Groovin' Bass Divas

No doubt about it - bass adds depth to a song, creating a memorable tone for a band's music. Meet some of the women who took a 4-string and made a mark in the rocking bass community since the 1980s. A bass "style" comes in many forms and their signature grooves drove home some great tunes.

During the 80s two women named Kim set the "tone" for playing bass. Kim Deal created the The Pixies' punk sound (she was billed as Mrs. John Murphy on the group's first two records). She later formed the Breeders (with her sister Kelly) and then the Amps. Her bass line in "Cannonball" (the Breeders/Last Splash) was a distinct blast of melody heard throughout alternative and top-40 radio in the 90s. Before the Pixies emerged, Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth started stirring things up in New York. Sonic Youth elaborated on the post punk "no wave" movement with unconventional bass tunings and sonic experimentation- setting a course for the "indie" music scene.

The hard rocking bass woman of the 90s was Sean Yseult. After graduating high school in North Carolina she headed for the music jungles of Manhattan, and teamed up with a bunch of White Zombies. Her band, "White Zombie" served up the big rock show experience for a new generation of kids. With an admiration for bands like the Misfits and the Cramps, Sean developed her own style on songs "Thunder Kiss '65" and "Black Sunshine"; a true inspiration to many young fans.

Japan's funk-thrash outfit Super Junky Monkey was pumping out tunes during the 90s. They definitely had the groove factor well intact with bassist Shinobu Kawai. She described her band's musical aesthetic as "wild intuition." Shinobu caught the groove listening to 70s funk masters Sly & The Family Stone. On her band's second album, Parasitic People, she lent moving bass lines and some funky slap bass. Lisa Umbarger, of Fort Worth's Toadies, traveled a long way in her career-from working in a record store to getting a record deal. Her band The Toadies churned out radio hits "I Come From the Water" and "Possum Kingdom."

Jill Cunniff singer/bassist of the funky, alternative band Luscious Jackson got "hip" to music at an early age. At age 13 she experienced her first live music show at New York's infamous CBGB's. This piqued her interest in the music scene and playing. Jill and the Beastie Boys' first drummer, Kate Schellenbach, formed the nucleus of Luscious Jackson and recently put out "Fever In Fever Out"; the group's third album. Coming up with rhythmically, groovy singles like "Naked Eye," Jill was drawn to the melodies of Crosby Stills & Nash, plus others: "My love of bass comes from the Slits (English punk band) and reggae," admits Cunniff. "Now I understand how it (the bass) can be its own entity within the sound. A lot of the time I'm not just playing the root, I'll write a lead on bass. I like to experiment. I'm very much involved in the orchestration."

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic