Max Martin and Shellback started out in heavy metal bands before transforming the sound of pop music in the 21st century.

Bass Week: Playing bass guitar in a metal band is easy. You carefully copy whatever riff the guitarist plays, wave horn signs at the leather-clad crowd and then go home. There's little room for ...

Besides his work with pop stars and jazz greats, he is credited with helping to invent the six-string contrabass guitar.