Playing with James Brown's Bassist, Fred Thomas | BK Stories

Fred Thomas played bass for James Brown for 33 years. Now he holds court at Freddy's Bar in the South Slope two Fridays a month. Fred shares technique, philosophy, and some insider information on his old boss.
Fred shows how to play "Sex Machine," "Good Foot," "Hot Pants," "Mustang Sally," and more.
Produced by bass player: Steve de Sève.
Learn more:
freddysbar.com
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[@storydon]

There is a huge problem with this interview. It's about 2 hours too short. Man, what a rich piece of history this is! Good on you for doing this, keep the stories, the legends and the music alive.

[@shagw4286]

If you haven't aeen it, you can find the Bootsy interviews and ones from other alumni on KZbin.

[@TundrahSounds]

I love how effortless this old man makes it seem to play perfect syncopated funk basslines. So many technically advanced bass players today have a hard time doing that, and doesn't really get the funk. This dude can play two or three notes, and make it super funky just with the right accenting and timing.

[@cmvb]

he has the language

[@Hiphopdabop]

Everyone has their thing..

[@cjjaxxon]

Somebody FINALLY interviewed this man here. Love it!

[@jonbrown2402]

I am a bassist. I have always appreciated this elder' bassist approach to our instrument of choice. So glad he received his own recognition because he contributed before some of us were born! Space King(meaning...he's always in pocket on the one).He is the ONE!

[@ebonyg2244]

I’m in heaven! Thank you for doing this interview

[@doctorxyss]

This man and Clyde put all The world to dance!!!>>>pure genuin legend in music!!!!

[@BigInTheBurgh1]

Fred played all of those boomin' bass lines with just his thumb!

[@BRICTV]

Can't mess with that kinda talent.

[@oRuTRa45]

Surprised the mess outta me!

[@slimdudeDJC]

Big In The Burgh 1 Possibly a Wes Montgomery influence . . .

[@martian9999]

don't need more than one finger when you get it right. James Jamerson just used his index finger.

[@bustabass9025]

Man I thought that dude was Gil Scott-Heron! He took over for Bootsy in '71 when Bootsy, Catfish, Kash, Chicken, and Robert, the Cincinnati connection, left the JBs. By the time Fred came on board, the funk had hit its stride. He took the baton, never looked back, and brought it on home!👑🎸🎵

[@maggotbrain7499]

He is nothing like Scott Heron at all. They are easy to tell apart.

[@ernestsloan5071]

Love this guy.. He lives a 5 houses down from me.. NICE GUY..

[@evaneverything119]

Where at brother

[@ernestsloan5071]

@@evaneverything119 Brooklyn, NY

[@rustyhornzinstrumentalist-7596]

Man, I'm Still Listenin' To The J.B's, And I Was Born In 1970. Downloaded All Their C.D.'s Into My iTunes Library. Those Sides Are Still Funky, Can't Get Enough.

[@soulbro1960]

Fred Thomas is a good friend of mine..nice brother..

[@PhuckHue2]

Did he ever get out of funky D?

[@dannyho6786]

yeah, me too, I be knowing from round the way y'all

[@dre8462]

And he is my cousin

[@bobderosa4079]

Looks like a great guy.

[@leegeoffrey8271]

Fred Thomas is a great bassist but don't forget that Bootsy Collins is the originator of the bass on Sex Machine

[@slimdudeDJC]

Lee Geoffrey True. Bootsy and jammed with James another 2-3 more til BC got his gig together (with his brother) and rest was funk history! A la another James Brown production♦♫

[@jakdaley]

my thoughts as well Lee

[@ronaldwilliams1371]

so so true and the originator of the ONE! P- funk!🎸

[@jamescarter8699]

@ Lee Geoffrey I first saw Bootsy and his brother Catfish in my home town playing at a night club playing behind Marva Whitney ? She had a hit record Called "It's My Thing" out of King records James Brown's label. The song was a take off the Isley Bros. Hit "It Your Thing". She was a One Hit Wonder. Even then Bootsy was a stand out, looking like a Jimmy Hendrix style personality with a unque sound and style. Looking tall and skinny with sun glasses on stage under the lights. Myself a young musician just starting my trio was the opening act to get the audience dancing and cheering.

[@jamesgraham3116]

Also,talking loud,super bad,soul power.

