Billy Bass of Parliament-Funkadelic Dies at 75

Billy Bass Nelson, Founding Bassist for Parliament-Funkadelic, Dies at 75

Billy Bass Nelson, the original bassist for Parliament-Funkadelic, died on Saturday, February 1, 2026, at the age of 75. The news was announced on the Facebook account of Parliament-Funkadelic frontman George Clinton, who stated, “Rest in eternal peace and funk.”

Born William Nelson, Jr. On January 28, 1951, Nelson was a key figure in the formation of the influential funk collective. He first connected with George Clinton and other musicians while working at a barbershop in Plainfield, New Jersey. They initially formed a doo-wop vocal group called the Parliaments, with the ambition of signing with Motown Records.

The Parliaments released several singles in the late 1960s, achieving notable success with “(I Wanna) Testify” in 1967, which reached Number 20 on the pop chart and Number Three on the R&B chart. Their subsequent single, “All Your Goodies Are Gone,” showcased the group’s experimentation with psychedelic sounds.

Nelson played a crucial role in shaping the band’s instrumental lineup. According to Dave Thompson’s book Funk, he suggested hiring a rhythm section to avoid reliance on house bands during tours. He also recommended guitarist Eddie Hazel, whose “Maggot Brain” solo would become a celebrated piece of the band’s repertoire. Nelson initially played guitar before transitioning to bass, receiving encouragement and guidance from James Jamerson.

George Clinton once described Nelson’s playing style as blending “the Motown flavor with the aggressive rock attitude,” as noted by Premier Guitar. Nelson was also known for his contributions to the band’s distinctive visual style, famously appearing in a diaper and combat boots at one show after growing tired of being referred to as the “baby” of the band.

In 1967, a dispute with their record label, Revilot, led the group to rebrand themselves as Funkadelic, a name reportedly suggested by Nelson. This change was necessary because Revilot claimed ownership of the Parliaments name.

Nelson played bass on Funkadelic’s first three albums: Funkadelic (1970), Free Your Mind … and Your Ass Will Follow (1970), and Maggot Brain (1971). He also contributed lead vocals to at least one song on each of these albums. He further played bass on Parliament’s debut album, Osmium (1970), and guitar on Up for the Down Stroke (1974).

Nelson departed from the band due to a financial disagreement with George Clinton, according to Clinton’s website. He later joined the Temptations for a period before rejoining P-Funk for a session that produced “Better by the Pound,” which appeared on Let’s Take It to the Stage (1975). He also received credit for “Blackbelt Thumpasauric Bass” on Tales of Kidd Funkadelic (1976) and contributed to further Parliament and Funkadelic albums through the end of the 1970s.

Following his second departure, Nelson collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including the Commodores, Fishbone, Jermaine Jackson, Lionel Richie, and Smokey Robinson. He also played on solo albums by fellow P-Funk members such as Eddie Hazel, Ruth Copeland, and Bernie Worrell.

In the 1990s, Nelson led a group called O.G. Funk, releasing the single “I Wanna Know” in 1991 and the album Out of the Dark in 1994. He rejoined P-Funk in the same year and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Parliament-Funkadelic in 1997.

In 2016, during an appearance on the radio program The Soul Show, Nelson highlighted three songs he played on with Eddie Hazel: Funkadelic’s “Hit It and Quit It” and “Super Stupid” from Maggot Brain, and the Temptations’ “Shakey Ground” from A Song for You. When the interviewer described “Shakey Ground” as the Temptations’ “psychedelic soul era,” Nelson corrected him, proudly stating, “Well, Motown called it the ‘Funkadelic Era.’”