Icehouse. Robert Palmer. Womack & Womack. The Smiths. Madonna. Robbie Roberson. Pink Floyd.
All of these bands have one person in common that I know of and that individual is the bass player Guy Pratt. Besides touring and recording with these artists, he has played on countless other recordings. He is a bass for hire, even if that was not the plan from the start.
“I wanted to have a band. But I just go so used to playing with people I liked and paid very well and being put in the pointy end of planes that I just decided to stick with this. I never had any ethical problems over who I played with,” laughed Mr. Pratt down the line from London.
No I don’t see any ethical problems playing with the listed people (Madonna maybe?) above, nor of the many other people he has played with live or done session work with. At the age of 19 he was selected to work with Icehouse on the bass and I was curious to know how this turn of events came about?
“I have no idea. They could not find a bass player in Australia, I guess. It was after the whole New Wave thing and everything was getting funkier and disco like down in England and Iva Davies (Icehouse singer) wanted some of that. I think everyone was still playing the Neanderthal rock variety down there (Australia). I think they were looking for someone kind of funky who did not mind putting a suit on and London was full of them at the time. I had no connection with Australia at all and they found me here in the UK,” said Guy.
And how did the career continue from that point?
It is just one thing leads to another. We (Icehouse) were doing some festivals in Europe and Robert Palmer was on the same bill and he said you should do some shows with me. Then someone heard about that and someone said something to Brian Ferry and then David Gilmour heard me and he thought I should come and play with Pink Floyd and it goes on like that. It is all word of mouth. I have never hustled for work ever. That is why I have wide swathes of my life where I have been unemployed,” said Guy.
Obviously he has been paid well through the years and his talents are evident when you see him play with a band or if you hear his contributions to records. Guy has turned his years of touring with many bands and artists into another piece of art. His book, My Bass And Other Animals, is a collection of anecdotes and tales from the road about the people he has worked and traveled with.
“The book came out last year, but not much has happened since then, so it is a pretty current book. I actually did a whole tour recently with Brian Ferry and did not come up with any new material for my stand up gig apart from him getting upset with me when I smashed a guitar in Wellington. The book has done well. The hardback sold out and it seems to still be doing alright and has very good word of mouth. It is a very approachable book and it is easy to read, you know. There is something for everyone in and you don’t have to be a fan of any particular artist or band to enjoy it and there are lots of very funny and unbelievable, but true, stories,” said Mr. Pratt
And was anyone offended with what he has written in the book?
“The only person who ever threatened any legal action was Craig Gannon, who was the second guitarist in The Smiths. I referred to him as a sweet, but simple, lad, which he seemed to think, was really upsetting. Johnny Marr said he liked to refer to him as a ‘lady f**** bastard” We think it was the sweet bit he must have been upset about,” laughed Guy
Guy Pratt is bringing his stand up show based on his book to The Wah Bar on the 4th of December at the Adelaide International Guitar Festival. He will also be performing in Perth on the 28th of November at the Hyde Park Hotel and in Sydney on the 12th of December at The Factory Theatre.
Guy will also be playing some music while at the A.I.G.F on the 6th of December at the Phat Bottom End concert. He will be joined on the evening by Al Slavik and Steve Hunter, but hopefully we will hear no 3 part bass playing. So what can we expect from Guy on this evening of music, since in his own words, he is a collaborator, not a bass virtuoso.
“The bass show that I am doing, that is going to be a big surprise for me as much as anyone else. It may actually be a very big surprise but I can’t say anything about that yet. No one knows anything about what the surprise may be,” said Guy.
I tried to pull out some more answers on this cryptic reply, but it did appear that someone will be playing with him on the evening. Obviously not the reunion of Pink Floyd, due to the untimely and sad passing of Richard Wright (Guy’s father-in law) in October, but my mind wonders what could be in store for us on the evening. If you like bass, comedy and surprises check out Guy at the A.I.G.F. or at one of his other stand-up gigs around Australia. Should be a hoot!
By the way, you can also catch Guy Pratt on line doing his radio gig on UK’s Planet Rock which is on from 8-10AM Monday morning in Sydney. Go to www.planetrock.co.uk
