{{short description|Italian YouTuber and musician (born 1994)}} {{redirect|Davide Biale|the historian|David Biale}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox YouTube personality | name = Davie504 | image = Davie5042013.png | image_caption = Biale in 2013 | birth_name = Davide Biale | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|4|5|df=y}} | birth_place = Savona, Liguria, Italy | occupation = {{flatlist| * YouTuber * musician }} | youtube_handle = Davie504 | youtube_display_name = | youtube_years_active = 2011–present | youtube_genre = {{flatlist| * Comedy * novelty * reaction }} | youtube_subscribers = 13.9 million<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | youtube_views = 3.63 billion<!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE WITHOUT UPDATING stats_update BELOW --> | stats_update = 25 May 2026 }} '''Davide Biale''' ({{IPA|it|ˈdaːvide ˈbjaːle|IPA}}; born 5 April 1994),<ref>{{Cite AV media|people=Biale, Davide|date=19 July 2021|title=Davie504 vs Davide Biale EPIC Bass Battle|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6nx4yVtrro|access-date=27 April 2023|format=YouTube video}}</ref><ref name=gwinterview>{{cite news |title=Davie504: "Slap bass is still the best for making videos on YouTube, because it's very easy to hear, on any kind of speaker" |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/davie504-bass |access-date=12 September 2021 |work=Guitar World |date=1 September 2021 |language=en}}</ref> better known online as '''Davie504''', is an Italian musician and YouTuber. He is best known for playing the bass guitar, primarily with a slapping technique, and creating several covers and viral videos.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thenextweb.com/plugged/2020/03/13/love-letter-rocksmith-game-guitar-hero-davie504-bass/|title=A love letter to Rocksmith, the *real* Guitar Hero|last=Beedham|first=Matthew|date=13 March 2020|website=Plugged {{!}} The Next Web|language=en-us|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref>
== Career == Biale began playing bass in high school after being influenced and inspired by Kiss bassist Gene Simmons.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jovanović |first1=Marko |title=Davie504 Reveals Why He Started Playing Bass & Why He's Called Davie504 |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/davie504_reveals_why_he_started_playing_bass__why_hes_called_davie504.html |website=Ultimate Guitar |access-date=8 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Pro Bassist Plays Guitar Hero For The First Time Ever |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4y1G6K9AEzU |language=en |access-date=19 May 2022}}</ref> In 2011, he created a channel named Davie504 and began to upload unconventional cover performances of songs in 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pellone |first1=Stefano |title=Davie504, il bassista italiano tra i nuovi fenomeni di YouTube |url=https://www.melodicamente.com/davie504-il-bassista-italiano-tra-i-nuovi-fenomeni-di-youtube/ |access-date=14 May 2020 |work=MelodicaMente |date=16 July 2019 |language=it-IT}}</ref> Examples of these videos include him using M&M's to cover songs by Eminem,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.irishnews.com/magazine/daily/2017/08/03/news/a-bassist-has-made-an-eminem-cover-using-m-ms-and-it-s-actually-pretty-exceptional-1101256/|title=A bassist has made an Eminem cover using M&Ms and it's actually pretty exceptional|date=3 August 2017|website=The Irish News|language=en|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref> a Korn medley played with corn cobs,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mixdownmag.com.au/watch-youtuber-covers-korn-songs-corn|title=Watch: YouTuber covers Korn songs with corn|website=Mixdown|date=25 July 2018|language=en|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kaufman|first=Spencer|url=https://consequence.net/2018/07/watch-korn-medley-played-with-cob-of-corn-popcorn/|title=Watch a Korn medley played with a cob of corn and popcorn|date=24 July 2018|website=Consequence|language=en-US|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref> and a Red Hot Chili Peppers medley played with actual chili peppers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Youtube: Toca una canción de los Red Hot Chili Peppers con un "red hot chili pepper" |url=https://as.com/epik/2017/05/23/portada/1495552239_984617.html |work=AS |date=23 May 2017 |language=es}}</ref> He also performs musical challenges, which are often suggested to him by comments on his videos, such as playing an uninterrupted slap bass solo for 5 hours,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mixdownmag.com.au/watch-five-hour-straight-slap-bass-solo|title=WATCH: A FIVE HOUR STRAIGHT SLAP BASS SOLO|website=Mixdown|date=30 June 2017|language=en|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref> and playing a bassline which Deadmau5 claimed to be "technically impossible".