Living Colour: Cult of Personality, Live with Muzz Skillings (1988)
Here’s an awesome clip of Living Colour from the 1988 MTV New Music Assault Tour. Shot at Auburn University, the performance shows the band in top shape with original bassist Muzz Skillings laying it down and ripping it up, especially under Vernon Reid’s burning solo. Skillings left the band four years later due to musical differences, and was eventually replaced...
Furthur Announces U.S. Fall Tour
Furthur will be hitting the road again this Fall with a nationwide tour of the U.S. Rooted by Phil Lesh, the group is an offshoot of bassist’s former band The Grateful Dead, and also includes guitarist/vocalist Bob Weir. The two friends recruited bandmates for this latest project in 2009, and have been touring with it since. Deadheads will be treated...
Bass of the Week: Knuckle Guitar Works Quake Bass
Bigger is better. At least that’s the concept behind Knuckle Guitar Works’ Quake, a massive 39.5″ scale built-to-order bass. With the growing popularity of drop-tuning, bassists have to tune their strings down, which Knuckle explains harms tone by losing the upper transients. Seeing the need for better string response and tension, luthier Skip Fantry set out to create a bass...
Custom Shop: M Basses
After growing up around woodworking, Jon Maghini turned his fascination of instrument building into a reality when he founded M Basses about a decade ago. Though the Connecticut-based luthier has built completely custom basses in the past, he began streamlining his process by focusing on J-style basses late last year with his Mj model, eventually adding a a complimentary Mp...
The Aristocrats Release Debut Album, Featuring Bryan Beller
The Aristocrats have released their self-titled debut album, featuring nine tracks of instrumental rock goodness. The band is made up of bassist Bryan Beller, guitarist Guthrie Govan and drummer Marco Minnemann, who will be touring the U.S. and Canada later this month in support of the release. The three talented musicians gel well together, thanks to Beller’s underpinning groove and...
Sting Announces “Back to Bass” Tour
In celebration of a 25 year solo career, former Police frontman and bassist Sting has announced the “Back to Bass” tour, where he will will take a “stripped down” 5-piece band across North America. The shows will highlight many songs that haven’t been played in years, ranging from 1985’s The Dream of Blue Turtles to last year’s Live in Berlin,...
Carol Kaye, Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey Jam at NAMM
Old school meets new school in this clip from Winter NAMM 2000, where session legend Carol Kaye jams with bass virtuosos Victor Wooten and Steve Bailey on a blues. They may have different backgrounds, but one thing they all share is a groove that just won’t quit.
Overwater Basses Revamps String Lines
Overwater has refreshed their line of strings with new Regular and Extra Long sets. Made in the UK, the strings are available as nickel or stainless steel. According to the company, the Regular length best suits all 34″ and 35″ scale instruments, while the Extra Long is designed for 36″ scale basses as well as those with “through body” stringing....
In Memoriam: Graham Collier
British jazz bassist and composer Graham Collier has passed away at the age of 74. After three years as a musician in the British Army, he won a Down Beat magazine scholarship to Berklee School of Music, where he became it’s first British graduate in 1963. Collier’s lifelong career included 19 albums of his original works, his last being 2009’s...
Skjold Design to Revive JP Basses This Fall
Skjold Design Guitars will be reintroducing JP Basses, beginning this fall. Luthier Pete Skjold worked closely with JP proprietor Jean-Philippe Ferreira to keep the basses in the same spirit of their predecessors. As the new moniker suggests, JP Basses USA instruments will be handmade in the USA. Familiar features on the basses will include custom preamps by John East, custom...
Squier Releases Vintage Modified Jazz Bass V
A five-string version of Squier’s Vintage Modified Jazz Bass is now available. Similar to the four-string model, the Vintage Modified Jazz Bass V is styled after Fender’s mid-70’s Jazz basses and features a natural finish, soft maple body with a maple neck. The neck has black binding, block inlays, and 20 medium jumbo frets. Pickups on the bass are Duncan...
The Big 4 to Perform at Yankee’s Stadium
The Big 4 tour will be making its second U.S. stop at Yankee’s Stadium in Bronx, New York on September 14th. The show, which has been hyped for the last four years, brings together four of the biggest metal bands – Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. The groups, of course, are in turn held down by four of the strongest...