[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. Were doing a double-neck with a fretted five-string and a fretless four. And the real joy of this project is weve all been side men our entire careers. And it was really true, but were doing all these songs that the guys wrote for other artists. And then came off and folded up like a flower. Which really became evident towards the end, like when he did the interview with David Letterman. Read Full Biography. Rick: Yeah, thats true. Wed love to stay in touch, sign up for The Pick team to contact you with great news, content and offers. Like we did Werewolves of London, Waddy singing that. I get that all the time, he admits, and some of it makes me really uncomfortable because sometimes the gear really isnt that good, and its hard to say this sucks to somebody whos really devoted their lives to it.. Rick:What is it, like a 289 or 302? Rick: And then Warren Zevon. Rick: Yeah. 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. 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. 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. Leland Sklar. But, what was he like to actually work with in a studio? By the time he was twelve, though, he was completely burned out. It was like a band any artist in the world would have creamed to have. I think at the end of this month, were going to livestream a concert. Who plays bass for Phil Collins? Rick: Im sorry. For simplicity, I use their NL410 and a 1000W Pro head. Also, I have two sets of Precision pickups, and I have them where Jazz pickups would've normally gone. Leland Sklar was born on 27 May 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. They were getting ready to do a gig at the Troubadour, and he mentioned to Peter that he'd heard this bass player he really liked. 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 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. If you have your physical abilities and your faculties, theres no reason not to keep going. 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. Its just that the time frame is so flexible at this point, because nobody knows what tomorrows going to be. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Sklar did the Falling In Between Tour with Toto in 2007-2008, filling in for his friend Mike Porcaro, who was stricken with ALS. 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? Judith is amazing, and we were playing up in the North of England, playing a pub, and thered be 50 people in the place. I know that you were doing work for hire. Rick: Oh, Phil Collins, yeah. When playing with Lyle Lovett, the 12" cabinet and Subkick were omitted. Published date: Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 4:27 am. 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. Flippin' the bird during a photo shoot for a Dingwall bass ad. And Kootch titled it. Jose' Feliciano At the Top of His Game Talks About His Musical Journey, Eric Johnson Interview: Austin, Strats and Standel Amps, Eric Johnson Interview: On the Road with the Guitar Masters, Shop our popular Accessory products at the new Brookstone.com. So, I really had to wrap myself around an entire different way of playing, once I started with James. I remember a time when you couldn't have inadequacies - you either cut it or you didn't. It was a great show. I think its a lot harder today. Im going to do it for like five years and retire. Ill go, Man, youll be lucky if youre still not schlepping your gear in five years. A 400 turbo and a completely built Jag rear end, and stuff. [4][14][19], In 1969, Sklar was the bass player for a hard rock band managed by Bill Graham called Wolfgang, consisting of Bryn Haworth, Ricky Lancelotti, Kevin Kelley, Randy Zacuto and Warren 'Bugs' Pemberton. But I reversed their position, which totally evens things out. [21], In the 1970s, Sklar worked together so frequently with drummer Russ Kunkel, guitarist Danny Kortchmar, and keyboardist Craig Doerge, who replaced King after her own rise to stardom, that they became "The Section," a distinction Taylor had bestowed upon them as his rhythm section. I see some of these bands where the bassist has, like, three SVT rigs on stage. And then hearing guys like Entwistle and Jack Bruce, and McCartney were so many of that ilk, that I really thought were amazing, and really saw myself heading in that direction. Phil is one of my favorites. Its just right now, everythings been impacted by the virus. 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. I had known Steve before any of this started; Id done his album, and done album projects and live gigs with him. I just love playing with Russ Kunkel. Ill fly in and do a gig and use whatever bass they say they have. All the projects, everything else, will find its way at some point. Rick: Yeah. It was really great, says Sklar, asked if he enjoyed the Taylor/King reunion. Leland Bruce Sklar was born May 28, 1947 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. But, she was the first artist that was signed to Asylum. I mean, I was aware of folk artists and the Barry McGuires and all the people, Peter, Paul & Mary. "The bird headstocks actually come off. Soon, with that exposure, Sklar was being asked to record with many other artists. "A '62 Fender Jazz Bass. Dont you? Leland Sklar. "I've been dealing with a company called Euphonic Audio out of New Jersey. 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. Veteran musician Leland Sklar is raging against Facebook for allegedly locking him out of his account for 30 days. How to craft the sound, what a DI [Direct Input Unit] was and all that. There is an old saying that you cant go home, but we actually got to go home, and it was great. Get the latest and greatest Guitar news with one of our guitar magazine subscriptions. Im not one of those converted guitar players who went to bass. Im not a gear guy, I dont give a damn, Sklar declares. So, we had just finished this Phil Collins number, so I got a board mix. He has collaborated with a number of well-known performers and recorded sound tracks. Kootch would tell the audience, Were a cover band that plays all originals.. Has his beard ever got caught in his bass strings? But what I started into was a world with the James Taylors that led to the Linda Rontadts and Jackson Brownes. You can catch them performing their own versions of songs they backed in the studio and on various tours, such as Werewolves of London, Devoted to You, Running on Empty and a swath of music that captures us with a sense of nostalgia, as well as its own newness. That was probably my brain rewiring things as Im talking. The hardest part of it all was committing to things. There's work going on, but I see the same faces that I have for years. