Rob Jones (14 February 1964 – 31 July 1993), known by his nickname The Bass Thing, or by some as Bob Jones, was an English musician. He was a founding member and original

bassist A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a Bass (instrument), bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboar ...

for

The Wonder Stuff The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band. Originally based in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, England, the band's first lineup released four albums and nearly 20 singles and EPs, enjoying considerable chart and live success in th ...

, based in

Stourbridge Stourbridge is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the West Midlands, England, situated on the River Stour. Historically in Worcestershire, it was the centre of British glass making during the Industrial Revolution. The 20 ...

(

West Midlands West or Occident is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some ...

, England). Jones was born in

Kingswinford Kingswinford is a town of the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley in the English West Midlands, situated west-southwest of central Dudley. In 2011 the area had a population of 25,191, down from 25,808 at the 2001 Census. The current economic focus ...

, near

Dudley Dudley is a large market town and administrative centre in the county of West Midlands, England, southeast of Wolverhampton and northwest of Birmingham. Historically an exclave of Worcestershire, the town is the administrative centre of the ...

in 1964. He joined

Miles Hunt Miles Stephen Hunt (born 29 July 1966) is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist. He fronts the alternative rock band The Wonder Stuff. Early life His father was a union official for the TGWU. In the 1970s, his father was based at Derby, a ...

, Malcolm Treece, and

Martin Gilks Martin Richard Gilks (2 March 1965 – 3 April 2006) was an English musician. He was a founder member and original drummer for the Wonder Stuff, based in Stourbridge ( West Midlands, England). Gilks who was born in Stourbridge, was originally ...

to form the

Wonder Stuff The Wonder Stuff are a British alternative rock band. Originally based in Stourbridge in the West Midlands, England, the band's first lineup released four albums and nearly 20 singles and EPs, enjoying considerable chart and live success in t ...

in March 1986 and recorded the singles "A Wonderful Day" and "Red Berry Joy Town". Jones played on the debut album ''

The Eight Legged Groove Machine ''The Eight Legged Groove Machine'' is the debut album by the Wonder Stuff from August 1988. Track listing All tracks composed by The Wonder Stuff # "Red Berry Joy Town" 2:48 # "No, for the 13th Time" 3:02 # "It's Yer Money I'm After, Baby" 2 ...

'' and the follow-up '' Hup''. Following disagreements within the group, he left in December 1989, and went to America as soon as the group had played the final night of a sellout 3 night residence at

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands in England. It is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with a population of 1.145 million in the city proper, 2.92 million in the West ...

's Aston Villa Leisure Centre. He married Michelle Robinson, Sid Vicious' last girlfriend, who had changed her name to Jessica Ronson in the late 1980s

After the move to New York he formed another band, The Bridge & Tunnel Crew, singing vocals and playing rhythm guitar, with Jessica sharing the song writin

He died in New York on 31 July 1993, aged 29. The cause of his death is variously recorded as due to heart problems, heart attack, potentially caused by heroin, or drug-related causes. He left behind his mother Mary, brother Trevor, and second wife, Jessica Ronson-Jones

ref name="Room512" /> His body was cremated and ashes were scattered at a number of locations – close to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, near the Parachute Drop at Coney Island and in a flowerbed by the swimming pool at Tammy Wynette's hous

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Rob 1964 births 1993 deaths English male guitarists Male bass guitarists People from Kingswinford Deaths by heroin overdose in New York (state) Cocaine-related deaths in New York (state) Musicians from the West Midlands (county) 20th-century English musicians 20th-century English bass guitarists The Wonder Stuff members 20th-century British male musicians Drug-related deaths in New York City