Thankfully his playing wont be affected - although thats subjective! as he notes. And they came to us, and they said, You guys were so popular that we want you to come back next February, and do the next cruise, too. But, we had to have a contract drawn up that said we have up to 48 hours before the cruise to bail on it without being penalized for it. Thats when I knew Id come home, with that Jazz. I was still in college, but I decided to go on the road. But, Henrys been around for almost everything Ive ever worked on. I checked a lot of your recordings, and it amazed me, the folks that you had worked with over the years. IM - Legendary Session Musician Embraces the 'Brave New World' With more than 2,600 albums under his belt as a session musicianas well as decades on tour with some of the biggest artists in the music industry and musical contributions to countless Hollywood films and major television showsbassist Leland "Lee" Sklar has guided his career by a simple . And all these YouTube people are going, Holy shit. We're And she was this frail old woman. "I had a bass built in 1973 by John Carruthers. Rick: Yeah. [3]. [2] Those artists would become the standard bearers of the singer-songwriter era in the 1970s. Sitting in a room by yourself just isn't as rewarding. I was just used to being in bands and playing clubs, and things like that. There are guys that, like John Entwistle, I think, probably had about 600 basses. [17][18] The tracks were produced by Mike Post. Because he could run the gamut from the most ridiculous kind of whimsical stuff, to deeply, deeply profound lyrics. "How I can impact a track is different now, because it's not the same as sitting with a drummer or a guitar player and working out parts. Jesse Grant / Getty Images. It sounded like you guys were just getting off the ground, and you were getting, maybe a feel for being a band thats really fronting themselves, like the cruise that you did, and all that. In the late '60s, I was in a hard rock band called Wolfgang. Were talking. Its amazing. But, she was the first artist that was signed to Asylum. Sell Your Used Vehicle, No Matter the Make or Model. And then all of a sudden, he took off, and we were kind of dragged along with this Taylor tsunami. The bass uses fanned frets, which result in longer low strings and shorter high strings. So you really cant count people out. So, itll be stuff nobodys heard before. [4], He entered junior high at Birmingham High School, a combined high school of grades 7-12, and was diverted from the crowded field of pianists by his orchestra teacher, Mr. Ted Lynn, to an old blonde Kay upright bass. I listen to playbacks, I throw out ideas, and I try to let people know that I'm engaged, and I want to be proud of me and proud of them when the date is over. It was as close to recreating Leland Sklar's "Frankenstein" bass that John built back in the early 70's and is one of the most recorded basses ever. Chris May Active Member Thread Starter. Its almost exponential, how that can work. Van Halen visited Nuno while he was recording Rise, Tom DeLonge's new Starcaster makes its live debut, "If youre overplaying, youre under-listening": Rocco Prestia on 50 years with Tower of Power, Thundercat: People are telling me to turn down, and Im like, No! I mean, I saw The Stones in I dont know how old They were probably in their late 60s. Early 1980's EMG pickups with reverse P configuration. Leland Sklar is one of the most prolific Hollywood session bassists from the boom of his career in the '70s until now. And then he retired. And the music teacher, whose name was Ted Lynn, said, Look, I need a string bass player. And he pulled out an old Kay upright from a back room and put it in my hands. Seven. Were you startled by how well John Entwistle was doing bass on My Generation? Leland Sklar: Its a Bucket T. Its 23 T-Roadster. And its never looked so good since this all came down, and Ive been able to devote hours every day to working out there. If I have the opportunity to choose the gear I use then Ill take it, but Im not completely hung up on that stuff.. There's work going on, but I see the same faces that I have for years. As always, see you in the shed. We're almost like Siamese twins when we play together. "I remember my first time in a studio, it was 1966 and I was in a band, and the musicians that were hired to play on the record were people like Carol Kaye and Hal Blaine, and the next few days there's Earl Palmer and Mike Melvoin and Jim Gordon. "I said, This is for me and its become my main touring bass, because if theres one song in the show that requires five-string, Ill play five-string for the whole show. Special appearance by Steve Bailey. Sklar got his start playing alongside James Taylor in the 1960s, and since that time has become one of . But, I couldnt do it, because I was already committed to James Taylor at that point. What I like about them is I get a full, rich saturation on stage - very big and clean. But, with Jimmie, the saddest thing was, for me, was just when I heard that he had passed awayreally a young man. Because, for Europe and South America, and all that, it was all stadiums. With his foot-and-a-half-long gray beard, bassist Lee Sklar has been one of the most instantly recognizable musicians on stage or in videos for decade. Leland Sklar: No, I think hes moved back to the States. That was probably my brain rewiring things as Im talking. There are people who accumulate stuff, but there are people who actually collect. Roam the world of youtube videos of some of your favorite artists live performances or official videos and often youll find a guy playing bass with a cascading beard. And I cant do shit to the car until I get the radiator back. Prize Details For every pack of "Everybody Loves Me Digital Collectible Cards" ("Collectible Cards") you purchase, you will receive one automatic entry in a drawing to win your choice of: (1) a thirty (30) minute video Zoom call with Leland Sklar; or (2) a signed print of Leland's. Because theres a lot of gigs that had to be canceled, and were right in the middle of a documentary film being made by Danny Tedesco, who did The Wrecking Crew. The whole stress of everything, "There's been a few things, but not many. This is the rig he used when playing with Phil Collins, James Taylor and Carole King, Toto, and with The Immediate Family. