“My main memory is thinking if I stood still for too long, I’d get hit with a beer can”: Thundercat on getting his start with hardcore punk legends Suicidal Tendencies – and how that developed his bass chops

Stephen Lee Bruner of Thundercat performs before the Red Hot Chili Peppers at MetLife Stadium on August 17, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Thundercat is one of the biggest names in jazz, fusion and R&B bass guitar – but he cut his teeth playing a completely different kind of music.

With four solo albums under his belt, and a repertoire that includes collaborators with Kendrick Lamar, Erykah Badu, Mac Miller, and Gorillaz, to name a select few, Thundercat is far removed from his early days as part of the Californian crossover thrash legends, Suicidal Tendencies.