He played bass for one of rock’s greatest bassists – Ronnie Lane – on stage and on record (Anymore for Anymore). “It was in 1974 that I received a call from former Joe Cocker drummer Bruce Rowland who invited me to meet Ronnie Lane at his farm in the Welsh borders with a view to joining the band Slim Chance. I was amazed to arrive in the middle of nowhere to find Ronnie and his family happily living amongst dogs, cats, chickens and ducks, in a small cottage surrounded by old barns with a fantastic mobile recording studio parked outside!”

Akin to countless musicians who chose their life’s profession upon discovering The Beatles at the dawn of their popularity, all this jovial Warwickshire lad ever wanted to do in life from that moment on was to play bass – which is exactly what Steve is doing with soul icon Geno Washington, and the “reformed but unrepentant” Slim Chance with original members Charlie Hart and Steve Simpson.

A master pocket player and melodic foil, Steve was also a member of Colin Blunstone’s early 1970s band wherein he waxed the classic Ennismore (1972) with The Zombies crooner.

Dig Steve Bingham in Season One (2014)  and Season Tres (2019) of Know Your Bass Player on Film https://bit.ly/2YBFB9C

 

 

 

 

He was an “alternative” rock innovator years before the genre was officially tagged. Ernie Brooks is that rare bassist who can effortlessly move from in-the-pocket to contrapuntal to improvisational to experimental – sometimes within the same composition! Mr. Brooks made (belated) history as a founding member (with future Talking Head Jerry Harrison) in one of rock’s most influential ensembles: The Modern Lovers, by way of their seminal self-titled debut as produced by John Cale.

 

Though that record hit the shelves nearly five years after it was waxed, it was, and still is, ahead of its time. Rendering bass passages that groove, weave through a melody, and consequently push a composition, Brooks has distinguished himself as a long-time collaborator on stage and on record with Elliott Murphy.

 

Ernie also contributed to essential sides by David Johansen (Here Comes the Night – 1981), and Jerry Harrison (Walk on Water – 1990) among many others.

Ernie Brooks continues to ply his bass artistry with Murphy, Gods and Monsters, and Peter Zummo, to cite a select few.

 

Watch Ernie Brooks on Know Your Bass Player on Film Season One, 2015 New York City, Euphoria Studios https://bit.ly/31CV4s3

By Thomas Semioli

Jazz icon Ray Brown praised him for his work on “Bus Stop.” Akin to numerous bassists in the early days of the instrument, Bernard Bamford Calvert started his musical journey at the keyboards. Calvert, who took up the bass at the behest of The Hollies’ Tony Hicks, toiled with several groups before joining the aforementioned Rock ‘n ‘ Roll Hall of Fame ensemble in 1966 commencing with the album For Certain Because which was renamed Stop! Stop! Stop! for the U.S. and Canadian markets.

Though not as harmonically and rhythmically adventurous as the band’s previous bassist – Eric Haydock -Calvert’s supportive artistry drew from a wide array of influences ranging from jazz, blues, dance hall, soul, and folk. As such, he deftly negotiated The Hollies diverse canon which spanned Merseybeat, AM pop, psychedelic, MOR and every permutation thereof. Bernie Calvert departed The Hollies in 1981 and is still on the bandstand with church groups in his native Lancashire.

Dig Bernie on “Bus Stop” https://youtu.be/YCFvXAbSXUQ

Dig Bernie on “He Ain’t Heavy” https://youtu.be/iPDl9yKSnDE

Dig Bernie on “The Air that I Breathe” https://youtu.be/Cwt65tG2GI8

Dig Bernie playing keyboards on “Ye Olde Toffee Shoppe” https://youtu.be/2vVG1CPw3vc

He’s the cat who laid the harmonic / rhythmic foundation whilst Marvin Lee Aday discovered “Paradise by the Dashboard Light!”

Among the most prolific and versatile bassists in the history of artform that is rock and roll, Staten Island born Kasim Sulton’s work as a sideman, arranger, educator, clinician, session player, bandmember, and musical director spans prog to pop and back again with stops along the way in theater, hard rock, fusion, folk, and blues.

