The late Richard Allen “Dickie” Peterson may be considered the first heavy metal bassist – as per the opinions of Eric Clapton and Neal Peart, among others who were there.

As lead singer and anchor of the mighty San Francisco power (and that’s an understatement) trio Blue Cheer, Peterson’s persona as a performer and bass player exuded the sheer force and attitude of hard rock in its earliest incarnation.

Though they never topped their ’68 debut slab, Vincebus Eruptum, and consequent reunions in the ensuing decades were more exercises in nostalgia, Peterson’s decidedly primal approach to the instrument set the bar, however high or low, depending on musical disposition!

Dig Dickie and Blue Cheer on their classic rendition of “Summertime Blues” https://youtu.be/YXcYZsqkZ-g

Among the preeminent pioneering prog-rock bassists, Lee Jackson is a versatile player with a capacity for dexterous passages (“Rondo 69”), psychedelic pocket grooves (“The Thoughts of Emerlist Davejak “), swingin’ jazz runs (“Little Arabella”), hard rock boogie (“War and Peace”), counter melodic mastery (“Ars Longa Vita Brevis”) and metal mayhem (“Bonnie K”) and permutations thereof.

After The Nice decided to call it quits, Jackson toiled in a few ensembles; most notably Jackson Heights and Refugee which included such kindred spirits as Michael Giles, Ian Wallace, and Patrick Moraz, to cite a few.

Lee Jackson Sound & Vision:

“Hang On To A Dream” https://youtu.be/7RSRoM_fc9I

By Thomas Semioli

“The blues are the roots and the other musics are the fruits. It’s better keeping the roots alive, because it means better fruits from now on. The blues are the roots of all American music. As long as American music survives, so will the blues.” William James Dixon

We revere him as “the poet laurate of the blues,” and “the father of modern Chicago blues.” To paraphrase KYBP / Dr. Winston O’Boogie, if you had to give the bass another name – call it Willie Dixon! Every rock song ever composed bears his imprint. The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter… to Gary Clark Jr. and Greta Van Fleet would not exist without him. Willie’s influence on popular music is incalculable.

Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, Dixon moved to the Windy City in 1936 and commenced to anchoring such popular acts as The Five Breezes, The Four Jumps of Jive, and The Big Three Trio. As a member of the Chess Records staff in the 1950s and 60s, Dixon arranged, produced, composed, and played bass on slabs spanning Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Litter Walter, and Sonny Boy Williamson II, to cite a very select few.

An artists’ rights activist (Blues Heaven Foundation), among other endeavors, Dixon’s amalgamation of jazz, jive, jump and Chicago blues and permutations thereof endures generation after generation after generation.

You could argue the Willie Dixon, a bassist, is the most influential musician ever…

“Spoonful” https://youtu.be/6HMafOfhAus

“I Can’t Quit You Darling” https://youtu.be/rpxNJcNRwFA

“Hoochie Coochie Man” with Stephen Stills https://youtu.be/-q8R6cb_7tM

“I’m Ready” https://youtu.be/GMKM7v3Aydc

“I Just Want to Make Love to You” by Muddy Waters https://youtu.be/RnlvHP1AXPo

“Back Door Man” https://youtu.be/5IaWmphWLro

“I Ain’t Superstitious” by Howlin’ Wolf https://youtu.be/aIkwAoWqE6E

“My Babe” by Little Walter https://youtu.be/duRp_avXtMM

“Wang Dang Doodle” by Koko Taylor https://youtu.be/_w6IY0v-0pA

Willie Dixon’s Legacy

Paul Page (Ian Hunter Rant Band, John Cale) One of my favorite quotes of all time was in his book I Am The Blues. Talking about about recording he said something to the effect of “the goal is to record a performance, not perform a recording”. I’m reminded of that every time I find myself crawling up my own ass in the studio. Brilliant.

Jeff Ganz (Johnny Winter, The Hit Men….) Willie was simply delightful and very friendly. He is truly one of my long time bass, vocal, and songwriting heroes!

He had the daunting task of succeeding Larry Graham in Sly & the Family Stone – on Larry’s recommendation – and James Dewar in Robin Trower’s iconic 70s ensembles, affording the virtuoso guitarist a decidedly funkier disposition as Dewar set aside the bass to concentrate on his vocals.

Rustee Allen (sometimes referred to as “Rusty” on album credits) is a soulful pocket and harmonic player who also cut sides and/or worked on stage with Angela Bofill, Rose Stone, George Clinton, and Bobby Womack, among others.

