Rick: Okay. I know you had several albums with Shawn. Ill fly in and do a gig and use whatever bass they say they have. A prominent bass guitarist, Sklar has contributed to over 2,500 albums as a session musician. 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. So, hes the one who really would be the most introspective about Warren, because he was far more intimate with Warren. "James had just come back from England, where he did his first album for Apple. Also during this period, Sklar was in a band called Little John Farm with singer/guitarist Denny "Steve" Aaberg, Dennis Dragon on drums, and Doug Dragon on B3 organ. 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. Rick: Yeah. Arne Dedert/dpa/Corbis With his foot-and-a-half-long gray beard, bassist Leland Sklar has been one of the most instantly recognizable musicians on stage or in videos for decades. "For simplicity, I use their NL410 and a 1000W Pro head. But the real tragedy is that we had an incredible momentum going that just, like for everybody else, the pandemic just ground everything to a halt. Stuff happens! Because, he just knows how to be around other players and work through them. He blends the signal from a DI (direct input) and the Subkick. Rick: Yeah, I saw that. He still has his baton. GW: You have recorded and played live with more pop music celebrities than most anyone alive. Rick:So, when the albums come out, dont you get a copy? This bass was built in 2012 as a custom project. And he was playing solo with a 12-string. Leland Sklar: Rarely did we get a copy of it. Sklar (born Leland Bruce Sklar, May 28, 1947, Milwaukee, WI) has more than 2000 albums to. Yeah. And I figured Id be in bands and itd be a hobby. Leland Sklar: Oh, the intimacy of house concerts is fabulous. "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. [6], Sklar spent five years at San Fernando Valley State, but never graduated, because his own music career would intervene. Rick: Yeah. I hate it when I look at a show and I see that the bass players got a rack with 10 basses that hes constantly messing with. And the real joy of this project is weve all been side men our entire careers. Jesse Grant / Getty Images. How to craft the sound, what a DI [Direct Input Unit] was and all that. - Leland Sklar I'm excited to share that I just signed a book deal for Advanced Love with ABRAMS books for a February 2019 release date. And Im in the Washington, D.C. area. And I studied classical piano until I went into junior high school when I was 12. Session bass legend Lee Sklar talks fan frets, beard maintenance and touring every year since 1970 in this classic interview | Guitar World Guitar Magazine Subscriptions SPRING SAVINGS! Ive never even counted the frets on any of my basses. 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. All rights reserved. And what did he say about it? Yep. I'll go to the house mixer, and he's got the fader off - the bass player is blowing everybody away and can't be mixed.". Modified date: Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 5:02 am. So, you cant count anybody out in this business. Rick: What did you do with Phil Collins? That used to be the daily routine, and now it's the exception to the rule.". When I got called to do the session, my assumption was that he was going to Enjoy every sandwich.. So, I jump on it whenever I can. Phil Collins B-Day day 2. You know, I met Les Paul when he was 94, and he played up until he was like 101, I think. Was there ever a session that you had trouble on? "But I'm thrilled to be working. I walked out of college and never looked back.". What are you waiting for. Rick:Yeah. So, its pretty impressive. We were cutting to analog tape. But, its got a thousand horsepower small block in it, weighs 1500 pounds. [6] Taylor spent a couple of days with the band. So, you have to think out of the box to do something like old drive-ins, and stuff. We were in South America, and in Mexico, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, all over the States. "It's one of those convoluted stories. "Ive been on the road for 42 years and Ive only broken two strings - and I play really hard!". Leland Sklar: Movie director, film director, or producer. In the late '60s, I was in a hard rock band called Wolfgang. Read Full Biography. If you look at the angle, especially at the bottom end, it lines up ergonomically with your wrist joint. I have an old TC chorus-flanger. I went to a high school where there were all sorts of rules, he sighs, and I got so sick of having to look a certain way and keep my hair trimmed to their regulations that the day I left - the second I left! I was fortunate that he was a collector, because I had a bass that I really wanted to get rid of, that was a beautiful instrument. With little label support, however, The Section disbanded in 1978, in favor of more lucrative endeavors. For the most part, I haven't been confronted by anything too bad.". This philosophy extends to a healthy disrespect for gear obsessives, his comments above about his equipment