Nikolai Fraiture Confirms New Strokes Album for March
Bassist Nikolai Fraiture has confirmed that the new Strokes album is almost complete and is set for a March release. In an interview with BBC Radio 1, Fraiture explained the group’s fourth album hearkens back to their “classic sound.” “Sonically, I feel it’s the album which should have been made between Room On Fire and First Impressions Of Earth,” he...
What Blues Bass is All About: Russell Jackson with B.B. King
Russell Jackson joined B.B. King’s band in the late ’70s, staying with the legendary guitarist for seven years. In this early ’80s clip from French TV, the band plays an instrumental, then kicks into “Let the Good Times Roll,” with another segue into “Everyday I Have the Blues.” The whole band swings hard to Russell’s bouncy lines, as he lays...
Unearth Announces Benefit For Fallen Bassist
Unearth have announced that their first show of 2011 will be a benefit for their former bassist, Chris “Rover” Rybicki, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2010. The show will also feature Rybicki’s former bands. “We will be playing alongside another one of Rovers former bands No Choice as well as our friends in Screams of Erida and...
In Memoriam: Mick Karn
After a brave battle with cancer, former Japan bassist Mick Karn has passed away at the age of 52. The fretless bassist left an indelible mark on the ‘70s and ‘80s low-end scene with his unique style and phrasing. After glam rockers Japan split up, he collaborated with Bauhaus vocalist Peter Murphy in the group Dalis Car, as well as...
Dave Sitek To Sit In On Next Jane’s Addiction Album
The saga of the bass position in Jane’s Addiction continues as the group revealed that TV On The Radio’s Dave Sitek will be contributing on the four-string for their next release, due out this summer. According to Spinner, the producer/multi-instrumentalist will also be writing material with the alternative rockers, but will likely only be a band member as far as...
RIP Charles Fambrough
After a long battle with liver disease, jazz bassist Charles Fambrough has passed away. The Philadelphia-based player had a storied career, playing with Grover Washington, Jr., Airto Moreira, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, and more. He also spent two years in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. “McCoy showed me how to play with endurance. Art gave me refinement,” the bassist once said....
Roger Waters Live “The Wall” DVD Rumored
It looks like Roger Waters is planning on releasing a new live DVD of his current “The Wall” tour. As NME.com reports, the former Pink Floyd bassist posted a message on his website stating all six of the upcoming shows at London’s O2 Arena will be filmed. Though there has been no official confirmation of a DVD release, the statement...
Gear Watch: Wren and Cuff Phat Phuk B Bass Boost Pedal
Wren and Cuff has released the Phat Phuk B, a JFET/germanium single circuit hybrid booster pedal designed specifically for bass. The pedal is not designed to be “transparent,” the company explains, as the germanium transistor adds a little grit to your sound. The JFET transistor is placed at the input to keep things “impedance-friendly,” depending on whether you have active...
A Perfect Circle: Weak And Powerless
Just before their latest reunion tour, A Perfect Circle played the Jimmy Kimmel show. Here’s Matt McJunkins laying the foundation on the song “Weak and Powerless” from their second album, .
The Jelly Jam Re-Release First Two Albums, Finish Up Third
The Jelly Jam, a prog-rock trio featuring Dream Theater’s John Myung on bass, has had its first two albums re-released as high-resolution MP3 downloads on the Molken Music website. The band, rounded out by King’s X guitarist/vocalist Ty Tabor and Dixie Dregs drummer Rod Morgenstein, put out their eponymous debut in 2002 followed by The Jelly Jam 2 in 2004....
In Memoriam: Bassists We Lost in 2010
As the year draws to its close, we stop to remember the great bassists who passed away in 2010. The bass community lost heroes from every genre, from jazz to funk to punk and everything in between. Here’s our salute to the fallen low-enders. Robert Wilson Robert Wilson, bassist for the Gap Band. Wilson’s funky playing impacted many bassists to...
Matthew Garrison Releases Second Track from “12 Months”
Matthew Garrison has released the second track of his 12 Months project, entitled “Atmosphere 2”. The experimental bassist is unveiling one track per month, culminating in the release of the 12 track-album, about 10 months from now. If that’s not cool enough, you can also buy the tracks with revisions of the tunes. If you buy each track for two...