The Bass Player (Paperback)

Stephen Travers

ISBN 10: 1848408331 / ISBN 13: 9781848408333

Published by New Island Books, Dublin, 2025

About this Item

Paperback. Stephen Travers has lived two lives. His first was as a young bass player, immersed in music, friendship, and the thrill of gigs on the road with The Miami Showband. But on July 31, 1975, that life shattered on the A1 road at Buskhill in County Down when a Loyalist gang ambushed the band, murdering three of his friends in an attack that would become one of the darkest moments of The Troubles. In the quiet aftermath, in a nearby field, Stephen awoke to his second life as a survivor.This second life led him down unexpected paths: as an author, composer, producer, and international speaker on peace and reconciliation. Over decades, he worked to support other survivors, challenge suspected state collusion, and seek justice in a landmark case against the British Ministry of Defence. Yet, despite these achievements, Stephen found himself drawn back to that field, revisiting the young man he had been moments before the massacre searching for closure, a reunion with his former self.Now, fifty years later, he has written The Bass Player, a love letter and eulogy for that first life. This book is both a deeply personal reckoning and a song for all those silenced by conflict, offering a path toward healing and, finally, peace. Stephen Travers has lived two lives. His first was as a young bass player, immersed in music, friendship, and the thrill of gigs on the road with The Miami Showband. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9781848408333

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Bass Player (Paperback)
• Publisher: New Island Books, Dublin
• Publication Date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1848408331
• ISBN 13: 9781848408333
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Tells Stephen Travers’ journey from surviving the Miami Showband massacre to seeking justice and healing.

Shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards Biography of the Year

Stephen Travers has lived two lives. His first was as a young bass player, immersed in music, friendship, and the thrill of gigs on the road with The Miami Showband. But on July 31, 1975, that life shattered on the A1 road at Buskhill in County Down when a Loyalist gang ambushed the band, murdering three of his friends in an attack that would become one of the darkest moments of The Troubles. In the quiet aftermath, in a nearby field, Stephen awoke to his second life—as a survivor.

This second life led him down unexpected paths: as an author, composer, producer, and international speaker on peace and reconciliation. Over decades, he worked to support other survivors, challenge suspected state collusion, and seek justice in a landmark case against the British Ministry of Defence. Yet, despite these achievements, Stephen found himself drawn back to that field, revisiting the young man he had been moments before the massacre—searching for closure, a reunion with his former self.

Now, fifty years later, he has written The Bass Player, a love letter and eulogy for that first life. This book is both a deeply personal reckoning and a song for all those silenced by conflict, offering a path toward healing and, finally, peace.

About the Author

Stephen Travers is an author, composer, producer and international speaker. In 2019, he co-founded Truth and Reconciliation Platform (TaRP) which provides a space for survivors of the Troubles, regardless of their social, religiousor political background, to speak about their experiences. He now lives in Cork, where he continues with his writing and music.