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From Dub to Industrial: Stu Brooks Makes His Nine Inch Nails Debut

Insta of Bass — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:13:09 +0000

Stu “Bassie” Brooks made his live debut with Nine Inch Nails on February 5 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, stepping onstage with Trent Reznor and the band for the first time. For NIN fans, it marked the start of a new low-end era.

From Dub to Gaga to Nine Inch Nails

Brooks isn’t some last-minute fill-in. His résumé is deep.

He co-founded Dub Trio, a band known for heavy, spacious, effects-drenched grooves. Outside of that world, he’s worked with major artists like Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, and 50 Cent. He’s even sat in with the band on Saturday Night Live, which tells you he can handle pressure and tight live TV turnarounds.

You might also recognize his playing from Danny Elfman’s 2021 solo record Big Mess. That project alone shows how comfortable Brooks is in dark, cinematic, industrial-leaning territory. So in many ways, Nine Inch Nails makes perfect sense.

A 21-Song Trial by Fire

Reznor didn’t ease him in with a short set.

The New Orleans show ran 21 songs. It opened with “Something I Can Never Have” on the B-stage, brought back “Non-Entity” for the first time since 2009, and rolled through staples like “Wish,” “March of the Pigs,” and “Reptile.” That’s a serious endurance test for any bass player, especially on night one.

From a bass perspective, this gig is no joke. NIN’s catalog moves from fragile piano ballads to full-on industrial chaos. The bass has to sit deep and supportive one minute, then cut through walls of distortion the next.

What Kind of Bass Tone Is He Bringing?

If you’ve followed Brooks’ career, you already know his signature sound: thick, dubby, and unapologetically heavy. Think low-end that feels like it’s wrapped around you. He’s described it as “woofy, round, and sometimes wooly.” That tracks.

In a 2022 interview with EarthQuaker Devices, he broke down how he builds that tone. First step? Heavy flatwounds.

He’s a fan of La Bella 0760M Deep Talkin’ Bass 1954 Stainless Flat Wound 52–110 strings. Yes, 52–110. That’s serious tension. It’s also the same set famously used by James Jamerson. So we’re talking classic Motown DNA, but pushed through a modern dub and effects mindset.

For old-school reggae tones, Brooks has leaned on a Gibson EB-2 or a Höfner bass. For something more modern, he’ll grab a Fender Jazz Bass strung with flatwounds and run it through an Aguilar preamp. The common thread is warmth and mass. Nothing thin. Nothing polite.

For a bass player, this is where it gets interesting. Nine Inch Nails isn’t a dub band. It’s industrial, mechanical, sometimes aggressive to the point of abrasion. So the question becomes: does that thick, Jamerson-inspired foundation get reshaped to fit NIN’s sharper edges?

Most likely, yes. And Brooks has the pedalboard to make that happen.

Not Afraid to Get Weird

With Dub Trio, Brooks wasn’t shy about experimenting. At times, he even ran the front-of-house mix through an EarthQuaker Devices Bit Commander. That’s a bold move. The Bit Commander is a monophonic analog octave fuzz, and it can get nasty in a hurry.

On their track “Noise” from the album IV, he called it one of the most brutal sounds he’d ever achieved with a band. That willingness to push into chaos feels very compatible with Reznor’s world.

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NAMM 2026 Is About to Break the Internet for Gear Nerds

Insta of Bass — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:31:56 +0000

Things are heating up in Anaheim. Guitars are getting flashy new finishes. Amps are firing up. Pedals are being linked together. Picks are stuffed into tight jeans pockets, and bass players are toughening up their thumbs. If it’s January, you already know it’s NAMM 2026 time.

After a year where the music gear world had to stick together and deal with some real challenges, this year feels different. There’s more unity going into NAMM 2026. Companies worked together, NAMM helped push important talks in Congress, and overall it feels like the industry is standing a little stronger. That said, make no mistake, everyone is still showing up ready to compete for your attention at the biggest gear show of the year.