Check out http://www.rusteeallen.com/ for all things Rustee Allen!

Rustee Allen Sound & Vision…

Robin Trower:

“In City Dreams” https://youtu.be/Ua_uPPv90Kw 

“Caravan to Midnight” https://youtu.be/GcHR3lxqsUg

Sly Stone:

“If You Want Me To Stay” https://youtu.be/gZFabOuF4Ps

“Keep On Dancin’  https://youtu.be/TwGt12ywrZs

Courtesy of Lee Dorman Facebook

A melodic and pocket player, Lee Dorman anchored (at least) two classic ensembles and immortal slabs – Iron Butterfly’s In A Gadda-Da-Vida (1968) – wherein his motif on the title track is legend, and the watershed Captain Beyond (1972) which featured ex-Deep Purple singer Rod Evans, drummer Bobby Caldwell, and his former Butterfly bandmate Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt.

Dorman participated in several Butterfly reunions until his passing in 2017.

Lee Dorman Sound & Vision:

Iron Butterfly: “In a Gadda-Da-Vida” https://youtu.be/UIVe-rZBcm4

Captain Beyond: “Dancing Madly Backwards” https://youtu.be/2e2kGl2y6Lk

Where to begin with David Paton? A prolific singer, composer, producer, solo recording artist, sideman, collaborator, multi-instrumentalist – David is “known” to the masses by way of the international hit “Magic” with his band Pilot, and for his ten-year tenure as a founding member of The Alan Parsons Project.

A master tunesmith with a melodic / pocket approach to the instrument, Paton’s five decade and counting career spans pop to prog and permutations thereof.  David has used a variety of instruments over the years, including the pictured Fender Precision bass along with Rickenbacker, and MusicMan extended range, just to site a few.

Be sure to check out David’s expansive gear page https://www.davidpaton.com/gear/gear.htm

Among David’s stage and record credits include Kate Bush, Camel, Chris DeBurgh, Chris Rea, Jimmy Page, Elton John, Rick Wakeman (with whom David plays classical guitar), Richard Thompson, The Pretenders (“I’ll Stand By You”) and Fish, just to cite a very, very, very select few.

David Paton Sound and Vision…

Pilot:

Tony Senatore’s rendition of “Magic” https://youtu.be/5EilPGuwfJw

January” https://youtu.be/WdcrTUcdO0Q

“Call Me Round” https://youtu.be/0Ifu1sCW1ME

Dig David with Pilot on one of their reunion treks: https://youtu.be/dAcJUyZgVU8

The Alan Parsons Project “Old and Wise” – a track penned by Colin Blunstone https://youtu.be/hBda9jEJDH4

David with Sir Elton and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra https://youtu.be/Ky_kx8zj6vc

The Pretenders “I’ll Stand By You” https://youtu.be/bLpmj059JFA

David at the beginning of his career in 1968 on The Boots’ “The Animal In Me” https://youtu.be/yej4ToEWvMY

Kate Bush “Moving” https://youtu.be/YSOACab2t7k

Overview of David’s latest project The Traveler: (1) https://youtu.be/KA5cVUc3s1w (2) https://youtu.be/qXbPdH6TBQU

Keep tabs on David Paton via https://www.davidpaton.com/

A virtuoso electric and upright player, and composer, the name Herb Bushler many not resonate with casual music fans who glossed over album credits and liner notes, however his expansive body of work is rather astounding, spanning folk, classical, jazz, pop, funk and groundbreaking permutations thereof.

Among the artists Herb has collaborated with include The Gil Evans Orchestra, Joe Farrell, Paul Winter, Les McCann, David Sanborn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tom Paxton, Burt Bacharach, Michael Franks, and David Peel & the Lower East Side, to cite a select few.

Herb Bushler Sound & Vision

With David Peel & The Lower East Side “The Lower East Side” https://youtu.be/fzY01c6WJUg

With Gil Evans “Little Wing” https://youtu.be/WEXTTAsAp0U

With David Sanborn on Herb’s composition “Herbs” https://youtu.be/gaXAcdiT7hs

With Paul Winter Consort “Icarus” https://youtu.be/CSCNYazFBk4

With Dee Dee Bridgewater “He’s Gone” https://youtu.be/fOcgUcc4xHc

Joe Farrell “Animal” https://youtu.be/yR9ME1M7BoI

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