This is a very informative, inspiring book by one of Youtube's favorite Bassists. You're probably here to buy the book because you've seen this guy play, teach, & smile his way into your musical heart. If you're not a musician, this book is still ripe with an inspiring and very human life & you will probably seek to pick up an instrument soon. If you're a stone cold music snob, prepare to have your horizons broadened by Andy's infinite diversity and open mindedness that comes at you like an international ambassador of Unity, Individuality & Peace. Musicians (Bassists and Non-Bassists alike) prepare for a relate-able epic journey of "Practice, Practice, Practice", meeting heroes, learning from everyone (regardless of genre), taking big leaps and risks and achieving lifelong dreams while remaining humble, loving, & appreciative of all encounters. If you're one of my Bass Brothers or Sisters, you don't need me to tell you to read this book. Victory Wooten, Lee Sklar, Robert Trujillo and 9 pages of living legends will tell you THIS BOOK SHOULD NOT BE PASSED UP!!!

I had the pleasure of seeing Andy in a bass workshop when he came to Hobart in May 2014 and so I heard a couple of the stories Andy tells in his book at that clinic. In the flesh, he is exactly as the revered musicians who write in his foreword describe him; funny, passionate, a great bass player and committed to his music.

Indeed, the foreword is written by a veritable who’s who of the bass playing world. Also, Andy endorses Warwick basses and as such references to the products are littered through the book - but having said that, this book isn’t a sales pitch - I think it represents the appreciation Andy has for his bass gear. I’ll be honest, I don’t know a single bass player who doesn’t love his (or her) gear.

In his book Andy talks about the ups and downs of his life experiences that empowered him to grow and develop into who he is today. He discusses key life events including his first bass (if I remember from the clinic I went to - the same as me - a Hondo Precision Bass copy…!). He also talks about his life growing up in a rural area and his love of the great outdoors.

Like me, Andy is an Iron Maiden fan. Unlike me, he loves jazz. Andy gives an excellent insight on meeting his bass playing heroes and how those meetings influenced his life; how gracious and generous these mega-stars were with their time to a young impressionable bass player. The most important message in Andy’s book (that’s missing from many musician biography bios) is the importance of the bass player’s rhythm and groove; to support the song you’re playing.

I think ‘Passion and Action’ is a great book for musicians, bass players and anyone who likes a good, honest account of a working musician’s life.

Pete Diggins
27 July 2014