"Gary Thain" the legend bassist from Uriah Heep his story, part one

[@visualverbs]

Gary was the best bass player ever. He made Uriah Heep the powerhouse band they were in the early '70's.

[@gerardocoronado7594]

agree. he was the best!

[@dirkbag22]

His playing on July Morning, on the 1973 live album, is jaw dropping. What a player.

[@visualverbs]

@@dirkbag22 👍👊

[@dasboot5903]

@@dirkbag22 * Dear Dirk .... U wrote exactly my words about Gary's playing his base guitar in the live version of the "July Morning" song !!!! * Amen.

[@garethmtbarnes]

@@dirkbag22 Ha ha - I just wrote that in a comment on the video of their live album just now!

[@toddkonopa2294]

Gary and Uriah Heep are true rock legends. So highly underrated.

[@felixweber6593]

My deep love for Uriah Heep when I was a teenager (during the 70's) included my admiration for Gary's superb bass lines, so melodic and rhythmically perfect. I think he still is one of the most underrated bass player in rock history.

[@daitos1955]

Very underrated indeed. He had a very unique mix of rock and funky sixteenth note groove in his style.

[@marklennard9503]

The bass riff in Sweet Loraine is brilliant. It hooked me as a teenager! I took up playing bass at 15 and still playing at 59 heavily influenced by Gary

[@dasboot5903]

@@marklennard9503

[@bobshaw8319]

Greatest bass player in history

[@davechapman7735]

thanks for your comment, its quite amazing that Gary has been gone for so many years but his legend and talent lives on. cheers from NZ

[@abominog888]

Una leyenda ese sonido hermoso y poderoso del gran maestro Gary Thain. Que pena que los vicios lo mataron!!

[@КлючниковЕвгений-б6ы]

Гари Тэйн это МАСТЕР с Большой буквы. Его игра в URIAH-HEEP НАВСЕГДА останется в нашей памяти и в наших СЕРДЦАХ 💕!!!

[@СергейВикторович-с4ю]

Gary was the best bass player ever. David was the best rock singer ever. Ken was the best rock composer ever. They were Magicians.

[@notfound4174]

❤

[@mark240862]

This is great to hear. Gary has always been my favourite bassist and inspired me to play the instrument some 43 years ago when I heard Uriah Heep Live.

[@davechapman7735]

great to hear thanks

[@daitos1955]

Me too. Hearing Sweet Lorraine for the first time (and the rest of the album as well) was a (music) live changer.

[@ariffinbond9485]

Gary Thain is New Zealand 🇳🇿 legend ❤

[@daitos1955]

One of rock's best bassplayer ever. Melodic, solid with a unique (finger) style. First time I heard him (Sweet Lorraine live album) I was hooked for ever into playing bass. What a waste his early departure was. Long live Gary Thain.

[@marklennard9503]

Wow me too! Sweet Lorain hooked me too. And I’m still playing bass after about 45 years

[@daitos1955]

@@marklennard9503 And I after 63. God willing I'll keep on rocking for another 15

[@bertrandathouel]

Simply the best.His bass lines were uniques.

[@arthurmajkszak290]

Gary I saw you many times and You kicked ass and your my favorite Bass Man with the HEEP thank You for your playing and singing 💥⚡️🎸🎤🙏🙏🙏👍

[@fleetwoodmacncheese4159]

Gary's playing is unreal. He's the god of bass. 🥝💚🖤

[@davechapman7735]

thanks for your comment, I just received from a friend and pic of a T shirt with a pic of Gary and a caption that says, "I DONT NEED THERAPY I JUST NEED TO LISTEN TO GARY THAIN," It was on Facebook, you may be able to see it if you search, your comment, appreciated, best wishes Dave Chapman NZ

[@fleetwoodmacncheese4159]

​@@davechapman7735 hi! Oh wow, you're one of the first people that played in a band with Gary. I've read your blog and others about your and Gary's music. Hoping to eventually do some interviews with people who worked with Gary. That's pretty cool, Gary's story and music saved my life so he is my therapy. 🥰 Is it on the Gary Thain Fan Club page on Facebook? 🥝💚🖤

[@davechapman7735]

hi thanks for your reply .here is a NZ band site, if you click my name Dave Chapman from the name directory you will see, some my NZ history and at the bottom of the page you can see Gary's name and his NZ history and pics. our other two Me and the Other's members there as well Paul Muggleston and Pete Dawkins you can see more. www.rockhappenz.com . best wishes Dave @@fleetwoodmacncheese4159

[@fleetwoodmacncheese4159]

​@@davechapman7735thank you! I appreciate it, this is a great site. I found a Me and the Others vinyl I've had my eye on. I've wanted to get in touch with you to discuss Gary more for awhile. I'm planning on writing about him and have been researching him religiously for about 4 years. I have no idea what I'm doing in terms of publishing writing but I'm very very passionate about Gary's work and history. I want more people to know the truth about him and to hear his music. 🥝💚🖤

[@melvinpuddock8774]

What a great rock documentary about so many amazing players. And Gray was right there in the middle of it all. So much history and talent. Truly a icon in music industry!!! Love ya Gary.

