Bass Magazine Lockdown Check-In With Leland Sklar

We're checking in with bass players all over the globe to see how they're staying busy and hanging in during the current lockdown

Chris Jisi / Apr 1, 2020

Bass Magazine Lockdown Check-In With Leland Sklar

We're checking in with bass players all over the globe to see how they're staying busy and hanging in during the current lockdown

Chris Jisi / Apr 1, 2020

As the world continues to recover from the Coronavirus, we’re all finding ourselves in unfamiliar territory given the subsequent lockdown that is keeping us off of stages and confined to our homes. Luckily, there’s comfort in the fact that we’re all in this together, and that there are still many outlets for us musicians to keep us active and sane throughout this quarantine. We’re checking in with bass players from all over the world to see what they’re doing to stay entertained, healthy, productive, and safe during this trying time.

Bass Player: Leland Sklar

Bands & Artists: Too many to name (Here is a selected discography from his over 2,500 recordings)

Home: Los Angeles, California

How have you been passing time during the lockdown?

I’ve been doing a lot of stuff around my house and in the yard, but the thing that has really been fun is I have a board mix of our Phil Collins show in Adelaide from the tour we completed a while back, and I am doing videos of me playing the songs, but featuring the bass parts. They are on You Tube and my Facebook page. I tell some stories, as well. The response has been wonderful and I am doing it in the order of the show, so today was day nine and song nine. [See links below]

What have you been working on in terms of your bass practice routine?

I just try to set aside an hour or two and play in the evening.

What music, songs, recordings, artists, bass players have you been listening to as a source of comfort and inspiration that you can recommend?

I’ve been cruising YouTube and Facebook and seeing all kinds of posts. It is so wonderful to see the diversity of people and how they approach the things they do. Lots of different bassists, but also lots of different interests.

What bass gear have you been playing and trying out?

I’ve been using my Dingwall bass, for that is the bass I used on the Phil tour, and a Euphonic Audio 1X12 cab with my old Walter Woods head. My gear for the most part is in road cases, so this was handy for what I am doing.

What non-music activities books, shows, movies, or workout recommendations do you have?

I am very OCD, so I’m working a ton on my house and I am a voracious gardner. It is my Prozac. Watching different shows on Netflix and METV. Watching Ozark now. In L.A. we are really hunkered down. I’m only going out for basic necessities.

What projects do you have coming up when the world gets going again?

Hard to say. Five months of work went away and I’m not sure about a lot of it coming back. I had a big show scheduled in Zürich in the beginning of May and I just heard they are now trying for early November. Other stuff may just have to happen next year for they were things we do annually. It’s all so uncertain right now.

What advice can you offer fellow bassists for staying positive and keeping morale high?

We are in such unchartered waters right now. No telling what the future holds but lets try as best as we can to think positive thoughts and hope when we come out of this we will be okay! The hard part is the isolation from the people we care about and the community we enjoy so much. Try to do something positive daily and stay healthy. My heart and thoughts are with you all and we will get through this.

Day 1