2027 Bass Magazine Awards to Honor Geezer Butler, Flea, Bootsy Collins and More
Bass Magazine has teamed up with NAMM to announce the 2027 Bass Magazine awards, which will be held on Thursday, January 28th, during the Winter NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. This year’s list of honorees is astounding.
The annual celebration of artists who have “transformed the art, innovation and cultural impact of the bass” will feature Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stone Temple Pilots co-founder Robert DeLeo, funk pioneer Bootsy Collins, and Stevie Wonder bassist Nathan Watts. Grammy-winning bassist. Grammy-winning bassist, songwriter and composer Meshell Ndegeocello will be receiving the Bass Magazine Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Every one of these honorees has left an unmistakable mark on music,” said Jon D’Auria, Editor-in-Chief of Bass Magazine. “They are true stewards of our instrument who have blazed a trail all of their own.”
The 2027 Bass Magazine Awards will feature presentations, special guests, live performances, and surprise collaborations among members of the global bass community. Last year’s event honored Mike Dirnt and featured a surprise set by Green Day as well as a once-in-a-lifetime jam between Les Claypool and Marcus Miller. With this year’s list of honorees, the evening promises to be another historic moment for bassists of all genres.
“Bootsy, one of the forefathers of funk, brought a revolutionary sound, larger-than-life personality and unmistakable groove to everything he’s touched,” says D’Auria. “Geezer’s one of the legends of metal and his undeniable influence has inspired generations of players. Flea brought a new level of energy and individuality through the music of Red Hot Chili Peppers and redefined what we can do on our instrument. Nathan Watts shows us all what being in the pocket means after five decades of playing some of the most iconic and endearing songs, and Robert DeLeo’s songwriting and playing helped define an entire era of alternative rock. Meshell Ndegeocello has continually pushed the boundaries of what the bass and an artist can be, with a career defined by innovation, originality and musical depth. These are artists who have inspired bassists around the world, and we’re proud to celebrate their legacies.”
The 2027 Bass Magazine Awards will be held on January 28, 2027, at the ACC Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center as an official on-campus event during the NAMM Show. Tickets are on sale now.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
