Leland Sklar:A friend of mine called me a while back, and he said a friend of his was turning 60, and was going to have a party in his basement, and wondered if we could be a band and play. Leland Sklar is one of the few elite session musicians to rise to the peaks of the competitive LA rock scene. Leland Sklar:. Test pressings were made of the latter two songs, but never released. But, the instruments are just instruments. The group has toured Japan and released a number of recordings. And I figured Id be in bands and itd be a hobby. It was built more as a beautiful piece of sculpture than a touring bass. Upcoming Leland Sklar Interview [NEW] Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Chris May, Jul 31, 2014. Dont you? I was in garage bands back in 1964 and 65, and everybody wanted to play six-string, but there was always this one guy who would grab a bass. [37], In 2013, after years of having been a Warwick Star Bass II user, he became an endorser of that instrument. 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. They called me - me and Russ Kunkel, the drummer - and we showed up, and Carole King was the piano player. G GuitarStorage Leland Sklar Studio Musicians Music Artists Music Guitar Cool Guitar I Love Music Music Is Life Cheerleading Fails Rock N Roll Leland Sklar R Ralphup And I said, You want to open for Johnny Farina? Hes like, Oh, yeah. So, I was going to do it, but I let my friend do it. I look around that stage when were playing, and sometimes I just have to pinch myself. Leland Sklar has a net worth of about $5 Million as of 2023. Weve been, like I said, friends forever. . The editions are printed on archival 100% rag watercolor paper. Thats when I knew Id come home, with that Jazz. Like with Shawn Phillips, Ive done a bunch of albums with Shawn over the years, and a lot of recording. But, I spent 20 years with James. And Im so deeply proud and moved by the fact that we do have this. But I think most people like the purity of the bass, where you can build the sound out from it. Were doing a double-neck with a fretted five-string and a fretless four. The week afterwards I went out on tour with Lyle, recalls Sklar. Leland Bruce Sklar was born May 28, 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All rights reserved. Whether or not he has a recognizable bass sound, however, is of little concern to the session vet - his ability to play pop, rock, jazz, country and easy listening has made him one of the industry's first-call players. How to find a person without last name? Steve was a falconer, so he carved these eagle heads out of walnut. Leland Sklar: He is the godfather of all of the rock n roll photographers. This group of musicians so frequently supported many of the artists on Asylum Records, both on stage and in the studio, that they became known as Asylum's de facto house band. And well see how that goes. He celebrates his birthday every 28th of May. By the time he was seven he had won awards from the Hollywood Bowl Association as the most accomplished young pianist in Los Angeles for his age group. [38][39], At Winter NAMM 2016, Warwick announced their Lee Sklar signature bass, based on the Star Bass but with an offset body shape and a forearm contour. I mean, I saw The Stones in I dont know how old They were probably in their late 60s. Sometimes the artist just isn't prepared. Sklar toured again with Collins on The First Final Farewell Tour (20042005) and the Not Dead Yet Tour (20172019). 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! No - nothing!. Being a bass player, he was given three choices: the bass drum, Sousaphone or drum major. Leland Sklar: I think its great. The Immediate Family is Lee on bass, Danny Kortchmar (guitar/vocals), Steve Postell (guitar, vocals), Waddy Wachtel (guitar/vocals) and the iconic percussionist, Russ Kunkel. Leland Sklar. He tried to meet as many people as possible, worked really hard, and hoped for the best. . We did Jacksons [Browne] first few albums. It used to be under the Musicians Union when it was just the Stein Music Co. Sklar and his father went there and his father bought him a Melody bass and a St. George amp. And that really changed things for me. While this amount of back-to-back touring might seem exhausting at best and impossible to execute at worst (how does he remember all those songs? And I was fully expecting to be doing something in art or science. Leland Sklar: So, we were really kind of learning on the gig. Thankfully his playing wont be affected - although thats subjective! as he notes. I like playing with people; I like bands. Im from Detroit, so I like hot rods. In the late '60s, I was in a hard rock band called Wolfgang. The whole thing probably cost $80 at the time. Live performances and touring became more important to the music industry.[16]. Stream songs including "Rich Girl", "Fair Warning" and more. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up. I was like, A hundred Thats amazing. Thats how I found out about your Basset Hounds. December 7, 2020. He began as a music major, but became disillusioned in the music department after two years when he realized the curriculum was geared more toward producing music teachers than towards performance. I remember a time when you couldn't have inadequacies - you either cut it or you didn't. [6] Taylor spent a couple of days with the band. [17][18] The tracks were produced by Mike Post. Where I pretty much did the projects, and would see him on occasion. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). But, she was the first artist that was signed to Asylum. But if you had upright bass, there was really no great mics or anything for them. Category: Sports. You really dont have to grow up. The style of music doesn't really matter. The band at the time consisted of David Finer (vocals and rhythm guitar) and Jeff Finer (vocals), Greg Wood (vocals), Lee Sklar (bass and vocals), and Ira Ingber (lead guitar - brother of Elliot Ingber, a founding member of The Mothers Of Invention and Fraternity of Man). And some of the bands that play the clubs have to pay to play. You know, I see these guys on stage, and they have, like, 15 different basses, and I'm like, 'C'mon, just play.' Im not one of these guys whos completely dedicated to his rig and his gear. 