Courtesy Bob Daisley Com

Huffington Post / Tom Semioli (November 2017): A Bass Player’s Rant: Bass Players Who Belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Bob Daisley https://bit.ly/3sc2NaJ 

 

Bob Daisley’s career and discography reads like a hard rock history book: Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Paul Rodgers, Tony Williams, Jon Lord, Widowmaker, Uriah Heep, Gary Moore, Black Sabbath…

 

A supportive player, Daisely’s stylistic disposition is decidedly of a blues origin. Inspired by 60’s Motown, at the ripe old age of twenty Bob migrated from his home in Sydney, Australia in 1970 to seek fame and fortune as a rock bassist in London.

 

Replacing John Glascock (Jethro Tull) in Chicken Shack, Daisley quickly built a name for himself on the bandstand and in the studio. Anchoring such British blue-collar rockers Mungo Jerry, the Stan Webb Band, and Widowmaker (with Luther Grosvenor), among others – Bob was eventually tabbed by Ritchie Blackmore for the bass chair in Rainbow which led to an even higher profile for the dexterous bassist, composer, and producer.

 

In 1979 Daisley accepted Ozzy Osbourne’s offer to join Blizzard of Ozz with guitar prodigy Randy Rhodes. Intended to be a band rather than an Ozzy led solo project, Daisley played a major role in the writing and recording several Ozzy slabs and tours which put metal on the mainstream map including Osborne’s mega-hit No More Tears (1991).

 

However shady machinations in the Ozzy camp often rendered Bob un-credited and un-compensated. Last time I checked the lawsuits / disputes were still flying. Even Bob’s bass parts were wiped off Ozzy tracks at the behest of Mrs. Osborne.  Such is the business of rock and roll.

 

Regardless, Bob continued his career with Gary Moore, Uriah Heep, Bill Ward, Mother’s Army, Living Loud (with Deep Purple guitarist Steve Morse, Uriah Heep drummer Lee Kerslake and Purple keyboardist Don Airey), Hoochie Coochie Men (with Jon Lord), and Black Sabbath among other notable projects.

 

In 2014 Bob published his highly controversial autobiography For Fact’s Sake – which reveals more than a few hard truths behind the hard rock legends!

 

Gear heads be sure to review Bob’s numerous weapons of choice https://bobdaisley.com/gallery/bobs-guitars

 

For all things Daisley, check in with www.BobDaisley.com

 

Bob Daisley Sound & Vision…

 

With Chicken Shack: “Revelation” https://youtu.be/RkV21EAZC48

 

With Widowmaker: “Such a Shame” https://youtu.be/Tw4Ew7MQwh4

 

With Rainbow: “Sensitive to Light” https://youtu.be/MzRN9CgVxWc

 

“Long Live Rock and Roll” Live:  https://youtu.be/HDT_uqM1iqI

 

With Ozzy: 

 

“Crazy Train” https://youtu.be/RMR5zf1J1Hs

 

“I Don’t Want to Change the World” https://youtu.be/zN7xOdjNIMc

 

With Gary Moore: “Teenage Idol” https://youtu.be/n4PaYq-H36M

 

With Steve Vai, Paul Rodgers, Tony Williams from In From the Storm Jimi Hendrix Tribute: “Bold As Love” https://youtu.be/gmIpQeF0xhQ

 

With Jon Lord & The Hoochie Coochie Men: 

 

“Who’s Been Talkin” https://youtu.be/SFzg-gomrfw

 

“Hideaway / Lonesome Traveler Blues”https://youtu.be/te8hW2mO6rQ

 

With Living Loud: “Over The Mountain” https://youtu.be/rdIYBWNm8G0

 

With Black Sabbath: “Glory Ride” https://youtu.be/K8oSyLV2BUI

 

 

Resplendent in his kaleidoscopic haberdashery and long braided hair, which complimented his multi-colored Warwick instruments, Thomas Michael Stevens was among the preeminent bassists in pop, rock, jazz, funk, metal, punk, hip-hop and permutations thereof in the 1980s-90s until illness necessitated his retirement.

 

A composer, vocalist, producer, recording artist, first call session cat, clinician, educator, and showman extraordinaire – TM anchored platters and concert performances aplenty by artists spanning James Brown, Steve Vai, The Pretenders, Joe Cocker, Billy Joel, Tina Turner, Nona Hendryx, Tupac Shakur, Cissy Houston, and Narada Michael Walden to cite a very, very select few.

