As far as current inspiration, I'm listenting to a lot of flamenco, because the techniques used for flamenco can be adapted to playing bass.
It's not art, it's science.
Very often I suspend my musical sensibilities to enjoy music as a fan.
I love a lot of reggae, but Ive never had the opportunity to play with any reggae guys.
History has repeated itself many times througout the ages.
It was also important for me to have a burning desire to achieve something worthwhile on that instrument, and I devoted many many many hours with little or no compensation to perfecting whatever I could, because I loved it so much.