A multi-instrumentalist and solo recording and performing artist, Kasim’s collaborators include Todd Rundgren with and without Utopia, Meat Loaf, Jim Steinman, Celine Dion, Tom Robinson, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett, Hall & Oates, Mick Jagger, Steve Hillage, Rick Derringer, Richie Sambora, Blue Oyster Cult, Patty Smyth, Patti Smith, New Cars, Ronnie Spector, Indigo Girls, Bonnie Tyler, Lulu, Ricky Byrd, and Steve Stevens to cite a very, very, very select few.

The consummate ensemble player and soloist, Sulton’s weapons of choice include the Fender Precision, and the Archer KS3 Signature bass, among many others. Kasim also leads a Utopia repertory ensemble aptly named “Kasim Sulton’s Utopia.”

Dig Kasim crooning with Utopia “Set Me Free” https://youtu.be/XZxHmZy-P10

Dig Kasim with Utopia live “Love is the Answer” https://youtu.be/IPDQUp_audU

Dig Kasim with Meat Loaf “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” https://youtu.be/a136H5K3OKw

Dig Kasim from his 3 slab “Clocks All Stopped” https://youtu.be/a136H5K3OKw

Dig Kasim’s Utopia “Fix Your Gaze” https://youtu.be/MfAZBQK7rKQ

Dig Kasim with Joan Jett “I Hate Myself for Loving You” https://youtu.be/bpNw7jYkbVc

By Thomas Semioli

 

“Jerry never does anything just because it’s right to do, he likes to do it because it feels good…” B.B. King.

 

A true giant of the instrument – Jaco Pastorius cited Jerry Jemmott aka “The Groovemaster” as his favorite player and mentor. And when you hear (and feel) Jerry’s bass artistry on scores of tracks, you can obviously understand why. A disciple of Paul Chambers and Charles Mingus – Jemmott owns “the pocket.” Greatly inspired by Paul Chambers, Jerry often stretches the harmonic and rhythmic boundaries akin to his mentor.

 

Along with James Jamerson, Duck Dunn, Carol Kaye, and Chuck Rainey – Jerry Jemmott played a major role in establishing the electric bass in the studio and on the bandstand.

 

Jemmott was among Atlantic Records’ most prodigious session cats during their golden era – appearing on such landmark recordings by Aretha Franklin (Soul ’69, Aretha Now!, Live at the Fillmore), The Rascals (Freedom Suite, Peaceful World), King Curtis (Live at the Fillmore, Everybody’s Talkin’), and Roberta Flack, plus numerous sides by George Benson (The Other Side of Abbey Road, Tell It Like It Is), Ray Charles, Nina Simone, Gil Scott-Heron, Janis Ian, Herbie Hancock, Wilson Pickett and Herbie Mann to cite a very, very select few.

 

Jerry is also a prolific solo recording artist, waxing sides which meld blues, funk, soul, and reggae under his name and the moniker Jerry Jemmott & Souler Energy.

 

Bass Player cited Jerry with a lifetime achievement award in 2001. Be sure to seek out the video Jaco Pastorius Modern Electric Bass, hosted by Jerry. Dig the way Pastorius’ heartfelt admiration and reverence for Jerry bursts forth in that historic meeting.

 

Jerry’s main weapon of choice during his 60s/70s heyday was the Fender Jazz.

 

Jerry Jemmott Sound & Vision

“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” Gil Scott-Heron https://youtu.be/6043Z_WPaKU

“People Got to Be Free” The Rascals  https://youtu.be/6043Z_WPaKU

“Memphis Soul Stew” King Curtis & The Kingpins: https://youtu.be/0Loy55z4GpA

“The Thrill is Gone” B.B. King https://youtu.be/kpC69qIe02E

“Ain’t Got No I Got Life” Nina Simone https://youtu.be/LKLeYot4l3I

“Tracks of My Tears” Aretha Franklin https://youtu.be/oTD7PGgEq9c

“Soul Limbo” George Benson https://youtu.be/99ppx4byI2U

“Soul Turnaround” Freddie Hubbard https://youtu.be/7Ri9OiHS1LI

 

As the harmonic and rhythmic anchor for John Lennon & Yoko Ono Elephant’s Memory Band, Chuck Berry, and Elephant’s Memory Band, among others – bassist Gary Van Scyoc has forged and indelible imprint on the artform that is rock and roll!