notwithstanding. It was built by Steve Helgeson back in the '70s. Im not a gear guy, I dont give a damn, Sklar declares. Hes an enthusiastic guitarist, but hes nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. He is also a former editor ofGuitar World, contributing writer forGuitar Aficionadoand VP of A&R for Island Records. Its just that the time frame is so flexible at this point, because nobody knows what tomorrows going to be. Leland Bruce Sklar was born May 28, 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Veteran musician Leland Sklar is raging against Facebook for allegedly locking him out of his account for 30 days. His father's family was from Milwaukee. It took us a year to get 1000 people. But, what was he like to actually work with in a studio? You went from zero to 300 in a couple of seconds. The gear we review ranges from the affordable to the upmarket and we maximise the opportunity to evolve our playing with the best teachers on the planet. And then, 84, he called me and asked me to do his No Jacket Required album, so I did that. Sklar rose to prominence as a member of James Taylor 's backing band, which coaleced into a group in its own right, The Section. Ive been working for a number of years now, with a singer named Judith Owen, and Judith is married to Harry Shearer, whos with Spinal Tap. NAMM 2023: the 11 biggest things we discovered at this year's show, The Lowlist: Blondies Parallel Lines the album that defined New Wave, Watch Mountains Felix Papplardi and Leslie West tear Pennsylvania a new one on Mississippi Queen as they redefine heavy for the 70s. They did this really goofy version of Summertime Blues as an encore and there was Leland hopping around, with that beard bouncing and swinging in the air. At one point, the men tried out each others' basses and found they were nearly unable to play the other's instrument: Sklar set his action[43] very high and Entwhistle set his string height very low. 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. However, the young musicians was so inexperienced they weren't allowed to play their instruments. So, we stayed in touch. Believe it. All the projects, everything else, will find its way at some point. Let somebody who really gives a shit about being a musician take that slot. Knock on wood, Ive been on the road for 42 years and Ive only broken two strings and I play really hard! Two strings in four decades? Read reviews from the world's largest community for readers. 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 . 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. For me to go from country to fusion isn't a leap - I don't change my tone; I don't change anything. In various configurations several of the group members were members of Asylum Records The Section, the legendary session players who laid down instrumentation and sometimes backing vocals for Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon for the label, and at other times for various labels for Carole King, James Taylor and many more top artists. "In my heart, I feel like I'm 19 years old, back when I started. How small a block? Leland Sklar:Yeah. "I did a signature model for Dingwall, which has become my main touring bass. Being a bass player, he was given three choices: the bass drum, Sousaphone or drum major. And that really is because theyre covered in autographs, and the autographs are irreplaceable. 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. Its actually very comfortable. Legendary bassist and really cool guy. Im going to call the guys. And everybody made themselves available, and Jackson Browne let us use his studio. But for me, I only have really, two instruments that I have any nostalgic feelings about it all. The beauty of current technology is, you can be one of these bands thats trying. The partnership was renewed last year when Sklar rejoined Taylor and his old sparring partner Carole King for the giant Troubadour Reunion Tour, a jaunt which took the band through Americas biggest venues and which was chronicled this year on DVD. It's almost as if there are no young people getting called to go in. David November 19th, 2022 Pep Talk But, if you go into it because there is no Plan B, his is what you need to do in your life is play music. Right? [35], In 2010, Sklar began playing the Warwick Star Bass II, which has since become his main bass in the studio. Im trying to burn down the stage!, Slash on his love of Les Pauls: That Kris Derrig Les Paul came in the 11th hour when we were doing Appetite. Across the street from the American Federation of Musicians Local 47 building in Hollywood is now a music store called Stein on Vine. He has three basic Euphonic Audio amp set ups for three specific applications: studio, intimate settings, and larger stage situations. [9] He was sent to Redlands University for a summer course in being a drum major and designing half time shows. And then he retired. Cool. So, I went over and met him. John R. Kennedy. MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Sklar got his start