[@algreaves4515]

When I was a young drummer/guitarist learning, gigging and growing up here in Seattle in the mid-late seventies, I was not only aware of Uriah Heep; but Gary Thain in particular. Gary Thain, Bob Daisley, John Paul Jones, John Deacon, John Entwistle, Tom Hamilton, Rob Grange, Dusty Hill, Joe Bouchard, Geezer Butler, Ian Hill, Paul McCartney, Kenny Aaronson, etc., so many great bassists. Gary Thain was nuanced and unique unto himself. RIP and Bless His Heart.

[@davechapman7735]

thanks for your comments regards Dave C

[@algreaves4515]

Now I can listen to "You Say You're Together Now," for ... Over and over and over. As a recovering opiate/heroin addict it truly helps guide me to some Cognitive Behavioral Skills or Relapse Prevention Skills... I use that song as a personal recovery tool daily.

[@davechapman7735]

@@algreaves4515 you stick with it and stay healthy ,life is short .you will win!

[@charliewest1221]

Thank you for perpetuating the memory of a legend.

[@davechapman7735]

my pleasure Sir

[@edellis515]

Saw them in 73. Im soooo lucky

[@roostercogburn809]

I was at the concert in Dallas when Gary was shocked, and went to the floor. His band mates carried his stiff body off the stage. The concert was over, as expected. Sad day... RIP.

[@Vonhoganschmidt-13]

Tremendous Player

[@lightsone2]

Gary was right up there with the best bassists in rock. I remember hearing him for the first time playing on the Heep Lps. I was impressed with his style.

[@rodrigovega3184]

El mejor de los mejores, de todos los tiempos.

[@iconoclastic12007]

Thank you, David for all the hard work you have put into this, I enjoyed it immensely. I’ve been looking for years for someone to post something this exhaustive about Gary and had given up hope but you really performed a wonderful service to his fans. I was first exposed to Gary’s playing through my older brothers when they brought home “Live 1973” on the release date. They had already been fans and were looking forward to it. I was immediately struck by Gary’s playing and I loved how his playing filled the gap of the rhythm guitar. His lines were so wonderfully melodic and compelling. I remember my brother, who subscribed to Rolling Stone and Cream about the accident , him being fired, and ultimately Gary’s sad and all too early demise. Thankfully Gary’s legacy lives with many bass players who stumble across or are told about him. It is remarkable how many love him and count him as an influence.

[@davechapman7735]

thank you for your great comment. Gary was a great friend and I have found it quite amazing over the years that he still has a big following and his legend lives on. best wishes to you,, Dave

[@davechapman7735]

if you go to my channel and Vids you can see some very early clips of Gary and our band after we left NZ for UK and Germany 1966.it was recorded on a little portable tape recorder ,

[@iconoclastic12007]

What is the name of the record you lay when talking about Champion Jake Dupree? I tried to find a credit for him on records Dupree made during the late ‘60’s and couldn’t come up with one. Was he not given one, as happened so often back then.

[@davechapman7735]

@@iconoclastic12007 I had no idea but I found this link where Gary played on the Dupree disc scooby doobydoo www.uriahheep-discography.com/members/thain.htm hope this helps you

[@barrylanning1447]

The good old days brother...God I wish I had a time machine.

[@peterkarlsson3733]

Fantastic. Thanks a lot Dave

[@steveelliott5643]

Thanks Dave,you guys All worked ya butts off!

[@davechapman7735]

yep we sure did and that was long time ago, but it was worth it as the memories just keep coming. especially from people like you taking time to watch the clips and commenting, very much appreciated, very best wishes to you and everyone who has watched.. cheers Dave C.. NZ

[@marklennard9503]

Wow just reading some of these comments I’m wondering how many bass players out there took up bass because of Gary’s bass riff in Sweet Loraine

[@mariannwatt2678]

I saw the heep many times here in los angeles always kicked ass great band cheers

[@Eatzbugs]

His fingers seemed to have a life of their own. In perfect communication with each other

[@benbennet4779]

Great stuff Dave. Thanks for the heads up

[@raypestrapur2897]

Gary Thain- Champion and Legend

[@gordongower1676]

Thanks Dave. Great perspective

[@davechapman7735]

cheers Gordon ! regards Dave

[@lizzyfan1986]

Excellent

[@hdrake1000]

The greatest photo of Gary ever is in the program photos in the live album.

