Birthday – 23rd June 

Birthplace – London 

Hobbies – Like I have time for any being a full time musician!

Married? – Nope

Children? – One perfect one, & what a star he is! 

Favourite groups – Restless, The Keytones, Bill Haley & The Comets, The Johnny Burnette Trio

Favourite food – Chicken

Favourite drink – Real coffee 

Previous jobs if any  – Professional Chef, photographer, kitchen manager, vintage shop manager

Likes – Nice genuine people, old comedy films, Star Trek, Tom & Jerry, people with a sense of humour

Dislikes – Having to baby sit other musicians (there’s a long list), people that waste my time, ignorant people

Pets – No

So, the double bass is a big instrument-what on earth made you want to play it ? – It’s the coolest instrument on the planet (just ask any double bass player if you don’t believe me)

Did you buy your own initially or borrow one? – I bought one (1949, East German bass) , & I went to see it with my bass teacher, Graeme Grant (slapper extraordinaire)

How do you transport it? – Car

How often do you get people referring to it as a cello? – Not as much as people refer to it as a big violin & say     “I bet you can’t fit that under your chin”

How long have you been playing? – 30 years

What was the first band that you played the bass in? – Now Dig This (in 1995)

What other bands have you been in? – How long have you got? 

The Brick Lane Boogie Boys, Paul Ansell’s NO9, Wesley Karr and The Automobiles, Earl Jackson Band, Loaded Dice (featuring Mark Harman from Restless), Sugar Ray’s Lucky Strikes (featuring Pat Reyford), The Hey Las,  Johnny Gunner & The Raiders, Buddy Holly & The Cricketers (theatre show), Race With The Devil & various others.                                                         

I’ve also performed numerous shows with: The Jive Aces (I’m honoured to be their number 1 bass dep), Little Dave and The Sun Sessions, The Sarah Mai Band, The Blue Moon Boys,The Ben Waters Band, The Go Getters, The Ray Gelato All-stars, Jacen and the Rockanauts, The Shookups, The Bluegrass Cover Boys & some function bands that I’ve forgotton about!  

There’s way more than this as I’m also a session musician & I have depped for a lot of bands.                               

I currently play in & book shows for:  The Sugar Ray Ford Trio, The Topcats, The Krazy Kat Trio, 88 Keys and The Rhythm Kings (featuring Dom Pipkin on piano). I’ll also be involved in some other projects moving forwards & book shows for other bands sometimes as well. 

What’s your favourite song featuring a slap bass (not your own? )  – Crikey, that’s an impossible question to answer as there’s not just one, but to name afew…Big Three Boogie (Willie Dixon & The Big 3 Trio), Real Rock Drive (Bill Haley & The Comets), Lonesome Tears in my eyes (Johnny Burnette & The Rock ‘n’ Roll Trio), Vanish Without a Trace (Restless)

What’s your favourite song that you’ve played bass on? “Cool it baby”, which was just myself & Pat Reyford, who did everything else on the song & I’m very proud to have played on it (originally recorded by Eddie Fontaine in 1956)

Is there anyone that massively influenced you as a bass player? – Marshall Lytle (Bill Haley’s Comets)

Do you have a name for your bass?  – My first bass was named Lucille

Have you got a travel bag/soft cover for it and if so, have you ever crawled into it? – I’ve got soft & hard cases..If I’ve ever slept in the soft case I certainly don’t remember it!!!

If you’d like to contact Markus about a show, message him on Facebook here

Nick Constantine

Markus’ favourite double bass tracks: