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Gary Thain of Uriah Heep
- Thread starter Scooby D
- Start date
Just another post to keep this thread alive. When I heard Gary Thain (when Demons and Wizards first came out) I was going through a period of being disillusioned about playing bass in heavy rock music as so many bass players at the time were just hammering out never ending streams of eighth note roots. When I heard what Gary was doing and that you could still "serve the music" and play interesting bass parts within the context of rock music ... well it really turned me around and got me going again. Thanks Gary!
Demons & Wizards was my first Uriah Heep album...and first intro to Gary Thain.
At the time, he sounded "jazzy" compared to some other the other guys I liked.
Thinking back, "jazzy" = a more chromatic approach with some of his lines.
So, we're in the same time frame, but-
I do not recall Heavy/Hard/Acid Rock bassists just hammering out roots in that era.
D&W was released in 1972. So, for me it was the usual suspects-
The Who, Yes, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Sabbath, Tull, Captain Beyond, Mountain/WB&L, James Gang, Grand Funk, etc.
Who else were you checking out?
It might just be the way I "heard" music those days and/or my exposure back then. Not saying I was correct in my observations
But don't forget, at that time, listening was limited to the albums you could afford and the bass you (may or may not have) heard on transistor radios. Thanks for the input!I hear ya!
Buying an album ($4.00 @the Navy Exchange) was an event...
I do recall buying Demons & Wizards at a JC Penny of all places!
Buying an album ($4.00 @the Navy Exchange) was an event...
I do recall buying Demons & Wizards at a JC Penny of all places!
Yeah. Different landscape back then for sure. And Gary certainly did rise above the din.
I was jamming with some UH the other day, Gary was a truly amazing player. His playing on those records still inspires, and remains pretty unique all these years later IMHO.
I used to listen to a lot of UH as a mid-teen in the late 80's, before I played bass. Going back to the records years later, I noticed what a subliminal influence Gary has been on my own playing. Such a talent.
Shame that rock bands today don't feature such a level of prominent and fluid bass.
I used to listen to a lot of UH as a mid-teen in the late 80's, before I played bass. Going back to the records years later, I noticed what a subliminal influence Gary has been on my own playing. Such a talent.
Shame that rock bands today don't feature such a level of prominent and fluid bass.
Wow.... I thought I was the only, Well in a small group of... Bassist that admired Gary Thain.... The live album taught me how to play bass and that was 40plus years ago.. He really shaped my playing and the way he would approach the fills and come back in on 1..... Great minds think alike.... Plus the 50's medley they did he kills it....
Gonna go and listen to the live recording right now....
Gonna go and listen to the live recording right now....
Gary Thain as far as im concerned is by far the most underrated bass player in rock. 40 yrs ago whilst at school discussing with a friend of mine that id just bought a bass to learn on, he suggested i gave UH live 73 a listen.
Well that was abit of a life changing moment for me because i fell in love with the bass because of that album and predominantly because of Gary's playing
He was clearly influenced by soul n motown and using that style in heavy rock band took UH to another level for me. Theres a number of bassist from that time that really shine..Squire, Bruce, Jones, ect ect.. All brilliant.. But i find it quite frustrating that apart from this site that i never.. EVER! see his name mentioned.. as for me at least he is the best rock bassist there's been.
Well that was abit of a life changing moment for me because i fell in love with the bass because of that album and predominantly because of Gary's playing
He was clearly influenced by soul n motown and using that style in heavy rock band took UH to another level for me. Theres a number of bassist from that time that really shine..Squire, Bruce, Jones, ect ect.. All brilliant.. But i find it quite frustrating that apart from this site that i never.. EVER! see his name mentioned.. as for me at least he is the best rock bassist there's been.
I began playing bass specifically upon being mesmerized by Thain's work on Sweet Freedom. To this very day I admire him as being in a class of his own. He interjected bass harmony work into Heep's catalog that I still marvel at forty years later. In fact one of my most prized possessions is a Thain autographed copy of Very Eavy Very Umble. It is lovingly framed and hangs in a very prominent place in my (my wife's) home and my wife threatens me daily to remove the offensive album (cover shot is a face covered in spider webbing) from HER living room wall or else... Well, it still hangs there and should she attempt to remove this loving tribute to the hero of my youth that would be grounds for immediate dissolution of this marital arrangement!! LOL..... Not to mention Gary was the ultimate cool looking rock artist of the day..... OK, I will get off my pedestal now.
Oh yes indeedy...i forgot to mention how cool he looked... That hair...and lets not forget those furry boots... I copied him and still do in so many ways...apart from his appetite for class A drugs.. Gary Thain will always be my No.1.
Hi, this bass belonged to Gary Thain
Oh wow!!!!!! Is this in your collection????? I absolutely am in awe!!!! Seriously too.... Thain was such an inspiration to me.
Big influence on me. Although I was a massive Sabbath fan-boy, the Heep stuff was magical.
A lot is said about the "Demons & Wizards" albums, but some of my favourite playing was on "Wonderworld."
There's some lovely bass lines on that record.
Eguland: Congrats. That's a beaut. I've said on other threads how I'd love to build a Thain inspired natural/stripped Precision, but that Jazz is beautiful.
A lot is said about the "Demons & Wizards" albums, but some of my favourite playing was on "Wonderworld."
There's some lovely bass lines on that record.
Eguland: Congrats. That's a beaut. I've said on other threads how I'd love to build a Thain inspired natural/stripped Precision, but that Jazz is beautiful.
Not the greatest song, but some of the best melodic bass playing.
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In my mind you are in possession of something every bit as cool as guitar that Hendrix played. Will you be playing this great bass? Would love to hear the story of how you came to own this awesome piece of rock history sometime! Thain was absolutely the pinnacle of our game. I still to this day can listen to Sweet Freedom like I have a thousand times over the years and just get chills hearing Gary reaching for and finding every glorious note. Wonderful wonderful piece you have there!
+1 Gary Thain and John Paul Jones were the reasons I took up the bass. Not a day goes by without me being grateful to them.