 

An educator, collaborator, side-man, clinician, and author, Gary discusses his life as a bass player in Know Your Bass Player on Film Seasons One and Tres, New York City 2015, 2018 at Euphoria Studios. https://bit.ly/3gxMqzj

 

 

Though Ziggy was the nazz with God-given ass –  it was the late Trevor Bolder who tethered the mighty Spiders from Mars with his dense, soulful bass parts that referenced the hip rhythm and blues cats his bandleader so greatly admired.  

 

The Spider with rock ‘n’ roll’s most elegantly multi-colored elongated side-whiskers steered the Stardust ship with a Gibson EB-3 hot-wired into stacks of Marshall amplifiers and cabinets, and on occasion, a Fender Mustang – which consequently afforded guitar deity Mick Ronson and piano maestro Mike Garson a firm platform on which to render their theatrical melodies to prop Bowie’s extraterrestrial sound and vision.

 

Trevor was also victim to the bass crime of the 20th Century on Alladin Sane (1973) which was perpetrated by Mr. Jones – who did not allow Bolder to repair the glaring error on “The Jean Genie” – which was likely a result of David’s propensity for miscues.

 

“Jean Genie” – bass clam at 0:45 https://youtu.be/kMYg_Ra4cr8

 

When the kids had killed the man, and Ziggy broke up the band – much, much too soon, Trevor anchored Ronno’s Slaughter on 10th Avenue, and Play Don’t Worry – two releases which prove that the Spiders were much more than Ziggy’s hired ray-guns!

 

In 1977, Bolder commenced the gig that he would excel at for the remainder of his days on this mortal coil (save for a brief few years in the 1980s wherein he was replaced by Bob Daisley)– bassist, composer for prog-metal masters Uriah Heep. With Heep, Trevor’s primary weapon of choice was a modded-out Fender Precision with a J bridge pick-up.

 

Coda: As told to KYBP On Film, Trevor afforded John Bentley, later of Squeeze, bass lessons when Bolder left the band they were both in to join the Spiders.  

 

Trevor on stage with Uriah Heep 1978 – Courtesy of Konstantinos Takos

 

Trevor Bolder Sound & Vision….

 

David Bowie:

 

“Lady Grinning Soul” https://youtu.be/18d_pLKgMoY

 

“Roslyn”  https://youtu.be/-9LU21aU5aU

 

“Watch That Man” https://youtu.be/eQGobt4ub6U

 

 Mick Ronson:

 

“Growing Up and I’m Fine” https://youtu.be/-3dtBblWmaM

 

“Billy Porter” https://youtu.be/QOwj0zgmykU

 

Uriah Heep

 

“Sympathy” https://youtu.be/Nvmkaw_ZQxM

 

“Free Me” https://youtu.be/lK45E6zfJeA

 

“Love Or Nothing” https://youtu.be/vRsxTdpfJ8o

 

“Carry On” https://youtu.be/pCYM9GHe81M

 

“Blood Red Roses” https://youtu.be/9Y0MlyNgGHs

 

Take note of Trevor’s lead vocal and melodic bass on “Fear of Falling” from Heep’s latter day classic Sea of Light (1995). https://youtu.be/Jx3Nzk5XvFQ

 

 

 

Cited as Bassist of the Year in 1988 by Rolling Stone, Kenny Aaronson is the among most versatile and resourceful players in the history of the art-form that is rock and roll. On the concert stage as a sideman, he is second to none as an accompanist, rhythmic/harmonic catalyst, and visual performer.

 

Ditto his career as a studio player. Aaronson’s canon embraces every sub-genre of rock ranging from traditional rhythm & blues, prog, metal, punk, alternative, roots, arena rock, pop, blues, folk, and every permutation thereof…and maybe a few Kenny invented – go ask him!!

