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The Bass Player
£9.99
The Bass Player
Anthem for the Innocent
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About the Ebook
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.
Why You'll Love This Ebook
- Discover stephen Travers has lived two lives
- Explore his first was as a young bass player, immersed in music, friendship, and the thrill of gigs on the road with The Miami Showband
- Gain expertise in Stephen Travers and The Miami Showband
- Learn from proven expertise and experience
Reviews
'From the wreckage of the Miami Showband massacre, Stephen Travers is a voice of hope and compassion for all' - Seamus Mallon, Good Friday Agreement key negotiator
'When Travers isn't affectionately recalling his love of music, he's making an eloquent declaration for the importance of truth and the preservation of memory' - Irish Examiner
Shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards Biography of the Year
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.
Publication Details
ISBN (EPUB): 9781788857826
Publication Date: 02 October 2025
Pages: 304
Format: Ebook (EPUB)
Publisher: Birlinn
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