One of the best and most prolific and coolest bass players in Rock history, T.M. Stevens, has died. He was 72. His colleague, fellow New Yorker, and musician Ronny Drayton broke the news on social media. Tributes have been pouring in from across all musical genres. Since 2017 T.M. was in a care facility while suffering from dementia. Starting out in the nineteen seventies in New York, T.M. was an early wunderkind on bass and received many accolades from bass and guitar magazines. He was also known for his flamboyant fashion sense and persona. Also known as Shaka Zulu, and fronting his own band also called Shakazooloo, his versatility and talent saw him as a member of his original band Space Cadets, as well as a recording and/or touring member of Pretenders, Steve’ Vai’s solo band for the album Passion and Warfare (also featuring Devin Townsend), his peer Victor Wooten, as well as hit albums from James Brown, Billy Squire, Tina Turner, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Joel, 2Pac, Joe Cocker, Darlene Love, Taylor Dayne, Nona Hendrix, and over 247 credits according to Discogs.com. T.M. was also a fixture on many rock and metal tribute albums over the years. RIP.
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of bassist T.M. Stevens. He was an amazing talent and a wonderful person. (July 28th, 1951 – March 10th, 2024) pic.twitter.com/nPMQa6ihKH
— Bass Magazine (@BassMagOnline) March 11, 2024
T.M. Stevens
That
Is
All
🖤🌹👊🏾— Vernon Reid (@vurnt22) March 11, 2024
We lost another important piece of the low end theory. Mr. T.M. Stevens.😥😭Join me in recognizing one of the Grt8 ones!🫡We toured together in 2011. U will be missed my funk brother.🙏Bootsy baby!!!✊🙏👍 pic.twitter.com/Etk7ffuB7v
— Bootsy Collins (@Bootsy_Collins) March 11, 2024
RIP T.M. Stevens 💔 #TMStevens pic.twitter.com/KIqCaBxp3U
— Morley (@MorleyPedals) March 11, 2024