Sad news… former Slave front man Steve Arrington just posted this on Twitter:
@Steve_Arrington: “My friend since high school has passed early this morning. The great Mark Adams bass player of Slave. I can’t believe it.”
Mark was the first member of the band most of us heard as the teenage bass prodigy kicked of their monster first single “Slide”. It was that funky bassline that propelled the song to the number 1 spot on the R&B charts.
Adams is underrated as a bass hero. His creative, rhythmic lines powered the Ohio group’s dynamic dancefloor-shaking Stellar Fungk.
Adams explained his approach in an interview with Bass Player Magazine: “I’ve been fortunate in Slave that the band has always given me space to be a melody instrument and to lead the groove. I talk through my bass and step forward like a lead singer riffing…”
I remember pulling out those old Slave records when I was first learning to play the bass. Adams’ work offers endless lessons in how to utilize the bass guitar as a lead instrument without getting in the way of the vocals and lyrics.
There’s no word yet on the cause of death, but our thoughts and prayers go out to the Slave family.