Sting has so many strings to his bow – and his lute! – that it’s easy to forget how his bass guitar was what first powered him into our lives.

(more…)

Basslines #22: Danny Thompson is folk music’s best known bassist; in fact, I’m not sure I can name another.

(more…)

Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett was the first reggae bassman I ever saw, when Bob Marley & The Wailers made their debut on the Old Grey Whistle Test in 1973.

(more…)

Paul Simonon of The Clash famously learned to play the bass guitar from scratch by practising note-for-note along to the Ramoones’ debut album.

(more…)

Bootsy Collins is as famous for his eccentric persona as his funky “space bass.” But there’s no doubt he’s an all-time great funkster.

(more…)

Bill Black’s upright bass is the heartbeat of rock’n’roll, driving the first few hits of Elvis Presley.  This is my favourite.

(more…)

Chuck Rainey is one of those Zelig-like bassists who turn up everywhere, yet never became a household name. Probably because he never tried to steal the limelight.

(more…)

Memorable basslines don’t get much more memorable than Tina Weymouth’s intro to Talking Heads’ Psycho Killer.

(more…)

Bob Babbitt was one of only two white musicians among the core of 13 session men in Motown’s legendary studio group The Funk Brothers.

(more…)

Carol Kaye is walking, talking, string-plucking proof that playing bass guitar is not exclusively a man’s game.

(more…)