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up. They were With A Little Help From My Friends performed by Joe Cocker, Back in the High Life Again by Steve Winwood, Millworker by James Taylor, The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams, The Rubberband Man by The Spinners, the title track from the album No Other by Gene Clark, Knock On Wood by Eddie Floyd, Behind The Lines - 2015 Remastered by Phil Collins, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um by Major Lance, and Harlem Shuffle by Bob & Earl. August 31, 2020. Was that the 80s? What advice do you have for young players, people who want to play sessions? And eventually, Ill get it back on the street again. Leland Sklar Jackson Browne Minstrel Pickers Rock And Roll Beard Musician Session You never know who you'll see walking around NAMM. Nowadays the world and its sales rep wants Sklar to endorse their products, and its a situation that makes him a little uneasy. You really dont have to grow up. And I cant do shit to the car until I get the radiator back. Steve was a falconer, so he carved these eagle heads out of walnut. Is it just your dogs and bass guitar? Because, for Europe and South America, and all that, it was all stadiums. Weve been, like I said, friends forever. Its amazing. 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. In 1993 while recording at The Site[22] in Marin County on what would become Linda Ronstadt's album Winter Light, Sklar got a phone call from Michael Frondelli, who ran Capitol Records Studios and was producing a band, the Barefoot Servants. I was like a giant Mothers of Invention fan. Sklar with his double neck 'eagle' bass in the '70s. Leland Sklar: Its a 355 Chevy. [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. "In my heart, I feel like I'm 19 years old, back when I started. And were having to rethink a lot of things, how were going to handle things. When it's just you sitting there, you're restricted by what the guy has on his machine. So how did you end up with the bass? But, I became aware of him because I was a big fan of the Modern Folk Quartet. Rick: So, I was starting to move towards that type of thing, and then we really got locked down. Rick: Really? The whole thing probably cost $80 at the time. If you look at the angle, especially at the bottom end, it lines up ergonomically with your wrist joint. For me, its really this incredible community of people are sending me pictures of them having dinner with their family watching my videos on TV. 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. I pinch myself every day. - 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. [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. It's really nice, kind of like a Hofner, but a little bit easier to play. "I talk about this with some of the guys from my generation, who came up a little bit after the Wrecking Crew. 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. The album was released in August 2005 on the Atom Records label.[23]. And he played like the Tuesday before at the Iridium. That's famed session guitarist Leland Sklar. I know you had several albums with Shawn. And then after that, we all sort of went our own ways. Leland Sklar: Yeah. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. ProgDave74, Jul 31, 2014 #2. Because, I went from having no studio experience to working on huge records, like overnight. 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. It's probably the most beautiful instrument I've ever owned.". Sklar first emerged onto the music scene in an era where music was mellow and the vibes cool - or at least, that was the message of acoustic troubadour James Taylor, with whom Sklar recorded a fistful of LPs in the golden age of the singer-songwriter. (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. The style of music doesn't really matter. We're almost like Siamese twins when we play together. Leland Sklar. Chris May Active Member Thread Starter. And theyre helping her down the stairs, and then they get her to the stage and help her up the stairs. We drive each other crazy enough and we know each other so well. Leland Sklar: Oh, no. 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. He uses black nylon tape wound strings on the Washburn. Read reviews from the world's largest community for readers. [6], At five, Sklar was inspired to take up classical piano from watching Liberace on TV. You talk to them from your little stage setup. Therell be no audience, or anything. But, you? 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. I just started two years ago, because I played for my dogs and cats for about 35 years, and then I came out and I played a couple of festivals, a couple other events. And Im going to be doing Neil Sedaka and Cory Wells. Ive toured every year since 1970, plus sessions, he nods. Leland Sklar: Well, no. [35], For intimate settings, Sklar uses a Euphonic Audio Doubler amp with an EA cabinet with a single 10" speaker in it (Euphonic Audio Wizzy-110). Bath Because we were lucky. I was at the Hard Rock Caf with Robert Knight. Sklar also created a coffee table book, Everybody Loves Me, of approximately 6000 photos from a collection of over 12,000 images of celebrities and common folk giving him "the finger," which has become his signature gesture. A prominent bass guitarist, Sklar has contributed to over 2,500 albums as a session musician. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Or these livestreams, where people can sit home and watch it on TV and listen that way. Youve got the guys like the Ry Cooders, and stuff, and Lindley, David Lindley. For the most part, you work for hire, youre an independent contractor, you do it. Ive been lucky, thats the way I see it. This guy This is pretty unbelievable., Rick: Yeah. So that's been my main bass since about 1983. Jimmie fit right into that. Leland Sklar - Reflecting On 50 Years as Bass Legend Rick Beato 315K views. "But I'm thrilled to be working. What's the story behind that Eagle double neck bass you used to play? "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.. And I figured Id be in bands and itd be a hobby. For me, theres nothing like a house concert where you can actually meet the people, talk to them, and sort of hang out with them. Now, inevitably when guys are recording synth-bass they love to go down into reaches that usually dont read well, so when I tried this bass, suddenly I had a 37 B string, and the bottom end was clear and punchy. Sklar has also toured with Lyle Lovett, Peter Asher, Vronique Sanson, Tracy Chapman, Van Dyke Parks, and Judith Owen, among others. Where we would maybe finish James, and the next week wed be starting Jacksons tour. The drummer, Bugs Pemberton, was English, and he had a friend named John Fishback. He was really nice. "The problem with the bass was that it was really heavy. But, that should be really great. And we would do the same thing with the group. Leland Sklar is one of the few elite session musicians to rise to the peaks of the competitive LA rock scene. It was his tour for his 90th birthday. "When Charvel first started, I went out there and saw a bunch of nice alder bodies, and I hung them on wires and tapped them until I found the one that really resonated. Bass ad I know that you cant go home, but I see the same thing with James! Was he like to actually work with in a studio like we did Werewolves London. 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