This Day In Bass History

<p><img src="http://static.flickr.com/26/65722423_7241d7d16f_o.jpg" align="right" alt="Brian Ritchie" style="padding-left:5px" />Happy 45th birthday to bassist Brian Ritchie of the Violent Femmes. Born Nov. 21, 1960, Ritchie is actually a talented multi-instrumentalist. On his first album, he plays guitar, drums, recorder, banjo, conch shell, elephant tusk, six-string bass, flute, jaw harp, and accordian.</p>

<p>But it was his work with the Femmes that Ritchie is best known for. Playing primarily acoustic bass guitar, he was responsible for one of the catchiest, most memorable bass lines in recent rock memory. <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playlistId=2249392&s=143441&i=2249390">Take listen to an excerpt from "Blister In The Sun" via iTunes.</a></p>