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Katzowitz|first=Josh|url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/deadmau5-bassline-strobe-youtube/|title=Deadmau5 said this bassline was 'technically impossible' to play—a YouTuber proved him wrong|date=23 February 2018|website=The Daily Dot|language=en-US|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref>
Biale is also known for uploading meme-related videos and covers. Most notably, he contributed to the PewDiePie vs T-Series competition, where he played a bass cover of "Bitch Lasagna" outside of the T-Series headquarters as well as a video series where he reacts to posts made on his subreddit page.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Verma|first=Anurag|url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/this-youtuber-flew-down-from-hong-kong-to-play-pewdiepies-diss-track-outside-t-series-hq-in-noida-2009823.html|title=This YouTuber Flew Down From Hong Kong to Play PewDiePie's Diss Track Outside T-Series HQ in Noida|date=22 January 2019|website=News18|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/viral/t-series-vs-pewdiepie-war-gives-travel-goals-to-this-youtuber-i-flew-down-to-india-2173228.html|title=This PewDiePie supporter flies down to India to play outside T-Series's office|date=23 January 2019|website=Zee News|language=en|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref> He also participated in a competition with Jared Dines and Steve Terreberry to play the guitar with the most strings.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kennelty |first1=Greg |title=This 15 String Bass Song Is Pretty Funky, Does Not Djent |url=https://metalinjection.net/video/this-15-string-bass-song-is-pretty-funky-does-not-djent |access-date=8 April 2021 |work=Metal Injection |date=4 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bienstock |first1=Richard |title=Witness the complete and utter insanity of a 36-string bass solo |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/witness-the-complete-and-utter-insanity-of-a-36-string-bass-solo |access-date=8 April 2021 |work=Guitar World |date=21 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
In 2017, Chowny Bass released the Davie504 signature bass guitar.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Astley-Brown |first1=Michael |title=Is Davie504's Chowny signature model "the best bass ever"? |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/chowny-unveils-davie504-bass-guitar |access-date=14 May 2020 |work=MusicRadar |date=5 September 2017 |language=en}}</ref> In May 2019, Biale was listed as number two on MusicRadar's list of "the 20 hottest bassists in the world today".<ref>{{Cite web|title=The 20 hottest bassists in the world today|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-20-hottest-bassists-in-the-world-today|last=Brooks|first=Mike|date=29 May 2019|website=MusicRadar|language=en|url-status=live|access-date=12 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190602135559/https://www.musicradar.com/news/the-20-hottest-bassists-in-the-world-today |archive-date=2 June 2019 }}</ref> He received his YouTube Gold Play Button later that year, which he turned into a custom bass alongside Amnesia Guitars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/davie504-built-a-bass-out-of-his-youtube-gold-play-button|title=Davie504 built a bass out of his YouTube Gold Play Button|last=Bienstock|first=Richard|website=Guitar World|language=en|access-date=12 April 2020|date=12 November 2019}}</ref>
In 2021, Biale was featured on the cover of ''Bass Player''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bass Player 411 is out! |url=https://www.facebook.com/bassplayermag/videos/bass-player-411-is-out/549844679369320/ |publisher=Bass Player |access-date=23 November 2021 |language=en |date=13 July 2021 |quote=The new Bass Player is out, a special, four-cover issue in which we meet Davie504, April Kae, Blu DeTiger and Darrell Freeman, YouTubers, TikTokers and social media behemoths known to millions as the future of our instrument.}}</ref>
