On January 31, 2026, William “Billy Bass” Nelson Jr. died aged 75. He was musician (bass, guitar), recorded and performed with The Commodores, Chairmen of the Board, Fishbone, Jermaine Jackson, Parlet, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, and Lenny Williams, but was best known as the original bassist for Funkadelic. In 1997, he was inducted in to the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” (together with the other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.)
Tag Archives: Fishbone
Fishbone: Give a Monkey a Brain and He’ll Swear He’s the Center of the Universe

On May 23, 1993, “Columbia” label released “Give a Monkey a Brain and He’ll Swear He’s the Center of the Universe”, the fourth Fishbone studio album. It was recorded in 1993, at “One on One” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Terry Date, Angelo Moore, Walter A. Kibby II, Kendall Jones, Chris Dowd, John Bigham, John Norwood Fisher and Philip “Fish” Fisher.
Personnel:
- Kendall Jones – vocals, lead guitar
- John Bigham – guitar, keyboards
- Chris Dowd – vocals, keyboards, trombone
- Angelo Moore – vocals, saxophone
- Walter A. Kibby II – vocals, trumpet
- John Norwood Fisher – vocals, bass
- Philip “Fish” Fisher – drums
- Branford Marsalis – saxophone
- Kristen Vigard – backing vocals
Track listing:
- Swim – John Bigham
- Servitude – Kendall Jones
- Black Flowers – Chris Dowd
- Unyielding Conditioning – Kendall Jones
- Properties of Propaganda (Fuk This Shit On Up) – John Norwood Fisher
- The Warmth of Your Breath – John Norwood Fisher, Angelo Moore
- Lemon Meringue – John Norwood Fisher
- They All Have Abandoned Their Hopes – John Norwood Fisher, Angelo Moore, Chris Wood
- End the Reign – Kendall Jones
- Drunk Skitzo – Angelo Moore, John Norwood Fisher
- No Fear – John Bigham
- Nutt Megalomaniac – John Norwood Fisher