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Dee Murray

#2
A.T., I'm pretty sure in the 70's he used Fender P & J basses. I'm not sure of his choice of amps, but he was probably recorded direct. I'll do some research on this and post back on what I find.

There was a concert video of E.J. in Australia in the mid 80's where Dee was playing a Steinberger, and completely ripping it up. His playing on that video was incredible.


By the time I finally saw E.J. live, it was the 'Rock of the Westies' tour '75 or '76. Unfortunately, Dee didn't play on the album or tour :bawl: .

Dee was the first bass player I emulated as a kid, even before I bought my first bass. I still listen to his work w/E.J. quite often. It's great to see someone else has noticed Dee's playing.

He passed away in the mid 90's of cancer, he was only 47.
 
#3
Dee was a great bassplayer, that early Elton stuff was a huge influence on me. He played with Spencer Davis before
Elton and did a ton of session work for various people. I still smile when I hear "Love lies Bleeding", superb bass playing.
He died too young....

Cheers,
Slug
 
#4
I don't know what Dee Murray played on all of the old Elton John records, but I know he played a G&L in Nashville after he left Elton John. His old G&L is on display at Corner Music in Nashville. It was the old single pickup model, the L-1000, I think.
 
#5
About all I could find gear-wise on Dee was a picture of him with a P-Bass. I'll keep searching to find out what he used for gear while he played with E.J.. A couple of the Dee-tribute sites recommend listening to Elton's '11-17-70' live album. This is my all-time favorite, too. It was recorded live in front of a small audience and featured just Elton, Dee, and Nigel. The trio smoked that studio! You can really hear Dee & Nigel's killer backing harmonies, and Dee plays his butt off. It's a must-listen IMO.

I did find that while he was being treated for malignent skin cancer he died of a stroke in 1992. What a loss.
 
#10
mike sancho said:
I've always liked his playing. 11-17-70 is a killer trio rock album. I'm pretty sure he played Fenders back then. He left us way too young. Here's to you Dee!!!
Click to expand...

It is awesome, isn't it! When I listen to Dee's live tone, I imagine the same set up Mojo-Man posted, a Fender Jazz with flats, and maybe a big Sunn stack. I love the version of 'Burn Down the Mission', plus the medley they play. Great dynamics, it kills!

A funny thing about this thread, I'd pulled out 'Capt Fantastic & The Brown Dirt Cowboy' and 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' before I came across this thread. Am I psychic? Naw, I'm getting used to my new 6-string Roscoe, so I thought I'd play along with something I hadn't listened to for a long time. I'm going to try to find '11-17-70' on CD. This thread has given me the jones to hear it again, I don't have a turntable anymore!

Thanks everyone, I'm really enjoying this thread.

Have a great week, -Art.
 
#12
slugworth said:
Dee was a great bassplayer, that early Elton stuff was a huge influence on me. He played with Spencer Davis before
Elton and did a ton of session work for various people. I still smile when I hear "Love lies Bleeding", superb bass playing.
He died too young....

Cheers,
Slug
Click to expand...

I was a huge Elton John fan when I was a kid, and FFAF/LLB was my all time favorite song(s). But I played drums then and never really paid attention to the bass line. I heard the song again not long after picking up the bass, and I was blown away. Great bass line. Dee Murray rocked.
 
#16
I'm totally pleased to see this thread!!!
Dee was someone who contributed immense musicality and melodic feel in his playing while never showboating. Remember the very early " Your Song " tour footage when frequently it was just EJ and Dee...
I seem to remember shots of Dee with an Alembic, am I right?
 
#18
If someone told me that I was going to be spending a year
by myself on a desert island, and I had a choice of having 50 wanker-bassplayer C/D's or 3 Elton John albums with Dee, I'd take the EJB records in a heartbeat. To me, Dee was the epitome of what I aspire to as a bassist. Tasty, and supporrtive; agressive and muscular when called for, but
still sublime...This guy had a voice... He is gone,
but certainly NOT forgotten. Thanks, Dee...

Cheers,
Slug
 

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