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David Garcia’s relationship with music began with fear. At eight, a Twisted Sister video sent him running from the room. Curiosity pulled him back. Years later, David walked out of a Metallica concert and told his parents he wanted to stop playing guitar and become a bass player.

More than 30 years and thousands of live shows and studio sessions later, David has become one of Southern California’s most in-demand working bassists. For much of that time, he built a career in operations management while continuing to perform. After moving to Temecula during the pandemic, his phone started ringing as live music returned. Keeping both careers going began affecting his health, so David walked away from his job and made music his full-time work. He calls it one of the most terrifying decisions he has ever made and the best decision he ever made.

In this episode, David shares:

• Why seeing Metallica on January 11, 1992, changed his path
• How he prepared to leave a successful career and pursue music full time
• The work behind learning several hours of material on short notice
• Why he runs through an entire set before leaving for a show
• How his notes for approximately 1,200 songs help him stay prepared
• What he learned from Cheez Whiz, Get Down Party and other SoCal musicians
• Why unfamiliar music and intimidating gigs still excite him
• What success means at 50 when his identity is tied to the strings

Follow David:

Instagram: @feedthebassplayer

Website: FeedTheBassPlayer.com

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