He is an actor and composer, known for Man of Steel (2013), The Ant Bully (2006) and Playing by Heart (1998). Ive been on it now for almost two months, and in the next day or so, Ill hit 100 thousand subscribers. Then there's Jim Keltner, Jim Gordon, Mike Baird, John Robinson - and Phil Collins. 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. Special appearance by Steve Bailey. If you have your physical abilities and your faculties, theres no reason not to keep going. Rick: Yeah, I saw that. Therell be no audience, or anything. Leland Sklar. I met Sheldon Dingwall at NAMM 14 years ago, Sklar remembers. You dont finger a fretless the same way you finger a fretted, but if you see the indicators you go into fretted mode and youre always out of tune., In line with his preference to play a single bass through a given show, Sklar utilizes a powerful but stripped-down rig. He was all over the stage. [Laughs]. I remember a time when you couldn't have inadequacies - you either cut it or you didn't. Instantly recognizable by his long white beard, he's been an established presence on the L.A. scene for decades. James Taylor, Smiling Face.that's him. He still has his baton. A veteran of countless recording sessions and world tours, he's known far and wide for his stellar grooves, wry sense of humor and long, flowing, white beard. Sklar started studying piano just after turning five years old. But, Henrys been around for almost everything Ive ever worked on. So, hes the one who really would be the most introspective about Warren, because he was far more intimate with Warren. But, the instruments are just instruments. Leland Sklar: The thing I love about Henry, because Ive worked with Henry now for 50 years, Hes one of those really stealth photographers. [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. Stories Behind the Songs: Leland Sklar. And its fun doing with The Immediate Family, because Waddys connection with Warren is so deep. [Both laugh]. Rick: Oh, thats true. "It's one of those convoluted stories. Rick: Yeah, I agree. People are really hungry for entertainment and music. Probably. Thats a good analogy. So, itll be stuff nobodys heard before. In addition, he has contributed to many motion picture and television show soundtracks. Let the house guy mix you. - I started growing my beard. The 72-year-old bassist with The Section, who has backed such artists as Phil Collins, Jackson Browne, Carole King and James Taylor, said he is being penalized for using the platform to express views . When it's just you sitting there, you're restricted by what the guy has on his machine. Leland Sklar is one of the most prolific Hollywood session bassists from the boom of his career in the '70s until now. And people are in their cars listening, like the old days. Rick: What other kind of hobbies do you have? And then, 84, he called me and asked me to do his No Jacket Required album, so I did that. Who are some of your favorites? [4][7][8] Sklar took to it immediately and began playing string bass in the orchestra and dance band. The drummer, Bugs Pemberton, was English, and he had a friend named John Fishback. Steve was a falconer, so he carved these eagle heads out of walnut. Leland Sklar. Sklar recalls the path that led him to become a bass player, and unsurprisingly - given his laissez-faire attitude to gear - it didnt involve any high-quality instruments until some years into his playing career. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. And showing the bass parts to the songs that Im doing, likeJackson Browne. 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. He uses black nylon tape wound strings on the Washburn. But, the odds are really stacked not in your favor. We're almost like Siamese twins when we play together. He celebrates his birthday every 28th of May. But, when I look at those, and Ive got everybody all the Jeff Porcaros and Larrie Londins, and all the guys that have passed to Peter Max and George Lucas and Bob Hope and Debbie Reynolds all the people Ive worked with. Sitting in a room by yourself just isn't as rewarding. Rick: Yeah. So, it was crazy. [16], In 1967, Group Therapy had been signed to the Canterbury[14] label and went into United Studios in Hollywood to record. But, she was the first artist that was signed to Asylum. Its to a point now where Im doing James and Jackson, and Streisand and Diana Ross. I was still in college, but I decided to go on the road. I went to a high school where there were all sorts of rules, he sighs, and I got so sick of having to look a certain way and keep my hair trimmed to their regulations that the day I left - the second I left! Im actually still in touch with Shawn. And you just never know. