Phil Bailey – Bass

Damn! I have to write a bio for Ian’s website.

I hate writing these things as they seem to me unending lists of things I have done radaradarada.

So I asked Ian to write one for me and although that had merit, I wasn’t truly happy (if indeed one can be).

But some things Ian wrote were interesting and he has reminded me of some things. That is a good thing.

It is true that I was once described by Perth guitar virtuoso, Errol Tout, as ‘Mr Effortless Fretless’.  This came from my preferred instrument at the time – a fretless bass.

It is also true that I can look deceptively calm, hence the effortless bit, while playing music despite the inner whirl that may come with a gig.

It is also true that I have been performing in Perth bands for longer than I care to remember. Lately it may be more like ‘do I want to remember?’

I don’t know, however, that being “accomplished” at anything is true as I prefer to dabble in many things and have accumulated a wide variety of skills that do me nicely, thank you very much. For this I am grateful and blessed. Jack of all trades, master of none.

It is also true that I am very happy that Ian has asked me to play at the CD launch and on the CD.

The CD was very enjoyable to make and I met some new friends along the way. Yeah!

It is also true that I met Ian a long time ago. Maybe not as far back as the Roman Empire, but the dust of the barbarian invasion had not settled long.

In the mid 80’s a significant milestone for both of us was the recording of Ian’s songs on to cassette.  Although never released, it was significant because it was the first album length project that I had recorded and completed and a first for Ian, too. Two of the songs first recorded on those sessions, Stay and The Dancer, have been revamped on Ghosts and Against the Odds.

So thank you very much, Ian, for asking me back.