""r1 JJ '''

released," says Jeff,
who also has a state-
of-the-art studio in his
new home, where he
is working on a
smooth jazz album"
that his other projects
keep delaying.
"When I was out in
L.A. and [Jeff] was
already back here, we
tried to do our work
over the Internet send-
ing MP3s, and it
worked OK because we
know what each other
wants," says Marky
Jeff and Linda Bass: "He's helped out a lot of people quietly and has no interest in seeking
Bass.
credit," says Linda of her husband.
"But now that we're
back in the same
"I moved back [to Detroit] and skipped the whole
place, it works 100 times better. We work with our
dating game," he says happily.
manager, Joel Martin, and Marshall's here all the
"Here I am, a Jewish boy, 41 years old, producing
time.
rap, recently remarried, with a baby on the way (one
"Even with the success we've had, we still continue
that will also keep him home from the Oscars).
to
work just as hard now as we ever did, recording
Team Effort
"With the business and the baby, it's a whole differ-
music and looking for talent.
"It's a whole team effort to make this thing what it's
ent world than it used to be," Bass says.
"We've got the whole group back together and it's
"It's more important to be with my son than my
become," Bass adds.
great. We're one big happy family.
career, and I'm happier here than in California," he
"On the Slim Shady .LP, I was there from the
"Jeff's brilliant," adds Marky. "We each have what
says, mentioning Jacob's recent bar mitzvah at
beginning, but on The Eminem Show, Marshall took
we do. He does the music and I do
Temple Emanu-El in Oak Park. (At Jeff's bar mitz-
on the bigger responsibility of
more of the technical end and" themix. vah, his mother reveals, the future music impresario
[most of the] production, while
I trust what he does, and he trusts
wore a blue, crushed velvet seersucker suit, white
I submitted the music.
what
I do. It's a perfect situation."
shoes and "the biggest blue bow-tie you ever saw.")
"He's getting good at delegat-
Success hasn't changed either one of
Clothes are less important these days. "A furrier
ing to his musicians, whoever
her sons, says Elaine Bass, "except to
once told me, 'You really need to have this [fur]
they are, and he is learning
enhance their lives. We all take it in
with the lifestyle you have,'" Jeff Bass recalls with a
good production values.
stride. But I'm happy to kvell about
laugh. "It was a good line but didn't make the sale."
"[Now], I just give him
them."
While clearly pleased with his success, it's talking
music and that's it. I have no .
about his family that makes his eyes light up.
control of his lyrics and I don't
Though with the baby coming they're not going any-
know what he is doing with
Family First
where for now, he and Linda enjoy the freedom to trav-
what I give him. I lay down a
But, Jeff says, his most important col-
el that success has brought. But, "for the most part," he
bunch of music in my studio
laboration these days is his 2001 mar-
says, "it just means bier toys; it's all relative."
with just an engineer, and send
riage to Linda Karson, who is expecting
Bass doesn't follow the Detroit music scene. This
it to him."
their first child, a boy, in early March.
homeboy would just as soon stay at home.
A case in point is the Oscar-
Sitting down together at the piano
"I don't know any of the local bands because I
nominated hit single:Tose
to
play a duet of "Heart and Soul,"
don't
like the clubs and don't go to bars. I never got
Yourself," from 8 Mile.
Eminem: "He's the modern-day
Linda keeps up the steady rhythm
into it. I do studio work and hang out with my fam-
Bass liked the movie, calling
Shakespeare," says Jeff Bass.
while Jeff jazzes up the melody. It's an
ily. Music is just my career."
it "a rap version of Rocky.
arrangement that seems to work for
"What Jeffrey does for a living really doesn't come
(While up for an Oscar, the
them on many levels.
song and album were ineligible for this year's
into play in our marriage," says Linda of her hus-
"I had a crush on him when I was 14," says Linda. band, who has never missed a doctor's appointment
Grammys because of when they were released.)
"Jeffrey
was always genuine, goodhearted and consis- during her pregnancy.
"With 'Lose Yourself,' I had no idea it was a song
tently
nice
to everyone; no matter who they were, he
I wrote," says Bass, explaining how he got a call
For Jeffrey, "it's me, Jacob and the baby." ❑
took them at face value.
from a friend telling him he had a No. 1 hit before
"He's still like that, kind of a silent mitzvah doer.
he even realized that the music was among material
The Grammy Awards airs 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb.
He's
helped out a lot of people quietly and has no
he had sent to Eminem.
23, on CBS.
interest in seeking credit."
The Academy Awards airs 8:30 p.m. Sunday,
Jeff and Linda had remained friends since child-
March 23, on ABC.
hood but lost contact when Jeff moved to L.A.
Happy At Home
Eminem performs Saturday, July 12, at
But
their
families
were
close,
and
after
Elaine
Bass
Marky moved back to Detroit last July, and the Bass
Detroit's
Ford Field, with special guests Missy
Jewish
saw Linda's engagement announcement in the
Brothers are together again.
Elliott
and
50 Cent. $59.50. Tickets are now
in
1999
and
told
Jeff
about
it,
he
called
Linda
They've built, and are currently expanding, a new stu- News
on
sale;
call
(248) 645-6666.
to offer congratulations.
dio in Ferndale called 54 Sound, also referred to as FBT
For more about the Bass Brothers, go to
She
told
him
the
engagement
had
ended,
and
she
(Funky Bass Team)-East, and maintain their LA studio,
http://vvvvw.8milestyle.com .
and Jeff, who was separated from his first wife at the
FBT-West.
time, rekindled their friendship.
"[Marky and I] have new stuff that is not yet

there is a message, if the rapper has something to
say, it's OK. A good song can be performed in any
style, but it's got to be a good song."
And Bass is certain that Eminem has something to
say. Getting up from his chair to get a copy of
Eminem's book Angry Blonde, full of pictures of the
rap star and the lyrics and stories he's written, Bass
hands it over as evidence of genius.
"Look at the first two albums, read those lyrics.
It's a story from beginning to end. He's the modern-
day Shakespeare," says Bass. "No ifs, ands or buts;
that's what he is.
"But when I look at him, I still see him as
Marshall Mathers, as a 15-year-old kid."
Bass, who carries his guitar as he walks around his
home, "just in case I think of something," feels
those who take offense at Eminem should lighten up
and listen up.
"If people can't take a joke, what can you do? The
lyrics are coming from a kid who never finished
high school. [People] shouldn't take them so serious-
ly. The more shocking, the more it sells."

"

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2/21
2003

63