Notes From An Artist

A Conversation With Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Suzanne Vega)

June 08, 2021 David C Gross and Tom Semioli
Notes From An Artist
A Conversation With Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Suzanne Vega)
Show Notes

To rock bass players who came of age in the late 1970s and early 1980s Bruce Thomas was the main Attraction! He is among the outstanding bass players of Britain’s golden era of singer-songwriter “pub rockers” – which somehow got categorized as “punk.” Akin to Norman Watt-Roy (Ian Dury & The Blockheads), Graham Maby (Joe Jackson Band) and Andrew Bodner (Graham Parker & The Rumour) – Bruce Thomas exuded a forceful melodic style and sound that made him instantly recognizable during his tenure with Elvis Costello. Outside of EC and The Attractions, Thomas anchored seminal sides with Suzanne Vega, and The Pretenders to cite a few; jammed with Peter Green, was offered the bass chair in Pink Floyd, learned a valuable lesson in rock stardom from Pete Townshend, and has penned autobiographical, biographical (Bruce Lee,) and fictional tomes worthy of your exploration.

Bruce Thomas Playlist