We’ll be right here covering it all. We will bring you all the bass news from the show, which runs January 20 to 24, 2026.

What to Expect From NAMM 2026

Save this page and keep it close. It’ll be your go to spot for breaking news before, during, and after NAMM, right through the end of the month. If it’s not here, it’s either not important, or we’re still catching up after accidentally falling asleep on our laptops for a very short but powerful nap.

Last year really felt like NAMM finding its feet again after a rough stretch when a lot of big companies stepped away. Now most of them are back. Some have smaller booths, others are tucked away in private rooms, but don’t worry, we’ve walked these halls enough times to know how to find them.

So hang with us. We’ll test the newest gear, sneak behind closed doors for early looks at upcoming releases, and check in with some of the top guitar players who always seem to show up when the world’s biggest music event rolls into town.

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Phish Fans Get Ready, Mike Gordon Hits the Road This March

Insta of Bass — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 16:07:21 +0000

Phish fans get ready, because bass player Mike Gordon is going back on tour with his own band this March. The tour starts in Woodstock, New York. It ends with a home show in Burlington, Vermont. You can see the full list of dates below.

Joining Mike on stage will be John Kimock, Robert Walter, Xavier Lynn, and Bob Wagner.

Pre sale tickets are live now at www.mike-gordon.com.

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Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea Drops First Solo Track with a Surprise Second Bassist

Insta of Bass — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 14:41:45 +0000

Flea from the legendary Red Hot Chili Peppers just shared some big news. After years of fans wondering if it would ever happen, he has finally announced his first solo album. But here is the twist, he is not the only bassist playing on it.

Most music fans can spot Flea’s bass tone right away. It is powerful, melodic, and always seems to shape the entire song around it. Even after a long and successful career with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and earning a spot among the greatest bass players out there, Flea never really talked about making his own solo record. Until now.

The album is expected in 2026, and he has already released a video for the debut single, A Plea, which was directed by his daughter Clara Balzary.

The song does exactly what most people hope for from Flea. It is full of energy, fast fingerstyle playing, and a restless rhythm that keeps pushing forward. The surprise is that he shares the low end with another bassist on the track, Anna Butterss, a talented double bassist and composer who brings in an improvised part to round out the groove.

Butterss, originally from Australia, has quietly built an impressive path in music, working with artists like Jason Isbell, Jeff Parker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Jenny Lewis. They have also gained attention in the Los Angeles jazz scene and released a well received solo album of their own.

Fans of the Chili Peppers might not expect the direction this new music takes. It is not just about Flea showing that he still has world class bass skills. He also plays trumpet and seems focused on making something that connects people rather than fits a certain style.

In a statement, Flea explained that A Plea reflects what he sees happening in the world today. He said that he tries to stay true to himself, and that real progress comes from speaking and listening to one another in a way that helps people live and work together in a healthier way. In his words, the place where we meet is love.

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Bootsy’s Old Bass From James Brown Days Is Now Up For Sale And Fans Are Going Wild

Insta of Bass — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 13:15:12 +0000

James Brown once told young Bootsy Collins, Son, you can not come on my stage with that strange guitar. Bootsy had a cheap thirty dollar Silvertone and thought it was great. But James Brown wanted him to look and sound sharp. So the next day he bought Bootsy a Fender Jazz Bass.

That same bass is now going up for auction on December 5 2025.

The bass was first bought in 1970. Back then the body was covered with red and black sticker paper during the group’s disco shows. Later the paper was taken off so now the wood shows again.

he bass has two strap button holes on the lower horn. Bootsy said this was something he used to do with his early James Brown basses.

Bootsy joined the James Brown band in 1970 and stayed until 1972. Even in that short time he played on big songs like Get Up, Sex Machine and Soul Power.

When Bootsy left the band in 1972, another bass player, Fred Thomas, took over the bass. He used this same Fender Jazz on stage and in the studio. He played it on songs like Hot Pants, Make It Funky, Papa Dont Take No Mess, Get on the Good Foot and Pass the Peas.

