The Real World: Chris Labenne
Home base Northeast Ohio (Akron area)
Occupation Bassist, composer, graduate student
Gigs Redline
Basses Warwick Rockbass Corvette 5-string, Fender Standard Jazz Bass, Ibanez AEB10E acoustic-electric bass
Rig Behringer BX4500 Ultrabass head, Behringer BA410 4x10 cab
Strings DR Lo-Riders
Effects Snarling Dogs Bootzilla Bootsy Collins signature Bass Wah with Fuzz, Rocktron Banshee Talk Box
Heroes and Inspirations John Entwistle, Flea, Jaco Pastorius, Stu Hamm, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis
How did you come to play bass? When I was 13, I had a friend who played bass and I really wanted to learn it.
What’s one lesson you’ve learned along the way? Less notes, more precision. Even the simplest, most easy-to-play bass line can sound like a busy, funky masterpiece if it fits like a glove.
What are your musical goals? I’d dig winning a Grammy or playing a big nationwide tour. Oh, or writing a big film score! That’d be awesome, too. I’m also in graduate school getting my teaching license.
Contact bandmix.com/chris-labenne; onredline.com