Articles by Kevin Johnson - Page 84

Richter Straps has teamed up with Green Day’s Mike Dirnt to create a new signature bass strap. The handmade straps are crafted with genuine Nappa leather from Italy, which they describe as smooth and breathable.

After teasing the instrument back in June, Les Claypool and Pachyderm Instruments unleashed a production version of the Whamola on September 19th. They promptly sold out within the day, but a new batch will be on the way.

Corrosion of Conformity bassist and founding member Mike Dean has announced his departure from the band. Dean, who co-founded the group 42 years ago, shared the news on social media.

It’s always hard to part ways with a bass that you know may never come back. Bassist Andy Oliver went through that ordeal, but he found a creative solution to get the magic back. His Drake Bass Custom Fretless 4-String is our Bass of the Week.

311 has announced their first full-length album in five years with “Full Bloom.” Due on October 25th, the album is being previewed with a new track, “Need Somebody.”

Deftones has announced a new U.S. Tour for 2025 that will mark their first headlining trek since 2022. The band will be joined on the road by The Mars Volta and Fleshwater

Neural DSP has added a new pedal to its arsenal called the Nano Cortex, a more compact take on the Quad Cortex released in 2020. The new unit, designed for both bass and guitar, packs a digital amplifier, cabinet simulator, and effects processor all in one.

Earlier this year, vocalist Maynard James Keenan threw a 60th birthday bash that evolved into a sold-out month-long tour featuring Puscifer, A Perfect Circle, and Primus. The party returns in 2025 with Sessanta 2.0, which will see the three bands embark on another U.S. tour.

Sharay Reed has released a new album called “Autumn Electric,” which serves as a fall counterpart to his summer-themed “Evergreen.” Like his previous release, he composed the album to accompany his morning walks.

In a strange twist of events, Jane’s Addiction has released a new single just days after an on-stage fight that led to their reunion tour being canceled. “True Love” joins “Imminent Redemption” as part of the first new music from the band’s original lineup in 34 years.

Consider The Source has returned with “The Stare,” a five-song album written and recorded during the pandemic. The trio enlisted the help of producer David Prater, who is well known for his work with Dream Theater.

Jazz bass legend Chuck Israels has teamed up with Sher Music to publish “Bass Foundations: Principles of Jazz Bass Line Construction.” The 123-page book includes three main sections – “Principles of Jazz Bass Line Construction,” “Transcriptions with the Bill Evans Trio,” and “Transcriptions and Arrangements” – broken down into smaller lessons.