Courtesy of Graham Bonnet Com
She’s Mrs. Graham Bonnet to you sir… and she anchors the Graham Bonnet Band.
Though the legendary septuagenarian Lancashire UK rock legend is allegedly a fine player; lead crooning and playing bass are oft at odds, hence the need for a lower register resource dedicated solely to the task at hand, or in her case, plectrum.
(For the record, Bonnet’s bassists of yore are A list: Roger Glover, Gary Shea, Chris Glen, and Chuck Wright to cite a few….)
Enter Beth Ami-Heavenstone who cites Sir Paul, James Jamerson, Jack Bruce, and John Paul Jones – the usual boomer suspects – as her influences.
She’s Bonnet’s bottom – outlining the changes with the utmost economy by way of a massive Fender P resonance, and SVT amps and cabinets.
Amy Sound & Vision ….
Graham Bonnet:
“Living in Suspicion” https://youtu.be/AZ9gC8QUL3I
“Samuri” https://youtu.be/6U6AVyyeWG8
“Starcarr Lane” https://youtu.be/COll8_okcD0
Courtesy Graham Bonnet Com
Photo courtesy of Dickie Peterson Com
Courtesy of Alice In Chains Com
He is a versatile bassist who threads grunge, metal, traditional hard rock, alternative, and permutations thereof on record and on stage.
A member of Alice in Chains since 1993, Mike Inez does it all – from lower register grooves to upper register counterpoint as the situation warrants.
An engaging performer, educator, composer, sideman, band member, and collaborator – among Mike’s high-profile gigs aside from AIC includes Ozzy Osbourne, Slash’s Snakepit, Heart, and Black Label Society, to cite a select few.
A hard hitting drop D tuning plectrum player inspired by John Entwistle, Jack Bruce, and Geezer Butler and his mom’s Elton John and Beatles slabs, among Mike’s weapons of choice include: Ampeg SVT, Fender Bassman, Warwick and Spector basses.
Courtesy of Alice In Chains Com
Mike Inez Sound & Vision…
Alice In Chains:
“Down in a Hole” from MTV Unplugged https://youtu.be/nWK0kqjPSVI
“Raineir Fog” https://youtu.be/irNTqjI7A8E
Slash’s Snakepit “Beggars & Hangers On” https://youtu.be/FddCGr7mD54
Ozzy “I Don’t Want to Change the World” https://youtu.be/8d6AgoFStFQ
Photo courtesy of Polydor Records
Photo by Jan Nicholas
Amen to Scott Ian of Anthrax who proclaimed, “Steve Harris’s right hand, that’s the essence of heavy metal.”
Iron Maiden founder, chief-songwriter, producer, occasional keyboardist and backing vocalist, and video director, among other roles – the bass artistry of Stephen Percy Harris indefatigably defines the British New Wave of Heavy Metal, which continues to inspire generations of players as you are reading this!!!
Noted for his “galloping” triplet rhythms rendered with his digits rather than a plectrum; Harris’ hammer-ons, harmonics, open-string pedal tone passages rendered with a timbre that allows his lines to be heard at massive volumes are the stuff of legend. Every motif Harris plies is of strict metal origins – no blues, jazz, funk, soul, nor classical references – nada!
With his beloved Precision strung with 50-110 flats, Harris traverses Maiden’s stage as metal god should; propping his right foot on front stage monitors whilst surveying the metal minions who have worshipped his band for decades and counting. With millions in record sales, box office attendance, and overall longevity in addition to their artistic accomplishments, Steve Harris and Iron Maiden’s absence from the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame is appalling, especially given the fact that the RRHOF is an appalling “institution” whose governance is comprised of wankers, gits, and posers… (reckon I won’t be receiving my ballot this year…).
In 2009, Fender issued a Steve Harris Signature Bass which reproduces his long-time sparkle-blue finish instrument, which Harris has since replaced with a white veneer complimented by the crest of his beloved West Ham United Football Club (see photos).
For all things Maiden, https://www.ironmaiden.com/
“Kick with a Bam! We love West Ham!”
Steve Harris Sound & Vision as rendered by…
KYBP Adjunct Professor Tony Senatore:
“Run to the Hills” https://youtu.be/-odrQck3Ppg
“Killers” https://youtu.be/HYiCnZdG74I
“Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner” https://youtu.be/XgwjMfjPqMM
“Losfer Words” https://youtu.be/sete2GLts6Q
KYBP Austin Bureau Chief Robert Jenkins:
“Children of the Damned” https://youtu.be/oY2CHVgY39s
Steve Harris Photos Courtesy of Fender
Photo courtesy of Glenn Hughes Com
By Thomas Semioli