[@patriciaburgess4257]

Some people are just born to be musicians and Fred is one of them.

[@faithbassed49]

I can’t even tell you how much I enjoyed this! What a blessing this brother is!!!!

[@marcomuggironi2552]

What a great bass player Fred Thomas💓!!

[@judymcgaugh6480]

Learned so much in that short video time, and wanted more. You need to do a series on just this man, he has so many inside stories that would be so entertaining , I could listen to him for hours. I know bass strings are tough, but I can just imagine playing at the fast tempo that it took to play behind James Brown, and for several hours , man , after a show your whole body had to be vibrating. Then to know this man did it for 30 years is too amazing, he is a Bass God. Thanks for this music lesson and history lesson ..

[@gabrielcaplan6887]

we got Fred on The Bass Shed. Here's an excerpt of a longer interview. Fun! kzbin.info/www/bejne/j57CgZSbp86rgK8

[@KeithCasper]

He is a hero of mine. Friendly Fred--in the key of F!

[@mbass718]

Love Fred so much. Between him and Bootsy.. their bass lines influenced my playing more than anyone.. next to George Porter Jr from The Meters. So thankful he lives here in Brooklyn and in normal times plays for free/donation all the time... seeing him so many times has been the best bass education a Funk fanatic could ever hope for!

[@SPCBatonRougeANDDenton]

Originally James Brown had several bass players such as Bernard Odum, Charles Sherrell, Boosty Collins, and of course Fred Thomas

[@cardboardbox9977]

"Keep the FUNK rolling" - thats my new catch phrase for 2019

[@leroyharper4513]

Fred Thomas FUNK Royalty

[@gabrielcaplan6887]

you, too Funky Leroy Harper!

[@SoulOnTopJB]

Fred Thomas = *LEGEND*

[@charlesvickers9396]

Toured with Mr. Brown and the Soul Generals on 7 continents as tech dir mixing FOH. Mr. Fred is without exception one of the finest Musicians on the Planet! I’m 71 years old and still find my self smiling at all the Great memories I have of this time of my life. Mr. Fred Thomas is a Real living Legend and will and can transport you back to a time when the Music could and would Rock you to the core! Best Wishes Mr. Fred......

[@michaeldennett1735]

playing in Antartica must have been epic

[@MrNathan791]

I've always loved the funk coming from JB's band. Those guys was tight and to hear how JB ran a tight ship; I can see why. James Brown was the creator of funk music from way back in the '60's.

[@mikechecka292]

Mr. Fred Thomas is one of a kind. Cool cat and funky as they come.

[@NSiahsBassWorld]

Thoroughly enjoyed.

[@joshuaizzo8893]

took me a while to get around to it but this guy is pretty much my favorite player

[@rome1205]

We taught the world how to groove .Right On!!!

[@irissloan9431]

One of my best friends. Lives 5 houses down the block from me in Brooklyn. Excellent teacher too

[@rogerdodger8415]

I never knew this man, or about him, but MANY TIMES, I commented on the phenomenal base line on a JB song.

[@neocollective]

How cool to listen to these stories and knowledge from this incredible musician...and what a lovely guy he is !! :)

[@dkapone]

Love this Brother and his style........looking like Gil Scott.. Peace.

[@bassmanx357]

Great interview!

[@bobwright9516]

Freddie's a cool dude for sure

[@BRICTV]

And that's the double truth.

[@judymcgaugh6480]

Excuse me my bad, 33 years behind James Brown, I wanted to correct my mistake because any man that can get FUNKY with JB for so long needs my respect to get the record straight...RIP JAMES BROWN , THE GODFATHER..

[@jamesgraham3116]

I love this guy.

[@darkabyss83]

that's my dude..just seen him tonight fire

[@Nedwin]

What an amazing guy Fred is! Love him.

[@ldbass62]

Nice interview!

[@reginaldstrong6514]

These guys are MY real life superheroes.

[@jimmiehunt6433]

Would love to hear more of Fred

[@iamLexxKelsey]

It's a new vid of him performing this year

[@gabrielcaplan6887]

@@iamLexxKelsey nice interview here kzbin.info/www/bejne/j57CgZSbp86rgK8

[@defmaster88]

I love this interview!

[@EricBlackmonGuitar]

$50 per bad note. No way I could afford to play in James Brown's band.

