Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 12

The late Andy Rourke may be gone, but his music lives on. His work with The Smiths was a cornerstone of popular music in the ’80s whose influence is still felt today. Now, an upcoming posthumous release from his band Blitz Vega will continue his legacy.

This week, we’re checking out a beautiful Heirloom model bass from New York’s JClef Basses. Billed as their most exclusive bass build yet, this bass celebrates the company’s fifth anniversary.

There’s been a shakeup in Rob Zombie’s band. On January 30th, bassist Piggy D announced that he had departed the group. Rob “Blasko” Nicholson, the band’s original bassist from 1997 to 2006, is back in the fold.

Many products were launched at NAMM, from monster rigs to elegant new bass guitars. However, one new gadget that caught our eye was the Thumb Fin. The thumb rest uses suction cups to easily be placed and removed on any bass without any alterations.

Aston “Family Man” Barrett, best known for his work with Bob Marley and the Wailers, has died after a prolonged illness. He was 77 years old. The news was shared by his son, Aston Barrett, Jr. on Facebook.

Darkglass Electronics has expanded their lineup of bass amps with four new combos this year including two analog models and two digital models. Each amp type has two configurations – 2×10? and 1×12? – while all four models are rated at 500 watts.

Melvins mastermind King Buzzo (aka Buzz Osborne) and Mr. Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn are teaming up this summer for a duo tour of the U.S. The longtime collaborators will be keeping things acoustic for the King Dunn Tour.

Cortex Bass attended the 2024 NAMM Show in part to introduce the latest in its lineup. The Ganesha Bass, the company says, was designed to “suit all players ” and comes in four, five, or six-string versions.

Japanese metalcore band Crossfaith has announced they have parted ways with bassist Hiroki Ikegawa. The news came in a press release where they thanked him and wished him luck going forward.

The Smile has returned with their second studio album, “Wall of Eyes,” which sees the expansion of their sonic creativity. The album features the trio joined by the London Contemporary Orchestra, with Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood handling the low end.

EBS announced the ClassicLine 212 Mini-tower bass cabinet at the 2024 NAMM Show. The new cab is fitted with two 12-inch drivers in a compact enclosure. It is rated at 500 watts and is described as a perfect complement to the EBS Classic 500 head.

Almost a decade ago, bass titans Christian McBride and Edgar Meyer teamed up for a duo tour where their unique approaches and virtuosity dazzled audiences. Now they’ve teamed up for a duo album titled “But Who’s Gonna Play The Melody?”