Gary Walker

How long have you been playing Gary?

About 30 years

How did you get started?

I started playing guitar at age 14, and started my first band with some friends a few months later. I switched to drums for a while when the drummer quit, but when I listened to music, I found myself listening to the bass lines more than anything else. I was particularly attracted to the playing of Mel Schacher of Grand Funk (and I still rate him as a player). Anyway, the bass player in the band was having some issues getting to grips with the instrument and I convinced him to switch with me and I haven’t looked back since.

Do you come from a musical family?

My dad was a backing singer in a rock n roll band. He never played an instrument but was one of the best muzo’s I’ve come across, just in terms of his instinctive understanding of melody and musical structure. He also tried hard to get me into playing the piano at an early age, but being a bit of a rebel I pushed back, cut classes, refused to practice etc etc. Regret it now though.

Do you still keep up with the guitar and drumming?

I still play guitar, I have an Epiphone Les Paul, and a Washburn acoustic. I find it easier to write using guitar rather than bass, but bass will always be my first love.
I’d also love to get back into drumming but convincing my wife to let me set up a kit in the living room is proving a bit difficult for some reason. Right now I’m toying with the idea of getting myself an electronic kit.

What’s your favourite band / solo artist?

Quite diverse really, everything from The Beatles to Metallica, via Floyd, AC/DC and Bob Dylan! My musical heroes tend to be great songwriters, rather than bass players - John Lennon, Roger Waters, Dylan, Jackson Browne.

Early bass playing influences include Mel Schacher, Gary Thain (Uriah Heep), and Phil Lynnott. I also admire the playing of John Entwhistle, Steve Harris, Jason Newstedt (ex Metallica), and Flea (Red Hot Chilli Peppers).

What are the amps and instruments you currently use?

Cort Artisan Bass

Hughes & Kettner Basskick 515 Amp

Is the Cort a four or five stringed instrument?

4 string. I haven’t quite got around to a 5 string or 6 string bass mainly because I prefer a slim neck. The Cort is a beauty though, one of the nicest basses I’ve owned. I really like the fact that it’s so compact, which kind of suits my stature.

What instruments would you like to have if money were no object?

I used to own a hybrid Fender bass – Precision body / Jazz neck / P & J Series DiMarzio pick ups / off white with a mirror scratch plate. I had to sell it about 15 years ago when I was in a bind for cash, but man, I’d love to have that instrument back.

That sounds like my kind of instrument – I’ve always loved the Jazz neck but always prefered the Precision’s body!!! Glen Veale has two ‘swapped around Fenders but prefers the P. neck attached to the J. body – urghh!!!!!!

Yeah, that wouldn’t work for me either, the Jazz has a lovely slim neck, but the body is never going to win any design awards in my world.

What have you been doing for the last five years or so?

I’ve been working on an album with my friend Tony Groenewald. We call ourselves “Sundays at Eleven”, and the album is called “Psychodrama”. We’ve just released the 5-track promo CD, and are hoping to get some radio play out of that, before releasing the full CD around year-end.

I also had a short- lived live band together a couple of years ago, but that fell apart (the usual stuff, muzo’s ego’s – we’ve all been there)

I thought Tony was in Cape Town – you probably know Peter Hamner as well then!!!

Tony is in Cape Town, which is why the damned thing is taking so long to finish. Fortunately, I travel to Cape Town on business fairly regularly, so we get to pull a few all-nighters. We also try for the odd weekend when I fly to Cape Town or he comes up to Jo’burg. I’ve also known Peter for quite some time – way back to when we were in rival bands, me in Black Rose and he and Tony in Boss. He’s also recorded a couple of my songs on the Off the Edge albums.

What recordings that you’ve played on would you recommend for listening?

Psychodrama – Sundays at Eleven

“On the Run” and “Just Another Band” by Off the Edge each feature one of my songs, although I didn’t play on the tracks, likewise “Live by it”, by Black Rose.

Have you visited the South African Bass Players website www.bassplayers.co.za yet?

I have, and I think it’s absolutely brilliant. I actually passed it on to a muzo friend of mine who immigrated to the States in ’88, and he was amazed to see so many old friends and acquaintances listed on the sight. I also enjoyed your “Why I play bass”, section, which I found really inspirational. Bass players can often have an inferiority complex, so its good hear from other players who truly love the instrument.
As I said, great site. Keep up the good work.

What’s been the low point in your career so far?

I always had this idea that I’d quit playing when I was 30, and I actually did (for about 8 years). Now I regret that wasted time. Also quitting Black Rose just before they were signed to a record deal (once again ego’s got in the way!)

And what has been the high point?

I have to say, working on the Sundays at Eleven album. Obviously, I’m biased, but I think the songs are fantastic, the kind of stuff I could never have written, even 5 years ago. Sadly, in a world where ring-tones reach the top of the charts, and lip-synchers are referred to as “superstars”, it will probably sink without a trace.

But we live in hope – that’s what keeps us going isn’t it?

Who knows? It would be great to be an overnight success, 30 years after I started.

What are your goals currently?