 

A short list of his record and touring credits would break the internet quicker than a Kardashian. To cite a select few: Ronnie Spector, Billy Idol, Tom Guerra, The Stories with Ian Lloyd, Dana Fuchs, Bob Dylan, Sammy Hagar, Joan Jett, Graham Parker, Hall & Oates, New York Dolls, John Eddie, The Yardbirds, Edgar Winter, Robert Gordon, Dave Edmunds, Michael Monroe, Billy Squire, Dust, and Hagar/Aaronson/Schon/Shrieve…

 

As I was witness, Kenny’s tenure with Dylan – with guitarist G.E. Smith, and drummer Chris Parker – ranks with Bob’s collaborations with The Band, and The Rolling Thunder Revue.

 

This writer cited Kenny in Huffington Post in December 2017 Eleven Bass Players Who Belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – in the category for Musical Excellence : https://bit.ly/2hOLzO3

 

Aaronson’s arsenal: I’ve seen Kenny commandeer Fender, Kay, ESP, Ibanez G & L basses…his strings are La Bella 760N…

 

Interview with Tom Guerra and Kenny From a Yardbird to a Mambo Son – Sowing Seeds in Tom Guerra’s American Garden – Tom Semioli NO DEPRESSION 2018 https://bit.ly/2XeOaWZ

 

 

Kenny Aaronson Sound & Vision:

 

Brian Setzer “Haunted River” https://youtu.be/tlGJu317T7E

 

Rick Derringer “Envy” https://youtu.be/EpjZ9gRjJU4

 

Stories “Brother Louie” https://youtu.be/wmF3jDwSTmI

 

HSAS “Missing You” https://youtu.be/Q1pUyLrZWcg

 

Joan Jett “World of Denial” https://youtu.be/XK_K_ft0dIU

 

Dust https://youtu.be/U4KnOFDxW0c

 

Michael Monroe “Not Fakin’ It” https://youtu.be/62w64L9j_0g

 

Tom Guerra “Tell the World” https://youtu.be/X_1zLzia3oQ

 

For all things Kenny Aaronson – https://www.kennyaaronson.com/home

 

Read Kenny Aaronson: An Appreciation on Know Your Bass Player Com https://bit.ly/2L6QUmA

 

By Thomas Semioli

“Doesn’t everyone sniff cocaine off stripper’s bums?”

They don’t make rock stars like Glenn Hughes anymore. The rightfully proclaimed “Voice of Rock” is a world class bassist and singer-songwriter on par with Sir Paul and Sting who carved his legend with Trapeze and Deep Purple Mark III & IV.

Dig Glenn with Trapeze “Coast to Coast” https://youtu.be/ivSMRe4SUVI

Armed with a Fender and Rickenbacker 4001 –among other instruments, Glenn’s funky bass playing and soaring vocals with Deep Purple were decidedly soulful: which was one of the primary reasons Ritchie Blackmore bolted to form Rainbow.

Dig Glenn and Deep Purple at the legendary ‘74 California Jam https://youtu.be/KJ-CMPqvzQU

As such, the Purps hired Tommy Bolin and waxed one of the great lost albums of the 1970s – Come Taste The Band (1976).

Glenn’s solo catalog and collaborations are an extraordinary, groundbreaking fusion of rhythm & blues and hard rock: Play Me Out, Glenn Hughes Blues (with Tony Franklin), The Way It Is, Soul Mover, Hughes-Thrall, Tony Iommi/ Black Sabbath’s Seventh Star, and Black Country Communion, to cite a select few.  

Dig Glenn Hughes performing “Burn” with his solo band https://youtu.be/hzaGm3L0oqo

Dig Tony Senatore’s rendition of Deep Purple’s version of “Burn” with Glen Hughes https://youtu.be/XZsWolQbxp4

Dig Glenn with Trapeze “You Are The Music, We Are Just the Band” https://youtu.be/nLSVY0VS3Dg

Glenn’s autobiographical tome, penned with Joel McIver is essential reading!

By Thomas Semioli

“Rock ‘n’ Roll,” proclaimed Dennis Dunaway to this writer – “if it doesn’t kill ya’ it will keep you forever young!”

‘Twas a time when rock ‘n’ roll actually horrified parents! And no band mortified America’s elders more so than the original Alice Cooper band circa 1969-74.

A composer / conceptualist who commandeers his signature mirrored Fender Jazz and, previously his “Frog” Gibson EB, Dennis Dunaway’s bass passages for the original, Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame Alice Cooper band were as daring and unconventional as his ensemble.

