Gary Thain

Gary Mervin Thain (15 May 1948 – 8 December 1975) was a New Zealand bassist, best known for his work with British rock band Uriah Heep.

Biography

File:Uriah Heep Mercury Records 1972 promotional image.jpg

Uriah Heep in 1972
L–R: Ken Hensley, Mick Box, Gary Thain, David Byron and Lee Kerslake

Thain was born in Christchurch. He had two elder brothers, Colin and Arthur. He recorded in Christchurch with The Strangers (not to be confused with the Australian band of the same name). At 17, he moved to Australia and joined The Secrets, which dissolved in 1966. Later, Thain was part of the rock trio The New Nadir. Alonfg with drummer Peter Dawkins he travelled from New Zealand to London, and once jammed with Jimi Hendrix before the trio split in 1969.

Thain joined the Keef Hartley Band, performing at Woodstock in 1969, and in 1971 they toured with Uriah Heep; Uriah Heep asked him to join the band (replacing Mark Clarke) in February 1972. He stayed in Uriah Heep until February 1975, playing on four studio albums: Demons & Wizards, The Magician's Birthday, Sweet Freedom and Wonderworld as well as a live album, Uriah Heep Live. During his last U.S. tour with Heep, Thain was seriously injured when he suffered an electric shock at the Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas, on 15 September 1974. Due to his drug addiction he was not able to perform properly, and was fired by the band in early 1975 and replaced by former King Crimson bassist/vocalist John Wetton.

Thain was married twice, but had no children. He died of respiratory failure due to a heroin overdose, on 8 December 1975, aged 27, at his flat in Norwood Green in London.

Performing style and equipment

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 1962 Fender Jazz Bass during his stint in Uriah Heep, though he also used a Gibson Thunderbird bass and a modified Fender Precision Bass. His overdriven bass tone was often created using an Acoustic 360 bass amp from Acoustic Control Corporation. He chose to play fingerstyle rather than using a pick.

Albums discography

Champion Jack Dupree

• Scoobydoobydoo (1969)

Martha Velez

• Fiends and Angels (1970)

Keef Hartley Band

• 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

• Bright City (1971)

Pete York Percussion Band

• The Pete York Percussion Band (1972)

Uriah Heep

• 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

• Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf (1973)

Me and the Others / The New Nadir

• Uncovered (2009)

Singles discography

The Strangers

• 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

• 1965: "It's You"/"You're Wrong"
• 1966: "Me and the Others"/"Love Is Not a Game"

Champion Jack Dupree

• 1969: "Ba La Fouche" (MT/Jack Dupree)/"Kansas City" (Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller)

Martha Velez

• 1969: "Tell Mama"/"Swamp Man"

Keef Hartley Band

• 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

• 27 Club

External links

• AudioCulture profile