Francis Buchholz: "We'll Burn the Sky" (1978)

[A.K.]

They are miming here to the studio track, but it's still well worth watching. Uli Roth co-wrote this song with Monika Dannemann, Hendrix's ex-girlfriend and the woman Jimi was with on the night he died. It's basically a suicide dirge, and Dannemann sadly ended up committing suicide in 1996 (no surprise if you listen to the lyrics).

Francis Buchholz does a great job on this recording. Solid, heavy, with impeccable timing and one of the fattest (and most natural) P-Bass tones in rock. He is a very underrated player, unless you think rock bassists should be technical virtuosos. He played Precisions almost exclusively until 1988.

Also, is Uli Roth a badass or what?

 

[JMacBass65]

Awesome!! Haven't listened to Roth era Scorpions in about 20 years (mine is all on vinyl). Great stuff, agree with everything you said about him, and Bucholz!

 

[Gluvhand]

Brilliant! They became such a different band after Roth left. Some for the better, some not. The Roth era is my favorite. People that compare Malmsteen to Blackmore and not Roth haven't a clue. But on to Francis. Always a steady player that serves the song very well. Great tone, like you said, and some cool choices in what he plays underneath.

 

[A.K.]

He was way more creative than people gave him credit for, but of course there is an anti-hard rock bias among many musicians. He was "simple," but his lines were always well constructed and he wasn't just pounding out root notes (not that there's anything wrong with that much of the time). Also, it would be hard for a rock bassist to criticize his tone unless one doesn't like classic Fender tones.

Constantine Isslamow totally nailed Francis' bass line for "Blackout," and it shows how a creative player can drive a heavy rock song from the low frequencies, even with a simple chord progression. Lots of other YouTube bass players miss the details, but Constantine doesn't overlook an eighth rest.

 

[A.K.]

Brilliant! They became such a different band after Roth left. Some for the better, some not. The Roth era is my favorite. People that compare Malmsteen to Blackmore and not Roth haven't a clue. But on to Francis. Always a steady player that serves the song very well. Great tone, like you said, and some cool choices in what he plays underneath.

Uli Roth was just about the most technically advanced electric guitarist alive between 1974 and 1978. He is also a big Buchholz fan.

 

[matti777]

I listen to one of their Big City Nights live performances on YT once in awhile. I can't find the particular video anymore. He had a red P bass with killer tone. Nothing fancy.

 

[b/o 402]

I used to have "Tokyo Tapes" on vinyl, such a well mixed live album.

 

[JMacBass65]

I used to have "Tokyo Tapes" on vinyl, such a well mixed live album.

Fairly certain I still do!

 

[A.K.]

I used to have "Tokyo Tapes" on vinyl, such a well mixed live album.

"Tokyo Tapes" is one of my favorite live albums. The bass playing is killer all the way through.

 

[IPA]

Listening to the Blackout album right now, the tone/playing is excellent

 

[IPA]

Listening to World Wide Live, still killing it