Gary Thain
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Gary Thain | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Gary Mervin Thain |
Born | Christchurch,New Zealand | 15 May 1948
Died | 8 December 1975 (aged 27) Norwood Green,London,England |
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Instrument | Bass |
Years active | 1963–1975 |
Formerly of |
Gary Mervin Thain(May 15, 1948 – December 8, 1975) was a New Zealand bassist, best known for his work with British rock bandUriah Heep.
Biography
[edit]Thain was born inChristchurch.He had two older brothers, Colin and Arthur. He recorded in Christchurch with The Strangers (not to be confused withthe Australian band of the same name).[1]At 17, he moved toAustraliaand joined The Secrets, which dissolved in 1966.[2]Later, Thain was part of the rock trio The New Nadir. WithdrummerPeter Dawkins,he traveled from New Zealand toLondon,and oncejammedwithJimi Hendrixbefore the trio split in 1969.
Thain joined theKeef Hartley Band,performing at Woodstock in 1969, and in 1971, theytouredwithUriah Heep;Uriah Heep asked him to join the band (replacingMark Clarke) in February 1972. He stayed in Uriah Heep until February 1975, playing on fourstudioalbums:Demons & Wizards,The Magician's Birthday,Sweet FreedomandWonderworldas well as alive album,Uriah Heep Live.During his last U.S. tour with Heep, Thain was seriously injured when he suffered anelectric shockat the Moody Coliseum inDallas,Texason 15 September 1974.[3]Due to hisdrug addictionhe was not able to perform properly, and was fired by the band in early 1975 and replaced by formerKing Crimsonbassist/vocalist,John Wetton.
Thain was married twice, but had no children. He died ofrespiratory failuredue to aheroinoverdose,on 8 December 1975,aged 27,[4]at his flat inNorwood GreeninLondon.[2]
Performing style and equipment
[edit]Amongst musicians of his time, Thain was considered an excellent bassist. Unlike many of his contemporaries, his style was melodic and progressive. He rarely played along with the root notes of the chords, but preferred his own jazz, funk, or progressive bass line. Many typical professional rock bassists never attained his ability to break up a song's direction.
Thain primarily used a 1962Fender Jazz Bassduring his stint in Uriah Heep, though he also used aGibson Thunderbirdbass and a modifiedFender Precision Bass.Thain's overdriven bass tone was often created using an Acoustic 360 bass amp fromAcoustic Control Corporation.Thain chose to play finger style rather than using a pick.
Albums discography
[edit]Champion Jack Dupree
[edit]- Scoobydoobydoo(1969)
Martha Velez
[edit]- Fiends and Angels(1970)
Keef Hartley Band
[edit]- Halfbreed(1969)
- The Battle of North West Six(1969)
- The Time is Near(1970)
- Little Big Band Live at The Marquee 1971(1971)
- Overdog(1971)
- Seventy-Second Brave(1972)
Miller Anderson
[edit]- Bright City(1971)
Pete York Percussion Band
[edit]- The Pete York Percussion Band(1972)
Uriah Heep
[edit]- Demons and Wizards(1972)
- The Magician's Birthday(1972)
- Uriah Heep Live(1973)
- Sweet Freedom(1973)
- Wonderworld(1974)
- Live at Shepperton '74(1986)
Ken Hensley
[edit]Me and the Others / The New Nadir
[edit]- Uncovered(2009)
Singles discography
[edit]The Strangers
[edit]- 1963: "My Blue Heaven"/" The Dark at the Top of The Stairs "
- 1964: "Pretend" / "Alright"
- 1965: "Can't Help Forgiving You" / "I'll Never Be Blue"
The Secrets
[edit]- 1965: "It's You" / "You're Wrong"
- 1966: "Me and the Others" / "Love Is Not a Game"
Champion Jack Dupree
[edit]- 1969: "Ba La Fouche" (MT/Jack Dupree)/ "Kansas City" (Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller)
Martha Velez
[edit]- 1969: "Tell Mama" / "Swamp Man"
Keef Hartley Band
[edit]- 1969: "Don't Be Afraid" / "Hickory"
- 1969: "Halfbreed" / "Waiting Around"
- 1969: "Just to Cry" / "Leave It 'Til The Morning"
- 1969: "Plain Talkin'" / "We Are All the Same"
- 1970: "Roundabout" / "Roundabout pt 2"
- 1973: "Dance to the Music" / "You and Me"
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Gary Thain – Dave Chapman".Archived fromthe originalon 2 October 2018.
- ^ab"Biography".garythain.com.Archived fromthe originalon 19 February 2008.Retrieved2 January2017.
- ^Tobler, John (1992).NME Rock 'N' Roll Years(1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 268. CN 5585.
- ^Tobler, John (1992).NME Rock 'N' Roll Years(1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 283. CN 5585.