John McCoy (musician)

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John McCoy

Background information
Origin Huddersfield, UK Flag of the United Kingdom
Genre(s) Rock, Hard Rock, Blues Rock
Occupation(s) Musician/Songwriter/Producer
Instrument(s) Bass Guitar
Years active 1960s - present
Associated acts Gillan
McCoy
Mammoth
Guy McCoy Tormé

John McCoy is a British bass guitarist who is best known for his work with Ian Gillan and Mammoth as well as numerous other bands and sessions since the late 1960s. He currently plays in British rock trio Guy McCoy Torme with former Gillan/Ozzy guitarist Bernie Torme and Bruce Dickinson/Sack Trick drummer Robin Guy. He is also an accomplished guitar, drum, trumpet, cello, and double bass player. Nearly as well-known as his music is his appearance: he is always pictured wearing sunglasses, with the striking contrast of bald head and robust chin beard. Along with guitarist Vic Elmes and ZZebra colleague Liam Genockey on drums, McCoy can also be heard playing in the intro and end titles theme of the 70s cult T.V. show Space 1999.

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[edit] Early career

In the 1960s, whilst still at school, McCoy began playing as lead guitarist with a working beat group, The Drovers. In 1967 he responded to an advertisement in the Yorkshire Post newspaper for a guitarist to join a band called Mamas Little Children who were about to begin touring Germany. McCoy went to audition only to find they had just given someone else the position, but still needed a bass player. He auditioned on a spare bass that was there and was given the job. In 1968 he was forced to resign from the band because he was working illegally under age. On his return to Britain he went to London where he found work as a session musician with former Drifters member Clyde McPhatter touring the U.K.

In 1974 McCoy was playing with London-based band Scrapyard when they recruited Irish-born lead guitarist Bernie Torme. Although Torme eventually left to form his own punk rock band, the two were later reunited in former Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan's band.

[edit] Career with Gillan

In July 1978, the jazz-rock fusion Ian Gillan Band were altering direction, under the influence of keyboards player Colin Towns in a return to Ian Gillan's hard rock roots. Towns had begun writing new material, and Gillan gave him the task of recruiting the new line-up. Towns recruited session drummer Liam Genockey, McCoy and guitarist Richard Brampton, who was replaced by Steve Byrd - a former colleague of McCoy's from ZZebra - almost immediately. Within a month of their formation the band had recorded their first album, Gillan, and they made their live debut at the Reading Festival on 16 August 1978. They were originally listed there as the Ian Gillan Band, but in a move away from the jazz-rock connotations they renamed the band simply Gillan.

Gillan underwent a further three line-up changes, but McCoy remained as bass player until the band eventually split acrimoniously [1] in 1982.

[edit] Mammoth

Post-Gillan, McCoy recruited session drummer Vinnie "Tubby" Reed, guitarist "Big" Mac Baker and vocalist Nicky Moore to form a band initially called Dinosaur. The name was already in use by a Californian band, so McCoy renamed his new outfit Mammoth. The name was also a tongue-in-cheek reference to the large size of the band members: McCoy weighed 120 kg, Reed 140 kg, Baker 152 kg and Moore 127 kg.

The band toured with Whitesnake and Marillion and were well-received by fans. They released one single, "Fatman", and two albums, XXXL and Larger And Live. In 1988 the entire band appeared in the film Just Ask For Diamond, playing the henchmen. Musically, commercial success eluded them however and the band eventually split in 1989, with McCoy becoming an independent producer.

[edit] Equipment

McCoy usually uses a traditional four string fretted Fender Precision guitar and predominantly Marshall amplification in various configurations. Although he has used Trace Elliot, he has described it as "...a bit clean for my personal taste..." [2] Currently he uses a Marshall 200w integrated amp driving a 2x15 cab and a Marshall 100w lead amp driving 4x12 cabs.

His playing style utilises both pick and fingers, although he plays mostly with picks, preferring Fender extra heavy large triangles "...for greater precision and attack." [2]

[edit] List of bands and artists worked with

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Interview:John McCoy", URL accessed on 24 January 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Planet Bass – The John McCoy Interview January 2006", URL accessed on 24 January 2007.