Cass Lewis/Skunk Anansie

Hughsie · #1 10-28-2007, 10:40 PM

Just a nod to Cass Lewis who is definitely one of my all time favourites. Skunk Anansie was one of the biggest and best of the UK alt.rock acts of the 90s and one of the best live acts ever, and Cass's playing was a big part of that (there's some truly scary stuff on the 'Paranoid & Sunburnt' album in particular). If only someone would get around to releasing their Glastonbury headliner set on DVD.

Also, his band with Gary Moore and Darren Mooney, Scars, was great too, and another one that kicked it live. It's a shame that it never really took off (even the live promoters failed to mention that it was a band; I remember the first tour, all the merchandise was for Scars but the tickets said 'Gary Moore'!). Oh well, at least it got Cass back to playing again ... I'd read that he'd pretty much given it up to concentrate on photography and production until Moore approached him about working together.

Then there's the sterling work he did in the 80s and 90s with Terence Trent D'Arby and Andy Taylor ...

Anyone know what he's up to now?

TaySte_2000 · #2 10-29-2007, 06:42 AM

Agreed they are long overdue for a DVD release.

Cass was one of my reasons for sticking with bass and getting into effects he just grooved and none of his lines are overly complex just simple grooving.

Great great player

jerry · #3 10-29-2007, 08:01 AM

I dug Cass's playing and Skunk Anansie, they never really did make the transition to the US market......too bad. Besides playing great behind D'arby, Cass sure looked cool on stage!

MixBass · #4 10-29-2007, 01:13 PM

Great parts and playing on the SA recordings. I wish they would have got more attention here.

TaySte_2000 · #5 10-31-2007, 06:10 AM

I've been looking for about 2 years for a picture of his pedalboard that was in bassist a couple of years ago but all their online archives have been deleted.

Can anyone help?

The Mock Turtle Regulator · #6 10-31-2007, 06:12 AM

I've got all the issues of Bassist - I'll have a look. I remember he was on the cover, and was interviewed at least twice.

TaySte_2000 · #7 10-31-2007, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Mock Turtle Regulator

I've got all the issues of Bassist - I'll have a look. I remember he was on the cover, and was interviewed at least twice.

*Bows Down*

vegas532 · #8 10-31-2007, 09:40 AM

Speaking of Cass Lewis...long before Justin Chancellor had a Colorsound Tonebender in his employ, I thought Cass Lews' use of one was the greatest. It's a Colorsound on "Charlie Big Potato", one of the evilest bass tones recorded.

The Mock Turtle Regulator · #9 10-31-2007, 01:36 PM

hmm, I've found the 2 issues of Bassist that Cass was on the cover of, but there's no actual picture of his pedalboard in either.

he lists his effects though-
Sovtek Big Muff
Coloursound Tone Bender
Coloursound Fuzz
Korg G5
Digitech whammy (guitar version)

Adam Bomb · #10 10-13-2008, 09:32 PM

Mrs. Bomb - who rocks - gave me "Gary Moore Live at Monsters of Rock" this morning, and I'm on my second listen. Cass is my favorite bass player, period, and there's so precious little of him out here. He's not even dead! Does anyone know why/how he could walk away from being the Thunder God of the Universe? Which issues of Bass Player was he in?

--Bomb

Adam Bomb · #11 12-24-2008, 07:32 PM

has anyone else heard the rumour that Skunk Anansie - the complete original lineup - is getting back together?

i am whispering because if i do anything other than whisper i will scream until my head explodes.

--bomb

Hughsie · #12 12-26-2008, 12:22 PM

Here's hoping ... one of the best live bands I ever did see.

From Skin's MySpace blog:

>Friday, September 26, 2008
Skunk Anansie - Reuniting?

Rumours have been flying around that Skunk Anansie are set to reunite and rock it out with some fantastic gigs.

Skunk Anansie separated in 2001 and the members went their separate ways, but still kept in contact with each other.

Those rumours are true!

Details are still being worked out and we're awaiting final conformation but Skunk Anansie are set to reunite later this year or early next year to rock our worlds with their amazing sound.

Skin would like to say that neither her or Cass were interviewed by The Sun, who ran this story in their 'Bizarre' section (but they did call Skunk Anansie "brilliant" which we agree with 100%!).

Things aren't 100% official yet but watch this space for more information!<

hellfleet · #13 11-18-2010, 05:07 PM

Hey everyone. I hope you don't mind me necro-ing this thread. I saw Skunk Anansie tonight and Cass Lewis was absolutely incredible. Not sure exactly what he was using but it sounded massive, massive pedal board down there and what looked like two eden heads and an ampeg feeding 3 stacks of 2 4x10s (2 of the 4x10s blasting at him from the side of the stage).

Sounded really sweet guys!

bassdrive · #14 12-05-2010, 06:12 PM

what a coincidence, I was looking for Cass on twitter and I stumbled on this page, and I was in Sheffield too (and I come from Italy, so it's even stranger). Where were you? I was dead centre front row.
It was an amazing show, saw them live 5 times since they reunited (I was only 13 when they split, so never had a chance to see them live, even if I had been a fan 2 years already at the time), and they never disappoint me. Everytime there's something special to it and every tour I get to hear at least one song I never heard before from their old repertoire. They've got such energy and a way to connect to the audience which is truly unique.

Cass is not only an amazing bass player but a very funny guy too, he remembered me from the this summer's gig in Rome since I showed him the same sign "play tracy's flaw" and he giggled and said no with his head in the exact same way as he did last time XD

I absolutely adore his take on the instrument, which is so diverse and can go from the very simple to the twisted slap, always effective, never too much, great melodic taste, and interesting sounds. From distortion to delay (anyone, Secretly?), he knows how to be creative with effects.

Definitely an all-round bassist.

rulyøngo · #15 12-06-2010, 01:00 PM

Great bassist!!! I remember watching him with Terence Trent D'arby on Tv...

His tone on Paranoid and Sunburnt is amazing!!!

bassdrive · #16 12-11-2010, 06:47 PM

uh, someone asked to see his pedalboard... I managed to take a couple of pics this summer in Taormina. You can recognize most pedals, though not all, unfortunately they weren't easy pictures to take!

It's a huge pedalboard, it took me 3 pics to get all the pedals!

vegas532 · #17 05-26-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassdrive

You can recognize most pedals, though not all, unfortunately they weren't easy pictures to take!

It's a huge pedalboard, it took me 3 pics to get all the pedals!

Vegas532 - professional trainspotter, at your service. Splitter box, original 535Q Crybaby, Korg G5 bass synth, Colorsound Overdriver, Colorsound Tonebender TC, Boss LS-2, Danelectro Cool Cat Chorus, Sovtek Green (of course), Sansamp BDDI, Boss NS-2, Digitech Hardwire DL-8, Digitech Bass Whammy, Radial J48 DI.

I love Cass...way under-appreciated bass MONSTER!!

Chrishi87 · #18 01-23-2012, 08:30 AM

Sorry for catching the old Thread up. But maybe someone might interest this: