Thankfully, their interview tapes were found some time later!

Hello Mr. Titus. Let's start at the beginning. Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in a small Northern California town called Durham. Durham is mainly a ranching community, with a population of about 800 people. I really loved growing up there. Great people.

At what age did you start playing the bass?
I actually started playing the trumpet first, when I was in the 7th Grade. I liked the trumpet, but I wasn't really playing music. I was just reading the notes they put in front of me. I guess I didn't feel an emotional attachment to the trumpet. It did teach me how to read, though, so it was worth it.

After playing trumpet for a few years, I dropped out of the high school orchestra so I could pursue a new love - the guitar. By this time I was really into KISS, so I worked in the orchards so I could afford to buy a Global Les Paul copy, which I bought through the Sears catalog. That guitar was horrible. The action was high, no one could intonate the bridge and the tone was horrendous…but I loved that guitar!

For a few years I bumped around in several different cover bands playing guitar, but I couldn't solo to save my life. I have taped proof that I was the worst guitarist ever! Even though my solo chops were lame, I could play rhythm guitar pretty well, and I loved locking into a groove. That was more fun than taking a solo.

Are you planning on telling us about when you first started playing bass anytime soon?
Oh yeah, sorry about that. That's a funny story, actually. I was playing guitar in a heavy metal band at the time. The line-up was two guitar players, a bassist and a drummer. Well, a week before a gig the bass player quit, leaving us in a bad position. Since I worked at a guitar store at the time, it was deemed that I should buy a bass and play it in the band, making us a power trio.

That same day I went to work and bought a bass and amp. That night I went home and tried to get to know this new instrument. Then something amazing happen: I pulled out a few Iron Maiden albums, and I was able to play Steve Harris' bass lines note-for-note! This was amazing to me! I had never been able to learn anything on the guitar by ear, and here I was playing along with "Wrath Child" and "Murder in the Rue Morgue"! That really impressed me. I truly believe that I was destined to be a bassist.

So how did that first gig go?
It was incredible! I played all of our songs without making a mistake and I even took a solo! What a rush!

You know, in the audience that night was a working Top 40 band that desperately needed a bass player. After I came off of the stage, they approached me and asked if I would be willing to join their band and go on the road. The money was phenomenal and I jumped at the chance to travel. So after playing bass for a week, I became a touring musician!

How was that experience? Was it a tough adjustment for you?
Yeah, it was tough. After just a few weeks of practicing with the band, I was playing 5 nights a week. That was really hard on my hands. Luckily, after a few weeks my hands got really strong and it seemed that I could play forever.

The best thing about that experience was that I had to learn about sixty Top 40 songs, ranging from Lionel Ritchie to Van Halen. Also, the band had the reputation of playing the songs exactly like the original versions, so it really forced me to get my ear together. Luckily, the band members helped me with harder songs.

Would you then recommend to young bassists to join cover bands?
Absolutely! The education I received from playing in that band was invaluable! It helped my technique, my ear, and my confidence.

What did you do after that band?
After that band, I started gigging as a bassist-for-hire in Chico, California, which is only about 10 miles from Durham. I was playing all of the time and in every kind of band. I played in fusion bands, country bands, wedding bands, etc. I even played electric bass in a community church orchestra (the upright players hated me).

That was a great time for me. I was so busy that I had two amp rigs and would hire a tech to set up a dinner gig for me while I was playing an afternoon show. I think I did over 250 gigs in one year.

That was also the time when I started doing recording sessions.

Let's talk about that. How old were you when you did your first session?
I was 19. After a few successful sessions, I was asked to be the house bassist for Mother's Recording Studio. We did mostly TV and radio spots, with the occasional album project thrown in for good measure.

Doing sessions is a very humbling task. You are under a microscope and become really aware of your technique, timing and tone.

How did you end up attending the Bass Institute of Technology in Hollywood?
I quickly realized that I didn't have the training to reach the next level in my career, so I applied to and was accepted to BIT. And was I ever glad that I did! For a whole year I was able to study with Jeff Berlin, Gary Willis, Steve Bailey, Alexis Sklarevski, Stuart Hamm and many other phenomenal players. I learned more than I would have ever dreamt of, but I also got great referrals to some very high profile gigs.