Greatly inspired by the Yardbirds, Cream, and Sir Paul, among others of his generation, and an inspiration to a few generations of hard rockers; Dennis worked brilliant upper register motifs (“No More Mr. Nice Guy”) cascading glissando passages (“Muscle of Love” – kudos to engineer Dennis Ferrante), cool Latin rhythms (several cuts on Pretties for You), and sinuous in-the-pocket grooves; all of which served the song.

Dig my select sampling of Dennis’ work with the original Alice Cooper Band, spanning 1969 to 1974:

“Shoe Salesman” https://youtu.be/BQZE7jLbbYU

“Ballad of Dwight Fry” https://youtu.be/FfqrZvKI_1g

“Halo of Flies” https://youtu.be/fGOD1-NtxH8

“No More Mr. Nice Guy”  https://youtu.be/PkRxh-8mpcQ

“Muscle of Love” https://youtu.be/Hi5ole3ikFQ

Dennis continues on the bandstand and the recording studio with Joe and Albert Bouchard in Blue Coupe, guest appearances with the Hollywood Vampires, the Dennis Dunaway Project, original Cooper clan reunions, and as a solo video and recording artist.

Dig Dennis and Blue Coupe “Everybody Goes Insane” https://youtu.be/3R_qsoqcYbA

Dig Dennis solo “Cold Cold Coffin” https://youtu.be/FQV_596ELYo

Dig Dennis with the Hollywood Vampires “School’s Out / Another Brick in the Wall” https://youtu.be/_BgStW37oUc

Dig The Dennis Dunaway Project “Subway” https://youtu.be/EnHO_2HcvPg

Dig Dennis on “A Runaway Train” with Alice Cooper from Welcome to My Nightmare 2 https://youtu.be/qMWVZwqTRew

Dennis’ autobiography  “Snakes! Guillotines! Electric Chairs!”  (with Chris Hodenfield) is essential reading for rockers of any era. I had the opportunity to chat with Dennis for Huffington Post Books in 2015.

They say “never get too close to your idols” – well, they were wrong about Dennis, he’s a humble cat with a wicked sense of humor! As you would expect….

Dennis Dunaway: The Billion Dollar Bassist Re-Writes the History of Rock ‘n’ Roll

Tom Semioli – Huffington Post June 2015

“How can you kick the bucket if you’re writing a book? Every time I’d read something about Alice Cooper, I’d complain aloud ‘ah, that’s not how it happened! And my kids had to put up with that for years, and years, and years. Finally they said to me ‘Dad! Shut up and write a book!”

My hot-blooded Sicilian mother oft warned me that there were three sides to every story “his, hers, and the truth!” The same loving women who doted on her only son also made a habit of tearing Alice Cooper posters off my bedroom wall in the 1970s- thankfully she never discovered the panties that spilled out of my vinyl copy of School’s Out (1972) back in the era when a certain band was re-imagining the art of album packaging. She also warned me that these degenerate creeps whom I worshiped and inspired me to join a band were actually Russian operatives on a mission to rot the minds of American teenagers. Nowadays my mom’s behavior is commonly referred to as “menopause.”

Behold the third side of the story of a bona-fide American rock ‘n’ roll legacy. Dennis Dunaway, bassist, songwriter, conceptualist for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame Alice Cooper band – that’s right, Alice Cooper was a group before he, the former Vincent Furnier, emerged as a Hollywood Square, celebrity golfer, and singular show business entity – has composed the definitive and most truthful tome detailing the groundbreaking collective that also included Michael Bruce, the late Glen Buxton, and Neil Smith.

Aptly entitled Snakes! Guillotines! Electric Chairs! My Adventures in the Alice Cooper Group (Thomas Dunne Books – St. Martin’s Press, 2015), and written in collaboration with veteran rock journalist Chris Hodenfield – Dennis vividly details in the first person how the Alice cooperative of five endearingly misfit pioneering adolescents put the Woodstock generation to rest; and the rest, as they say, is history. Kiss, Marilyn Manson, Guns ‘n’ Roses, arena rockers too numerous to mention, and even MTV took their cues – and then some – from the original Cooper clan.