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. The upper neck is a piccolo bass neck and the other is a standard neck. And there was something about him that, like he could have been in Zappas group, kind of thing. The Immediate Family (Left to Right) Russ Kunkel; Leland Sklar; Steve Postell; Danny Kortchmar; and Waddy Wachtel. And put together a little video, and get it on YouTube, and all of a sudden, maybe theres something quirky like, okay, did their videos of them on the treadmills. Look at The Stones. Right there, the differences are massive. We had the management write in a clause, into the contracts. Sklar started studying piano just after turning five years old. Rick: Yeah. In high school, Sklar was in the marching band and played bass drum for the first year. We're almost like Siamese twins when we play together. Business-wise, its great to go out and play eighty thousand seat stadium, and all that crap. Leland Sklar is one of the most prolific Hollywood session bassists from the boom of his career in the '70s until now. Perhaps this should come as no surprise. Were talking. "Who is that bass player with the long beard?". What are you waiting for. In his work, he uses fretless sparingly. Rick: Yeah. The eyes in the heads are Mexican fire opals with LEDs behind them, so they actually light up. Rick: Yes. But, its a real rare treat to be able to get together. Im going to call the guys. And everybody made themselves available, and Jackson Browne let us use his studio. Sklar has also been a part of the annual bands assembled in support of the "We Write The Songs" event sponsored by ASCAP at the Library of Congress . Sklar rose to prominence as a member of James Taylor's backing band, which coaleced into a group in its own right, The Section. undefined That reflects on producers and artists - this guy doesn't give a shit.". Lee Sklar was on bass. (Jon Butcher is a great admirer of Jimi Hendrix.) Its amazing. 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. Rick: Okay. And he pointed at Henry, and he said, You need to meet that guy. [7], After The Beatles hit, things changed dramatically. Why that planet-sized beard, Lee? [26][7], Sklar owns a Hfner bass he uses only as the song demands. [35], For larger stage venues, Sklar uses an EA iAMP Classic and an EA iAMP Pro for redundancy with a four 10" speaker bottom (Euphonic Audio NL-410W) and optionally attached to that is a Euphonic single 12" speaker cabinet (Euphonic Audio NL-112) with a Yamaha Subkick placed 1/2" in front of it. I love an old Boss OC-2 Octave Divider. And then we went out and did the Finally, The First Farewell Tour, was I think around 2004. I kind of remember the location. I met Sheldon Dingwall at NAMM 14 years ago, Sklar remembers. I see guys all the time, they don't listen to playbacks, the minute a track is done they're on their cellphones and doing other things. 2021 Leland Collectible Card Contest Official Rules . Lee Sklar has been a prominent figure among Hollywood session bassists dating back to the 1970s and ever since. Rick: Do you know Lee Underwood? Where we would maybe finish James, and the next week wed be starting Jacksons tour. Im really excited, because Ive had a couple of double-necks over the years and theyve never been that good. How he sat there so matter-of-factly, kind of discussing the end of his life. And, while checking up on his list of credits, I was delighted to see that it was him on bass no some of my favorite albums. I loved the vibration of it and the responsibility that the instrument has. Ive got stuff booked from November until February. If youre not really willing to go that route, then dont bother. And we were a rock fusion instrumental group. I was still in college, but I decided to go on the road. Leland Sklar: I know him by name, but I dont know him. John R. Kennedy. His mother's family was from Duluth, Minnesota. Its a monster; its a beast. I walked out of college and never looked back.". Because when I met him, I was still in college. Leland Sklar. Ive toured every year since 1970, plus sessions, he nods. [42], Sklar owns a Washburn AB45 five string acoustic bass which he was not pleased with until he removed the frets, making it a fretless bass. And playing with Billy is a handful. Rick:What is it, like a 289 or 302? Lets do this. And he gave me rudimentary lessons, and I fell in love with the bass and never looked back. That was definitely an inspiration": When Melissa Auf Der Maur went solo, NAMM 2023: Ashdown announces the Studio MiniRig a portable bass head with matching cab inspired by the Beatles PA columns. [11] Dennis and Doug Dragon were Daryl's two brothers. And that was the odd part of hooking up with James Taylor, because that was the one kind of music that I really hadnt been exposed to. 2004-2022 Guitar International Group, LLC. And were having to rethink a lot of things, how were going to handle things. I was using a little Univox amp with a single 15-inch speaker in it. As I mentioned, Lee and I talked about his cool Beagles, and you can see them on his channel, along with him showing you how he played various legendary tunes. He was really nice. I had a case built for it, but it was cumbersome. It was built by Steve Helgeson back in the '70s. By the time he was twelve, though, he was completely burned out. I interviewed him maybe five, or maybe six years ago. 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. And then I became extremely aware. And then we did the But Serious album in 89, and toured that in 90. Scott :) How Leland Sklar Discovered 'Fan Fret' Basses (Bass Tales Ep.11) Ill fly in and do a gig and use whatever bass they say they have. What was your learning curve like there? [6], At five, Sklar was inspired to take up classical piano from watching Liberace on TV. 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