Reader Spotlight: Lazarus Michaelides

Meet Lazarus Michaelides, a bassist living and working in London on a variety of musical related projects. Lazarus’ story caught our eye for his appreciation for everything happening in the world of bass, while keeping it “simple” in his playing.

Lazarus is this week’s No Treble reader in the spotlight. Here’s his story…

Bio:

Lazarus Michaelides is a freelance Bass guitarist and music tutor, situated in London. His principle instrument is the electric Bass guitar, but also has experience in other areas, including Synth Bass and Backing Vocals. Lazarus is proud to endorse Overwater Basses, Rotosound Strings and Darkglass Electronics. As well as managing his own function band, Lazarus teaches privately and does gigs, sessions and shows across London.

Location:

London, England

Day gig:

My day job is teaching Bass, Guitar and Music Theory privately as well as running my own Wedding & Function band, The Jukebox Project. Aside from this, I study at The Institute Of Contemporary Music Performance in London.

Years experience:

8 years

Bands & Gigs:

As aforementioned, I run a wedding and function band in London called The Jukebox Project. I also do Musical Theatre work in London and have done a couple of shows such as Hairspray and Little Shop Of Horrors. I am the bassist and Musical Director for a touring Britpop Theatre Show called The Girl From Mars and we head out on tour in June 3rd 2016 playing at theatres in Brighton, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Swindon, Chesterfield before finishing off with a massive corporate gig at Wembley Stadium!

Gear:

• Overwater Custom Jazz Bass (In the style of a 1978 Fender J Bass)
• Overwater Custom Fretless Bass
• 1989 MIJ Fender Precision ’62 Reissue
• Markbass LM800
• Markbass Traveller 102P
• Darkglass Electronics Vintage Deluxe Preamp
• Mono Gig Bags
• Rotosound Strings

Why I play the bass:

I walked in on my uncle playing Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed & Confused” – the slow, bluesy chromaticism enticed me in and when I heard that line, I went and listened to the rest of Led Zep II and form that moment, I never wanted to play any other instrument!

My bass superpower/claim to fame:

I do the simple stuff well! I respect (and actually enjoy listening to) any/everyone who can double thumb, slap, tap, use harmonics etc. etc., but I enjoy most playing with my fingers, grooving and holding down the rhythm without any fancy business! Also, apart from exams for university, there has never been a need to learn that stuff – I have never been asked to play any of those techniques on a gig – so will stick to the basics, haha! I also have endorsements from Overwater Basses, Rotosound Strings and Darkglass Electronics which I am very proud of and so happy to have some great companies behind me who make such great quality equipment!

My influences:

John Paul Jones, Marcus Miller, James Jamerson, Charles Mingus, John Deacon, Duck Dunn, Laurence Cottle and Paul Chambers.

More on the web:

• Facebook
• Youtube
• Britpop Theatre Show
• The Jukebox Project website
• The Jukebox Project – Facebook
• The Jukebox Project – Soundcloud
• The Jukebox Project – Youtube