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Leland Sklar is one of the few elite session musicians to rise to the peaks of the competitive LA rock scene. Ive got stuff booked from November until February. (Bass Tales Ep.9)", "Lee Sklar is the Latest Member of the Warwick Family", "How To Set Up Your Electric Guitar Part 2: Setting Action", Interview: bass legend Leland Sklar on sessions, gear and getting hired, Lee Sklar on ON THE HIT with DEANE OGDEN podcast, April 2, 2014, 2014 Audio Interview with Lee Sklar from the I'd Hit That Podcast, Leland Sklar Interview - The Studio Musician's Handbook, Bass Routes - A Leland Sklar Discography Blog, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leland_Sklar&oldid=1146776953, California State University, Northridge alumni, Articles lacking reliable references from November 2022, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 March 2023, at 22:06. Did you play six-string first? "The only time it gets a little bit squirly is when you get up to the last six frets of the neck, because if you look down at the dot marker on the upper side of the fretboard, the note youre going to finger is about a half-inch away from that. For the most part, you work for hire, youre an independent contractor, you do it. Myke Rock Geezer. I loved the vibration of it and the responsibility that the instrument has. How tall is Lee Sklar? They had no clue how to get a sound or play in time.'. For the most part, I haven't been confronted by anything too bad.". Youre not going to get rich, but youre going to have a good time, and youre going to hone your craft, I think, while youre doing it. How small a block? I think at the end of this month, were going to livestream a concert. Perhaps this should come as no surprise. I was just trying to figure out how that name fit into the Phil Collins category. Sklar started studying piano just after turning five years old. You dont finger a fretless the same way you finger a fretted, but if you see the indicators you go into fretted mode and youre always out of tune, "Its going to have one jack socket and a single toggle switch which allows me to have either neck on, or both. Leland Sklar: I loved Warren. Its about J. D. Souther and her relationship. That way I can hit a low E on the fretted neck, for example, and let it ring while I play some fretless parts., Asked if he finds fretless as satisfying to play as fretted, Sklar explains: I played one of their fretless Star Basses and it was funny - Im one of those guys whose intonation is terrible if there are fret markers on the fretboard, but if its a pure black fretless fingerboard Im fine! Instantly recognizable by his long white beard, he's been an established presence on the L.A. scene for decades. [32], Sklar's favorite instrument came next, an electric bass constructed by John Carruthers, the repairman at Westwood Music, in 1973. And then I had a friend of mine headline it. I'd do it for you? L.A. had tons of clubs, and I could carry a bass with me, walk into a club andjust ask if I could sit in, and thats how I networked and met people. [26][7], Sklar owns a Hfner bass he uses only as the song demands. The singer/songwriter thing. Sometimes it's other things that make you not want to be there, you detect a lack of focus, or there's drugs involved. Bath "Who is that bass player with the long beard?". Lee Sklar has been a prominent figure among Hollywood session bassists dating back to the 1970s and ever since. You kind of broke in right around the time that the Wrecking Crew were breaking up. None of them are kids, but when they hit that stage I remember years ago, doing a festival. I had won awards from the Hollywood Bowl. Not like Leland, but a big beard. And we were a rock fusion instrumental group. I like things simple.. And playing with Billy is a handful. Because when I met him, I was still in college. Leland Sklar. Thats when I knew Id come home, with that Jazz. The amps are very hi-fi. So I was influenced by everything I heard during my formative years. It can happen. I loaned it to the Boston Hard Rock for a number of years, and now it's hanging at the entrance to the Hard Rock Hotel in Tampa. He still has his baton. But, theres a lot of people, thats the first thought they have about the music business, is theyre going to get rich. Leland Sklar: Its a 355 Chevy. "A '62 Fender Jazz Bass. Which really became evident towards the end, like when he did the interview with David Letterman. [17] The group did do their own vocals, but the music was recorded by the legendary Wrecking Crew. Leland Sklar plays his Warwick bass at the Frankfurt Musikmesse show in 2011. Right? And then their shop shut down. And then we went out and did the Finally, The First Farewell Tour, was I think around 2004. Ill fly in and do a gig and use whatever bass they say they have. . [Laughs]. Remember him? And that really is because theyre covered in autographs, and the autographs are irreplaceable. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, "I did a signature model for Dingwall, which has become my main touring bass. They needed a bass player and would he be interested? There was so much energy then, and I was lucky enough to be in the tenderloin of it all.". When I play, it's like I'm having an out-of-body experience. But, to be able to sit in a room with people where you can hear them breathing, and then you talk to them afterwards and hang out. If you have your physical abilities and your faculties, theres no reason not to keep going. Rick: So, you were working with who, mostly? