The legendary Tommy Shannon

[jaywa]

I love the guy's playing but what really got me on those SRV recordings was his tone.

Just amazing sound and as far as I know, nothing more than a 4-string passive bass, a tube amp and his hands.

 

[KPJ]

I love the guy's playing but what really got me on those SRV recordings was his tone.

Just amazing sound and as far as I know, nothing more than a 4-string passive bass, a tube amp and his hands.

He often used a Peavey Max SS head with Peavey 3620 (2 x18 2x10) or custom 2x15 cabs.

 

[leroy diamond]

Have been trying to nail the bass line on 'Tightrope'. Man what a player this guy is! .Total groove monster.

 

[Farseer]

So what are the multicolor silk strings on his bass?

I know this is a old post but I recently got this video and have the same question. Any one have any ideas?

 

[DJ Bebop]

Tommy Shannon owns the bass in my avatar...

 

[DJ Bebop]

Tommy Shannon owns the bass in my avatar...

View attachment 4520359 View attachment 4520360

 

[ELG60]

A question about learning to play walking bass lines in the blues context was posed on our forum several months ago. My recommendation was to study, learn, and master Tommy Shannon's playing/style. One would be well placed to do so.

To those initiated, he's legendary. To the ignorant . . . willful or otherwise, no one is.

 

[moreblues]

So what are the multicolor silk strings on his bass?

They were D'Addario Slowounds but they were discontinued many years ago. Slowounds used to have a different
color silk for each string.

 

[kapaauguy]

Let's make a list of all of the legendary Australian bass players:

1. none
2. none
3. none
4. none
5. none

I guess that covers it!

I've been listening to Tommy since Johnny Winter And Live came out.

Bob Daisley

 

[minimalist freedom]

Only if the International world has heard of him.

This is one country. Local heroes can be complete unknowns overseas. I never heard of him until this post so legend, he ain't.

Like I said, the word Legend is used very loosely.

Sad is that your serious. You heard of Stevie Ray Vaughan ?

 

[ShoeManiac]

I had heard that the Arc Angels had recently reformed. That band was a little ahead of its time and was a good launching pad for Doyle Bramhall II and Charlie Sexton, along with being a solid landing pad for Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton following SRV's death. I enjoyed that record, and I still have "Living in a dream" on one of my favorite playlists. Tommy is solid, as always.

I wasn't surprised to read in this article that Tommy has retired: Invalid Link Removed

He seemed to be on the frail side during Stevie Ray Vaughn's induction ceremony into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And considering his career stretched all the way back to playing with Johnny Winter in the late 60's I wasn't surprised to learn that Tommy had retired. But I was definitely a list bit wistful when I read the article. I hope that the Arc Angels do him proud!

 

[Aussie Player]

Sad is that your serious. You heard of Stevie Ray Vaughan ?

Not until I moved to the States and the band I was in played a song of his. Picked up a snippet here and there on who he was but the band is never mentioned and because I am a bass player, I never had any interest in another guitar player as Hendrix wannabee's were common from the 70's on-wards. I think only Van Halen brought something new and unique to the table after Clapton and Hendrix pioneered the blues rock format.

Same with bass players, The pioneers were in the 60's and very early 70's and several like JPY and Fraser carried over. Have no interest in modern treble bass playing as those guys taught us melody, note phrasing and neck utilization that still to this day generates surprise and comment from both band members and the audience. In the pre internet world overseas, America didn't shine that much, as the British influence was still dominant. There are some nice bass players around today that take those pioneers a step further and they are great to listen to but bass is definitely in 2 camps today and the later camp holds no interest for me.

I have also learned since immigrating that Americans don't know very much about other countries so the internet opened a whole new world to them as well. Example, Free is known in America for 1 song. I had all 8 LP's, respectfully, did you know they had that catalogue? Yet most here seem to know who Andy Fraser is today but back then?

Oversee's is a whole, other world, If you, meaning anyone, hasn't experienced it, you don;t know it or weren't there during the influential years and that's fine because I wasn't in the US then and that's fine too.
Its all about perspective and commonly available information. No harm done on either side of the fence.

 

[bassicmike]

Tommy Shannon played with Johnny Winter AND Stevie Ray Vaughan.

There is no bassist anywhere who has heard more blues guitar notes.

That's legendary.