A note signed by band leader Hollie Farris says James Brown bought this bass in Cincinnati for Bootsy to use on shows and recordings. After Bootsy left, Fred Thomas made it his main bass.

Right now the top bid is five thousand five hundred dollars, but it could go higher.

You can see more at Heritage Auctions.

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Paul McCartney’s Lost Bass: The Incredible 50-Year Mystery Behind His Iconic Höfner

Insta of Bass — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 12:21:54 +0000

What if one of the most famous instruments in rock history simply disappeared? That’s exactly what happened to Paul McCartney’s beloved Höfner 500/1 bass, the same bass that helped shape the sound of The Beatles. For over five decades, it was gone without a trace, only to reemerge in one of the most surprising rock ‘n’ roll comebacks ever.

A new feature-length documentary, currently titled The Beatle and the Bass, dives headfirst into this unbelievable journey. McCartney’s Höfner was stolen from a van in London back in 1972 and vanished into legend. For years, fans speculated about its whereabouts, but the mystery remained unsolved—until recently.

In 2023, Höfner themselves launched a worldwide appeal to track down the missing bass. Journalists Scott and Naomi Jones took up the challenge, creating what became known as The Lost Bass Project. Against all odds, they actually cracked the case. The legendary instrument was discovered tucked away in an attic in Suffolk, England, and by 2024 it was finally back in McCartney’s hands.

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Sir Paul brought the bass back to life on stage during the last show of his Got Back 2024 Tour, playing “Get Back” alongside Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones. It was a historic moment, closing a circle that had been left open for more than half a century.

McCartney himself reflected on the emotional reunion in the documentary. “I think anything that’s nicked, you want back, especially if it has sentimental value,” he says. “It just went off into the universe and it left us thinking, where did it go? There must be an answer…”

For Paul, the Höfner bass is more than just wood, strings, and electronics. He bought it in 1961 while The Beatles were cutting their teeth in Hamburg. It felt right in his hands, and he credits it with shaping his bass playing style and, in many ways, the sound of The Beatles themselves.

Now, with its remarkable return, the bass is more than just an instrument; it’s a piece of living history, reunited with the man who helped change music forever.

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Spinal Tap Unleashes Bass Frenzy with Tal Wilkenfeld and Thundercat on Jimmy Kimmel

Insta of Bass — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 22:40:14 +0000

If you’re a bass player, this one’s going to make your ears tingle. On Jimmy Kimmel Live, Spinal Tap brought the low end like never before, recruiting none other than Tal Wilkenfeld and Thundercat for a monstrous performance of their 1984 classic Big Bottom.

Yes, you read that right – we’re talking about five basses on one stage. Actually, six if you count Thundercat’s jaw-dropping custom Ibanez BTB double-neck, rocking six strings on top and eight on the bottom. That thing alone deserves a slow clap.

David St. Hubbins opened the show with a breathless “On the bass…” for every single member, setting the tone for a performance that was all about the low end – no guitars hogging the spotlight, just pure, unadulterated bass mayhem.

For the bass geeks among us, the lineup was a dream:

Tal Wilkenfeld (Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Chick Corea alum) on a classic Fender Precision Bass
David St. Hubbins on an Epiphone Jack Casady signature
Derek Smalls on a Schecter Stiletto
Nigel Tufnel on a Music Man Bongo 4
Plus Thundercat with his mind-bending double-neck BTB

Every bass had its own personality, and the performance felt more like a showcase than a song – all players bringing their own flair to this iconic track. Thundercat even called his 14-string monster “pretty funky,” which is a serious understatement.

Beyond the stage spectacle, Spinal Tap is back with the sequel to their legendary mockumentary, Spinal Tap II: The End Continues, hitting cinemas on September 12. Nigel Tufnel’s been running a cheese shop all these years, but apparently he’s been trading cheese for guitars on the side, so the band’s low-end obsession is in full swing.

And if you’re wondering about the cameos, we’re talking Paul McCartney and Elton John, plus chatter about a custom amp that literally goes to infinity. For bass players, gear heads, and Spinal Tap fans alike, this is a can’t-miss moment.

