He was Ian Hunter and Mick Ronson’s go-to player in 1975.

A member of The Rats with Ronno in their Hull hometown in the 1960s, bassist Geoff Appleby anchored Ian Hunter’s superb debut solo slab (save for one track “Lounge Lizard” waxed by John Gustafson) and subsequent promo tour, and backed the platinum haired ex-Spider on a one-off BBC Old Grey Whistle Test TV appearance.

In addition to cutting two pop singles under his own name, Geoff toiled in various glam and punk bands before retiring from the music business.

Know Your Bass Player French Bureau Chief Laurent Moitrot reports: That’s Geoff, me and “The Blue Bass” in 2012. This is the bass he played on Hunter’s first solo LP. He once decided he’d paint it blue cuz he thought it’d look better on a video they were filming with his (then) band.  

Geoff Appleby Sound & Vision…

The Rats:

“Guitar Boogie” https://youtu.be/cgxcudnZQkM

Ian Hunter:

“Once Bitten Twice Shy” https://youtu.be/oz0EKpTn5gg

“I Get So Excited” https://youtu.be/w9CoUQH-S4c

Geoff solo

“Make Me Take Me” https://youtu.be/IjBctCQk3do

“Live Wire” https://youtu.be/VzFj6WORjTs