Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 777

Dream Theater celebrated the 15th anniversary of their debut record, When Dream and Day Unite, in 2004 by performing the album in its entirety. The instrumental “YTSE Jam” has some fancy fretwork by bassist John Myung, as he plays the melody with guitarist John Petrucci. Unfortunately, the camera guys don’t focus on Myung during the bass solo at 3:47, but...

Bag End has updated their TA series with the introduction of the TA1202, TA2002 and the TA6002. Suited for both sound reinforcement and musical instrument applications, the Time Aligned, full-range loudspeakers feature the new and updated E-700 driver, replacing their previous counterparts’ E-600s. The new driver utilizes newer materials and offers better high-frequency response and lower rates of distortion at...

Some people play bass, and some people ride it. Signal Snowboards is a company that makes handmade boards, and on every third Thursday they get a little adventurous. In their latest edition, they hook up with bassist Duff McKagan and build a snowboard out of his signature Fender bass. The kicker? It’s still playable.

Bill Wyman will be taking his Rhythm Kings on an extensive tour of the UK this Fall, beginning in October and wrapping in December. The “Back In the UK Tour” kicks off at the Grand Theatre in Swansea and snakes across the entire country, visiting 36 venues in all. The tour coincides with a new box set from the band,...

The metal veterans in Anthrax have released Worship Music, their first studio album in eight years and the first to feature vocalist Joey Belladonna since 1990’s Persistence of Time. “Getting Joey back in as our full-time, permanent singer solidified us as a unit like we hadn’t been in years,” said guitarist Scott Ian. “All of us were on the same...

Aerosmith has been together for 40 years. That takes some serious hustle. In this clip, Tom Hamilton plays a simple groove-based solo in this clip before kicking into one of the most recognizable bass riffs in rock history.

Ibanez has introduced a revamped version of their Destroyer bass, which will be available only as a limited run. Based on their guitar version, the Destroyer bass was discontinued in the late ’80s. Available in a Candy Apple Red finish, the DTB100 features a mahogany body with a classic angular design and a three-piece maple neck. The rosewood fingerboard has...

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 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...

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...

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 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...