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

 

 

Gary Thain, bassist (electric) by Tom Semioli

 

Seminal Sides: Sweet Freedom (1973), Wonderworld (1974) with Uriah Heep, Halfbreed (1969), Overdog (1971) with the Keef Hartley Band

 

Artists / Bands: Uriah Heep, The Keef Hartley Band, The Strangers, Me & The Others 

 

Gary’s playing style on his Fender (Jazz) bass and choice of flat-wound strings made for a distinct sound. He never used a plectrum (pick), preferring to use his thumb, the result being a very pure bass sound without the harsh “attack” sound and harmonics that would normally result from using a pick. Studying Gary’s face and body motions during a performance would reveal a very intense focus on his part for the particular song being performed. Todd Fisher (Uriah Heep crew member – as told to Uriah-Heep Com)

 

‘Twas a time when hard rock bassists brought their formidable understanding of jazz, classical, and blues to the genre – as evidenced in the bass artistry of the late, great Gary Thain with Uriah Heep.

 

A master pocket and melodic player Thain paid his dues with the influential Keef Hartley Blues Band in the late 1960s, appearing on such seminal sides as Halfbreed (1969) and Overdog (1971), and lifted Heep into their golden era when he joined the lads in the early 1970s.

 

Though the prog-metal masterpiece The Magician’s Birthday (1972) is considered to be the New Zealand native’s greatest work with the potent Heep, dig Thain’s wicked rhythm and blues grooves which bolster the underrated Sweet Freedom (1973) and Wonderworld (1974)– wherein Gary’s resonate Fender bass work boogies akin to the soul masters James Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, and Jerry Jemmott.

 

After toiling in bands in his native New Zealand, most notably The Strangers which waxed three singles, Gary anchored an ensemble which worked under the moniker Me and The Others. That band toured extensively throughout Europe, wherein he caught the attention of Keef Hartley. Gary cut five albums with Hartley and appeared at Woodstock ‘69, among other high profile festivals.

 

Sadly Gary battled substances and personal problems during his time with Heep, including an on stage electrocution, which he never recovered from. He passed at the age of 27 in 1975.

Gary Thain Sound and Vision

 

 

Dig Gary with The Strangers “Alright” https://youtu.be/EQqSN9JgQBE

 

 

Dig Gary with the Keef Hartley Band:

 

 

“You Say Your Together Now” with Gary on lead vocals: https://youtu.be/9-xGSul9rpk

 

 

“Marin County” https://youtu.be/YEgFRZngk54

 

 

“Leavin’ Trunk” https://youtu.be/6yP1E5YNxBk

 

 

Gary anchoring Keef’s “Little Big Band” https://youtu.be/KsLJjNLx9Mw

 

 

Dig Gary with Uriah Heep…

 

 

“Dreamer” https://youtu.be/6uFsuDnc7l8

 

 

“The Wizard” https://youtu.be/QaRXQkuB2SM

 

 

Live At Shepperton 1974 (“Easy Livin’‘ “So Tired” “Stealin’ “Love Machine” https://youtu.be/RdfHizhN2FE

 

 

Live in Tokyo “Sunrise” https://youtu.be/qVobQTaoV7s

 

 

“Something or Nothing” https://youtu.be/_uHYdB2Sncw

 

Photo by Robert Ellis Courtesy of John Wetton Com

 

 

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