The Bastard Instrument: A Cultural History of the Electric Bass

The Bastard Instrument chronicles the history of the electric bass and the musicians who played it, from the instrument's invention through its widespread acceptance at the end of the 1960s. Although their contributions have often gone unsung, electric bassists helped shape the sound of a wide range of genres, including jazz, rhythm & blues, rock, country, soul, funk, and more. Their innovations are preserved in performances from artists as diverse as Lionel Hampton, Liberace, Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline, the Supremes, the Beatles, James Brown, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Jefferson Airplane, and Sly and the Family Stone, all of whom are discussed in this volume. At long last, The Bastard Instrument gives these early electric bassists credit for the significance of their accomplishments and demonstrates how they fundamentally altered the trajectory of popular music.

Publisher: University of Michigan Press
Published: 07/16/2024
Pages: 392
ISBN: 9780472056811


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 04/01/2024 pg. 99
Publishers Weekly 04/29/2024

About the Author
Brian F. Wright is Assistant Professor of Music History at the University of North Texas as well as a bass player. His work has been featured in Vintage Guitar and Bass Player magazines and at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.