Bass Player UK Magazine August 2015 Back Issue

I usually begin each issue with a positive message: after all, this magazine is designed to make you feel good about life in bass world. Sadly, the death of Yes bassist Chis Squire – coming as it does after the passing of Jack Bruce, Andy Fraser, Mike Porcaro and Louis Johnson, all in 2015 – hardly makes for cheerful reading. Chris was a mighty bass player, as our obituary on page six makes clear, but more than this, he was a unique character and a musician who truly persevered against the odds. You may or may not care for Yes’s brand of progressive rock, but if you’re interested in how the bass has evolved in recent decades from a merely supportive role to a lead position, you’ve been influenced by him.
So why not turn a depressing event into a positive one, and examine your own bass playing? We could all benefit from analysing the work of Chris Squire and the many other bass legends who we regularly feature in this magazine. Look at Gene Simmons: a hell of a showman, and a rock star whose interests in money and the female form tend to overshadow his prowess as a bass player. Our interview cuts through all the showbiz fluff and addresses Gene as he really is: a musician and songwriter. Then we speak to the bassists from as diverse a range of bands as Faith No More, Culture Club and Whitesnake, while bringing you in-depth reviews of a ton of essential bass gear. Everyone loves a Fender, right? And who in their right mind would turn down the chance to sling Gene’s signature Axe round their necks...
Enjoy this issue. It’s all about making you a better bass player, after all – and that, friends, is what Chris Squire and the greats who predeceased him would undoubtedly have wanted.
Joel McIver, editor