Bassists

Latest about 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
Bassist Aria Becker onstage with Freeze the Fall
Teenage bassist Aria Becker on the strange realities of life in an underage band

By Nick Wells Published

As bassist for Canadian alt-rock band Freeze the Fall, Aria Becker knows the challenges that come with age restrictions – and why the band is finally beginning to outgrow them

Bassists
Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson performs during Megadeth concert as part of Dystopia World Tour at Luna Park on August 22, 2016 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
When a fan challenged Megadeth to outpace Metallica, the band responded by cranking up the tempos

By Jon D’Auria Published

David Ellefson recalls the sliding-doors moment that would transform Megadeth into one of thrash metal’s Big Four

Bassists
Session bassist Lee Sklar pictured with his Fender Lee Sklar Precision Bass
Lee Sklar looks back on his early sessions with James Taylor and Jackson Browne – and the beginnings of a legendary studio career

By Brian Fox Published

The session bass icon has gone to work with artists as varied as Billy Cobham, Lyle Lovett, Phil Collins and Toto

Bassists
Bootsy Collins performs at HARD Summer 2012 at Los Angeles State Historic Park on August 3, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.
How Bootsy Collins and his James Brown alumni brought the J.B.’s back to life for the Superbad soundtrack

By Nick Wells Published

With guitarist Lyle Workman at the helm, Bootsy Collins reunited with the J.B.’s for the 2007 Superbad soundtrack

Bassists
Lemmy Kilminster of Motorhead performs on stage on the last day of Download Festival at Donington Park on June 13, 2010 in Castle Donington, England
Las Vegas Motörhead exhibition will let play through Lemmy’s bass rig

By Janelle Borg Published

Along with Lemmy's gear, the Punk Rock Museum exhibition will feature an extensive collection of photos from the band’s archive and handwritten lyrics

Bassists
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