© 2025 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

From Peter Gabriel's 'Sledgehammer' to King Crimson, Tony Levin's bass lines serve the song

You've heard Tony Levin on records by King Crimson, Lou Reed, Stevie Nicks, The Roches. His new solo album is called Bringing It Down to the Bass.
Maura Pimentel
/
AFP via Getty Images
You've heard Tony Levin on records by King Crimson, Lou Reed, Stevie Nicks, The Roches. His new solo album is called Bringing It Down to the Bass.

Tony Levin has appeared on hits by David Bowie, Seal and Peter Gabriel. But the bassist also has an experimental side, which fans have heard in his work with King Crimson. He has just finished a 64-date tour, featuring songs from King Crimson's pivotal 1980s period in a series of concerts called the "Beat Tour."

In this conversation, Levin shares the first words John Lennon said to him ("They tell me you're good; just don't play too many notes") and breaks down how he wrote iconic bass line for the likes of Paul Simon's "Late in the Evening" and Gabriel's "Sledgehammer."

"What I do as a bass player, when I come in, I just listen to that piece of music, and I kind of become a fan of it," Levin says. "You know, I just am there to bask myself in that piece of music."

Copyright 2025 NPR

Eric Deggans is NPR's first full-time TV critic.
With new leaders shaping policies in Michigan and Washington, WKAR remains committed to providing trusted coverage of the changes that impact you. Your support keeps this vital news freely accessible to our community. Donate today to power the reliable journalism you value.