Gary Thain of Uriah Heep

[Heepman]

i'm surprised you came up with nothing. i have a news article about from Circus mag at the time, as John's discussed it in interviews over the years.

 

[pbass888]

even though im old (well middle age ) and play mostly jazz real book and other fusion stuff I still love and respect gary thain..remember hearing the album magicians birthday(yes album) and also learning sweet lorrain for the first time like it was yesterday. Love him and his work! a real pioneer in the bass world

 

[Flabass]

Gary Thain is in my top 5 list of greatest rock bassists. Saw him live twice. Great bass, great band that Uriah Heep.

 

[bassplayer8953]

Uriah Heep has been one of my favorite bands since they were "top of the pops" back in the 70's. I never paid much attention to the players who were in Heep, although I knew that their songs had some of of the tastiest bass lines I'd ever heard...until recently, when I looked into Gary Thain. Helluva player. To bad he died so young.

 

[RickC]

Here's an interesting fact I just recently discovered - Gary played at Woodstock!

Keef Hartley Band - Woodstock Wiki

/rick

 

[Cutty]

Does anyone know what type of amp Gary Thain was using about the 70s? At the official site I thought that I saw an Acoustic of some sort.

I am amp shopping - like that sound. Currently thinking SVT - but open to thoughts.

He used acoustic 371 system,i bought and used one of his amps after he passed away,it was a USA voltage model and i used a transformer with it,i wish i had it now,although it would probably break my back taking it around!!

 

[fishdreams]

Glad to see Gary Thain being kept alive here. Just was reminded that Uriah Heep Live is a monster bass record. What a tone, what lines!

 

[njbluesbassist]

Gary Thain was an amazing bassist. His work with Keef Hartley was every bit as good as his work with Heep. He produced an amazing 70s treble sound out of that old Jazz bass of his. He and Jack Bruce were the two most influential bassists that shaped my early bass playing. He is truly one of the most underrated or overlooked bassists of Rock. I have always felt both he and Glen Cornick we the two best bassists of the 70s. It’s a shame neither one achieved the level of respect deserved. I still to this day hear traces of Gary Thain in my own playing. What a great influence he was on us all.

 

[swspiers]

+1 on resurrecting a thread about one of the greatest bass players, ever.

 

[thunderbyrd]

keeping his name before the masses. when i was about 14, it was heep and sabbath all day everyday. so i've got to have gary thain and geezer butler in my DNA.

i really wish i had some tab for Gary from uriah heep live.

 

[sninja]

+1! His bass in @Demons and Wizards@ is the best rock bass ever! Killer Plyer!!! Sadly He`s gone...

 

[Rickengeezer]

+1! His bass in @Demons and Wizards@ is the best rock bass ever! Killer Plyer!!! Sadly He`s gone...

Here's a live clip in honor of resurrecting the thread, and the memory of one of the greats:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8iD7Xbd7QY&list=RD02fqLh3OcwvyI

 

[hobbes1]

I always thought he was great, too! Really enjoyed his work and it's a shame he left at such a young age!

 

[lfh]

I've collected some pics found on the net over at the Simms-Watts forum:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Without doubt he played an Acoustic 370/301 setup, but it looks like he at times used a Simms-Watts Super A.P. 200 full stack with Super Bass or Super Tri-Tone 4x12 cabs, either alone or together with his Acoustics.

 

[SasquatchDude]

Thought I'd revive an old thread to show some appreciation for a seemingly overlooked bass great.

He sure lays down some tasty licks on Circle of Hands and Easy Livin'... His playing was really hard-driving yet lyrical in a way I'd stylistically liken to JPJ, but with an arguably growlier, more aggressive tone.

RIP... another member of the 27 Club.

 

[Matt_T]

I clearly need to check out some Thain. A Spotify search is coming soon.

 

[JimK]

"Sweet Lorraine" is one you want to check out.

 

[JimK]

His playing was really hard-driving yet lyrical in a way I'd stylistically liken to JPJ, but with an arguably growlier, more aggressive tone

I can hear that & I agree.
Both sound like they're coming out of a R&B background.

 

[Matt_T]

Listening to the 73 Live album. Cool bass playing, dated music. IMHO.

 

[lfh]

I've collected some pics found on the net over at the Simms-Watts forum:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Without doubt he played an Acoustic 370/301 setup, but it looks like he at times used a Simms-Watts Super A.P. 200 full stack with Super Bass or Super Tri-Tone 4x12 cabs, either alone or together with his Acoustics.

I'd better correct my above mistake:

Meanwhile JacklegBassplayer at said forum has made some investigations and the conclusion is that the S-W rig was used by Ken Hensley for his guitar parts.