Check out the performance online, crank up the volume, and remember – sometimes it really is all about the bass.

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Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Grammy-Winning Bassist and Actor, Dies at 54

Insta of Bass — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 20:53:53 +0000

As a fellow bassist, it hits different when one of our own leaves the stage for good. Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known as Theo Huxtable from The Cosby Show and a Grammy-winning spoken word artist, passed away at 54 while on a family vacation in Costa Rica. According to reports, Warner tragically drowned while swimming.

For most, Malcolm was the cool older brother we grew up watching on TV. But to musicians, especially bass players, he was more than just an actor – he was one of us. He laid down grooves with heart and purpose, whether he was on a soundstage or on stage with his bass in hand. The man had pocket, tone, and soul, and he knew how to use all three.

His big break came in 1984 when he stepped into the role of Theo Huxtable, the only son of Cliff and Clair on The Cosby Show. The series ran until 1992 and made Malcolm a household name. Decades later, despite the controversy surrounding the show’s namesake, Warner stood firm in his pride for the cast and what the show meant culturally. “The Cosby Show is something that we are all still very proud of,” he told PEOPLE in 2023. “It had a profound impact on Black culture and American culture.”

He never let his past success define his future. Warner’s second act included standout roles in Malcolm & Eddie, Reed Between the Lines, Suits, The Resident, and 9-1-1. His performances were sharp, grounded, and full of quiet strength – much like his bass playing.

Yes, you read that right. Malcolm-Jamal Warner was a serious musician. He gigged, he recorded, he even picked up a Grammy in 2015 for Best Traditional R&B Performance on Robert Glasper’s Jesus Children. That’s no small feat. He wasn’t a celeb dabbling in music—he was a musician through and through, fluent in feel and deeply connected to the craft.

In 2024, he launched Not All Hood, a podcast with Weusi Baraka and Candace Kelley that tackled mental health in the Black community. He described it as a space where he could be vulnerable, reflective, and real. “It’s been an interesting experience for me, because it’s a place where I feel safe enough to be as vulnerable as I allow myself to be,” he said.

That kind of honesty? That takes guts. Whether he was playing a note or sharing a story, Warner had a way of making you lean in and listen.

We’ve lost a brother of the low end. A player who understood the space between the notes. A storyteller with fingers and words alike. Rest easy, Malcolm-Jamal Warner. The groove you laid down won’t be forgotten.

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Dream Theater Unveils ‘Vol. II’ Vinyl Box Set: Four Classic Albums, One Epic Collector’s Release

Insta of Bass — Sat, 10 May 2025 13:43:09 +0000

Progressive metal icons Dream Theater are back with another killer vinyl box set release. After the success of 2024’s ‘Lost Not Forgotten Archives: The Studio Albums 1992–1999’ (Vol. I), the band is turning the page to the next era with Vol. II – a stunning eight-LP box set that dives deep into their early-2000s catalog.

Available exclusively via rhino.com in North America and select Warner Music Group stores globally, this limited edition set (just 2,500 copies worldwide!) includes four of Dream Theater’s most pivotal albums:

Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence (2002)
Train of Thought (2003)
Octavarium (2005)
Systematic Chaos (2007)

If you’re a collector, a diehard fan, or someone looking to explore one of the most ambitious runs in modern prog metal, this box set is your golden ticket.

What’s Inside Vol. II ?

This box set captures Dream Theater during a period of bold experimentation and sonic refinement. Starting with 2002’s Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence, the band pushes boundaries right out of the gate. The 42-minute title suite isn’t just a song – it’s an immersive journey that embodies everything progressive music stands for.

That album also introduces us to one of Mike Portnoy’s most personal creative expressions: the Twelve-Step Suite, tackling his battle with addiction. It all begins with “The Glass Prison,” which lays the thematic and musical foundation that threads across these four albums.