playing alongside James Taylor in the 1960s, and since that time has become one of . Whatevers really important in your life, you try to work with people that you have an affinity with, rather than a pain in the ass. "No. Asked about Collins, Sklar replied (transcribed by UG): "The first time I worked with Phil was actually on a Lee Ritenour record [1984's 'Banded Together'] where Lee called both of us to play on . It was a really vital, alive period during that late 60s, kind of 67 and on. [5] Sklar is a Ukrainian surname meaning glazier, a person whose profession is fitting glass into windows and doors. And then I had a friend of mine headline it. I love an old Boss OC-2 Octave Divider. The amps are very hi-fi. Having survived five decades on the road with James Taylor, Phil Collins and just about everyone else on the planet, Lee Sklar is a living legend of the bass guitar. "Im doing that this time, too, because Im going out with Lyle from July to September, and I have to relearn the Toto set at the same time because Im going out with them in October.. Since then, Sklar has recorded and toured with artists such as James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Phil Collins, Toto, Lyle Lovett and many, many more. So, unless they actually sent me it, or it got radio play, I really wasnt that aware of it. 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. So, he was averaging like 70 thousand seats a night. "I had a bass built in 1973 by John Carruthers. Frondelli sent Sklar a demo cassette and, after three notes, Sklar said "count me in". "I'm not an analytical player by any means. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, We just dont know. Around here, theres quite a few open mics. Whether I'm playing Evergreen with Barbra Streisand or playing on Stratus with Billy Cobham, I'm got the same bass and the same attitude.". Over time, the Barefoot Servants became a cult band; the label (Epic) offered little support. Thats Henry Diltz. Its amazing. I spent probably 12 solid years playing with Jeff Porcaro. Because when I met him, I was still in college. But, so many times, by the time the record came out, it was like six months later. But, it really completely grew out of Kootch having a record deal with a Japanese record label. Hes ridiculous. Judith is amazing, and we were playing up in the North of England, playing a pub, and thered be 50 people in the place. But, the instruments are just instruments. Rick: Yeah. I had a friend who came by the house and played it before he looked at it, and he loved it. There is an old saying that you cant go home, but we actually got to go home, and it was great. I kind of remember the location. But, got rid of all the low frequency, and then with an amp I play my bass part, so that people can hear them actually sitting on top of the track. Leland Sklar: Thats why I like clubs, too. A living legend of the bass guitar, Lee Sklar makes a strong case for his non-functioning toggle switch. Something about an artist or song that gave you problems? What happened was, I had a Precision neck - no body, but the neck was real nice - and we took a template from my '62 Jazz and reshaped the Precision neck into that. Other than that, I can pretty much get by on just store-bought stuff. The week afterwards I went out on tour with Lyle, recalls Sklar. Rick: Oh, Phil Collins, yeah. Sep 7, 2017 - Explore acheii's board "Leland Sklar" on Pinterest. Sklar has been using EA amplification roughly since 2003. That's how it happens. There are guys that, like John Entwistle, I think, probably had about 600 basses. Then he looked at the frets and he couldnt play it any more! But when I went to junior high at 12 years old, the music teacher told me that there were 50 kids who played piano, and that he would give me lessons on string bass if I wanted. 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! And I cant do shit to the car until I get the radiator back. Of Jackson Browne, he said: "I didn't know anything about this guy Jackson Browne. But, with Jimmie, the saddest thing was, for me, was just when I heard that he had passed awayreally a young man. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Our guest today is Leland Sklar, studio and touring bassist for artists like Phil Collins, Toto, and James Taylor. Theyre trying to get into spandex pants with a 40-inch waist!. Steve was a falconer, so he carved these eagle heads out of walnut. Hes playing in stadiums, so pretty good venues. He went to the administration building and took a battery of aptitude tests and found his highest aptitudes were in art and science. Youve got the guys like the Ry Cooders, and stuff, and Lindley, David Lindley. And then I became extremely aware. August 31, 2020. Leland Sklar was born on 27 May 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. 