OK so this year is great because we are going to actually have a holiday/vacation this year and go to Italy - feel very lucky. Need some reading material to relax with and being a bass geek I do enjoy reading bassist biographies. Done Flea's, Guy Pratts, Alex James plus already have John Taylor's but would love some recommendations on other bassist biographies that are a good read.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Bassist Biography worth reading - suggestions please
- Thread starter Julian G
- Start date
It's a fairly short read but I really enjoyed Mike Visceglia's View From The Side.
https://www.amazon.com/View-Side-Pe...nements=p_27:Michael+Visceglia&s=books&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/View-Side-Pe...nements=p_27:Michael+Visceglia&s=books&sr=1-1
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
I really enjoyed Bill Makowski's Jaco.
I would NOT recommend Gene Santoro's Myself When I Am Real: The Life and Music of Charles Mingus. Insightful and informative but poorly (if at all) edited IMHO. I found it to be a hard, sometimes maddening, slog that I couldn't finish fast enough.
You're welcome.
(Enjoy your vacation and travel safe!)
You're welcome.
(Enjoy your vacation and travel safe!)
Last edited:
devnulljp
Supporting Member
You already mentioned it, but Guy Pratt's book My Bass and Other Animals is a great read. Funny and insightful.
I loved & would recommend Victor Wooten's "The Music Lesson" its not a Biography,but a good, easy read & journey! He has a couple of other books too!
Not a biography, but if you haven't read Wooten's book it's a fun read. Definitely taken with a grain of salt.
https://smile.amazon.com/Music-Less...92845&sprefix=victor+wooten+th,aps,158&sr=8-1
https://smile.amazon.com/Music-Less...92845&sprefix=victor+wooten+th,aps,158&sr=8-1
Phil Lesh's "Searching for the Sound" is a super well written book. Even if you're maybe not a huge Grateful Dead fan, he kept extensive, detailed diaries over the years so it's super rich in detail. Very articulate fella too. Plus when he mentions specific tour dates, you can search the dates online and listen/watch for little things he mentions in videos and audio recordings that are usually available for free.
Another vote for The Music Lesson. It changed the way I think about music.
Philip Norman's bio of Paul McCartney is a good companion to his earlier Shout! The Beatles in Their Generation. Of course it covers some of the same territory, but from a different viewpoint, and with more personal Macca details.
Not about the bass or bass players specifically, but The Birth Of Loud by Ian S. Port, about the development of the Tele/Strat by Fender and the Les Paul by Gibson is a very good (and fast) read.
Philip Norman's bio of Paul McCartney is a good companion to his earlier Shout! The Beatles in Their Generation. Of course it covers some of the same territory, but from a different viewpoint, and with more personal Macca details.
Not about the bass or bass players specifically, but The Birth Of Loud by Ian S. Port, about the development of the Tele/Strat by Fender and the Les Paul by Gibson is a very good (and fast) read.
Harvey Brooks 'View From The Bottom'.
Bruce Thomas - The Big Wheel
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1900924536/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_7K7F5S6R5N2K316MCGME
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1900924536/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_7K7F5S6R5N2K316MCGME
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
Seconding this -- a humble but great player who played with an amazing diverse group of people.
Especially great if 60s-into-70s period interests you.
I think I would recommend the Charles Mingus autobiography though.
https://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Underdog-World-Composed-Mingus/dp/0679737618
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
Duff McKagan, “‘It’s So Easy’ and Other Lies”
Geddy's Big Beautiful Book of Bass is not a biography but, as you may know, based on his ginormous collection of basses and is first a photobook of that collection. BUT there numerous sidebars where he visits with various bassists and discusses their faves, too. You don't have to be a Ged fan to enjoy it, just a fan of basses mostly associated with R&R.