 

[Hot Rats]

Not until I moved to the States and the band I was in played a song of his. Picked up a snippet here and there on who he was but the band is never mentioned and because I am a bass player, I never had any interest in another guitar player as Hendrix wannabee's were common from the 70's on-wards. I think only Van Halen brought something new and unique to the table after Clapton and Hendrix pioneered the blues rock format.

Same with bass players, The pioneers were in the 60's and very early 70's and several like JPY and Fraser carried over. Have no interest in modern treble bass playing as those guys taught us melody, note phrasing and neck utilization that still to this day generates surprise and comment from both band members and the audience. In the pre internet world overseas, America didn't shine that much, as the British influence was still dominant. There are some nice bass players around today that take those pioneers a step further and they are great to listen to but bass is definitely in 2 camps today and the later camp holds no interest for me.

I have also learned since immigrating that Americans don't know very much about other countries so the internet opened a whole new world to them as well. Example, Free is known in America for 1 song. I had all 8 LP's, respectfully, did you know they had that catalogue? Yet most here seem to know who Andy Fraser is today but back then?

Oversee's is a whole, other world, If you, meaning anyone, hasn't experienced it, you don;t know it or weren't there during the influential years and that's fine because I wasn't in the US then and that's fine too.
Its all about perspective and commonly available information. No harm done on either side of the fence.

I had no idea Free has 8 LP's.

 

[Gluvhand]

I had no idea Free has 8 LP's.

Six, with one being a live album.

 

[Aussie Player]

Six, with one being a live album.

Tone of Sobs
FREE ( Pic of Woman leaping on Cover)
Fire and Water
Highway
Heartbreaker
Free At Last
Free Live
Best of Free
There were several offshoot albums too such as Andy Fraser in Sharks, Kossoff, Kirk, Tetsu and Rabbit and Kossoff in Back Street Crawler. I had all of them on vinyl and still have all the FREE albums on cd.

My point was that Free is known for basically a single song in the US, so just because someone doesn't know something about a band, it gives no cause to denigrate them which is common here on this site. We all know something someone else does not know. Its one of the only universal facts of life

 

[Aussie Player]

A question about learning to play walking bass lines in the blues context was posed on our forum several months ago. My recommendation was to study, learn, and master Tommy Shannon's playing/style. One would be well placed to do so.

To those initiated, he's legendary. To the ignorant . . . willful or otherwise, no one is.

The arrogance on this site is amazing when someone hasn't heard of a player or band.
If being raised in another country and not exposed to someone never played on radio there is no excuse......
Answer this one for us all........
Who was Rick Springfield's bass player before coming to the US?
Hint: He was in a world famous band including chart topping in the US.
Foot tapping............

 

[Aussie Player]

Tommy Shannon played with Johnny Winter AND Stevie Ray Vaughan.

There is no bassist anywhere who has heard more blues guitar notes.

That's legendary.

How about Jack Bruce? (Clapton, Johnny McLaughlin, Leslie West, Hendrix, Robin Trower, Buddy Guy, Gary Moore, Blues Incorproated, John Mayall to name a few)

 

[ELG60]

The arrogance on this site is amazing when someone hasn't heard of a player or band.
If being raised in another country and not exposed to someone never played on radio there is no excuse......
Answer this one for us all........
Who was Rick Springfield's bass player before coming to the US?
Hint: He was in a world famous band including chart topping in the US.
Foot tapping............

I'll take obscure Aussie bassists for $40, Alex . . .

Who is Bebe Bartles.

Coincidentally, I've been learning some LRB tunes for fun lately. Meanwhile, Reminiscing, and It's A Long Way There. A largely forgotten, if not underrated band.

 

[Aussie Player]

I'll take obscure Aussie bassists for $40, Alex . . .

Who is Bebe Bartles.

Coincidentally, I've been learning some LRB tunes for fun lately. Meanwhile, Reminiscing, and It's A Long Way There. A largely forgotten, if not underrated band.

LRB had a really top guitarist called Rick Formosa who played with them but he wouldn't take the trip to the US and dropped out of the band. He was terrific and brought a rocky edge to the band. I felt they lost something valuable when he pulled out, but maybe that tamer sound was closer to the US market at that time? Who knows?
The bass player with Zoot was Beeb Birtles. Their Number 1 hit was Eleanor Rigby played not a bit like the Beatles version.