I graduated March 1990 and was asked to join the BIT staff. For the next 5 years I was a teacher and counselor, which was a tremendous honor for me. Also, I learned a ton from the students! That was like getting a doctoral thesis in electric bass and effective educational methods.

Didn't you begin writing the Creative Explorations article at that time?
Yeah, I did. In late 1992 I approached Jim Roberts, the Editor of Bass Player back then, with the concept for a series of columns that dealt with strengthening your creativity. Jim liked the idea and allowed me to write a monthly column called Creative Explorations. The column gave me a ton of exposure and really helped me with my career. Suddenly, my clinics were sold out and I was getting gig offers from some pretty amazing players.

Like who?
Guitarist Reeves Gabrels, the guitarist with Tin Machine, called me to do a gig in LA. He liked my articles and we ultimately played a 90-minute show…all without rehearsing! We improvised the entire night! It was a great gig and I loved the way Reeves and I created these deep compositions in real time. Reeves is one of the most creative and unique guitarists in the whole world. I love his playing!

What led to your leaving BIT?
While I loved the school, I didn't really care for living in Los Angeles. There were a lot of great playing opportunities, but I just couldn't relax there. Ultimately, I decided to move to Phoenix, AZ and teach privately. I also became more involved in writing more for Bass Player magazine.

When did you record your Warner Bros. instructional videos, Bass Basics 1 and 2?
I recorded both of those videos is one day, which was the day before I left LA for Phoenix. Those videos have been a Godsend! They went on the market in 1995 and have increased in sales every year since. One year, Bass Player magazine voted my videos as one of the Top 25 best bass values, which really helped my sales.

Now, my videos and books are sold worldwide, with the video being overdubbed in several languages! (I would love to watch the Portuguese version!)

How did your relationship with Warwick begin?
In 1993 I was approached by Warwick to endorse their amps. I tried them out for a week or so and fell in love with them. I used them exclusively on all my shows and sessions. They were great amps back then, and they are even better now.

A few months later Warwick asked if I would endorse their basses. I had an endorsement with another company at the time, but I gladly made the switch. I had always wanted to play Warwicks, ever since I first saw Jack Bruce play his Thumb Bass.

What was the first bass that you got from Warwick?
It was a taxi cab yellow high-polish Dolphin Pro I, 4-string. That bass is magical and I still own it. If you are looking for a versatile instrument that records like a dream, then get a Dolphin Pro I. They are incredible!

What other Warwick basses do you own?
Oh, I have some tremendous Warwicks! I have a Streamer Stage I, 5-string bass, a Corvette FNA 4-string, a Fortress 4-string fretless, and a Thumb Neck-Thru 4-string that I got last year.

Is there any particular bass that you play more than the other?
I would have to say it is my new Thumb Neck-Thru. That bass is really incredible. Although I like my other Warwicks, I really like the newer ovangkol necks and the Just-a-Nut II. I think Warwick has made some wonderful improvements over the years, and I can truly say that they are the best basses I have ever played.

So you are the main creative force behind Bass Survival 101?
Yes, I am. The folks at Dana B Goods, who are the exclusive US distributors for Warwick, asked me to create an educational and entertaining addition to their website. I work with Chuck Kossuth, the awesome Warwick webmaster, and together we try to offer a website that will help players of all levels.

What are your future plans for Bass Survival 101?
We pretty much plan to continue to offer lessons, interviews and product spotlights, like we have over the past several months. We strongly encourage visitors of the site to email us suggestions for content, and we have received over 50 suggestions for lessons and interviews. Ultimately, we will probably offer MPEG lessons and maybe some live chats with some of Warwick's most famous players. The sky is the limit.

Well, that is about it for the interview. Would it be okay if my partner and I play your Warwick basses now?
No.

Oh, come on. We will wash our hands first.
No. Why don't you leave now.

Look, I am holding your bass and it is just fi……

And that was they last thing recorded on the tapes. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the reporters.