Joel McIver

Joel McIver

Joel McIver was the Editor of Bass Player magazine from 2018 to 2022, having spent six years before that editing Bass Guitar magazine. A journalist with 25 years' experience in the music field, he's also the author of 35 books, a couple of bestsellers among them. He regularly appears on podcasts, radio and TV.

Articles by: Joel McIver

Ian Hill of Judas Priest performs in support of the Redeemer Of Souls Tour at Fox theater on October 19, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan.

“McCartney was fantastic. Mind you, I tried one of those Hofner basses and I thought it was crap”: Judas Priest’s heavy metal veteran Ian Hill picks his top 5 bass albums

By Joel McIver published

From the Beatles to the Bluesbreakers, we asked Ian Hill to name five albums that helped him along the righteous path to metal glory with Judas Priest

A group portrait of Simple Minds, near Edinburgh, Scotland, 27th August 1981. L-R Derek Forbes, Charlie Burchill, Kenny Hyslop, Mick MacNeil and Jim Kerr.

“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

By Joel McIver published

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...

Prince and bassist Ida Nielsen

“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

By Joel McIver published

You put a video of yourself playing bass on YouTube. Then Prince calls…

Jack Bruce, Flea, Charles Mingus and Doug Wimbish of Living Colour

“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

By Nick Wells published

Back in 2010, we asked Cream bassist Jack Bruce to nominate five albums that influenced his bass playing

Geddy Lee from Canadian rock group Rush performs live on stage at Bingley Hall in Staffordshire, England on 21st September 1979

“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 

By Joel McIver published

The Ricky 4001 is both loved and hated by bass players: for the Rush legend it’s still a classic

Island Life, A Celebration To Mark The 50Th Anniversary Of Island Records, Shepherds Bush Empire, London, Britain - 28 May 2009, Tom Tom Club - Tina Weymouth

“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

By Joel McIver published

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

Les Claypool

“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

By Joel McIver published

The Primus frontman has employed a range of instruments during his career, including a Dobro bass and the famous one-string Whamola

Photos of Francis Rocco PRESTIA & Josh Smith

“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

By Nick Wells published

From Tower Of Power to The Beatles, Josh Smith reveals the influences that helped shape his heavy-riffing bass style with Halestorm

1st MAY: Mick Karn from Japan posed with his bass guitar sitting on the floor of Basing Street Studios in West London in May 1982. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)

“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

By Joel McIver published

"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 who would have been 65 this year

Napalm Death's Shane Embury

“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

By Joel McIver published

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

Orange O Bass review – this stylish and affordable reissue is a more serious contender than you might think

By Joel McIver published

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

Fender Mike Kerr Jaguar Bass review – a short-scale stunner with a unique pickup pairing that handles much more than just rock

By Joel McIver published

Exclusive: We bring you the first review of the Royal Blood frontman’s long-awaited – and strictly limited-edition – signature bass. Stand clear!

Bassist Chi Cheng performs live with his band, The Deftones at the University of California, Irvine Bren Events Center October 23, 2000 in Irvine, CA.

“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

By Joel McIver published

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…

Actor Gary Sinise playing bass

“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

By Joel McIver published

He played injured vet Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump. Now Gary Sinise plays his trusty Fender Jazz to raise millions for military veterans

Paul McCartney performs live on stage with Wings at Ahoy on 25th March 1976 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He plays a Rickenbacker 4001S bass guitar

“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

By Nick Wells published

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

Glenn Hughes of California Breed performs at The Fillmore Detroit on October 5, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan.

“There’s not much swagger in that band.” For Glenn Hughes, joining Deep Purple wasn’t the clear-cut choice that you’d think

By Nick Wells published

The ‘Voice of Rock' looks back on his decision to quit Trapeze in 1973, and why Ritchie Blackmore was “a bit eccentric”

Tim Commerford of Rage Against the Machine performs at Madison Square Garden on August 08, 2022 in New York City.

“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

By Nick Wells published

The beginning of RATM best-known song is a sinister D plus octave of D#

Cory Glover,and Muzz Skillings of Living Colour Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, October 8, 1989.

“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

By Brian Fox published

Muzz Skillings kept things fresh on this heavy, riff-based smash from Living Colour's debut album

Jason Newsted looking sweaty

"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 

By Scott Malandrone published

“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 performs at Le Bataclan on April 8, 2015 in Paris, France.

Paul Weller: “People should check out some of my bass playing on that first solo album”

By Nick Wells published

The former Jam frontman lifts the lid on his bass playing career saying: “I’ve written some great bass parts”

Andy Rourke

Andy Rourke: “If I wasn’t eating or in the bath, I had a bass in my hand. I played it constantly”

By Joel McIver published

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

Peter Gabriel In Concert At The O2 Arena, London, Britain - 21 Oct 2013, Tony Levin

Tony Levin: “D’Angelo’s Voodoo made me want to go back to school as a bassist”

By Joel McIver published

The King Crimson bassist names four albums that shaped his sound

Krist Novoselic of Nirvana during MTV Live and Loud: Nirvana Performs Live - December 1993 at Pier 28 in Seattle, Washington, United States.

The 5 Nirvana basslines you need to hear

By Joel McIver published

From Smells Like Teen Spirit to About a Girl, here are Krist Novoselic’s five greatest basslines

Melissa Auf der Maur performs live at Le Trabendo on December 15, 2010 in Paris, France.

"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

By Joel McIver published

From the Archive: Melissa Auf Der Maur on gear, grunge and the fine art of going solo

Slipknot performing live in Padova at the Gran Teatro Geox Arena.

Slipknot’s V-Man: “At first the mask was a bit weird, but the LEDs make the sides of the bass neck easier to see!"

By Joel McIver published

Slipknot’s Alex ‘V-Man’ Venturella reveals how he got the (literally) hottest gig in metal

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