[@ermiastshuva9758]

And that’s equivalent to $400 in TODAY’s money... ridiculous smh lol

[@TheLfunk77]

The bassline for sex machine was created by and originally played by the one and only Bootsy Collins when he was in the band

[@roberthorton6619]

And he made that bass talk

[@steveburchfield5576]

i heard a funny story from mike lawler who played with james and the allman bros. he said james kept a small lockbox on his private jet that was very special to him. mike was flying with james once to play at a sporting event. james called for his private box and it turned out to have candy bars in it . sweet,i think he shared some.

[@todmatthew8816]

Legend 4 ever

[@Emanual0607]

Fantastic!

[@noblehillministerprophet8689]

Great video thank you

[@andyokus4930]

I played with Teddy Washington and Robert Berry for 3 yrs. James' trumpet and guitarist. I heard some stories!

[@ryanspeed4671]

Interesting, I can only imagine!!

[@ShortFuseFighting]

you know a cats old school when hes playing with his thumb

[@julie3025]

That was after the great Bootsy Collins Bootsy Collins started with him when he was just 19 years old and he said do anything you want but start on the one .It was a great interview with Bootsy Collins talking about his days with playing for the Godfather of Soul

[@mikelawct]

AWESOME!

[@jerryday9838]

Thanks for the video.very informing.i thought Fred was a trumpet player.he tore the good foot up MAN!. didn't take no prisoners.

[@oRuTRa45]

Nah, there was trombonist Fred Wesley, and then this gentleman here.

[@SheWhoComesAtNight]

I believe both of them are mentioned in “Doing it to The Death (Funky Good Time).”

[@forestc6014]

Keep some Steve up in that line. ❤️

[@gnaturalone1135]

gotta keep that funk rollin.

[@lincolnmicrophonellc]

Bless up 🙏 need to get out there to see at least 1 time

[@wmdbassplayer]

I know the guitar player and sax player from those live shots. Played with them in the Alex LoDico Ensemble. Husband and wife, Gabriel and Kaori. She is a monster!

[@gabrielcaplan6887]

what's up, my Larry! Just seeing all these posts on Fred's video from a while ago. They did a nice piece here on Mr. Thomas.

[@blujay2084]

Nice .. the $50 fine is a great story. Any idea what's playing on the screen behind the band from about 2:38 to 2:51? You could say that it caught my attention.

[@gabrielcaplan6887]

that's something one of the owner's of the bar, Freddy's, put together in his video collages. His name is Donald. ha ha! Yeah, it went well with the music.

[@oza8578]

You can hear him gruntin' as he's playing Sex Machine to the interviewer. That's how you phunk it! Lol

[@StanislavPatashin]

greatest band ever

[@carolinejobe9346]

brilliant bass line in Sex Machine

[@brotherem1]

Legendary

[@stevesewall]

privilege to watch this, thanks

[@philllipattidore2522]

That's cool to hear you

[@tagacale1733]

This is a music masterclass period. Old cats know, the groove is king. These young cats these days ought to learn

[@jamesfranklin8269]

Awesome 👍

[@louisgreen3915]

I live his solo at the end of More Peas. Then James Brown ses "Chunk Jab...Jab Chunk" and Jabo comes back in wid the beat. The groove is so laid back and funky and utterly irresistible. Ive been listening to this for over 30 years now. Word of advice though, get a good sound system and avoid mp3's if you can. Just my opinion.

[@wysefavor]

James browns dancing tricks 🕺🏽 was a big reason all his songs were a hit, no matter the instrument

[@djumpfarda]

No it was a combination

[@ibromeo9682]

damn he doing things without any effort you know these men were extremely talented

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

love it!!

[@highlanderdetroit5370]

GREAT !!!

[@barryshantz5573]

James Brown was the greatest nobody can even come close to this genius

[@donsolis12]

Lmao! Good foot bass line was weird but funky as hell to me.

[@bugsycline3798]

Is fred available for hire?

[@rondmc44]

As a multi-instrumentalist (guitarist at heart), it is hard to sing lead vocals and play bass and lead guitar (not rhythm) at the same time....

[@ryanspeed4671]

Awesome!! It's very intriguing to hear these stories..