In February 2023, Biale performed in a music battle against YouTubers TwoSet Violin at The Star Performing Arts Centre in Singapore, continuing an on-screen feud with the duo since 2020. It was his first-ever live performance.<ref>Articles concerning the music battle between TwoSet Violin and Davie504: * {{Cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/youtube-stars-twoset-violin-and-davie504-to-stage-music-battle-in-singapore|title=YouTube stars TwoSet Violin and Davie504 to stage 'music battle' in Singapore | first=Eddino Abdul | last=Hadi | date=10 January 2023|work=The Straits Times}} * {{Cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/music-picks-concerts-by-twoset-and-davie504-chok-kerong-and-vanessa-fernandez-and-syafiqah-adha-sallehin|title=Music Picks: Concerts by Twoset and Davie504, Chok Kerong and Vanessa Fernandez, and Syafiqah 'Adha Sallehin | first=Eddino Abdul | last=Hadi | date=16 February 2023 | work=The Straits Times}}</ref> === Refusal of censorship and pro-Taiwan remarks === On 10 December 2025, Biale uploaded a video revealing for the first time a sponsorship dispute that occurred approximately five years prior (around 2020), in response to criticism from some viewers regarding his acceptance of commercial sponsorships. Biale stated that a mobile game company had offered him a partnership deal worth US$75,000, which included US$60,000 for a promotional video and US$15,000 in sponsorship funds for a fan giveaway.<ref name="CNA2025">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/ahel/202512115002.aspx|title=義大利網紅Davie504揭廠商施壓刪「台灣是國家」留言 喊言論自由比錢重要|trans-title=Italian internet celebrity Davie504 reveals manufacturer pressure to delete 'Taiwan is a country' comment, shouting free speech is more important than money|publisher=Central News Agency|date=2025-12-11|access-date=2025-12-11}}</ref><ref name="Newtalk2025">{{Cite news|url=https://newtalk.tw/news/view/2025-12-11/1009168|title=5年前就不跪！手遊廠逼刪「台灣是國家」留言。台灣女婿怒撕7.5萬美元合約|trans-title=Didn't kneel 5 years ago! Mobile game factory forced deletion of 'Taiwan is a country' comment. Taiwan son-in-law angrily tears up $75,000 contract|publisher=Newtalk|date=2025-12-11|access-date=2025-12-11}}</ref>
Biale initially accepted the proposal and paid out-of-pocket for over US$10,000 worth of bass guitars as giveaway prizes. However, after the video was produced, the contract signed, and just two hours before the scheduled upload, the sponsor suddenly demanded that he delete a comment he had posted on YouTube in 2019. They threatened to withdraw all sponsorship funds and refused to reimburse his procurement costs if he did not comply. The comment in question read: "Slap like now for an EPIC 2020 PS:Taiwan is a country, noobs."<ref name="ETtoday2025">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ettoday.net/news/20251211/3082463.htm|title=廠商要求刪「台灣是國家」留言！千萬YouTuber拒絕，224萬業配沒了|trans-title=Manufacturer demands deletion of 'Taiwan is a country' comment! 10-million-sub YouTuber refuses, 2.24 million sponsorship gone|publisher=ETtoday|date=2025-12-11|access-date=2025-12-11}}</ref>
Facing pressure from the sponsor, Biale ultimately chose to refuse. He stated that "Taiwan is a country" is merely a geographical fact and emphasized that he is not a political figure; however, he was unwilling to be silenced for money in order to maintain his integrity and freedom of speech. Consequently, he re-edited the video to remove the sponsor's promotional segment before uploading it, and personally covered the costs of the bass guitar giveaway that were originally intended to be paid by the sponsor. He explained that he did not file an international lawsuit at the time because the process would have been too time-consuming and not worth the effort, stating in the video: "Some brands want to pay you to be silent, not to sponsor you."<ref name="EBC2025">{{Cite news|url=https://news.ebc.net.tw/news/living/526643|title=拒刪「台灣是國家」留言 千萬訂閱YTR曝中國業配真相|trans-title=Refused to delete 'Taiwan is a country' comment; 10-million-sub YouTuber reveals truth about Chinese sponsorship|publisher=EBC News|date=2025-12-11|access-date=2025-12-11}}</ref><ref name="LTN2025">{{Cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/5274560|title=台灣就是國家！百萬業配要求刪5年前這句留言 千萬粉網紅斷然拒絕|trans-title=Taiwan is a country! Million-dollar sponsorship required deleting this comment from 5 years ago; 10-million-fan internet celebrity flatly refused|publisher=Liberty Times|date=2025-12-11|access-date=2025-12-11}}</ref> After the incident came to light, it received significant support from netizens.<ref name="SETN2025">{{Cite news|url=https://star.setn.com/news/1764192|title=網紅堅稱「台灣是國家」損百萬！台灣人刷一排抖內，驚人金額曝|trans-title=Internet celebrity insists 'Taiwan is a country' and loses millions! Taiwanese people spam donations, shocking amount revealed|publisher=SET News|date=2025-12-11|access-date=2025-12-11}}</ref>
