Latest articles by Joel McIver
“My playing was a response to whoever said, ‘Bass should be felt and not heard’. To me, bass should be like warfare!” Derek Forbes, founder member of Simple Minds, on his five best basslines
Derek Forbes was Simple Minds’ bassist from 1978 to 1985. Here he explains how he was inspired by Andy Fraser and Stanley Clarke, why he prefers Precision to Jazz, and the influence of magic mushrooms...
“It wasn’t like a normal bass gig where you have 30 songs: I had to learn 300!” Ida Nielsen talks touring with Prince, and how she tackled her Paisley Park audition
You put a video of yourself playing bass on YouTube. Then Prince calls…
“It’s hard to think who the greatest bass players are. You could say Flea, but he doesn’t need the plug!” Jack Bruce on the bass players that shaped his sound
Back in 2010, we asked Cream bassist Jack Bruce to nominate five albums that influenced his bass playing
“I love the sound of the Rickenbacker, but I didn’t sound like Chris Squire on it!” Geddy Lee on his Rick-O-Sound tone and ‘crossing the floor’ to Fender
The Ricky 4001 is both loved and hated by bass players: for the Rush legend it’s still a classic
“I understand the Phil Spector wall-of-sound thing, but there comes a point where less is more”: How Tina Weymouth came up with her unforgettable bass riff on Talking Heads’ Once In A Lifetime
With a career heading back as far as the 70s, Tina Weymouth never strayed far from the cutting edge of cool – just don't ask her about Jaco Pastorius
“If I wanted to play like Geddy Lee I’d play a black-and-white Rickenbacker”: Les Claypool on his bass collection, and the Rickenbacker he bought from John Entwistle
The Primus frontman has employed a range of instruments during his career, including a Dobro bass and the famous one-string Whamola
“Rocco Prestia could have held that 16th-note pattern in his sleep – it’s airtight” Halestorm bassist Josh Smith picks his top 5 bass albums
From Tower Of Power to The Beatles, Josh Smith reveals the influences that helped shape his heavy-riffing bass style with Halestorm
“I made a point of never listening to Jaco until I was forced to in 1995!” Mick Karn: an interview with Japan’s fallen bass hero
"I tend to look at the bass guitar in much the same way as a vocalist might a lead vocal": Words of wisdom from the avant-garde fretless icon
“I was just trying to play distorted bass – everything had to be on 11!” Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury on writing riffs and fighting nazis
In an exclusive extract from Shane Embury’s new autobiography, the veteran Napalm Death bassist reveals the inspirations behind his monstrous tones
Orange O Bass review – this stylish and affordable reissue is a more serious contender than you might think
First released to acclaim in 2015, the Orange O Bass has been tweaked and reissued – but is it fresh fruit or has it been diluted?
Fender Mike Kerr Jaguar Bass review – a short-scale stunner with a unique pickup pairing that handles much more than just rock
Exclusive: We bring you the first review of the Royal Blood frontman’s long-awaited – and strictly limited-edition – signature bass. Stand clear!
“Stephen said, 'Why don't you just play along with my guitar line?' I said: 'Why don't you just p**s off?'” A classic interview with Deftones bassist Chi Cheng
Deftones bassist Chi Cheng died 10 years ago this year. Back in 2003 he talked to us about his influences, his approach to bass playing and his fights to play things his way…
“Will we see a bass player in the White House one day? Maybe, but it might not be me!” Forrest Gump star Gary Sinise on why he plays bass for veterans
He played injured vet Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. Now Gary Sinise plays his trusty Fender Jazz to raise millions for military veterans
“Wings are underrated. It’s difficult to follow The Beatles. It’s like following God”: How Paul McCartney quit the world's biggest band... and triumphed
In 1971 Paul McCartney announced the formation of his new group Wings, who rose in a few short years from college level to an American stadium phenomenon
“There’s not much swagger in that band.” For Glenn Hughes, joining Deep Purple wasn’t the clear-cut choice that you’d think
The ‘Voice of Rock' looks back on his decision to quit Trapeze in 1973, and why Ritchie Blackmore was “a bit eccentric”
“Whenever we’d drop that bass riff, places would become unhinged”: Listen to Tim Commerford’s isolated bassline on Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine
The beginning of RATM best-known song is a sinister D plus octave of D#
“I still have the strings I used on that session in a Ziploc bag”: How Muzz Skillings took the rock world by storm on Cult of Personality
Muzz Skillings kept things fresh on this heavy, riff-based smash from Living Colour's debut album
"I'd sweat so much I had to test my basses by dunking them in water!" True story: Jason Newsted sweated so much with Metallica that his basses would short-circuit
“To test each one, I’d fill up a big tub with super hot water, dump in some salt, and submerge the bass”
Paul Weller: “People should check out some of my bass playing on that first solo album”
The former Jam frontman lifts the lid on his bass playing career saying: “I’ve written some great bass parts”
Andy Rourke: “If I wasn’t eating or in the bath, I had a bass in my hand. I played it constantly”
In this interview from 2016, the late low-end legend reflects on an influential career with The Smiths and beyond, why the Fender P-Bass won his heart, and how he developed his distinct playing style
Tony Levin: “D’Angelo’s Voodoo made me want to go back to school as a bassist”
The King Crimson bassist names four albums that shaped his sound
The 5 Nirvana basslines you need to hear
From Smells Like Teen Spirit to About a Girl, here are Krist Novoselic’s five greatest basslines
"The Breeders, Hole, Sonic Youth, The Smashing Pumpkins all had female bass players. That was definitely an inspiration": When Melissa Auf Der Maur went solo
From the Archive: Melissa Auf Der Maur on gear, grunge and the fine art of going solo
The Darkness’s Frankie Poullain: “If you go too posh with distortion, it gets too precise and nice. It’s got to be a bit nasty and a bit wrong”
The world’s last great hard-rock band with an advanced sense of humor are back with new album Motorheart. Bassist Poullain brings the pick and the thumb...