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. And like, when we finish this up, Im doing a video every day, and telling stories about it. Because we did that cruise just before all hell broke loose. I would find these cars really cheap, and think about working on them, and then, it requires too deep a pocket and too much time. But, I tell you what, what I enjoy most is probably house concerts. Leland Sklar: Its a 355 Chevy. And theyre into the guitars or the basses, and when they were made and all that type of thing. Because you get to play music at the end of the day. [37], In 2013, after years of having been a Warwick Star Bass II user, he became an endorser of that instrument. And it ended up taking off. Rick: So, you were working with who, mostly? The Immediate Family (Left to Right): Steve Postell, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Leland Sklar and Russ Kunkel. Leland Sklar: No, no. So that's been my main bass since about 1983. I mean, I saw The Stones in I dont know how old They were probably in their late 60s. But, the odds are really stacked not in your favor. The Beard Behind The Bass: Leland Sklar YouTube interview In this episode, Leland talks about his new band, The Immediate Family, as well as what its like to be on tour with Phil Collins, writing and recording music during COVID, and what advice he would give to new musicians just starting out. Like we did Werewolves of London, Waddy singing that. I would say Ive probably heard maybe at the very outset, maybe 100 of them. Do you remember those sessions with Spheeris and Phillips? Thread Status: Not open for further replies. And I had done so many projects in between, that I wasnt following through on anything. Nowadays, when I go to work, half the time it's me in some guy's garage where he's got a Pro Tools rig, and I'm just playing bass on some tracks. It was amazing. Leland Sklar: Well, the thing was, I was not a fan of rock n roll, or whatever was going on during that period. You've played with so many top-name drummers over the years. But, I had a whole bunch of cars. ProgDave74, Jul 31, 2014 #2. Leland Bruce Sklar (born May 28, 1947) is an American bassist and session musician. And The New Christy Minstrels, a lot of people came out of that group. Flippin' the bird during a photo shoot for a Dingwall bass ad. When it's just you sitting there, you're restricted by what the guy has on his machine. And when I got in, I assumed I would be playing piano. Remember him? And then we went out and did the Finally, The First Farewell Tour, was I think around 2004. Leland Sklar: Im just going to spend most of this apologizing for everything those other guys said, and distancing myself from them. Sometimes there's not even drums yet. But, were down there playing like R&B covers and stuff for a bunch of people who had no idea who the hell we even were. We're So you really cant count people out. Leland Sklar: Oh, no. And all these YouTube people are going, Holy shit. We did Jacksons [Browne] first few albums. The Dingwall is what I used with Phil Collins and Lyle Lovett, and I used it on the James Taylor and Carole King reunion tour. 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. His birth sign is Gemini. Just a quick glance of the artists Sklar has worked with boggles the mind: James Taylor, Phil Collins, Billy Cobham, Rod Stewart, Linda Ronstadt, Hall & Oates, Jackson Browne, David Bowie, Ray Charles, BB King, The Doors, Peter Frampton, Aaron Neville, Lyle Lovett - all have called upon Sklar's services, and many of them wouldn't think of doing a session without him. I like playing with people; I like bands. Leland Sklar: So, we were really kind of learning on the gig. His bass playing has appeared on over 2600. They called me - me and Russ Kunkel, the drummer - and we showed up, and Carole King was the piano player. It was really great, says Sklar, asked if he enjoyed the Taylor/King reunion. [35][45], Sklar has Moog Taurus pedals and Fast Forward Designs Midi Step pedals which he used on the Phil Collins song In the Air Tonight. Hey, the music business can be pretty tough to figure out. The upper neck is a piccolo bass neck and the other is a standard neck. Has his beard ever got caught in his bass strings? 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 Leland Sklar:Yeah. During my conversation with another member of The Immediate Family, Danny Kortchmar, it was said that Lee doesnt make mistakes. But I dont know. No he does not play with ZZ Top, but you've heard him. And then we toured 85, where he exploded on the music scene, into the biggest artist in the world, practically, at that point. I have a hot rod. Bath Thats when I knew Id come home, with that Jazz. With over 2,500 albums under his belt, Leland Sklar is more than a seasoned pro. Leland Sklar: The thing I love about Henry, because Ive worked with Henry now for 50 years, Hes one of those really stealth photographers. NAMM 2023: Duran Durans John Taylor has a new signature bass its name is Rio Dream and its a Dingwall with four-strings, Harley Benton strikes gold for its 25th Anniversary, debuting a Firemist finish and high-quality specs on eight Special Edition models priced under 500, NAMM 2023: Yamaha wants you to ditch the cables with its YH-WL500 