Watch Marcus Miller Join Primus for a Surprise Bass Moment at the Bass Magazine Awards
I was at the Bass Magazine Awards in Santa Ana earlier this week and I’m not even kidding when I say nothing topped Marcus Miller sitting in with Primus. I’ve been to my fair share of bass events but this was a different level of magic. The room was a who’s who of low end heroes and rising stars, and Marcus coming out to play Tommy the Cat with Primus was the electric, unplanned moment everybody talked about long after the show.
Marcus was there holding down a Sire bass all night. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award, which was as deserved as it gets. And because this is Marcus we’re talking about, he didn’t just accept the award, he played with his own band later in the night and reminded everyone exactly why he’s one of the most influential bass players alive.
The awards themselves were stacked with legendary names and younger voices who are shaping the future of the instrument. Les Claypool of Primus, Mike Dirnt of Green Day, Laura Lee of Khruangbin, and Blu DeTiger were all honored, and the crowd was visibly hyped to see that mix of generations celebrated in one room.
Presenters included folks like Mark Hoppus, Victor Wooten, Justin Chancellor, and Derrick Hodge, which tells you how seriously this community shows up for each other. There were performances from several of the honorees, and the vibe wasn’t stiff or stuffy. It was gritty, it was loud, it was joyful, and most of all it was bass players playing bass with fire in their bellies.
If you ever wondered what happens when the bass world gathers in one room, this was it. And if you want to hear about that Marcus x Primus moment frame by frame, tell me I’ll break it down for you.
No Treble CEO Jody Miller is a Chicago-based bassist, guitarist, engineer, and producer best known for his bass gear demo videos and as the co-host of The Bass Nerds podcast.
