Leonard Smalls

I find the best solution is to play music that only a handful of chin-stroking goatee- and black polo neck-wearing pseuds will want to watch, if you're lucky. That way no-one is likely to ask for Wonderwall or any of that cack, though you may get embroiled in a heated discussion on whether James Carter's sax-playing actually counts as chord play or, in extreme circumstances, on the relative merits of the BR Standard Class 9F compared to the Deltic.

Modern jazz for Modern people!

I remember a review of his album in the NME saying it was the funkiest thing in the world ever ever... I was most disappointed to find it was mostly soft poppy fluff with only the tiniest hint here and there of The Whole Funk And Nothing But The Funk!

You spin me round like a record - Dead or Alive

This too..

You're never too old, or too young! Check the Herbie Headhunters stuff if you like that...

Where's Captain Kirk? - Spizz Energi

Kid's stuff! This came out in 1982 - my funky blues band are working on a version at the moment, which is quite fun!

Trust in me - Kaa

That ain't a thing, it's a thang - Dredd and the Badass Weeds

I bought the album this originally came from thinking it was a straight-up funk album suitable for playing at my funk'n'disco DJ night, but discovered it wasn't. But eventually I grew to love it and had to play the bass line - Sunk In The Funk:

Jam Fan - Bootsy's Rubber Band

Wal is still the best, but I tend to leave it at home nowadays for value reasons. But both the ACG and the Parker are excellent to play - ACG perhaps better but it doesn't half eat batteries! The Sandberg even gets an occasional outing too...

Any bass will do, it's the attitude wot counts!

My Mrs said: Bootsy Jamaaladeen Him off of the Chilli Peppers Stanley Clarke She's obviously not been going "lalalala" when I blather on! Then she remembered Brian May (though she quickly realised he plays fake bass) and Bill Wyman... And the matey who makes the cheese in Blur. Then she said Jaco Pastorius (due to being subjected to a cd of his in the car) and Derek Smalls.

The Electric Spanking of War Babies - Funkadelic

Isn't it the Frank Spencer Band?

Is it Blur?

I suspect the majority would look at you blankly... The other day I was watching a re-run of Family Fortunes (I know!!!) and the question was "Name a British Band with both male and female members". First matey buzzed in with Take That. Next matey was asked, and said "ABBA". They had to go through a couple of family members (Destiny's Child, Spice Girls) before someone said Hear'Say... That apostrophe still appals me, btw.

Can You DigIt? - Ice Cube

Sinister Porpoise - Creedence Clearwater Revival

We're all on a bit of gardening leave at the moment, but we're back in Worcester on 2nd November at Spin The Black Circle Records...

Guillo-teenage Kicks - Undertones

We played a gig once after we'd spent a couple of hours before writing the set so our singer had crib sheets with his hastily scribbled lyrics on them. He got round the slightly duff look by wearing a schoolmaster's hat and gown so the stand became part of it!

Whip in My Valise - Adam and the Ants