Ean Evans
Encyclopedia
Donald "Ean" Wayne Evans (September 16, 1960 - May 6, 2009) was the bassist
for Lynyrd Skynyrd
from 2001 until his death. He joined the band following the death of Leon Wilkeson
.
. He moved to Columbus, Mississippi
, after marrying his wife, Eva. He started in music at the age of five, playing trumpet and having an orchestral background until his teen years. Picking up the guitar at 15, soon he was playing the southeastern rock circuit with various cover groups.
A few years later he switched to bass so as to bring fellow guitarist into the band. In the 1980s he played bass for a rock band called "...Five Miles High", along with Mike Reynolds(drummer), Reuban Lace (guitarist), Carl Brown (keyboardist), Del Stockstill (guitar). Five Miles High played venues from Georgia to Kentucky and all over the south east. Five Miles High was rated in the top 10 rock bands of the 80's in a Mississippi radio station contest. Around the mid 80's Five Miles High came to their end. Leaving each member to go their separate ways.
He studied the styles and techniques of John Paul Jones
(Led Zeppelin), Geddy Lee
(Rush) and Leon Wilkeson
(Lynyrd Skynyrd) giving him an aggressive approach to the bass guitar.
Picked up by his manager J.J. French (Twisted Sister
), he formed his first original band "Cupid's Arrow". They became quite popular in the Atlanta area. After composing and recording over 50 songs, Ean became a full time studio musician.
It was during this time he was called to join the Outlaws by leader Hughie Thomasson
, who showed him worldwide touring experience. The Outlaws stopped touring when Hughie was called to join Lynyrd Skynyrd.
In 1997, Ean and ex- Halloween (band) guitarist (1982–1988, 1997–2000) Rick Craig formed "Noon", which blends metal with southern rock. They released 1 album in 2002 and many other unreleased recordings exist and are subject to release.
Following the death of Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Leon Wilkeson, the call came to Ean to continue on for his fallen friend. He joined the current line up of Lynyrd Skynyrd on August 11, 2001, in Las Vegas, Nevada
, beginning his own chapter with the band.
. He is survived by his wife Eva and their two daughters, Sydney and Andrea.
An ailing Evans performed with Skynyrd one last time from a chair on April 19, 2009, at the Mississippi Kid Festival, organized in support of Ean Evans.
Lynyrd Skynyrd continued its 2009 tour with Robert Kearns
on bass. He was preceded by a Nashville musician named Trey for the first part of the year. Johnny Van Zant
asked audiences to pray for Evans.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
for Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
from 2001 until his death. He joined the band following the death of Leon Wilkeson
Leon Wilkeson
Leon Russell Wilkeson was the bassist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2001.-Early life:...
.
Biography
Ean was born and raised in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. He moved to Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...
, after marrying his wife, Eva. He started in music at the age of five, playing trumpet and having an orchestral background until his teen years. Picking up the guitar at 15, soon he was playing the southeastern rock circuit with various cover groups.
A few years later he switched to bass so as to bring fellow guitarist into the band. In the 1980s he played bass for a rock band called "...Five Miles High", along with Mike Reynolds(drummer), Reuban Lace (guitarist), Carl Brown (keyboardist), Del Stockstill (guitar). Five Miles High played venues from Georgia to Kentucky and all over the south east. Five Miles High was rated in the top 10 rock bands of the 80's in a Mississippi radio station contest. Around the mid 80's Five Miles High came to their end. Leaving each member to go their separate ways.
He studied the styles and techniques of John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones (musician)
John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...
(Led Zeppelin), Geddy Lee
Geddy Lee
Gary Lee Weinrib, OC, better known as Geddy Lee , is a Canadian musician, best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush...
(Rush) and Leon Wilkeson
Leon Wilkeson
Leon Russell Wilkeson was the bassist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2001.-Early life:...
(Lynyrd Skynyrd) giving him an aggressive approach to the bass guitar.
Picked up by his manager J.J. French (Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister
Twisted Sister is an American heavy metal band from Long Island. Musically, the band implements elements of traditional heavy metal bands such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, along with a style that is similar to early glam metal bands...
), he formed his first original band "Cupid's Arrow". They became quite popular in the Atlanta area. After composing and recording over 50 songs, Ean became a full time studio musician.
It was during this time he was called to join the Outlaws by leader Hughie Thomasson
Hughie Thomasson
Hugh Edward Thomasson, Jr. was an American guitarist and singer, best known as a founding member of Outlaws and as a guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd....
, who showed him worldwide touring experience. The Outlaws stopped touring when Hughie was called to join Lynyrd Skynyrd.
In 1997, Ean and ex- Halloween (band) guitarist (1982–1988, 1997–2000) Rick Craig formed "Noon", which blends metal with southern rock. They released 1 album in 2002 and many other unreleased recordings exist and are subject to release.
Following the death of Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Leon Wilkeson, the call came to Ean to continue on for his fallen friend. He joined the current line up of Lynyrd Skynyrd on August 11, 2001, in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, beginning his own chapter with the band.
Death
In late 2008 Evans was diagnosed with cancer, of which he died on May 6, 2009, at his home in Columbus, MississippiColumbus, Mississippi
Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...
. He is survived by his wife Eva and their two daughters, Sydney and Andrea.
An ailing Evans performed with Skynyrd one last time from a chair on April 19, 2009, at the Mississippi Kid Festival, organized in support of Ean Evans.
Lynyrd Skynyrd continued its 2009 tour with Robert Kearns
Robert Kearns (musician)
Robert Kearns is an American bassist who has played with several notable bands. He is from Conover, NC.He was a founding member of Cry of Love from 1989 until 1997 and went on to join The Bottle Rockets from 1998 until 2005. In 2009 he was named to be the touring substitute for a cancer stricken...
on bass. He was preceded by a Nashville musician named Trey for the first part of the year. Johnny Van Zant
Johnny Van Zant
John Roy "Johnny" Van Zant is an American musician and the current lead vocalist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He is the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and former lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant and .38 Special founder Donnie Van Zant.Van Zant performed during the 1970s with...
asked audiences to pray for Evans.
Links
- Official Website
- Evans' obit at UPI
- Lynyrdskynyrd official website
- AP Obituary in The Meridian StarThe Meridian StarThe Meridian Star is a daily newspaper published each morning in Meridian, Mississippi, USA, covering Lauderdale County and adjoining portions of West Alabama and East Mississippi. It is owned by Community Newspaper Holding, Inc....