[@michaeldennis6077]

I've never heard bass performed like in Paradise/the spell.

[@ceesvw1450]

Smoke a joint and listen again

[@voiceofreason3555]

Great to watch and listen to such a comprehensive piece (both parts) on the late and truly great Gary Thain (and indeed the NZ pop scene and impact on British shores). BUT... it's the Beach Ballroom, not the Beach Ball room (great a name as that would have been!) and it's Aberdeen with one b, not two, laddie...🙂 Other than that, great stuff Dave -- many thanks for this historical document on one of THE great bassists.

[@joythain2958]

well done

[@edgregory1]

He's missing from every greatest bassist list?!

[@TheBlueCream]

he changed heavy metal bass playing.very melodic

[@edgregory1]

@@TheBlueCream He got sacked.

[@goesjem]

@@TheBlueCream Listen to Queen's John Deacon on those early Queen albums and tell me where that came from. Macca, Squire and Thain! John Deacon was aso an amazing player!

[@veronicaferguson4793]

I remember him in the 1960s before he left NZ Played in a band Called The Strangers with Brother Arthur at the Caledonian Hall in Kilmore St Christchurch NZ

[@davechapman7735]

great days, I was there too dancing ! at the Cally ,we may have rubbed shoulders? thanks for you comment. cheers Dave

[@davechapman7735]

Arthur has been living in Perth for many years.

[@alfredoalmazan7976]

LEYENDA.

[@barrylanning1447]

Gary was the Bunnie Carlos of rock and roll, cool as could be, with that smoke hanging out of his mouth.... great band!

[@davechapman7735]

your right ! even with us and his previous group, THE STRANGERS he was a show piece

[@edsoncoronato3836]

GRY THAIN ,PURA GENEALIDADE!

[@ciprianovazquez7713]

Mi bajista favorito Gary thain, sin lugar a dudas

[@goopah]

1:20 DAMN that's a great photo of the band.

[@toneyisaiah3556]

Gary Thain played with Keef Hartley.

[@tobyjenner2924]

and yet when they tried to book a gig here in christchurch a few years ago the venue manager said never herd of them...wtf, true story

[@davechapman7735]

WOW! wish they had have come ,I'd have loved to be there. thanks for the heads up!

[@levvellene570]

I see myself as almost (at best) very close to unable to understand musical nuances. My musician brother could never understand how I could NOT hear the differences between the various instruments of any song we both loved. As it turns out, I'm one of around 15% of the human population who can only hear the full range of sounds all at the same time, but can't really focus on any one of the various parts, so I felt very bad about that initially... Strangely enough, I could almost always hear if a bass line was either by Gary Thain (for Uriah Heep), or by Trevor Bolder (for Bowie, or later, Uriah Heep)! But then I always thought of them as "bubbling", so that may be it.

[@toneyisaiah3556]

Gary Thain was part of the 27 club.

[@davechapman7735]

he was but I have never seen him on any list,

[@michelbernardo6087]

Like Brian Jones , Tommy Bolin

[@larrybethune3909]

Big influence. Great vid.

[@toneyisaiah3556]

Gary was playing with some bands from the 1960s.

[@davechapman7735]

yes he was, the first bad was THE STRANGERS and 2nd was THE SECRETS then Me and the Others 1966

[@carlosmassoco3099]

Only McCartney could compete with Thain in melodics bass lines.

[@davechapman7735]

yes I agree, Gary could always adapt and play any new song straight away and his lines were always very melodic and stood out, he was a driving force for us

[@toneyisaiah3556]

They don't mention him at all.

[@wlodekwrobel7936]

✌️

[@toneyisaiah3556]

1948-75.

[@davevirag5423]

😁🤟

[@boojay77]

yea he paid his dues playing guitar not carrying another players equipment,

[@Apacheviking1961]

Trevor Bolder is as good and even actually better than Gary Thain, Mitch Box agreed with me at the coach house in 2019…

[@davechapman7735]

everyone has opinions and I respect that

[@clydehoops6069]

The music playing over the spoken words is really fucking annoying

[@davechapman7735]

cant please everyone