HAMISH STUART MEETS LORNA THOMAS
HAMISH STUART needs little introduction to the readers of
“Bass is my favorite instrument, because I love the connection with the drums”
Bass Player. He first came to prominence with the Average White Band, whose 1974 hit ‘Pick Up The Pieces’ you know even if you think you don’t. After the AWB folded in 1983, he worked for six years with Paul McCartney, touring and recording around the world and swapping bass and guitar duties with his boss. In more recent years, he’s been a regular member of Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band, as well as working as an in-demand solo artist and producer.
Lorna Thomas plays bass in The Tomorrow Band and has built a resume as a stage, session and studio musician alongside a wide range of musicians including Eddi Reader, Earl Thomas, Horse McDonald, and Jill Jackson. Let’s hear what these two heroes have to say.
LORNA How much live work do you reckon you lost over the pandemic, Hamish? I had tours pretty much booked for the whole year, and within two days, everything just went away.
HAMISH That’s exactly what happened to me and Ringo Starr. The tour was supposed to be in May and June 2020, and then again last year. It was a big disappointment for everybody. Now it’s finally going, so it’s good to get back to it.
LT What’s it like to play in Ringo’s band, with so many classic bass parts in the set?
It’s great. I recently ditched the five-string bass that I’d been playing, because I rediscovered the Fender Mustang, which was the first bass I ever had. I found one that had