 

A brilliant slap, and finger player, TM was a warm, and spirited presence on the New York City music scene, frequenting clubs and talking bass with anyone – myself included, who shared a love for the instrument.

 

T.M. Sound & Vision….

Corey Glover and Van Romaine on a remake remodel of Deep Purple’s “Burn” https://youtu.be/pY56aonrm48

 

From his Shocka Zooloo LP “The River Flows” https://youtu.be/vuJbkBAmi88

 

With Eric Gales on Jimi’s VooDoo Chile https://youtu.be/TCx-quZVzAw

 

The Pretenders “Don’t Get Me Wrong” https://youtu.be/pKzoXuEkk00

 

The Pretenders “How Much Did You Get for Your Soul” https://youtu.be/47AfhCQAlrU

 

With Neil Zaza “I’m Alright” and “I’m A Believer” https://youtu.be/MIn0XrMn9Fc

 

 

Gary Shea Know Your Bass Player Zoom Zezzions

We consider him to be in a class of preeminent hard-rock bassists of his generation. Gary Shea recalls his early days, influences, his tenure with New England, working with Todd Rundgren and Eddie Kramer, and an intimidating audition with Clive Davis among other stories of a life in rock and roll! Writers/Interviewers: Tom Semioli, Robert Jenkins. Editor: Mark Polott.

Executive Producer: Mark Preston

Gary Shea reveals his approach to anchoring guitar virtuosos Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai, and demonstrates his “patented plectrum prowess!” Writers/Interviewers: Tom Semioli, Robert Jenkins. Editor: Mark Polott. Executive Producer: Mark Preston

Cost of the instrument from Manny’s Music on West 48th Street New York City: $148.00! Gary Shea Modifications: A Precision bass neck. Telecaster pickguard. Bootleg Fender decal on headstock. Elmer’s glue to fix crack in the neck. Quan Badass bridge. White out and filed clay dots on the neck. Notch above neck pick-up where Gary anchors his thumb. Tools used: hot butter knife! Sound of the Gary Shea’s bass unplugged: awesome! Sound of Gary Shea’s bass on record: awesome! Sound of Gary Shea’s bass on stage: awesome! Writers/Interviewers: Tom Semioli, Robert Jenkins. Editor: Mark Polott. Executive Producer: Mark Preston

Is the long-player obsolete? Doomed to extinction? Has playlist and individual song streaming rendered the traditional song-cycle irrelevant? What are the pitfalls, the advantages of digital music? Bassists Gary Shea and Robert Jenkins weigh in. Writers/Interviewers: Tom Semioli, Robert Jenkins. Editor: Mark Polott. Executive Producer: Mark Preston

There are a select few players you must see before we depart this mortal coil for that great gig in the sky (I hope they have backline!) …and this is one of them, regardless of what genre(s) speak to you as a fan and / or a musician.

The noble undertaking of every bass player is to make those around him or her sound better -which brings us to virtuoso Billy Sheehan, who has been plying his craft before millions on record and on stage for over 40 years.

Billy’s all-embracing playing technique, which incorporates tapping, picking, and the use of extensive chord voicings, is nothing short of astounding. And Sheehan’s expressive use of progressive, funk, jazz, pop, classical, soul, and blues motifs and rhythms along with his improvisations are legendary – as is his ensemble playing.

His note choices whilst toiling in-the-pocket always bring out the colors of a chord and the composition. Which is precisely why Sheehan enhances the work of any artist he collaborates with as evidenced by his chart- topping metal-pop work with David Lee Roth and Mr. Big; his forays into fusion with Niacin and Richie Kotzen; his gritty post-grunge blues venture The Winery Dogs; Sons of Apollo,  and his exemplary, far-reaching canon as a solo artist – and in tandem with Steve Vai, Talas, and Terry Bozzio, among scores of others.

A true, prolific giant of the instrument, and an acclaimed clinician, educator, songwriter, winner of several notable instrumentalist polls and awards, and bass designer (Yamaha Signature Altitude) – the best way to keep up with Billy is to check his website daily www.BillySheehan.com

Dig Billy with The Winery Dogs https://youtu.be/4qhxvnMDf2E

Dig Billy with Steve Vai and Tony McAlpine: https://youtu.be/3IQ-WWn6mYE

Dig Billy with Mr. Big https://youtu.be/mHGv5FCS2j8

Dig Billy with David Lee Roth: https://youtu.be/C8XnCVA5-6I

Dig Billy with Sons of Apollo https://youtu.be/J_1N8kVYfkE