In Memoriam: Lorne Black
Original Great White bassist Lorne Black has died of undisclosed causes. Black founded Great White with vocalist Jack Russell and guitarist Mark Kendall in 1982 and was featured on the band’s debut EP and self-titled album as well as the follow-ups Shot in the Dark and Once Bitten…. “Our hearts go out to his family, friends and fans,” Russell wrote...
Source Audio Introduces OFD Bass microModeler
Source Audio has unveiled the SoundBlox 2 OFD Bass microModeler, a combination Overdrive/Fuzz/Distortion pedal with 12 distortions modeled after bass specific gear. The tones include models of Marshall Amplifiers, Mesa Boogie Amplifiers, Ibanez Tube Screamer, EHX Bass Big Muff, Pro Co Rat, Tone Bender, Fuzz Face, and Octavia as well as three original tones from Source Audio: Metal, Gated Fuzz...
ACS, Featuring Esperanza Spalding, Announce Fall Tour
Pianist Geri Allen, drummer Terri Lynne Carrington, and bassist Esperanza Spalding have announced a fall tour, including fourteen North American dates and nine European dates. The jazz trio will kick things off in Fairfield, Connecticut at the Quick Center for the Arts before taking the music west. The European leg includes performances in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and...
Furthur Announces Hiatus
Furthur, the project started by Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir and bassist Phil Lesh, has announced a hiatus. After their four night run in Mexico in January, the group will be taking 2014 off. “Furthur came together in September, 2009, and from its inception was a band Phil and Bob were completely committed to, and still are,” the band stated...
Les Claypool on Primus Lineup Change, Duo de Twang Album and More
Les Claypool is one busy man. For starters, he’s announced that Primus will be switching drummers as Jay Lane takes off to perform with Bob Weir’s RatDog. The iconic trio will once again be rounded out by Tim “Herb” Alexander, who was with the band from 1989 to 1996 and played on everything from their debut Suck on This up...
Hatebreed’s Chris Beattie Sits Out Tour Due To Injury
Hatebreed bassist Chris Beattie has been sidelined from the band’s upcoming tour due to injuries. Beattie, who founded the band with frontman Jamey Jasta, will be replaced by Shadows Fall’s Matt Bachand while he recovers. “On Monday a large branch fell off a tree I was cutting and knocked the ladder I was on out from under me,” Beattie said...
Pino Palladino Joins Nine Inch Nails for North American Tour
Pino Palladino will be going on tour with Nine Inch Nails during their “Tension” North American Tour. Palladino also contributed to the band’s latest release, Hesitation Marks, and NIN main man Trent Reznor called him “probably the best bass player in the world.” The tour kicks off at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota before tackling most of...
Geddy Lee: Rush is Taking a Break From the Road
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Geddy Lee has revealed that Rush is taking a break from their constant touring schedule. The trio just finished their year-long Clockwork Angels World Tour, and according to Lee, will be taking 2014 off, without discussing their future. “Our manager is talking all the time about the future and we’re choosing to ignore...
Bass of the Week: Mensinger Cazpar
Featuring a 30-inch scale, Mensinger describes their Cazpar bass as designed with players with smaller hands in mind. It also works nicely in both piccolo and standard tuning for versatility. Available in 4-, 5-, and 6-string versions, the Cazpar is built with a body consisting of an alder or mahogany core sandwiched between two pieces of maple as well as...
King Crimson Returns With New Lineup
Progressive rock fans rejoice! Guitarist Robert Fripp has announced that King Crimson is back with a new lineup. Originally formed in 1968, the iconic band has gone through several incarnations, the last of which disbanded in 2009 after a cancelled tour. The eighth incarnation of King Crimson will be anchored by bassist Tony Levin. “King Crimson will be back in...
Nathan Navarro: Bass Effects Demonstration
Nathan Navarro is a total beast of a bassist who really knows how to make effects sound good. Here’s a demo he made to show some of what he can do. Things start out pretty ambient and serene up until the 1:30 mark when all hell breaks loose. Check out those sweeps at 2:00! For the brave, Nathan has the...
Megadeth Releases Countdown To Extinction: Live
Last year, Megadeth celebrated the 20th anniversary of their iconic album Countdown to Extinction with a reissue and tour during which the band played the the whole thing in order. One year later, the group has released Countdown To Extinction: Live, a snapshot of the anniversary tour that was captured at the Fox Theatre in Los Angeles in December 2012....