Nick Wells
Nick Wells was the Editor of Bass Guitar magazine from 2009 to 2011, before making strides into the world of Artist Relations with Sheldon Dingwall and Dingwall Guitars. He's also the producer of bass-centric documentaries, Walking the Changes and Beneath the Bassline, as well as Production Manager and Artist Liaison for ScottsBassLessons. In his free time, you'll find him jumping around his bedroom to Kool & The Gang while hammering the life out of his P-Bass.
Latest articles by Nick Wells

How Bill Wyman transformed a 1966 landmark track by the Rolling Stones
By Nick Wells published
The Rolling Stones were working to finish their Aftermath album when Bill Wyman made a musical detour

How Jack Bruce tapped into his jazz roots with fusion supergroup Spectrum Road
By Nick Wells published
Jack Bruce launched Spectrum Road in 2012, featuring drummer Cindy Blackman-Santana, and Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid

How Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones took flight with Them Crooked Vultures
By Nick Wells, Brian Fox published
Back in 2010 John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl and Josh Homme joined forces in a bid to redefine heavy rock

Andy Fraser names the forgotten song that marked the pinnacle of his bass playing with Free
By Nick Wells published
Having already sparked Free’s biggest hit, All Right Now, Andy Fraser once again proved that the bass can be a focal point as much as an accompaniment

Cheap Trick’s Tom Petersson on how he pioneered the 12-string bass and influenced a generation of players
By Nick Wells published
Having invented the massive 12-string bass sound back in 1978, Cheap Trick’s Tom Petersson earned his place as one of the most innovative bassists in rock ’n’ roll

Joy Division and New Order hero Peter Hook looks back on his genre-defining legacy
By Nick Wells published
As the respective legacies of Joy Division and New Order grow, year on year, Peter Hook continues to tread his individual path

Ever wondered how Lemmy got those terrifying bass tones with Motörhead? Grab your earplugs – we're going in
By Nick Wells published
“I’ve let a few well-known bassists loose on Lemmy's rig, but no-one sounds close to him”: According to his bass tech, dialing in Lemmy's overdriven tone isn't easy

Why Chris Squire’s relationship with Rickenbacker got off to a shaky start
By Nick Wells published
Chris Squire's Rickenbacker underwent several changes over the years, the most radical coming when he rewired the single-output bass with stereo outputs

Robert Trujillo reflects on the legacy of Jason Newsted and Cliff Burton
By Nick Wells published
If you know your Metallica history, you’ll know that Robert Trujillo is the fourth player to fill the Metallica bass role

Nate Mendel on the time John Paul Jones arrived for his Foo Fighters cameo
By Nick Wells published
Foo Fighters’ ambitious double-disc In Your Honour included guest performers Josh Homme, Norah Jones and Led Zeppelin legend John Paul Jones

Chi Cheng on his final Deftones album – which took almost three years to complete
By Nick Wells published
According to the late Chi Cheng, Saturday Night Wrist was the first time he’d really locked in with the drums

Meet Vincen García, the Spanish bass virtuoso who joined Cory Wong with 48 hours’ notice
By Nick Wells published
Vincen García shares his bass heroes and how he went about “bringing the artillery” with Cory Wong

Billy Sheehan explains his three-finger plucking technique
By Nick Wells published
After almost 60 years of playing bass, Billy Sheehan is still learning – and still flooring listeners

“It’s not about playing whatever the lowest note available is”: Listen to John Paul Jones’ isolated bass on Led Zeppelin’s Ramble On
By Nick Wells published
Recorded in 1969 when John Paul Jones was just 23, Ramble On stands apart from the rocked-out blues songs that dominate Led Zeppelin II

The Meters’ George Porter Jr on surviving Hurricane Katrina, the subtleties of New Orleans funk and his unusual slap style
By Nick Wells published
According to George Porter Jr., his job as a bassist is to tie the groove and the rhythm together

Dug Pinnick on pushing hard rock’s boundaries with Kings X and a 12-string bass guitar
By Nick Wells published
Dug Pinnick’s onstage presence with King’s X is made even more compelling by his unusual 12-string bass guitar

How Suzi Quatro cut her teeth on Motown hit-maker James Jamerson
By Nick Wells published
Suzi Quatro’s soul and Motown-influenced rock bass playing made her a huge star throughout the 1970s and beyond

Phil Lynott’s 5 best basslines with Thin Lizzy and beyond
By Nick Wells published
Six foot plus of leather and lust, Phil Lynott was the consummate rock bassist. These are his 5 best basslines

How Larry Graham invented slap bass
By Nick Wells published
Few bassists can stake a claim to inventing slap bass more than Sly and the Family Stone’s Larry Graham

Why Lee Sklar hand-carved his 1962 Fender Jazz Bass
By Nick Wells published
1971’s Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon featured some of Lee Sklar’s best work with James Taylor – and Lee Sklar's “total hippie bass”

The 20 greatest slap bass songs of all time
By Nick Wells published
These masterful slap basslines chart the evolution of the quintessential bass technique, from Larry Graham to today's YouTube heroes

Geezer Butler names the Black Sabbath album that captured his favourite bass guitar tone
By Nick Wells published
Geezer Butler’s pioneering bass tone with Black Sabbath helped set heavy metal’s mood before the term even existed

In June 1968, Jack Bruce came close to forming a band with Jimi Hendrix
By Nick Wells published
Speaking in 2003, the late Cream bassist Jack Bruce recalled his first encounters with Jimi Hendrix
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