Two of a Perfect Pair: An Interview with Tony Levin and Julie Slick
The “Two of a Perfect Trio” Tour, which brings The Stick Men and Adrian Belew’s Power Trio together for a night of King Crimson-centric music, presents many parallels between the musicians, the most interesting being the dichotomy between bassists Tony Levin and Julie Slick. Levin has over 30 years of experience under his belt, much of that being dedicated to...
Duff McKagan Releases Memoir, Announces Book Signing Tour
Duff McKagan has chronicled his life and incredible career in his new memoir, It’s So Easy: And Other Lies, available now. The ex-Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver bassist, who recently launched a wealth management firm, tells of his big break, struggles with alcohol and drug addiction, and return to sobriety into the present. “This is just my story,” the...
Fender Introduces Modern Player Series Bass Guitars
Fender has unveiled the Modern Player Series, including three new basses. The Modern Player versions of the company’s Telecaster, Jaguar and Jazz basses are entry-level instruments with modern features and “unconventional” takes on their predecessors. The new Telecaster Bass features an alder body, “C” shape maple neck and a maple fretboard. The vintage-styled bass, originally issued in 1968, departs from...
Petros Klampanis: Basscape
Greek bassist Petros Klampanis proves for us again that all you need is bass. Utilizing his upright and a looper, Klampanis lays down a cool groove on his tune “Basscape,” written in 11/8 time.
Baer Amplification Now Shipping ML112 Bass Cabinets
Baer Amplification is now shipping their ML112, a 1×12 cabinet that delivers 400 watts at 8 ohms. The release is the first production line available from the manufacturer, who caught attention at the 2010 Winter NAMM show. The ML series cabinets are loaded with neodymium woofers and extended range midrange drivers, which Baer says add more body and punch than...
Roger Waters to Bring The Wall Back to U.S. in 2012
Roger Waters will be bringing The Wall tour back to the U.S. in 2012, according to his latest interview with Rolling Stone. Though dates have not been announced, the former Pink Floyd bassist says there are parts of the country they missed and plan to visit. “There are quite a few markets we didn’t cover last time, like Austin,” he...
Kill Devil Hill, Featuring Rex Brown, Announce Tour Dates
Kill Devil Hill, featuring ex-Pantera and Down bassist Rex Brown, have announced a 22-date U.S. club tour starting October 2nd in Clifton, New Jersey. The band, who recently signed with SPV/Steamhammer, is rounded out by former Dio drummer Vinny Appice, guitarist Mark Savon and vocalist Jason “Dewey” Bragg. The trek will give Kill Devil Hill a break from the studio...
Gibson Introduces Krist Novoselic Signature RD Bass
Gibson is helping to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s Nevermind album with the introduction of the Krist Novoselic Signature RD Bass. The grunge bassist used an RD Artist series bass during his years with the trio and as such, the new bass is a recreation of its predecessor, with Novoselic’s own customizations. The RD body shape is an offset...
Bass of the Week: BL Design Barbary Fretless 5-String
Our featured bass this week is a BL Design Barbary 5-string. This custom fretless bass is a single cutaway design built with a redwood theme, the body is birdseye redwood with a maple veneer, while the stunning top is exhibition grade redwood burl. From there, the body is accented by a 9-piece padauk neck that has wenge and maple pinstripes...
The Rockin’ Chair Bass
Last week we featured a video about a bass being built into a snowboard. This time, it’s a little different. According to the guys who made this, “the Rockin Chair was invented on a coffee break at a newspaper in Värmland, Sweden, back in 1984 by the journalist Kjell Palmers and noted by his college Stefan Markebo. Many years later...
Christian McBride Big Band Releases “The Good Feeling”
Jazz bassist Christian McBride has hit another milestone in his career with the release of The Good Feeling, his first full big band recording as a leader. The 11-track album features large ensemble arrangements of his own songs as well as jazz standards like “Broadway,” “The More I See You” and “A Taste of Honey.” McBride first got a taste...
M Basses Introduce Elite Series Basses
M Basses has announced the Elite line of basses, stepping up from their Mj designs with more options while retaining the classic style. Available with Alder, Ash, or Mahogany bodies topped with your choice of figured wood. The maple necks feature Indian rosewood or maple fingerboards. The basses are passive and come standard with Nordstrand NJ4 single coil J-style pickups...