Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo. The coolest bass player ever. Known for his participation as a bass player in Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves. Also worked with Ozzy Osbourne for years. Well, OK… since 2003 he has been the bass player for Metallica, replacing Jason Newsted, who in turn replaced Cliff Burton, who tragically died. Why am I mentioning this last? Well I just like his work in the golden years of Suicidal Tendencies better. In Metallica, in my subjective opinion, Robert lacks the space to reach his full potential… But that’s not the point now.
“This guy has the best face in our business. :-)”
Scott Divine on Robert Trujillo
A little biography
Robert Trujillo was born in Santa Monica on October 23, 1964. He showed his interest in music at an early age. Robert’s mother was an active listener and a big fan of Motown and funk music. Such artists as Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Sly and the Family Stone (whose bass player, by the way, was Larry Graham, the man who gave us the slap technique). Robert himself repeatedly noted that his childhood hero was Jaco Pastorius, who finally made him choose bass guitar.
Listening to Jaco Pastorius for the first time was as incredible as hearing Eddie Van Halen play “Eruption” for the first time. I thought – what kind of instrument is this anyway! I had listened to jazz and fusion before, but Jaco had gone incredibly far beyond the genre. There was funk. There was rock. There was soul here. At the same time, at the same time, in his relationship with music, Jaco was a real punk!”
Robert Trujillo
A film about Jaco Pastorus was released in 2014, with Robert Trujillo as the main producer and screenwriter. He is also the owner of the legendary Bass of Doom, the fretless Jazz Bass Fender guitar with which Pastorius’ entire career is associated.
Suicidal Tendencies and Infectious Grooves
This diversity of musical tastes has undoubtedly given Robert a unique way of thinking. He is not bound by any genre at all. The whole existence of Suicidal Tendencies is an endless metamorphosis, a development… starting as a punk/hardcore band, in the early nineties they were already playing something that could be described as thrash-funk. Trujillo, with his love for both Black Sabbath and jazz, was more than ever needed, bringing with him even more diversity.
This diversity of musical tastes has undoubtedly given Robert a unique way of thinking. He is not bound by any genre at all. The whole existence of Suicidal Tendencies is an endless metamorphosis, a development… starting as a punk/hardcore band, in the early nineties they were already playing something that could be described as thrash-funk. Trujillo, with his love for both Black Sabbath and jazz, was more than ever needed, bringing with him even more diversity.
Robert Trujillo’s playing technique
In terms of technique Robert Trujillo mostly plays with his fingers. If necessary he uses a plectrum. In Metallica line-up slap is inappropriate, but sometimes slips into improvised intros and solos. Also Trujillo has a wonderful three-finger technique, a la Billy Sheehan. He himself explained this by the fact that his father played flamenco guitar a lot when Robert was a child.
Robert Trujillo in Metallica
In 2003, Robert Trujillo became a full member of Metallica, earning a million-dollar contract alone. As a member of the band, he mainly plays Warwick bass guitars, being their endorser for many years. If you wish, you can get yourself a named Warwick by Robert Trujillo straight from Germany. Well, the main thing here is to match your desires with your means!
He has also used Fender, ESP and Yamaha instruments over the years.
As a happy owner of a Fernandes bass, I couldn’t be happier that Robert often uses a Fernandes Gravity bass in his gigs. You can read more about Fernandes.
I think Robert’s arrival should have made Metallica fans happy, as he has greatly enriched the band musically. I’m not a Metallica fan, I don’t really follow and I won’t make it up.
Conclusion
Robert Trujillo has certainly been one of the musicians the world of modern bass guitarism has relied on for over 30 years. Many heavy culture fans pick up a bass for the first time after watching a Metallica concert. It is worth noting that Trujillo is a great showman, which is very important in music. Personally, he visually reminds me of a Neanderthal…))
It’s also impossible not to mention that as a Metallica member Trujillo is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with his predecessors: the tragically departed Cliff Burton and Jason Newsted.
Hey, fellow bassists and musicians overall!
I’m nothing more than just bass player and enthusiastic blogger. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments.
Huge thanks for all crazy people who supports this resource. Keep groovin’!
