Bass influences: (In somewhat chronological order): Paul Samwell, Smith Paul McCartney, Jack Bruc,e Tim Bogert, James Jamerson, Glenn Cornick, Jack Casady, Andy Fraser, Larry Graham, John Entwistle, Jaco Pastorious, Stanley Clarke, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Miroslav Vitous, Mel Schacher, Pete Cetera, John Wetton, Jim Fielder, Greg Ridley, Felix Pappalardi, Glenn Hughes, Doug Pinnick, Many, many more... Guitar Influences (I play mostly baritone guitar now): Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young, Rory Gallagher, Robert Fripp, Paul Kossoff, Robin Trower, Many, many more... Vocal Influences: Tortured animals, people in debilitating pain, wounded crows, broken trombones. Musical Influences: Everything & anything. Mainly Bowie, Neil Young, King Crimson, Free, Electronic music, a lot of classical music, Debussy, Oscar Peterson, not much country-but I do like K.D. Lang & bluegrass. Indian & Flamenco music. Paco DeLucia. The Gipsy Kings. Accept, Judas Priest, Motorhead. No rap or R&B, except Snoop Dog & Tricky. Imogen Heap. As I Lay Dying. New Metal. Goth. Original Glam (as in the '70's). Fusion & Progressive. New Prog. I think I sound like all the above put into a blender, and served up on a stage in a smoky club for 3 decades. Kind of progressive & heavy. Loud & Fast. But sometimes peaceful and introspective. Power Pop too...
This is my Official Billy Sheehan MySpace website.
My playing career started about a thousand years ago - with local Buffalo, NY bands which eventually evolved into a group called Talas in the early 70's.
Talas played a zillion gigs & opened for tons of major bands as they came through Buffalo. Eventually, Talas opened for Van Halen in 1980 and from that, David Lee Roth called to start a band after he left Van Halen.
I did the Eat' Em & Smile album & tour with Dave, Steve Vai, Greg Bissonette, & Brett Tuggle. It went platinum in the USA with 1 videos & such. After that the Skyscraper album was recorded. I left after the recording & started Mr. Big. Our 1st album did very well, but the second one "Lean Into It" went platinum & had several hits, including "To Be With You" which was 1 in Billboard, USA for three weeks, and the 1 MTV video, and 1 in 14 other countries. Mr. Big continued playing and recording successfully until 2001 when we split up.
As a side project, I started Niacin (Improvisational/fusion band) with Dennis Chambers (Santana) on drums & John Novello on B3 - that's still going strong & we'll be recording our 6th record soon. I did a couple of Talas reunion shows in & around Buffalo starting in '97, one of which drew 25,000 people. Hopefully more to come soon.
One of my great pleasures was playing again with Steve Vai. We got together for several years on his solo tours, and a bunch of G3 tours all over the world. What an absolutely wonderful experience. Check out the Platinum selling Live at the Astoria DVD to see.
During my time with Steve, I released my first solo CD entitled Compression in 2002 - on Steve Vai's Favored Nations record label, followed up by my 2nd solo CD Cosmic Troubadour. Now my NEWEST solo CD is coming April 14th 2009, on Mascot records. http://www.mascotrecordsusa.com
The New Solo CD is called HOLY COW! It features my good friend Ray Luzier on Drums (Korn, Army of Anyone, STP, David Lee Roth), and some other VERY special guests: The incredible Billy F. Gibbons came & laid down a spectacular solo on A Lit'l Bit'l Do It To 'Ya Ev'ry Time; Mr. Big guitarist Paul Gilbert lays down two amazing solo's in a song called Dynamic Exhilarator; Dug Pinnick came over & lent his supremely awesome voice to a song called Turning Point. Tony MacAlpine also played some classical piano on a Bach piece I adapted for bass which will be available by download when I figure out how to make it available. I'm so thankful & honored to have these guys on my record. I play bass, baritone guitar, harmonica, and sing.
As of this writing (March '09), we are planning a Mr. Big reunion tour! It's in Japan only, so far, but hopefully we will be able to go EVERYWHERE! I would love that. More to come!
There's much much more - to be continued/elaborated upon/& further explained. I play bass. I'm still learning. I live for music. I've done over 4,000 shows & made dozens of records. I'm a lucky guy & very thankful to the MANY people who made it possible. I'm humbled by the many kind comments & communications I receive here and at my other email addresses. I'll do my best to live up to them.
YEah! Billy ones again you've proved that , ( as Steve Vai said ) you are the best bass player ever tracked that planet. Thank you , and guys for fantastic show in Sofia . Still banging in my head . Also sound was fantastic. Thank you for bringing band together again !
Billy !! Yeaaaaaaaah!! Thanks so much for the add ;)....aaaaaaaaaaaand...thanks so much also for the beautiful concert in Milano!! Just Great!! ;) Rock'n Roll Billy!
What a great rock show you guys put on two weeks ago in Tilburg! Seeing you do all that amazing stuff from a few yards completely blew me away. I hope you guys make a new album.
THANK YOU sooooo much for two hours of enthusiasm and fun and joy yesterday in Vienna! I've never seen or heard anyone playing bass like you do, it was amazing!!!!! The whole show was just one big dream come true! Don't let us wait too long for your next show, okay? Can't wait to see you again, guys! Lots of love from the bottom of my heart!!!
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