleased lyrics written by the bassist, as well as never before published images. “As a musician, my past lyrical work has always been set to music. But, with this new book I set out to explore a new medium using both words...