The Great Bass Players of David Bowie

The legendary David Bowie has passed, but fortunately we have years and years of great music that we can enjoy from this amazing artist. As a tribute to the Thin White Duke, we have put together a small list of some of Bowie’s best bass players. 

• Gail Ann Dorsey – From 1995 until his death, Dorsey laid down the bottom end on Bowie’s albums and in his live band. She was known for taking the Freddy Mercury parts when they performed the legendary single, “Under Pressure.”
• Trevor Bolder – One of the Spiders from Mars, Bolder is one of the most important bass players Bowie ever had. He performed on the albums The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Hunky Dory, and Aladdin Sane, paving the way for Punk. After his time with Bowie, Trevor Bolder performed for many years with Uriah Heap. Bolder passed away in 2013.
• George Murray – During Bowie’s Berlin period, his band typically consisted of Carlos Alomar on guitar, Dennis Davis on drums, and George Murray on bass. His performances can be heard on Stations to Station, Low, and “Heroes,” as well as Iggy Pop’s The Idiot, which was produced by Bowie.

Whether you are paying tribute to Bowie or are just interested in rocking in your own personal way, Bass Central has the items you need. From high-end bass guitars to some of the best bass amps on the planet, our business always takes care of your bass needs.

5 Amazing Bass Players You May Not Know – Punk Edition

Let’s face it – punk bass players aren’t usually known for their abilities. At least, that’s what many people think! The real secret is that there are tons of amazing punk bass players that have great abilities that often fly under the radar because they are in a punk band. Check out our list of great punk bassists:

• Mike Watt – Winner of a lifetime achievement award from Bass Player magazine, Mike Watt was a member of Minutemen, Firehose, The Stooges, and the bass duo Dos with ex-wife Kira Roessler – formerly of Black Flag. Listen to Double Nickles on the Dime to hear some of his best work.
• Paul Simonon – Immortalized on the cover of London Calling, Simonon provided bass on many innovative classic albums, including Combat Rock.
• Chuck Dukowski – Black Flag have had a series of amazing bass players, but none of them are as important as Chuck Dukowski. He plays on the first records, as well as the classic album Damaged.
• Greg Norton – As the bass player in Hüsker Dü, Greg Norton helped shaped the American independent music scene! Most punk fans are fond of his work on the albums Zen Arcade and New Day Rising.
• Klaus Flouride – Providing the low end for the Dead Kennedys, Klaus Flouride’s work can be heard on every album, including the seminal release Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables.

Now that you know about these great bass players, you can follow in their footsteps! You can pick up Music Man bass guitars and other amazing selections when you shop at Bass Central!

Famous Bass Players Turned Producers

A good bass player is important to any band. Whether you are jamming to reggae music or rocking to some metal, the right bass player can turn a standard song into something special. This month, we’ll be sharing some great bass players turned producers. Not only can these guys lay down some great low end – they can also make a track sound amazing!

• Trevor Horn – Originally the bass player and lead singer for the Buggles, Horn eventually became a member of Yes and the Art of Noise, as well as a producer for Grace Jones, Seal, Tina Turner, and Robbie Williams
• Bernard Edwards – Edwards started work in the disco and funk group Chic before he started working with groups like Duran Duran, ABC, and the Missing Persons, as well as Jody Watley and Diana Ross.
• Don Was – After packing the dance floor with his band Was (Not Was), Don Was began working as a producer for Brian Wilson, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, and Iggy Pop.

That’s just a small sampling of some of the great bass players who became talented producers. Whether you are starting your production career or just trying to join a hot new band, we feature great electric bass guitars at Bass Central!

Bass Heavy Jams for Your All Playlists

Have you been itching for some new bass sounds? Are you trying to find hot bass tracks to pad out a playlist? Bass Central has you covered. As experts in all things bass guitar, we have put together this great playlist to help you improve your chops or just enjoy the wonderful low end of some of the world’s most essential bass players! Take a look:

1. “Good Times” – Chic 
2. “YYZ” – Rush
3. “Sound Chaser” – Yes
4. “Give It Away Now” – Red Hot Chili Peppers
5. “Under Pressure” – Queen & David Bowie
6. “What’s Going On” – Marvin Gaye
7. “Paperback Writer” – The Beatles
8. “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again” – Sly & The Family Stone
9. “N.I.B” – Black Sabbath
10. “Mr. Krinkle” – Primus
11. “One Nation Under a Groove” – Funkadelic
12. “For Whom the Bell Tolls” – Metallica
13. “Have a Cigar” – Pink Floyd
14. “25 or 6 to 4” – Chicago
15. “Still Life in Mobile Homes” – Japan
16. “Penthouse and Pavement” – Heaven 17
17. “Peaches en Regalia” – Frank Zappa
18. “Longview” – Green Day
19. “21^st Century Schizoid Man” – King Crimson
20. “Sunshine of Your Love” – Cream

If that’s not some tight bass work, then you may need to get your speakers checked! BassCentral.com is your source for all things bass, including electric bass guitars, amps, and effects pedals.

5 More Amazing Bass Players You Might Not Know – Part 2

We’re back and glad to pick back up on our list of  80s new wave and punk players that impress us at BassCentral.com. We’ve covered Tina Weymouth and Mick Karn, now check out these bass players:

• Paul Gardiner –Paul Gardiner supplied the low end for all of Numan’s Tubeway Army albums, as well as his first three solo albums. You can hear a great example of his driving lines on the epic song “Metal” from The Pleasure Principle.  Paul Gardiner died a drug-related death in 1984.
• David J – Have you ever put on a Bauhaus or a Love & Rockets album? Then you have heard the bass work of David J. He was influenced by a lot of dub and reggae  music, which is apparent when you hear his work on the Bauhaus album Mask.
• Andy Shernoff – We haven’t forgotten about the punks! As the bass player for the Dictators, Andy Shernoff rocked hard and stead on songs like “Two Tub Man” from Go Girl Crazy. He later ended up working with Joey Ramone on some of his last recorded works.

Don’t just sit there and think about these players! Check out their work today. Once you have finished having your mind blown by these players, you can check out the wide array of electric bass guitars, effects, amps, and more that we sell at BassCentral.com!