Barend "The Bear" Courbois - Michael Schenker Group

Barend “The Bear” Courbois is an award-winning Dutch bassist renowned for his power, versatility, and musical authority across rock, metal, jazz, funk, and blues. Born on July 13, 1967, in Arnhem, Netherlands, Barend grew up in a deeply musical household as the son of legendary jazz drummer Sir Pierre Courbois. Surrounded by music from an early age, he explored several instruments before committing to bass guitar, later studying jazz bass at the Lyceum of Music in Arnhem.

Influenced by icons such as Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, Larry Graham, Bernard Edwards, Doug Wimbish, Geddy Lee, and Steve Harris, Barend developed a distinctive style that seamlessly blends groove, precision, and raw energy.

With a career spanning decades and more than 4,500 live performances worldwide, Barend has played on the biggest stages with internationally acclaimed bands including Blind Guardian (2011–2021), The Michael Schenker Group (since 2021), Vengeance, and Tank. His work with Blind Guardian alone took him to headline arenas and major festivals across the globe.

In addition to his band work, Barend is a highly sought-after session musician, having recorded on over 60 albums with an impressive list of top European and American artists, including Eric Gales, Vinny Appice, Adrian Vandenberg, Zakk Wylde, Walter Trout, Erik Grönwall, Robin McAuley, and many more.

Known not only for his musical excellence but also for his professionalism and positive attitude, Barend places great value on collaboration, musical support, and bringing strong ideas to the table. His reputation as a reliable, musical, and engaging bassist has made him a trusted presence both on stage and in the studio.

Barend Courbois proudly endorses Warwick and Sadowsky basses, EBS amplification, Rotosound strings, Klotz cables, ThornSoundlabs and Source Audio pedals, and Ultimate Ears in-ear monitors—tools that support his demanding performance standards as he continues to tour and record at the highest professional level.