Bassists Episodes

Thundercat joins Questlove for a wide-ranging, deeply personal conversation that traces his journey from Compton and church gigs to global stages with Flying Lotus, Mac Miller, and beyond. He breaks down the spiritual impact of MF DOOM, how mentors like Dazz Band affiliate Reggie Andrews and his musician parents shaped his ear. Thundercat reflects on surviving LA’s realities, finding creative family with Kamasi Washington and crew, and the role comics, anime, and Disneyland played in building his singular universe. He and Questlove compare Jazz upbringings, talk bass gods (Stanley vs. Jaco), grief and growth after losing collaborators, and the daily work of staying present in a chaotic world. Thundercat's newest album, Distracted, is out now.

Flea joins Questlove in-studio to discuss his debut trumpet album Honora, the long road back to his first musical love, and the rituals that ground his creativity and daily life. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee unpacks the evolution of his artistry—from a Jazz-obsessed kid in New York to a genre-curious fixture in the L.A. scene to a cornerstone of the Red Hot Chili Peppers—and how prayer, reading, stretching, and strict boundaries with technology shape his days. Flea also opens up about assembling the Honora band with Josh Johnson and Jeff Parker, his collaborations with Thom Yorke, his relationship with his wife Mel, and why intention and personal integrity matter more to him than chops or genre. This episode of the Questlove Show flows with deep musical nerdery and raw honesty about what it really takes to keep growing as an artist and a human being.

Electric bass visionary MonoNeon joins Questlove to trace his journey from Memphis church kid and second-generation musician to Prince’s last-hired bassist and a viral internet force. He breaks down his flipped right-handed bass technique, neon-soaked persona, and Dada-inspired art mindset, plus the albums that shaped him. MonoNeon and Quest' dig into his speech-to-music videos, collaborations with George Clinton and Mac Miller, the lessons he took from Paisley Park, and how embracing “mistakes” and self-doubt became the engine of his ultimate goal: total musical freedom.

James Alexander returns to The Questlove Show for a revealing deep dive into the rebirth and evolution of The Bar-Kays after tragedy, sharing how he rebuilt the group with vocalist Larry Dodson and crafted a louder, more aggressive funk-rock sound that pushed them into a new era. He reflects on becoming a go-to rhythm section for Stax Records and beyond, playing on classics for Rufus Thomas, The Staple Singers, and others, and revisits the making and lasting impact of “Holy Ghost,” their showstopping performance at Wattstax, the wild realities of 1970s touring and stagecraft, and the band’s constant reinvention through the 1980s. The Bar-Kays remain active today, and Alexander’s spirited storytelling makes clear why their legacy endures.

Bar-Kays legend James Alexander joins the Questlove Show for a deeply personal conversation, tracing his journey from a teenage musician playing segregated clubs in Memphis to becoming a cornerstone of Stax Records and a young artist mentored by Otis Redding. James reflects on the spontaneous birth and enduring impact of “Soul Finger,” the hard truths of touring in the 1960s, and the business wisdom Otis shared with him about publishing and ownership. He also speaks with profound honesty about t...

Questlove sits down with Sonic Youth co-founder and avant-garde icon Kim Gordon for a candid, funny, and surprisingly vulnerable conversation about imposter syndrome, the Downtown/No Wave era, and how a visual artist became a profoundly influential bassist, singer, and producer. Kim talks about embracing spontaneity in the studio, discovering dissonance alongside Public Enemy at Greene Street Studios, accidentally launching her solo career with producer Justin Raisen, and navigating motherhood. She also reflects on recently updating her memoir and her role in the film Chronology of Water. One of music’s enduring arbiters of cool joins The Questlove Show—take heed.