From there, we roll into 2003’s Train of Thought, where Dream Theater cranks the heaviness to eleven. This is their most straight-up metal record – no frills, just chunky riffs, thunderous drums, and fierce lyricism. It continues the Twelve-Step Suite with “This Dying Soul,” keeping the momentum (and emotion) alive.

Next up? Octavarium (2005). This fan-favorite is a bit of a curveball – more melodic, deeply conceptual, and, frankly, breathtaking. The 24-minute title track pays tribute to the band’s prog rock roots, channeling influences from Genesis to Yes while showcasing their own unique voice. Oh, and it charted everywhere – Top 5 in Sweden, Finland, and Italy, and Top 10 in Germany, Japan, and Norway. Not bad for a band that never chases trends.

The final piece of this collection is 2007’s Systematic Chaos, their debut with Roadrunner Records. It’s the heaviest, darkest, and most cinematic release of the bunch, featuring sprawling compositions, 7-string guitar madness, and stories that sound like they belong in a dystopian novel. It peaked at #19 on the Billboard 200—still their highest-charting U.S. album.

Portnoy Is Back – and So Is the Tour

2025 has already been huge for Dream Theater. The band recently wrapped up the North American leg of their 40th Anniversary tour, dubbed “An Evening With Dream Theater.” It was the first time in over a decade that drummer Mike Portnoy shared the stage again with James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, and John Myung. The tour kicked off in Philly on February 7 and wrapped up in NYC on March 22 – an emotional full-circle moment for fans and band alike.

Oh, and let’s not forget their brand-new studio album, Parasomnia, released on the same day the tour began. Produced by Petrucci, engineered by James “Jimmy T” Meslin, and mixed by the legendary Andy Sneap, it’s the first album with Portnoy since 2009’s Black Clouds & Silver Linings. The artwork? That’s classic Hugh Syme – surreal, bold, and instantly recognizable.

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Bass Legend Carol Kaye Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2025

Insta of Bass — Fri, 02 May 2025 11:46:23 +0000

You know those bass lines you can’t get out of your head – the groove in Good Vibrations, the drive behind The Beat Goes On? That’s Carol Kaye. And after decades of shaping the sound of modern music from behind the curtain, she’s finally stepping into the spotlight with a long-overdue induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

At 90 years old, Kaye receives the Musical Excellence Award in the Rock Hall’s Class of 2025. It’s a recognition that’s been a long time coming for one of the most prolific and influential bassists of all time. While names like The White Stripes, Soundgarden, and Cyndi Lauper also made the list this year, for musicians and bass nerds alike, Kaye’s induction feels especially sweet.

Carol Kaye: From Guitarist to Bass Icon

If her name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, her playing definitely will. Carol Kaye has played on more than 10,000 recordings over a career spanning six decades. Let that sink in. From The Beach Boys and Sonny & Cher to Nancy Sinatra, Elvis, and countless movie soundtracks (The Godfather, Mission: Impossible), her bass lines are embedded in the very DNA of popular music.

And the story of how she ended up on bass? Total serendipity. She was already a go-to guitarist in the L.A. session scene in the late ’50s and early ’60s. One day in 1963, a bassist didn’t show up to a session, and she picked up a Fender bass. That one moment reshaped her life—and honestly, the course of pop and rock music too.

While she’s long been revered within the music industry, Kaye was often invisible to the general public, a hidden force behind so many iconic tracks. But in recent years, more and more people have started to recognize her genius. She’s now frequently mentioned alongside the all-time bass greats—and rightly so.

Carol Kaye’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 2025

John Sykes, Chairman of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, summed it up perfectly: “Each of these inductees created their own sound and attitude that had a profound impact on culture and helped to change the course of Rock & Roll forever.” Carol Kaye didn’t just play the notes – she defined the groove for an entire era.

The 2025 Rock Hall induction ceremony will go down on November 8 at the Peacock Theater in L.A., streaming live on Disney+ and later airing on ABC and Hulu. And while the spotlight might shine on several artists that night, it’s Carol Kaye’s bass that’ll be thumping in the hearts of musicians everywhere.

Congratulations, Carol. It’s about time.

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