Gear Watch: Ibanez Paul Gray Tribute Bass
Among a slew of new instruments, Ibanez has released a tribute bass to the late Slipknot bassist, Paul Gray. The new bass was designed in conjunction with Gray’s family and the Slipknot management. Proceeds from sales of the bass will go towards a special trust for Paul’s daughter and family. The PGB2T features a mahogany body and maple neck with...
Gear Watch: Dean Guitars’ John Entwistle Signature Series
Dean Guitars has unveiled two new John Entwistle signature basses at NAMM, named the Spider and the Hybrid. The Spider is a limited edition, where the Hybrid will be a standard model available in a USA model and one presumably built overseas. The John Entwistle Spider is an extremely limited run with only 25 produced worldwide. With it’s angular design...
Bootsy Collins Announces First Studio Album in Five Years
Bootsy Collins will be releasing his first studio album in five years, according to BillBoard.com. The project, entitled Tha Funk Capital of the World, serves as a memorial to his late musical heroes, including James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Thelonious Monk, and fellow P-Funk member Garry Shider. “In 2008 we went out and did a tribute to James Brown tour with…...
Stanley Clarke and Victor Wooten Announce Spring Road Trip Tour 2011
The biggest bass tour of the year (so far) has been announced as the Victor Wooten Band and the Stanley Clarke Band will be hitting the road together throughout March. The bass heavyweights will begin their Spring Road Trip 2011 tour in Oklahoma City and work their way throughout the U.S., finishing up on the 26th as part of Gerald...
Stanley Clarke All-Star Jam at Musicians Institute
We recently told you about Stanley Clarke’s scholarship finals. The event was a success, as Stanley shared this video and comment: “Here’s a little clip from the jam at our Scholarship Event at MI! Best event in our 10 years doin it… please go to StanleyClarke.org to donate for next year so we can make it even better!!!! THOSE KIDS...
Korn and Disturbed Co-Headline Music As A Weapon V Tour
Korn and Disturbed are teaming up to co-headline the “Monster Energy Music as a Weapon V Tour,” which begins January 14 in Bloomington, Illinois and hits 45 U.S. cities, with more dates in the works. The two bands, anchored by bassists Fieldy and John Moyer respectively, just announced the second leg of the tour, which starts in March but is...
Gear Watch: Fender 60th Anniversary Precision Bass
Believe it or not, 2011 marks 60 years since Fender introduced the Precision bass and revolutionized bass playing. (For a quick history lesson, check out this video.) To mark the occasion, Fender is producing a special limited edition 60th Anniversary Precision Bass. Built in the U.S., the Anniversary P-bass features an ash body, maple neck and fretboard with a modern...
Renaud Garcia-Fons Releases Mediterranees
French double bass master Renaud Garcia-Fons has just released his new album, Mediterranees, in the U.S. The 18-track album is an exploration of the music of the Mediterranean, which Garcia-Fons attributes to his Spanish and Italian roots. “There’s nothing ethno-musical or touristy about this project,” the bassist explains, “Simply a desire to be carried on a passionate thread of a...
Bill Wyman Rejoins Rolling Stones for Tribute Album
Bill Wyman has teamed up with his old pals in the Rolling Stones to contribute to a new tribute album from Ben Waters, according to the Stones fan site Iorr.org. Waters pays his respects to late pianist Ian Stewart on the CD entitled Boogie For Stu, which is due in March. Wyman joined the rest of the Stones to record...
Dave LaRue Joins New Supergroup Featuring Mike Portnoy
Dixie Dregs bassist Dave LaRue is now part of a new unnamed supergroup along with ex-Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, guitarist Steve Morse, Neal Morse, and vocalist Casey McPherson. The group announced that they have just entered the studio to begin work on their debut release. “I think we are almost done with the writing/arranging process of the first song,”...
Mike Watt Announces New Album Release, Tour
Punk legend and Minutemen co-founder Mike Watt has announced an extensive North American tour in support of his upcoming CD, “Hyphenated-Man.” The new record, which is already available in Japan, is 30 tracks which Watt describes as thirty parts of one big tune. “My third opera ‘hyphenated-man’ will be released everywhere except Japan on March 1, 2011 through my new...
RIP Phil Kennemore
After being diagnosed last year, Y&T bassist Phil Kennemore lost his battle to cancer January 7th. The 57 year old was a founding member of the band in 1974 and continued touring with the band up until his hospitalization. A benefit concert featuring Queensryche, Heaven & Hell, and Testament was held on December 31st to offset Kennemore’s medical expenses. ”Phil...