GEAR 23_COVER - JHS

Have you heard Imelda May’s driving rockabilly romp, ‘Johnny Got A Boom Boom’
rockin’ away like billy-o on the radio? And with that brill slap bass intro and breaks,
how could you resist? Gear meets boppin’ bassist, Al Gare.
So you hear ‘Johnny Got A Boom Boom’ and you’re thinking, ‘Wow – that bass player sure knows how to belt
it out on the big bass...!’, on what is as fine a slice of quiff-drenched, winklepicker-tappin’ rockabilly as
you’re likely to hear. And the guy who knows absolutely does know how to belt it out on the bass is a
certain Al Gare. So, when Al called up JHS recently asking about getting himself a totally cool Danelectro ‘63
bass, we were delighted to invite him in and fix him up.
The late 80's saw Al cut his bassin’ teeth with Sgt Bilko’s Crazy Combo, following which he spent the ‘90s touring the
world, recording, and making TV and radio appearances with acclaimed rhythm and blues band, King Pleasure & The
Biscuit Boys. After performing with them on over 1,500 occasions and recording several studio and live albums, he
finally called it a day and decided to go freelance in February 2001.
Al's travels have since taken him from the West Coast of the States to the northern tip of Russia, playing most
major cities in Europe and headlining top festivals at home and abroad. Trips to America have included a
university tour of New York state, Dan Ackroyd's House of Blues Club in Boston, The Brown Derby in
Hollywood, shows in San Jose, San Francisco
and Scottsdale, Arizona.
Trashy!
Frequent tours of central Europe have seen him playing hundreds of gigs at all the major venues and festivals,
whilst back home Al has performed virtually everywhere in the British Isles. Highlights have been hometown gigs
at the Symphony Hall, (support to BB King), The Alexandra Theatre (support act to the late Cab Calloway), the
NEC main arena and the Royal Albert Hall in London, Ronnie Scott's clubs in London and Birmingham, plus regular
appearances at top London venues such as the 100 Club, Mean Fiddler, the Dublin Castle and the Jazz Cafe.
Al is also the bass player with bands such as Palookaville, with their unique brand of trashy good-time rock ‘n’ roll
instrumentals, along with The Giant Killers and Basehart. A brief stint with Internationally-known British blues band,
The Nightporters was followed by Al finally settling into the wonderful Imelda May Band and the equally-brilliant
long-time rockers outfit, the Mike Sanchez Band, led by the inimitable Mr Sanchez himself. More recently, Al’s been
recording with highly-acclaimed Sheffield-based singer/guitarist Richard Hawley, Mike Sanchez of course and, as
we’ve heard, he’s all over Imelda May’s best-selling new album, Love Tattoo, which saw Imelda and band being
featured big style on the Jools Holland ‘Later’ TV show, which springboarded Imelda into the public spotlight.
Gear says, keep rockin’ it, Al!
"I love this reissue. This bass has a lot more clarity than other reissues that I've played, the two lipstick
pickups have more depth, attack and aggression than even the original! The good people at Danelectro
again haven't faultered on keeping to the original design either from the pickguard to the 63 pro/'coke
bottle' style headstock. 'Rockin' out' to 'Tic-Tac', this is a great gigging guitar!" – Al Gare
‘The V1004 looks great
feels great and supplies
me with an endless source
of tasty tones!’ – Andy
Newest additions to the Vintage® guitar endorsee
stable, FADO ROCK, were visitors at the JHS
showroom and distribution centre in Garforth
recently.
An original hard rock band from Hull, Fado
Rock pride themselves on playing
powerful, tight and exciting
live shows. Drawing on
influences from the blues
and classic /heavy rock
genres, their music is
a mixture of riffs, solos
and quality tunes.
The band were bowled
over by the quality
and playability
of the entire
Vintage range,
with guitarist
Spike plumping
for the V6MRBK
Icon guitar, and
bassist Andy hooked
by the V10004SP.
Even singer Mr Bob
treated himself to a
TC200BD for songwriting.
FADO ROCK are looking build upon the success of their
latest release "Six Foot South" with more touring in the UK
and Europe next year.
www.myspace.com/fadorock
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