Bassists

Latest about Bassists

Paul Simon performs the album 'Graceland' live on stage during the third day of Hard Rock Calling at Hyde Park on July 15, 2012 in London, England.
5 basslines that made Paul Simon a superstar

By Jonathan Herrera Published

From David Hood’s deep Southern grooves to Bakithi Kumalo’s groundbreaking fretless work, Paul Simon has always known the value of a great bassist

Bassists
Singer-songwriter Rob Halford (L) and Ian Hill of Judas Priest perform in concert during the 'Firepower' tour at ACL Live on May 29, 2019 in Austin, Texas
Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill retires after nearly 60 years, names replacement

By Phil Weller Published

Hill will now spend meaningful time with his family as his struggles with “evil arthritis” worsen

Bassists
Gwen Stefani (L) and Tony Kanal of No Doubt perform during the 2015 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival - Day 5 at Fair Grounds Race Course on May 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
How Gwen Stefani’s dad and a Yamaha employee discount set Tony Kanal on the road to bass stardom with No Doubt

By Jon D’Auria Published

Kanal later discovered a BB3000 in a Japanese music store and has been playing them ever since – with one crucial modification

Bassists
Singer Sass Jordan performs for the Luminato arts festival opening night concert at Yonge Dundas Square on June 11, 2010 in Toronto, Canada
Sass Jordan, Canadian rock singer and bassist who gave Taylor Hawkins his big break and toured with Van Halen, dies aged 63

By Matt Owen Published

Jordan also toured with AC/DC and Aerosmith during her prolific career

Bassists
Stanley Clarke of Return To Forever performing on stage at the New Victoria Theatre in London, 4th May 1976.
How a chance meeting with a Beatles lawyer set Stanley Clarke on the path to recording one of the greatest bass albums ever made

By Nick Wells Published

Nat Weiss, an entertainment lawyer who represented the Beatles, saw something beyond a great sideman when he encountered Stanley Clarke playing bass in a club

Bassists
Conrad 'Cronos' Lant of Venom tears it up onstage at Sweden Rock Festival 2026.
The trailblazing life of Conrad ‘Cronos’ Lant, Venom frontman and extreme metal godfather

By Jonathan Horsley Published

The Venom frontman and bassist Conrad ‘Cronos’ Lant, who died on October 1, aged 63, gave metal a new sense of extremity, with black metal the final frontier

Bassists
Musicians Elwood Francis, Frank Beard and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top performs onstage during Day 1 of the 2023 Stagecoach Festival on April 28, 2023 in Indio, California.
Elwood Francis on the origins of his 17-string bass – and why he regrets it becoming a ZZ Top staple

By Michael Astley-Brown Published

Elwood Francis reveals the origins of his preposterous 17-string bass – and why he’s disappointed it went viral

Bassists
Bass player Owen Biddle performs in concert with The Roots. Bruce Springsteen performs at UBS Arena on May 05, 2026 in Elmont, New York
How Jimmy Fallon’s bassist bonded with Bruce Springsteen over their shared love of 6-string bass

By Chris Jisi Published

The Roots bassist Owen Biddle reveals how his 6-string bass caught the ear of Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt during his time on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Bassists
Tony Levin of BEAT performs onstage during Noches del Botanico music festival at Real Jardin Botanico Alfonso XIII on June 26, 2026 in Madrid, Spain.
Tony Levin’s lessons from Steve Vai, Robert Fripp and Peter Gabriel

By Andrew Daly Published

Goes to 11 The BEAT man charts his career from upright to his first Fender, sessions with Lou Reed and Alice Cooper, and the instrument you might be surprised to know he plays…

Goes to 11
Ben Kenney of Incubus performs at Manchester Apollo on November 9, 2011 in Manchester, England
Ben Kenney on touring with a brain tumor in Incubus – and why he will never hear stereo guitars again

By Janelle Borg Published

Kenney discusses his health journey, leaving Incubus, and the silver linings through it all

Bassists
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