Colin Bass
The steadfast bassist and vocalist who became Camel's rhythmic anchor and later forged a unique musical bridge to Indonesia.
Born 1951 (age 75)·English musician·Birthday: May 4·Baby Boomers
Biography
Colin Bass embodies the spirit of the dedicated musical journeyman, whose path has woven through progressive rock and global sounds with equal authenticity. He joined the band Camel in 1979, just as their classic period was transitioning, and provided the steady, melodic low end that would become the foundation of their sound for decades. More than a sideman, his voice and songwriting grew integral, especially during the band's long hiatus when he helped preserve its legacy. Parallel to this, his curiosity led him to the eclectic, genre-defying collective 3 Mustaphas 3 in the 1980s, an experience that opened his ears to world music. This fascination culminated in a deeply personal project under the alias Sabah Habas Mustapha, recording in Indonesia. The song 'Denpasar Moon' from his first album became an unexpected smash hit there, making him a unlikely star in a country half a world away from his prog-rock roots. Bass has sustained a dual identity: the reliable pillar of a beloved British band and a respectful, innovative explorer of Southeast Asian musical traditions.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Colin was born in 1951, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Colin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1951
#1 Movie
Quo Vadis
Best Picture
An American in Paris
#1 TV Show
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Colin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1951Born
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1956Started school
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1964Became a teenager
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1967Could drive
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1969Could vote
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Turned 21
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1981Turned 30
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 40
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 50
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 60
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 70
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 75 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Has been the bassist and vocalist for the progressive rock band Camel for over four decades, co-writing and performing on albums like 'Stationary Traveller' and 'Rajaz'.
- His song 'Denpasar Moon', recorded as Sabah Habas Mustapha, became a major hit in Indonesia in the 1990s.
- Was a core member of the innovative world music group 3 Mustaphas 3 from 1984 to 1992.
- Released multiple solo albums that blend Western songwriting with Indonesian musical influences and instrumentation.
Did You Know?
His stage name Sabah Habas Mustapha was playfully derived from the 3 Mustaphas 3 ethos of 'musical transglobalism'.
He studied at the Canterbury College of Art before pursuing music full-time.
During Camel's hiatus, he worked as a radio producer for the BBC World Service.
He is fluent in Indonesian and has collaborated extensively with musicians from that country.
“The bass line is the anchor; it must be felt, not heard.”