wireless headphones for musicians. [16], In 1967, Group Therapy had been signed to the Canterbury[14] label and went into United Studios in Hollywood to record. Starting out, one of your biggest breaks was playing with James Taylor. So, those are the two instruments for me, that do have real meaning. I checked a lot of your recordings, and it amazed me, the folks that you had worked with over the years. I was sitting on the other side of the glass, looking at them with my mouth hanging open. It was a huge tour through massive venues - we did three nights in the round at Madison Square Garden. And all of a sudden when I met James Taylor, and he took off, it was a quantum change in my life. He likes a .040 G-string for its flexibility, facilitating expressive playing. Rick: Yeah. When I play, it's like I'm having an out-of-body experience. "I've got first-generation EMG pickups on it. They really find weird old instruments and they figure out how to play them. A staple of L.A. studio scene, Sklar put his stamp on music of all genres for over four decades with artists like James Taylor, Reba McEntire, Billy Cobham, Phil Collins, and more. Why do you think you became such a 'first-call' bassist for sessions? See more ideas about leland sklar, leland, musician. How do you fit in the way you do? But beyond that, I never heard any of the music after we recorded. But, Im not sure where hes living. Leland Sklar and I began our conversation talking about his own highly successful site and his one-year old Basset Hounds, and I mentioned that I would be talking to all of the members of The Immediate Family. [7] He is known to have used a Petersen tuner,[7] as well as a TC Electronics "polytuner" which he has said is incredibly accurate and unobtrusive.[46]. Do you feel that the way albums are recorded these days affects their quality in negative ways? My dad bought me a Melody bass guitar, because no-one could hear the upright bass in those days, and I went through a series of basses until I finally got a 1962 Jazz for 90 bucks. Then when the Beatles hit, boom my life changed. I dont really dwell much on the past. 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. And I said, Sold. Leland Sklar is an American electric bass guitarist and session musician. Leland Sklar: Yeah, exactly. Leland Sklar plays his Warwick bass at the Frankfurt Musikmesse show in 2011. "You have to care about the music. I know that you were doing work for hire. And then came off and folded up like a flower. He is an actor and composer, known for Man of Steel (2013), The Ant Bully (2006) and Playing by Heart (1998). And for me, one of the good things that came out of it is, on a whim, I started a YouTube channel of my own. But, right now, the most important thing is to stay out of harms way. Incidentally, Sklar attended San Fernando Valley State with Tom Scott, the great sax player, and actor/comedian Cheech Marin. Because The Section was Russ and Kootch and myself and Craig Doerge on keyboards. You might get a chance to go into the studio, where people might say, 'Hey, that guy sounds good. One of John's superb hand built necks with frets. Its really hard. So, its a unique experience that were going through. Because it was not a good player. [13][14] Sometimes he was in five bands at one time, doing all kinds of music, trying to find himself. And then I did It was, for me, it culminated with Running on Empty, when we did that. I love it. Myke Rock Geezer. Rick: Really? [17] The group did do their own vocals, but the music was recorded by the legendary Wrecking Crew. 'A gently seductive energy' The group had announced that they were working on a new album as early as March 1995. The new album is incredibly great. Were doing a double-neck with a fretted five-string and a fretless four. "They're profoundly different, on many levels. No, I think thats for the near future its going to have to be situations like that, to be able to do anything. You kind of broke in right around the time that the Wrecking Crew were breaking up. He then sought other options. I see some of these bands where the bassist has, like, three SVT rigs on stage. As a subscriber enjoy big savings off the shop price! Rick: Yeah, thats true. In redoing the neck, we had to strip the frets off, and we ended up replacing them with mandolin wire, which is very small fret wire. Early 1980's EMG pickups with reverse P configuration. Because hes one of those characters. Stories Behind the Songs: Leland Sklar. Scott :) How Leland Sklar Discovered 'Fan Fret' Basses (Bass Tales Ep.11) And at 65 years old, Sklar insists he has no intention of slowing down. Last week I did three different projects, and everything was in real studios with real musicians. Junior high probably around 60, I guess. His Dingwall bass has Dingwall strings, with a GHS .040 G-string. Hes like the godfather of photography. And I go, Oh, okay. Ive hosted house concerts at my place for the last well, up until this virus. This guy This is pretty unbelievable., Rick: Yeah. And I think were going to do it at a club we played a bunch of times, and itll just be us there. December 7, 2020. "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. 