Bass guitarists

Musician William "Bootsy" Collins — Bootsy Collins got his start with James Brown, defining what Rolling Stone called "the finger-popping funk bass style." Collins went on to work with George Clinton as part of the Parliment-Funkadelic tribe, then formed Bootsy's Rubber Band. He's put out more than 30 albums; his latest is Christmas Is 4 Ever. This interview originally aired on Oct. 10, 1994.

Musician Bootsy Collins got his start with James Brown, where he "defined the finger-popping funk bass style" (Rolling Stone). He went on to work with George Clinton as part of the Parliment-Funkadelic tribe, before forming Bootsy's Rubber Band. On stage, he created alter egos, including Bootzilla, Boot-Tron, and King of the Geepies. He's put out more than 30 albums. (REBROADCAST from 10/10/94)

Rock historian Ed Ward tells us about bass player Carol Kaye, who he says, in the early 1960s, "virtually invented electric bass playing."

Musician Bootsy Collins got his start with James Brown, where he "defined the finger-popping funk bass style" (Rolling Stone). He went on to work with George Clinton as part of the Parliment-Funkadelic tribe, before forming Bootsy's Rubber Band. On stage, he created alter egos, including Bootzilla, Boot-Tron, and King of the Geepies. He's put out more than 30 albums. Currently he's on tour with George Clinton in Europe and will return to the U.S. for more touring. (REBROADCAST from 10/10/94)

Rock historian Ed Ward reflects on the Beatles' original bass player, Stu Stutcliff, who died of a brain tumor in 1962.

Collins got his start with James Brown, where he "defined the finger-popping funk bass style" (Rolling Stone). He went on to work with George Clinton as part of the Parliment-Funkadelic tribe, before forming Bootsy's Rubber Band. On stage, he created alter egos, including Bootzilla, Boot-Tron, and King of the Geepies. He's put out more than 30 albums, and has just released "Blasters of the Universe," with a new band.

Elvis Costello's former bass player, Bruce Thomas. He was with Elvis Costello and the Attractions, from 1977-1987. Thomas has just written a journalistic book about touring with a band based on his own experiences, "The Big Wheel: Rock & Roll and Roadside Attractions." (published by Faber & Faber).

Wyman is the quiet, low-profile member of the band who avoided drugs. Using his diaries for reference, he wrote a book about his time in the band through the 1960s, called Stone Alone.

Gordon's band, founded in 1981, recently released the critically-acclaimed double album Daydream Nation. Gordon joins Fresh Air to discuss her experience as a woman rock musician in a male-dominated scene, playing concerts, and her desire for a larger audience.