Reader Spotlight: Nick Wells

by Corey Brown Tuesday, November 19th, 2013

Meet Nick Wells, a bassist and member of a party/disco band who plays “death defying music without a safety net”. Unlike many we’ve spotlighted here, Nick was first drawn to the bass. He also uses the word “crikey” in a sentence, which is not common for us in the States, but something we think is cool.

Nick is No Treble’s reader in the spotlight for the week of November 18, 2013.

Bio:

I studied jazz at Middlesex university being taught bass by Dudley Philips, who is a great player doing a lot of high profile gigs and a lovely guy. My life pretty much revolves around music as it’s my day job and night job. I’m married to a fantastic musician and singer have two wonderful kids who inspire me.

Location:

Leeds West Yorkshire, UK

Day gig:

High school music teacher at Ossett Academy

Years experience:

25 years. Crikey I hadn’t thought about that!

Bands & Gigs:

I play here and there for a few different people, doing jazz, and piano led stuff. My main band is The Unknown Stuntmen, a party/disco band, playing death defying music without a safety net. We play all over the north of England and have a loyal following.

Gear:

Ibanez Premium SR1205
Fender American standard Jazz bass fretless
Squire Classic Vibe P Bass
Cheap laminate upright with Gut strings
Mark Bass cmd121 with Ny121 extension cab
Boss Me20b
EHX Bass Big Muff Pi

Why I play the bass:

I had some friends who played in a band, I listened to them play and the bass spoke to me more than any other instrument. I think it was the first time I had seen electic instruments in the context of being played by ordinary people. I bought the bass player’s bass and started to learn.

My bass superpower/claim to fame

I guess it would be dancing while I play. Not just moving to the music, I’m pretty over the top, but we are a party band and you want to put that across. Got to keep the customer satisfied!

My influences

Avishai Cohen, Dave Holland, James Jmerson, Larry Greham, Paul Jackson, Pino Plidino, Tony Levin, Nathan Watts, Ray Brown, Paul Chambers. I could go on, but you get the picture.