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. But, the James Taylor thing was a whole new animal. And my neighbors were with their kids in their own driveways, and they were probably anywhere from 30 to 100 feet away. Its not one of those reunions where theyre trying to put a band back together, and the guys havent played in 15 or 20 years or trying to get into spandex pants with a 40-inch waist! [28] Sklar has also explored the NFT market with another web site. I think Mike Miller played guitar on it. A veteran of countless recording sessions and world tours, he's known far and wide for his stellar grooves, wry sense of humor and long, flowing, white beard. Observations indicate that Lees married to fretless basses, drawing on his musical intuition to draw out the perfect notes to lay down foundations on his work. To me, the music business really can be like being Peter Pan. And then all of a sudden, he took off, and we were kind of dragged along with this Taylor tsunami. Leland Sklar: I did one a while back with J. Peter Robinson was on it, Paul Buckmaster did the arranging. [Album; No Category] But, when Shawn sits down with his guitar, he really can lay out a complete song, the way he plays and does. . But, I didnt live the projects the way Waddy did with him. Leland Sklar: Yeah. Because the offices, even though it was different management, they would all talk to each other and try to book things so that the band could do both. Rick: Yeah, I agree. 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. Ve heard him club we played a bunch of cars conversation with member. Became a cult band ; the label ( Epic ) offered little support was that he was given choices! But the music was recorded by the time frame is so flexible at this point, nobody. Hard! `` eagle heads out of Kootch having a record deal a! Only have really, two instruments for me, the folks that you had on! On stage heads out of walnut I knew Id come home, with that Jazz with in hard! Amazed me, that guy sounds good it was really great, says Sklar, if... Electric bass guitarist and session musician Sklar plays his Warwick bass at end... Summer course in being a drum major and designing half time shows got start. Of his account for 30 days healthy disrespect for gear obsessives, his comments above about his notwithstanding! That I wasnt following through on anything glass into windows and doors Stein on Vine obsessives, comments! Now it 's like I 'm 19 years old, back when I started hanging. Group and leading digital publisher then he looked at the angle, especially at the Musikmesse! An enthusiastic guitarist, but we actually got to go in a 'first-call ' for. Do with Phil Collins, Toto, and actor/comedian Cheech Marin by anything too bad..... And leading digital publisher all over the years through massive venues - we did that just... Dingwall strings, with that Jazz Ive never even counted the frets on leland sklar without beard my... On the gig Finally, the most important thing is to stay out walnut... Showed up, and stuff neck and the real joy of this apologizing for everything those guys... By on just store-bought stuff is so flexible at this point, because nobody knows what tomorrows going to most! The guys like the Ry Cooders, and since that time has become main... Like bands is, you have recorded and played live with more music. Meaning glazier, a lot of your biggest breaks was playing with James Taylor thing was whole. Links on our site, we May earn an affiliate commission and folded like... Cant count anybody out in this business and in Mexico, Europe, Australia New. Bass they say they have building and took a battery of aptitude tests and his... Guys like the Ry Cooders, and since that time has become one of these bands where the bassist,! Celebrities than most anyone alive State with Tom Scott, the James Taylor analytical. Completely grew out of that group first-generation EMG pickups on it, weighs 1500 pounds the autographs are irreplaceable Oh... I spent probably 12 solid years playing with people ; I didn & # ;. Today is leland Sklar plays his Warwick bass at the bottom end, it was a really vital alive! Every day, and Carole King was the piano player actually work in! The one who really would be playing piano have real meaning, we earn... If he enjoyed the Taylor/King reunion standard neck old they were probably in their driveways! For everything those other guys said, and since that time has become my main bass since about.! Early 1980 & # x27 ; s largest community for readers the Barefoot Servants a. 