Rich

Donkey's ages ago -- '88 I think -- some mates and I did some recording at a studio in Weston-super-Mare. The drummer lived in London, and got a lift to Weston from his brother. He arrives, unloads kit, off went bro, drummer sets up... no snare. This is back when mobile phones were still a yuppy's wet dream, remember, so no way to contact brother and beg for a lift back. So off goes drummer to the station for a train to London, while we do as much as we can to a click track. Drummer arrives back some hours later clutching snare drum. Sets up his now complete kit, only to find he has no sticks either... I bundled him into the car and gave him a lift into Weston to buy some, before the others could lynch him.

What video? There's no video there at all. In fact, who are you and what forum do you think you're on? This is Mumsnet.

My two main working fivers are my Sire V7 and my Shuker custom build. Obviously the two bear little resemblance to each other in terms of tonal character -- the Sire is a classic Jazz, the Shuker is a smooth hi-fi sophisticate. A pair of 501s and an Armani suit, if you will. But they're equally good at what they do, and that's a massive compliment to the Sire rather than any form of critique on the Shuker. The Sire gets all my gig work at the moment, for two reasons: 1, its tone is a far better fit for the genres I currently play in; 2, if something major happened to the Sire on a night out (theft, major damage etc) I would be gutted but I could buy another... if the same happened to the Shuke, I would be totally, inconsolably heartbroken because it is irreplaceable.

Sad but entirely true. Print media is probably doomed. I'm trying to think what the last paper magazine I bought was. Apart from Private Eye -- my only regular print purchase -- I honestly cannot remember.

No single tune in particular, but I loved Trouble Funk and the whole go-go thing.

I thought the claret and blue stripes on Steve Harris' bass were a giveaway. As is of course the Hammers badge, when you can see it. Ah well.

Completely brilliant. Love the engineering in this, even if it is a bit Heath Robinson in places

Likewise Mr 'Arris's West Ham P.

Playing the main stage at Thrubfest is a real bucket lister.

Or maybe Nempnett Thrubwell. For non-SWers, yes it really is a place.

@BassApprentice 'tis done

Here's a complete list of all my bands' gigs for the rest of the year.

List now updated.

You've been to a few of my gigs then

Two things: Try as I might, I can't actually recall anyone ever claiming that more strings do make better music. And what exactly is 'better'? Is there a sliding scale of betterness? Who gets to decide if James Jamerson is officially better than Jimmy Haslip? Is it a competition? I play five, for two reasons. One, because I play with a lot of brass and an ability to go below E often comes in handy in our songs. And two, because it makes my life easier in general in that I can go across the neck rather than up and down it. You'll notice there's no "Three, because it means I'm better than a four string player".

I'm in two great bands with a whole load of lovely people, all of whom I count as good friends. Miss gigging? christ I feel like I've lost a limb or something. Can't wait to get out there again, BUT only when it's safe.

I've played 5s almost exclusively since 1994. So when I had my Shuker made in 2007, it was a bit of an obvious choice. I still have 4s, but they don't get much of a look-in.

Yes, I was gutted when he and Jeff Rich left Judie's band.

John Edwards on Judie Tzuke's "Road Noise". Great playing & a lovely snappy Alembic tone.

Moved to 'Effects'.