Bass Player US - December 2020

In this issue

The 70s Issue
Suzi Quatro on the decade when bass took over the world...

FRANCIS ‘ROCCO' PRESTIA

The great Tower Of Power bassist, whose muted playing style made him one of the funkiest musicians of all time, leaves us.

3 mins

Tony Visconti

This month’s forward-thinking bass player: David Bowie’s longtime collaborator Tony Visconti.

1 min

Introducing

New, cool, and otherwise attention-grabbing bassists whose playing you need to hear, in their own words.

1 min

New Jimi Hendrix film and album feature bassist Billy Cox

I was there! A historic moment in bass world—recalled by those who were there to see it

2 mins

Q THE MUSIC

Kicking down boundaries like there was no tomorrow, Suzi Quatro owned the Seventies, with 50 million album sales, a primetime TV slot, and bass mastery that put most of her contemporaries to shame. But the decade wasn’t all about ‘Can The Can’, she warns: there was a whole lot of ‘Can’t’, too...

10 mins

The 70's In Bass

“The Seventies were all about lead bass!” says the mighty Suzi Q. Let’s take a 148-bassist look back and figure out what really went on back then...

9 mins

TAKING FLIGHT

Bassist Timothy B Schmit looks back on being asked to join the Eagles in 1977, just as they hit the big time.

10+ mins

STILL LIVES

In times of darkness we all need light, and that’s just what Camel bassist Colin Bass is hoping to bring with his meditative new album, Still...

6 mins

All That Jazz

Fender’s beloved Jazz Bass hits 60 years old this year. We meet Allen Abbassi, Senior Product Development Manager, for a look back—and forward—on the subject of the mighty J...

6 mins

THIS MONTH - BASS ELECTRONICS EXPLAINED

Dan Veall closes this issue with a guide to on-board electronics

3 mins

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Bass Player US Magazine Description:

Bobby Vega
Ever since his first recording session with Sly Stone at the age of 17, Bay Area bass badass Bobby Vega has set the bar for funktastic pick playing. In this month's cover story, he goes deep on his plectrum technique and artistic approach. Plus: interviews with Cheap Trick's Tom Petersson, Dream Theater's John Myung, and Jerry "J Blakk" Henderson of Big Sam's Funky Nation; reviews of the Blackstar Fly Bass mini-amp, Mesa-Boogie D-800 head and Ultra Lite cabinets, and new pickups from Lindy Fralin; Jazz and R&B lessons you can use; a full-song bass transcription of Deep Purple's "Gettin' Tighter;" and more!