Bass Player

Les Claypool from Primus onstage in 1991

Les Claypool says he was on acid during Primus’ 1992 MTV Spring Break performance – “everything I saw was just orange”

By Matt Parker published 6 July 22

The bassist extraordinaire has been reflecting on Primus’ early years amid the 90s alternative boom, in which the band got picked up by MTV before Metallica... It was quite literally a trip

MarkBass promises a bass amp revolution with the wide-ranging MB58R line offering “next level power to weight ratio”

By Matt Parker published 6 July 22

The latest range from the Italian bass amp specialist offers 20 new cabs, eight combos and two heads

Placebo’s Stefan Olsdal: “The moments we shared with Bowie, the titbits of advice – they’ve all stuck with us. Having him work with us gave us confidence to keep going”

By Joe Shooman published 6 July 22

The British alt-rock stalwarts return with an album that started with a photograph. As Olsdal explains, the unorthodox approach soon made sense, reminding him why Placebo mattered in the first place

Former Hüsker Dü bassist Greg Norton has been diagnosed with cancer

By Matt Parker published 4 July 22

Norton says he has “excellent odds” but has been forced to cancel forthcoming dates with his band UltraBomb – GoFundMe launched to help finance his treatment

Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx: “My job is to support the song and be super tight with my drummer. If there’s any room in there, I might throw in something melodic”

By Hywel Davies published 4 July 22

The legendary Crüe and Sixx:AM bassist looks back on his musical journey and argues you can't get enough practice, nor can you go wrong when you let simple melodies serve the song

Dragonfly CS-5/345 review

By Mike Brooks published 30 June 22

A custom five-string from Japan that places plenty of tone options at your fingertips

Primus cancel European leg of A Tribute To Kings tour due to “unavoidable logistical challenges”

By Matt Owen published 29 June 22

The mammoth Rush tribute tour comes to a premature end

Tony Franklin, Kate Bush and David Gilmour

Bass legend Tony Franklin recalls teaming up with David Gilmour and Kate Bush to perform Running Up That Hill in 1987

By Matt Owen published 28 June 22

The one-off performance at the London Palladium featured the Pink Floyd guitarist on a headless Steinberger, with fretless flair from the former Firm bassist Franklin, and it ruled

Khruangbin’s Laura Lee on visual identity, Zen Guitar and why she still plays her first bass

By Ryan Madora published 28 June 22

The Khruangbin bassist/vocalist unpacks the Texan trio’s musical dynamic and explains why she wants their audience to “feel like they got slapped in the face in the best way possible”

5 albums you need to hear by bebop trailblazer Oscar Pettiford

By Bass Player Staff published 27 June 22

A legend of upright bass who died far too young, Pettiford’s influence can still be heard across jazz and popular music. Here we revisit his finest moments on record

Watch and listen to John Entwistle's isolated bass on The Who's Won't Get Fooled Again

By Damian Fanelli published 27 June 22

The Who's John Entwistle died 20 years ago. Listen to this thunderous example of his talent…

Gretsch G2220 Electromatic Jet Bass guitar on a black background

Best budget bass guitars 2022: our top pick of basses under $500/£500

By Richard Blenkinsop published 27 June 22

Need to tackle the low-end on a budget? Not to worry, we’ve compiled our list of the best bass guitars under $500/£500

Brazilian bass titan Junior Groovador on his bombastic playing, rocking Rio with Jack Black and channeling Rocky Balboa

By Filipa Lobo Gaspar published 23 June 22

He is the ferocious bassist you’ve seen all over YouTube, possibly playing with Jack Black. No one knows his story outside Brazil, though – until now...

Remembering Ove Bosch

By Joel McIver published 23 June 22

The late bassist and former Warwick colleague, saluted by Chris P. Dekker, editor of De Bassist.

Fender Player Plus Active Meteora Bass

By Joel McIver published 23 June 22

Meet the Fender offset for bassists looking for a radical alternative to P and J archetypes, and for some oomph from the active Fireball humbucker pairing

Paolo Gregoletto: “I’ve never needed a side project because Trivium play everything. We’re always trying to push ourselves”

By Joe Shooman published 22 June 22

The Trivium bassist on Metallica's influence, live music, and how space, dynamics and an omnivorous approach to metal songwriting makes In The Court Of The Dragon sound so huge

Learn to play like the great Chris Squire in Bass Player's killer new issue

By Joel McIver published 21 June 22

The late Yes man is joined by amazing bass players from Chic, Korn, the McCartney/Starr bands and more

Lemmy’s ashes to be enshrined at Hellfest ceremony

By Jonathan Horsley published 20 June 22

Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee will lead the tributes to their fallen bandmate during a memorial at the French rock and metal festival

Mesa/Boogie unveils its lightest, smallest and most affordable bass amp ever, the Subway D-350

By Jackson Maxwell published 16 June 22

Though it weighs in at barely 3 pounds, this low-end monster packs 350 watts of power

John Illsley reflects on Dire Straits' stadium-rocking success, the pressure it put on Mark Knopfler, and tells us what makes a great bass part

By Joe Shooman published 16 June 22

The bass player conquered the world with Dire Straits and as he reflects on his time in a new memoir, and a new solo album, he can say they survived: “We stayed intact, and stayed friends”