Dunaway laughs as I bestow upon him the new title of “literary lion.” He revels traveling in writers circles in New York City too. “I’m meeting all these famous authors…individuals who wrote books about such important historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln. I wrote about a band who threw a chicken at an audience!” I remind Mr. Dunaway that he too is an important part of history and that his new book documents the missing link between the transformations in American pop culture from the 1960s to the 1970s – an era that continues to resonate.

Among the unsung heroes afforded due recognition in Snakes! is his wife, Cindy Smith, sister of drummer Neal Smith. “Cindy created the look that set off the whole gam rock thing…other people got credit for it, and accept credit for it…and it’s not that they weren’t part of it…but Cindy was doing it way, way, before anyone else…” Dennis also speaks lovingly and reverentially of the band’s dearly departed guitarist, Glen Buxton. A true rock ‘n’ roll outlaw with a razor sharp wit to which Dunaway often quotes, it was Buxton who created many of the group’s signature riffs which every player who followed in his platform boot-steps is required to replicate, and air guitarists young, old, and middle-aged continue to mime.

Effectively re-writing the script to a vital period in rock ‘n’ roll history as demanded by the Dunaway brood actually commenced for Dennis during Easter of 1997 – the same number of years ago as the age of a rather distraught young adult who can’t figure out if he’s a boy or a man as per the libretto of the band’s first hit. But first he had to overcome a life-threatening disease. “If I was going to write a book,” Dennis recalls, “I had to survive the surgery. That sounds strange, but that’s what drove me as well.” Dunaway also had to conquer moods of bitterness borne by the age old injustices of the music business, and a feeling that the fans had forgotten him. Truth is, the hardcore fans always held Dennis and the original Alice Cooper band to close their hearts despite the fact that the Cooper brand continued without them.

“We were overshadowed by the monster we created,” emphasizes Dennis. “There are a lot of newer Alice Cooper fans out there that don’t even know that I or the band existed!” During our conversation I note that oft times in my career as a musician – my band-mates and I would refer to the sounds and mixes of the original Alice Cooper albums for our producers and engineers – all of whom nodded their heads with respect and approval. Even without the theatrics, the Alice Cooper band canon was Hall of Fame worthy.

My comment flatters Dennis, who is quick to point out that “we also upstaged ourselves as musicians with the visuals in the Alice Cooper band.” Ditto the boa constrictor which infamously slithered around the body of Mr. Furnier during concert performances. “Journalists would write half an article about the boa and not even mention the great songs we wrote for the snake!”

That was then, this is now. Mr. Dunaway, author and bassist, currently plies his craft in a kick ass trio dubbed Blue Coupe – which is made up of former Blue Oyster Cult members Joe and Albert Bouchard. They record, tour the world, and to my ears, they put guitar slinging bands (more than) half their age to shame.

At the official release party held in the Rare Books section of The Strand in New York City – Dennis and Blue Coupe tear the house down much like his old band did when a certain type of music was indeed a threat to society. To thunderous applause from glam grannies, young rockers, and Strand employees spattered in black eye-shadow akin to Dennis’ former singer, the bassist bellows “no more pencils…one more book for your summer!”

Dennis and Blue Coupe ripped the joint with rousing renditions of “I’m Eighteen,” “No More Mr. Nice Guy,” Blue Oyster Cult’s 1976 anthem “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” and close with “School’s Out” -abetted by the backing vocals of New York City legends Tish & Snooky.

During the question and answer segment for attendees, co-author Chris Hodenfield speaks eloquently of his time touring with the band for his well-known Rolling Stonemagazine feature in 1972. He quips “Dennis has an appallingly good memory….everyone in the band was a comedian who tried to outdo each other.” Reminiscing how Groucho Marx and George Burns were Alice Cooper band fans,
Dunaway praises his wife, the band’s former managers, his beloved band-mates, the road and lighting crews from years past, and of course, his loyal fans.

“Rock ‘n’ Roll,” proclaims the author to me – “if it doesn’t kill ya’ it will keep you forever young!”

Snakes! Guillotines! Electric Chairs! My Adventures in the Alice Cooper Group by Dennis Dunaway and Chris Hodenfield is out now on Thomas Dunne Books – St. Martin’s Press, 2015