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up. In New Zealand, it became the No.1 Adult Contemporary hit of the entire year. And wasnt his sister Penelope Spheeris? Leland Sklar: No. Im like, Man, just play the bass!. If youre not really willing to go that route, then dont bother. But, I spent 20 years with James. Sklar said he was intimidated by the skill of these players and didn't believe he could do what they did, but three and a half years later he was working with them every day. That way I can hit a low E on the fretted neck, for example, and let it ring while I play some fretless parts., Asked if he finds fretless as satisfying to play as fretted, Sklar explains: I played one of their fretless Star Basses and it was funny - Im one of those guys whose intonation is terrible if there are fret markers on the fretboard, but if its a pure black fretless fingerboard Im fine! How it started out for me, people would say we saw you in an arena or stadium and we could hear what you were playing, but not as detailed. So, The Immediate Familys totally different, having Waddy involved, and having Steve Postell involved, vocals, and all that. 6 1Leland Sklar / Height. You have to be serious, but you dont have to grow up. Is it just your dogs and bass guitar? But, when we started, it was kind of like being a top fuel dragster. Leland Sklar Height and Weight Sklar stands at an average height and moderate weight. But, Im not sure where hes living. Thats when I knew Id come home, with that Jazz. Stuff happens! Do you know Henry Diltz? 839K subscribers in the beards community. Something about an artist or song that gave you problems? We were cutting to analog tape. 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. Rick: Did you see the film about Laurel Canyon? This bass was built in 2012 as a custom project. I would say for the most part, Ive worked on maybe about 2,600 albums in my career. "I couldn't function without it. Sklar has also toured with Lyle Lovett, Peter Asher, Vronique Sanson, Tracy Chapman, Van Dyke Parks, and Judith Owen, among others. His Dingwall bass has Dingwall strings, with a GHS .040 G-string. My book "Everybody Loves Me" is there plus my BEARD T Shirts and . Leland Sklar:We were doing festival in Spain. So, you have to think out of the box to do something like old drive-ins, and stuff. Thread Status: Not open for further replies. Besides who doesn't like a guy that looks like Gandalf. Im really excited, because Ive had a couple of double-necks over the years and theyve never been that good. And I was. Not like Leland, but a big beard. Rick: Oh, Phil Collins, yeah. And it was me and Vinnie Colaiuta (Zappa, Joni Mitchell, Sting, etc.) 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. Leland Sklar: Movie director, film director, or producer. You know Robert? Hey, the music business can be pretty tough to figure out. He is a member of the Los Angeles-based instrumental group The Section, who served as the de facto house band of Asylum Records and were one of the progenitors of the soft rock sound prevalent on top-40 radio in the 1970s and 1980s. Get the latest and greatest Guitar news with one of our guitar magazine subscriptions. Believe it. Rick: Actually, his range reminded me of Although theyve got a different sound, obviously with Tim Buckleys range, if you knew Tim Buckley. Because we were lucky. 2004-2022 Guitar International Group, LLC. People ask How many frets do you have? and I say Enough! I honestly dont care. And this beautiful footage of Vladimir Horowitz playing in Moscow when he was in his mid-90s. But, I couldnt do it, because I was already committed to James Taylor at that point. [44], Sklar keeps his amplification implementations simple and adaptable. I figure right now, the most important thing is to stay safe. 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. The whole stress of everything, "There's been a few things, but not many. As soon as The Beatles came along, and the English Invasion, that turned my head around. And at 65 years old, Sklar insists he has no intention of slowing down. So when I finally got to meet him as Henry Diltz the photographer, I went, Youre Tad Diltz.. "Probably everybody - they all bring something different and unique. Also, I have two sets of Precision pickups, and I have them where Jazz pickups would've normally gone. He was another guy that, I saw him once at The Bayou here. Duration: 2m 12s. When I look back I rarely look back, because I really still enjoy looking forward. Right? Leland Sklar: Im just going to spend most of this apologizing for everything those other guys said, and distancing myself from them. He thought of everybody as his immediate family, because weve been together for half a century, except for Postell, whos been around for a couple of years with us. 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