[@tyronerobinson9239]

i enjoyed it

[@GregFoster-hm3hr]

Mr James brown band is in their own rank no one dare can duplicate the magic and heart and life 🧬🧬 James brown is a King 👑 👑 all good

[@josedefreitasnetofreitas6732]

MUSICIAN EXCELLENT, SENSATIONAL BASSIST CONGRATULATION. JAMES BROWN EXTRAORDINARY WAS BECAUSE HE HAD EXCELLENT MUSICIANS. TO REMEMBER: GET ON THE GOOD FOOT. SOLO BASS.

[@josemariadasilva5411]

os musicos de james brown sao mostros imcoparaveis

[@rayburton4867]

Bernard odum is the true bass master! Listen to the original cold sweat recording

[@thomasforsythe7256]

Always wondered who played bass on Cold Sweat. Funkiest jam I ever heard

[@gabrielcaplan6887]

Bernard is great! A great period. But come on? One is the true bass master over the other? 😀

[@johnstoner666]

Hell yeah

[@oRuTRa45]

Friendly Fred!

[@gabrielcaplan6887]

that's right!

[@Tubulous123]

Yes!!!! Thank you!!!!

[@kylechristian7232]

I had The Distinct pleasure of Sharing the same Stage with This Gentleman in 2015 with Chris Rob at Marcus Garvey Park James Brown tribute Show

[@surlawsymonds8957]

What is that in the background flexing a foot while the bass band leads

[@jewellmendes1496]

That’s deep🧐👍🏿

[@archiejackson2315]

He s aged well

[@martian9999]

James Brown fined his bass player $50.00 for overstepping the last note while Quincy Jones was watching? That's nothing. Mark E. Smith fined a musician 60 Pounds for eating salad.

[@SheWhoComesAtNight]

Back then, those fines were nothing to sneeze at. They were heavy on those musicians pockets.

[@chrisbellevue]

That's $50! I got to get ya!

[@immelvan6529]

"HEY FRED THOMAS"

[@BuddyBoo123]

MIND POWER

[@Rasbiff]

Does *everybody* who has played with James Brown know how to imitate James Brown?

[@Kassiusday]

Rasbiff AM NOT SURE WHAT I KNOW THAT THE WAY OF ALL INSTRUMENTIST PLAY IS THE WAY JAMES BROWN WILL PLAY THAT INSTRUMENT IF HE WOULD PLAY HIMSELF !!! HORNS DRUMS GUITARS even KEYBORADS !!! So there is a TYPICAL WAY TO PLAY ANY INSTRUMENT THAT ANYONE WD RECOGNISE THIS is IT ///// THIS IS JAMES B!!!!UNIQUE MUSICIAN AND TALENT THE KING soul brother no 1 !! JAMES BROWN !!

[@IkeFarI]

Thanks for the video and the comments : Good vibes ! @KassiusKLAY --> I think that here, we are talking about James Brown way of speaking. And, the impressions of his spoken voice ! @Rasbiff, you are right : I've also noticed that ... By the way, if you like this video ; one good advice : Watch the TV Show : "Mike Judge Presents: Tales from the Tour Bus". 🙂

[@gabrielcaplan6887]

@@IkeFarI i've done a few shows with former members of the James Brown Band (and been Fred's guitarist for 15 years)...yes, a lot of them do the voice when they are recounting stories. It is amazing!

[@boogiegirl4276]

FUNK comes natural for the JB's- Fred "Nail thumb"Thomas R.I.P 😊

[@kincamell2]

Heaven Yes

[@andrewgillis8572]

two words DAVID WESTON who could imitate Bootsy & made lines work some of the fastest tyempi JB ever called - Bodyheat/Look At Them Cakes/Eyesight among Weston's aazing stuff

[@richardsears1919]

Nice- James Brown had a friend of mines van towed away from the stage door at the Agora in Cols Ohio -( My friends band was opening for him that night.) He ( JB) paid to have it released from the impound lot too ! My friend went in and talked to Mr Brown and explained he didn't have the cash for the impound etc-- Mr Brown and he and his buddies played it up like they were going to kick his ass then they all laughed about it and he gave my friend the cash to get his van out. James Brown was cool that way I guess.

[@shagw4286]

To play with James, you had to be obedient. I love James, but not only was he not paying people properly, he was fining them all the time too. Bobby Byrd talked about that, and it was about money that James loss Maceo and Fred, then Bootsy and his crew came on board, then they left.

[@joconnorwi]

amen

[@MrFavino07]

jehaaaa Mr..Thomas..