Tony Levin recently shared the story behind his use of the ‘Funk Fingers’—drumstick-like attachments he uses to perform the bass parts on Peter Gabriel’s Big Time. Speaking with Rick Beato, Levin explained how the idea came from Gabriel himself during rehearsals.
The original recording of Big Time had drummer Jerry Marotta using a drumstick on the bass, but when it came to performing live, Levin had to figure out how to replicate the sound. “I’m practicing every day at soundcheck with one drumstick,” Levin recalls. One day, Gabriel walked by and suggested, “Why don’t you put two drumsticks on your fingers?” Initially taking it as a joke, Levin asked his bass tech, Andy Moore, if they could make it work. After experimenting with velcro grips and rubber tips, the ‘Funk Fingers’ were born.
Despite Gabriel’s initial suggestion, Levin explained that they now have a playful rivalry over whether to use the Funk Fingers live or stick to synth recreations. Levin shared a story from a 2016 tour with Gabriel and Sting, where Sting expressed interest in the bass part. “Sting really liked that part. The bass player in him gravitated towards it,” Levin said. Sting used thumb slaps to play the part while Levin handled the synth, humorously noting, “Peter, do you see this? Sting is playing that part – and you don’t mind when Sting does it!”
Levin’s Funk Fingers have since become a signature part of his performances, adding a unique element to live renditions of Big Time.
