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Grand Wazoo

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Oct 20, 2008
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Planet Remulak :)
A few years back, (perhaps too many years ago), a UK guitar mag called Guitarist had a small column called "Unsung Heros" and it was dedicated to the recognitions of unknown and never previously heard of, musicians whose fame was otherwise shadowed by the main solo Arstist of a given band, for instance David Bowie's bass player or Carlos Santana's one...

So if you have stumbled across a guitarist or bassist that you think needs to be recognized please list them here together with the band in which they play or have starred in, for others to check out.

I have the following unsung heroes

1) Jimmy Johnson (played bass with British fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth) to me he has one of the nicest fretless sound I have heard beside Jaco.

2) Scott Thunes (who played with Frank Zappa) Scott has the best plectrum sound there is, end of story! His "precision bass" style attack has a fantastic presence and you can clearly hear every note he plays even in the extreme complexity of Zappa's music. He is one of my favourite.

3) Muzz Skillings - ex Living Colour, a very melodic rock bass player, when he was in the band before Doug Wimibish joined, their sound was sooooo tight and perfectly syncronized - check out "Cult of Personality" his timing is precious in that song.

What are your unsung heros? (we don't wanna hear about your guitar teacher,your best pal or your older brother, only list those who we can really check out on cd's, thanks!)
 

adouglas

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Aug 12, 2005
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5,592
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On the tail end of the bell curve in Connecticut
Donald "Duck" Dunn. Lots of great motown and soul tunes to his credit. He did appear in the Blues Brothers movie, and had something like one line. I recall him being quoted as saying, upon suffering a broken string after 20 years of use, "Geez, and it was just getting broken in...."

Don't know if you can count Tony Levin as "unsung," but he's been in the background of recordings by, well, just about everybody. This guy is my number-one influence.

I kind of like Kenny Gradney...bass player for Little Feat. Nothing terribly complex, but the music was great and he was a key part of it.
 

nickowatson

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Oct 18, 2008
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104
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Brisbane, Australia
Jimmy Herring - Aquarium Rescue Unit (very cool band), Jazz is Dead, Col Bruce Hampton, Allman Brothers.
Warren Haynes - Gov't Mule, Allman Brothers.
Eric Gales - Eric Gales Band
Steuart Smith - The Eagles
Tomo Fujita
 

gafman

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Jun 18, 2008
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131
Location
Mid North Coast, NSW, Australia
Jim Hilbun from The Angels (Australia). An American guy inducted into this iconic Australian Rock band in the late 80's. He was such an inspiration to my playing from the very start. I remember looking at an album insert shot of him holding a 5 string Steinberger over his shoulder and thinking 'what the hell is that thing'. I was so young and clueless.
And not only was he a killer bass player, he could play sax and sing, a great muso and inspiration in my little world.
 

Bravo Victor

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Aug 18, 2005
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87
Jimmy Herring has a new "solo" project just released called Lifeboat and it is beyond excellent.
 
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