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Category: Sports. Ive still got my old bass that I had back then. So, he was averaging like 70 thousand seats a night. How to find a person without last name? Sklar chose to become one of the dual drum majors. Incidentally, Sklar attended San Fernando Valley State with Tom Scott, the great sax player, and actor/comedian Cheech Marin. Can't have enough birthday celebration..", "Leland Sklar: Relative Pitch - Lee Sklar Gets Up Close and Personal with The Immediate Family, His YouTube Channel, and His New Book", "Interview: bass legend Leland Sklar on sessions, gear and getting hired", "The most recorded bass in music history? Other than that, I can pretty much get by on just store-bought stuff. And then came off and folded up like a flower. Until such time as we can actually go back to real venues. Rock On: Leland Sklar Rages Against The Machine. I love it. Thats Henry Diltz. I had a friend who came by the house and played it before he looked at it, and he loved it. And you play your music. And I would go to these clubs. Im going to call the guys. And everybody made themselves available, and Jackson Browne let us use his studio. You went from zero to 300 in a couple of seconds. [31], On January 2, 2022, Sklar was seen performing in concert with James Taylor and Carole King in the CNN documentary "Just Call Out My Name. (Jon Butcher is a great admirer of Jimi Hendrix.) He then sought other options. Longtime bass player and session legend Leland Sklar spoke with MusicRadar.com about working with 10 musical greats, including Carole King, Jackson Browne and James Taylor. It was his tour for his 90th birthday. Were doing a double-neck with a fretted five-string and a fretless four. Tore the stage up; it was unbelievable. Music Department: Man of Steel. Hes like the godfather of photography. And I go, Oh, okay. The only problem is, there's nobody for us to pass the baton to. Leland Sklar Rock N Roll Thunder From Down Under Sousaphone Dingwall Brass Instrument Zz Top Guitar Lovers Blues Artists More information . While finding a video of Tracy Chapman (Bang, Bang, Bang), while drilling down on her own music legacy, I got a pleasant surprise to notice Mr. Sklar harnessed to his bass. Rick: Yeah, I saw that. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up. So that's been my main bass since about 1983. But, the instruments are just instruments. That's famed session guitarist Leland Sklar. Uploaded: 16 Aug, 2008. He said, then, "It came alive." The bass has been used on roughly 85 percent of his recordings. [16] Later, Taylor was offered an appearance at the Troubadour and, remembering Sklar, he had his manager Peter Asher invite Sklar to play bass at that show. Because you get to play music at the end of the day. Therell be no audience, or anything. [6][16][35], Sklar's studio rig is an Euphonic Audio iAMP 800 combo (all-in-one) amp. Leland Sklar:We were doing festival in Spain. Believe it. Mike (Michel) Rubini, Mike Melvoin, and Larry Knechtel were the keyboard players. Its not like one of those reunions where theyre trying to put a band back together, and the guys havent played in 15 or 20 years. We did Jacksons [Browne] first few albums. The album was released in August 2005 on the Atom Records label.[23]. Leland Sklar: Yeah. Lets get one crucial issue out of the way first. I saw too many people fall victim to booze and drugs, he tells us, and so Ive never done anything like that myself. What, no vat of whiskey before the show like real rockers do? . 839K subscribers in the beards community. And this way, we could do them in the way that Waddy or Kootch or whoever, really would like to have done it for themself. Leland Sklar: I know him by name, but I dont know him. When you visit any one of our 7 convenient locations, we will gladly appraise your used vehicle, no matter the make, model, or type. There is an old saying that you cant go home, but we actually got to go home, and it was great. And he pointed at Henry, and he said, You need to meet that guy. Eleven years after their first album, the Barefoot Servants recorded a second album at Ben Schultz's home studio, this time with Neal Wilkinson on drums. That's how it happens. BONUS VIDEO LELAND SKLAR ON BASS WITH TRACY CHAPMAN BANG, BANG, BANG. Every single thing thats booked is if things arent right, Im not doing it. Leland Sklar:Yeah. Let's track him down, let's use him on something.' However, Sklar didnt rest on his laurels, hitting the road immediately after the Troubadour Reunion tour with country star and sometime Mr Julia Roberts, Lyle Lovett. Duration: 2m 12s. Leland Sklar Famed session bassist on Phil Collins, Judith Owen and the state of the music industry Exclusive video interview with FBPO's Jon Liebman April 2, 2018 By David Sands When it comes to session bassists, Leland Sklar is definitely one of those names. More information Leland Sklar. Do you feel that the way albums are recorded these days affects their quality in negative ways? Ive hosted house concerts at my place for the last well, up until this virus. Rick:So, when the albums come out, dont you get a copy? That you can afford a guy to help you. But, theresa lot of misconception as to what this is. Judith is amazing, and we were playing up in the North of England, playing a pub, and thered be 50 people in the place. It's almost as if there are no young people getting called to go in. I have an old TC chorus-flanger. And then I became extremely aware. "It's really not a conscious effort. I look around that stage when were playing, and sometimes I just have to pinch myself. Crucial issue out of the few elite session musicians to rise to car! In time. ' Atom Records label. [ 23 ] store-bought.! Was averaging like 70 thousand seats a night a back room and put it in my hands rock:. 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