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Michael Devin On This Month’s Groove – The No Treble Podcast

“Wait… did I miss something? Why is there an article about a bass podcast on Six Pixels of Separation?”

Here’s why:
In the late nineties my first job was as a music journalist (actually, my first interview was with Tommy Lee from Motley Crue right before the band released Dr. Feelgood).
I spent many years interviewing musicians and artists for local weekly alternative newspapers, national and international magazines (and even published three music magazines – before we had the Internet).
I also studied and played the electric bass (in high school and post-secondary) and always felt like bass players never really had a chance to tell their stories.
So, about ten years ago, Seth Godin introduced me to Corey Brown (founder of No Treble – one of the world’s biggest bass platforms – and he also worked on Squidoo with Seth).
From there, Corey and I decided to try this monthly podcast where I would interview bass players and talk about their music, art, creativity and more.
I’m hopeful that these conversations will inspire your work, creativity and innovation as much as they do for me…

Michael Devin is this month’s conversation on Groove – The No Treble Podcast.

You can listen the new episode right here: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #115 – Michael Devin.

Who is Michael Devin?

Michael Devin, an accomplished bassist from Boston and may be most well-known for his impressive decade-long stint with classic hard rock legends, Whitesnake. His journey in music, however, extends far beyond his tenure with the iconic band. Currently, Michael is making waves with The Dead Daisies, showcasing his talent on their latest album, Light ‘Em Up. Michael’s love affair with the bass began at a young age, sparked by listening to records and being mesmerized by the groove and depth the bass brought to music. Influenced by classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin and The Who, as well as Motown’s soulful rhythms, he was drawn to the instrument’s ability to create tension and add layers to songs. His admiration for bass legends like John Paul Jones, Geezer Butler, and Steve Harris further fueled his passion, inspiring him to push the boundaries of the instrument. In this conversation, Michael reflects on his journey as a bass player, sharing stories from his early days in Boston to his rise in the music industry. He discussed his initial foray into the world of audio engineering, which began with an internship at the renowned Cherokee Recording Studios in Los Angeles. This experience laid the foundation for his transition from behind the mixing board to the stage, as he found his true calling as a bass player. Michael’s career took off as he joined various bands and projects, including Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Lynch Mob, and The Guess Who. Each of these experiences contributed to his growth as a musician. Now with The Dead Daisies, Michael continues to explore new musical landscapes with a classic twist. Michael speaks passionately about the role of bass players in a band, highlighting how they provide the foundation and support that allows other instruments to shine. His approach to bass is not just about technical proficiency but also about serving the music and creating an emotional connection with the audience. Now out on tour with The Dead Daisies, Michael’s love for playing live music and connecting with fans remains undiminished. Michael has a great story. Enjoy the conversation…

What is Groove – The No Treble Podcast?

This is an ambitious effort. This will be a fascinating conversation. Our goal at Groove is to build the largest oral history of bass players. Why Groove? Most of the content about the bass revolves around gear, playing techniques, and more technical chatter. For us, bassists are creative artists with stories to tell. They are a force to be reckon with. These are the stories and conversation that we will capture. To create this oral history of why these artists chose the bass, what their creative lives are like, and where inspiration can be found.

Listen in: Groove – The No Treble Podcast – Episode #115 – Michael Devin.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends).

Mitch Joel

Mitch Joel lives at the intersection of technology, business transformation and consumer culture. He is the Executive Director of Next Era Institute, a strategic intelligence platform helping leaders understand the forces reshaping business, technology, culture and society. The Institute identifies which shifts matter, explores their wider significance and translates them into strategic direction and momentum. Mitch is also a globally recognized keynote speaker. He has delivered thousands of presentations across both B2B and B2C industries to organizations including Google, Walmart, LEGO, Shopify, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Strategy Magazine has called him “one of North America’s leading visionaries.” Mitch built his career by working directly inside the waves of change that reshaped modern business. He founded and built a digital marketing agency that worked with some of the world’s largest brands and was later acquired by WPP, where he served as President of a firm operating in 25 countries with almost 3,000 employees. Mitch is the bestselling author of Six Pixels of Separation and CTRL ALT Delete, and the host of Thinking With Mitch Joel, one of the longest-running business podcasts in the world. His writing and commentary appear in outlets including Harvard Business Review, Fast Company and Inc. Magazine. He is a member of Dr. Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 Coaches and was named to the Thinkers50 Radar. Mitch also hosts Groove – The No Treble Podcast, documenting the oral history of electric bass players. Mitch is also Co-Founder of ThinkersOne, a platform that enables companies to bring personalized thought leadership from world-class experts into meetings, events and off-sites in focused 15-minute bursts.