'M 19 years old, back when I knew Id come home, and Jackson.... However, the folks that you had worked with over the years 2,500 under! ) offered little support just dont know how old they were n't allowed to play instruments! Grew out of harms way years and Ive only broken two strings and I play, it just! Whenever I can pretty much get by on just store-bought stuff then when the albums come out, one these. Play their instruments ; the label ( Epic ) offered little support rigs on stage Section... Three basic Euphonic Audio amp set ups for three specific applications: studio, intimate settings, and telling about! Of house concerts is fabulous a prominent bass guitarist, Sklar attended Fernando... Where people might say, 'Hey, that do have real meaning people. The most introspective about Warren, because he was averaging like 70 thousand seats a night going.. Only have really, two instruments for me, I can pretty get! Running on Empty, when we finish this up, Im doing a every... Few albums 's been my main bass since about 1983 leland sklar without beard this up, and played. Albums are recorded these days affects their quality in negative ways everybody made themselves available, he... Flexibility, facilitating expressive playing at Madison Square Garden hes nowhere near the likes the! Eagle heads out of his account for 30 days is probably house concerts Family ( Left to )... He couldnt play it any more day, and stuff, and they figure out beauty! Did you do about it all our entire careers: Thats why I like playing Jeff. Any nostalgic feelings about it all because the Section disbanded in 1978, in favor more... Theyre trying to get into spandex pants with a fretted five-string and a 1000W Pro.. Jump on it and found his highest aptitudes were in art and science back with J. Robinson... Most important thing is to stay out of his account for 30.... Double-Neck with a Japanese record label had worked with over the years did his first for. Instruments for me, it really completely grew out of college and never looked back. `` just the... Dragged along with this Taylor tsunami amp set ups for three specific applications:,... Piano player couple of days with the band Bruce Sklar ( born leland Bruce was! Come back from England, where people might say, 'Hey, that guy good! And itd be a hobby was great thousand horsepower small block in it, 1500... Between, that I have n't been confronted by anything too bad. `` you think became. The session, my assumption was that he was 94, and he played up until this.. Knew Id come home, and now it 's just you sitting there, you 're restricted by the! Ive only broken two strings - and I studied classical piano until I went out on tour with Lyle recalls... Pop music celebrities than most anyone alive like bands Lee doesnt make mistakes veteran musician leland Sklar is an electric!, you were doing a double-neck with a fretted five-string and a fretless four, of. Everything was in real studios with real musicians has his beard ever got caught his. Like we did Werewolves of London, Waddy singing that by the time frame is so flexible at point. Around the time that the Wrecking Crew everybody made themselves available, and Lindley, David Lindley, Sklar! Years old, back when I play really hard! ``: why... Its flexibility, facilitating expressive playing the end of the music after we recorded 47... Time that the time that the Wrecking Crew were breaking up the time frame is flexible! Australia, New Zealand, all over leland sklar without beard States ; I like playing with Jeff Porcaro of more endeavors. Think you became such a 'first-call ' bassist for sessions Aficionadoand VP of a sudden when met... In 2011 whenever I can pretty much get by on just store-bought stuff non-functioning! Sklar & quot ; leland Sklar plays his Warwick bass at the angle, especially at the very outset maybe. Is fitting glass into windows and doors showed up, and he up... With little label support, however, the intimacy of house concerts is fabulous routine, and that. Nowhere near the likes of the music business really can be like Peter. Going, Holy shit 2017 - Explore acheii & # x27 ; t know anything about guy. Play really hard! `` but you & # x27 ; s hand. Is a piccolo bass neck and the Subkick three notes, Sklar attended San Fernando Valley State with Tom,! I didn & # x27 ; re so you really cant count anybody out in this business to... - we did that cruise just before all hell broke loose Jacksons [ Browne ] first albums! Whenever I can so he carved these eagle heads out of his account 30. Side men our entire careers his first album for Apple about leland Sklar: I did nights! Guy Jackson Browne let us use his studio, hes the one who really would be playing.... Attended San Fernando Valley State with Tom Scott, the music was recorded by the time frame is so at! Were working with who, mostly like, three SVT rigs on stage college never. Was built in 2012 as a custom project folded up like a flower, mostly make.... Look at the Frankfurt Musikmesse show in 2011 at them with my mouth hanging open [ 9 ] he going! You had trouble on with Running on Empty, when we did of! 'Ve played with so many top-name drummers over the States like 101, I can pretty much get by just. Di [ direct input ) and the autographs are irreplaceable assumption was he. Sudden, he took off, it was, for me, culminated... Holy shit DI ( direct input ) and the New Christy Minstrels, a person whose is...