Its only a few weeks since I posted about The Big Three, in particular their fine bass player Johnny Gustafson, whom Audience toured with in Switzerland in November 1971 when Johnny played with Quatermass. Sadly Johnny has died at age 72 following a lengthy illness and a career that took him through The Merseybeats, Roxy Music and the Ian Gillan Band before he became an in-demand session player contributing to, amongst others, Audience colleague Howard Werths first solo album. I saw The Big Three around 1963 at High Wycombe Town Hall and was amazed by the power of the hard rocking three piece and by Johnnys roaring, Little Richard-style voice. My abiding memory of him is the wide-eyed look of terror on his face when, following our concert at Berne, I leaped out at him in a hotel corridor whilst wearing my legendary Wee Willie Winkie outfit with the teddy bear sewn into the pocket. I dont know why I did it but existentialism doesnt require explanation - except for the fact we were both vewwy, vewwy dwunk....... RIP Johnny. RIP, also, to jazz pianist Joe Sample, who has died from lung cancer. An experienced sideman for artistes as diverse as Miles Davis, BB King and Joni MitchellI, I had the good fortune of seeing him with Randy Crawford and The Crusaders at the Albert Hall in October 1980 , which also featured ace guitarist Larry Carlton. It was an exciting and powerful gig and they were on a roll following the massive success of Street Life.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 09:13:42 +0000
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