== Personal life == Biale grew up in Albisola Superiore, a comune of Savona, Italy. The number '504' in his nickname is a reference to his day and month of birth, 5 April.<ref name=gwinterview /> He attended the University of Genoa before dropping out to focus on his YouTube career. He later studied music production at a college in London. He moved to Brighton in 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Biale |first1=Davide |title=I Draw My Life... (Childhood Reveal)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lE2WxV9WTw |website=YouTube |access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref> In a 2013 Q&A video, Biale cited Flea, Gene Simmons, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten as some of his favorite bass players.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B_QwKp4s2y8&t=105 | title=QnA with Davie! | website=YouTube }}</ref>
Biale's wife, also a bassist, is indigenous Taiwanese.<ref>{{cite news |title=女友真面目首度曝光！義大利貝斯鬼才證實：女友正是台灣原住民 - 國際 - 自由時報電子報 |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/3138977 |access-date=14 May 2020 |work=Liberty Times |date=19 April 2020 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref> They met after she viewed Biale's content online and connected with him. They were married in October 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Davie504 on Instagram: "We're married 💐" |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CjYQl-zMmbr/ |access-date=2022-10-06 |website=Instagram |language=en}}</ref>
Biale lived in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic before relocating to Italy in 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bienstock |first1=Richard |title=Davie504 just bought every bass he can find and is giving them all away on YouTube |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/news/davie504-just-bought-every-bass-he-can-find-and-is-giving-them-all-away-on-youtube |access-date=8 April 2021 |work=Guitar World |date=14 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=狂買台灣貝斯送粉絲！全球知名YouTuber在台灣報平安 - 國際 |url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/3130706 |access-date=8 April 2021 |work=Liberty Times |date=11 April 2020 |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref> In May 2026, Biale announced his relocation out of Italy, citing extreme government inefficiency and high taxation as primary reasons and equating living in Italy to being in a toxic relationship.<ref>{{cite web |title=It's Time to Say Goodbye. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaDufiqttxk |website=YouTube |date=11 May 2026}}</ref>
On 8 February 2026, Biale announced that he was diagnosed with osteopenia during a bone density scan as part of a full body health check.<ref>{{cite web |title=My diagnosis |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnhNJc7LgkE |website=YouTube |access-date=9 February 2026 |date=8 February 2026}}</ref>
== Discography == === Studio albums === * ''Let's Funk!'' (2014) * ''Funkalicious'' (2015) * ''Very Impressive'' (2016)
=== Singles === *"Lighter" (2014) *"Bass Bass Bass" (2020) *"S L A P P" (2020) *"Plastic Bass"{{efn|A cover of Mariya Takeuchi's "Plastic Love". "Bass" is stylized in all caps: "Plastic BASS".}} (2021) *"Bassless Whisper"{{efn|A cover of George Michael's "Careless Whisper".}} (2024) *"Abt."{{efn|A cover of Rosé and Bruno Mars' "Apt.". The title is stylized in all caps and the letter ''b'' has been replaced with the emoji 🅱️: "A🅱️T."}} (2024) *"Virtual Bassanity"{{efn|A cover of Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity". "Bass" is stylized in all caps: "Virtual BASSanity".}} (2024)
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
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Category:1994 births Category:Italian bass guitarists Category:Italian YouTubers Category:Living people Category:Italian male bass guitarists Category:Music YouTubers Category:People from Savona Category:YouTube channels launched in 2011 Category:Italian expatriates in the United Kingdom Category:Italian expatriates in Taiwan