Bassists

Latest about Bassists

Jazz bassist Anthony Jackson performs at North Sea Jazz festival, The Hague, Netherlands, 10th July1998. Chaka Khan performs onstage during WBLS 50th Anniversary With DJ Cassidy's Pass The Mic Live at Prudential Center on November 08, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey.

Played by a session great, this Chaka Khan line was hailed by Nathan East as “the perfect bassline”

By Chris Jisi published

Antony Jackson tuned his ‘career girl’ – a Fender hybrid consisting of a ’75 Jazz Bass body and ’73 Precision neck – down two whole steps for Move Me No Mountain

Bassists
Elwood Francis with his 15-string High Selecta bass – and the two string Waterstone Guitars Sam Hill bass

ZZ Top’s Elwood Francis was saddled with his 17-string bass after a joke appearance went viral – now he’s experimenting with a 2-string build

By Matt Parker published

The former guitar tech turned ’Top man is continuing to tinker with his live setup, with amusing results

Bassists
Phil Soussan

Bass journeyman Phil Soussan looks back at his storied career – and why he picked Ozzy Osbourne over Jimmy Page

By Andrew Daly published

The Last in Line member recalls his weird experience of recording bass on The Ultimate Sin, what it was like being in the room for Zakk Wylde’s Ozzy audition, being frustrated with Vince Neil’s band, and his amazing chemistry with Steve Lukather

Bassists
Elwood Francis and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top

ZZ Top’s Elwood Francis on the latest weird bass he takes on stage

By Andrew Daly published

The guitar tech-turned-band member already struggled with a 17-string monstrosity, before adding a 15-string to his arsenal – and says he can’t forget his days cleaning the band’s fuzzy guitars

Bassists
Eric Clapton performs with bassist Nathan East at Madison Square Garden on April 19, 1998 in New York City

Veteran bassist Nathan East on recording one of Eric Clapton's most personal – and well-loved – songs

By Janelle Borg published

East reflects on the deeply emotional behind-the-scenes moments of the Tears in Heaven recording sessions

Bassists
Bassist Geddy Lee of Rush performs at Bridgestone Arena on May 1, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Geddy Lee reflects on his 50 years atop the prog-rock heap

By Brian Fox published

The Rush frontman charts his experiments in bass tone, and why he'd sometimes tackle the instrument like a lead guitarist

Bassists
Marcus Miller performs on stage at Teatro Nuevo Apolo on May 28, 2019 in Madrid, Spain.

How Marcus Miller found his voice – and became one of the most-imitated bassists in the biz

By Chris Jisi published

The bass icon breaks down his formative influences, and how he gave everyone from Prince to Beethoven a low-end makeover via his '77 Fender Jazz

Bassists
Photo of METALLICA and Cliff BURTON and James HETFIELD; Cliff Burton (playing Rickenbacker bass) and James Hetfield (playing Gibson Flying V guitar) performing live onstage

Recorded for Metallica’s Master of Puppets, Cliff Burton’s bass masterpiece has earned its place in the pantheon of great rock solos

By Bill Leigh published

Recorded for Metallica’s genre-sparking Kill ’Em All, Burton’s complex snarl of notes has captivated bassists for years. Dial in your favorite fuzz-wah tone and let it rip

Bassists
Blues musician B.B. King and American bass guitarist Jerry Jemmott

B.B. King had his breakthrough blues guitar moment with The Thrill Is Gone – but it was Jerry Jemmott’s bass that made it groove

By Chris Jisi published

For The Thrill Is Gone, Jemmott played his 1964 Jazz Bass – which would be stolen soon afterward

Bassists
Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica, and producer Bob Rock at the 21st Annual ASCAP Pop Music Awards 2004.

Bob Rock made bass history on Metallica’s St. Anger – quite a feat, since he “never really played bass” before

By Bill Leigh published

Producer Bob Rock on making St. Anger, the legacy of Cliff Burton and why he used Loverboy’s bass guitar on every track

Bassists
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