Jeff Pilson
Encyclopedia
Jeff Pilson is an American bass guitarist, best known for his stint in the heavy metal
band Dokken
. He has been the bassist for Foreigner
since 2004.
Pilson was also a member of Dio
, and has his own progressive metal
group called War and Peace, which was formed in 1993, releasing two albums: 1993's War and Peace and 2004's The Walls Have Eyes.
He has worked with his ex-Dokken bandmate, guitarist George Lynch
in a two-member group called Lynch/Pilson. He also played in the band Wild Horses
(not to be confused with the British band of the same name).
In 2010, Jeff participated in a tribute album titled Mister Bolin’s Late Night Revival, a compilation of 17 previously unreleased tracks written by guitar legend Tommy Bolin
prior to his death in 1976. A percentage of the proceeds from this project will benefit the Jackson Recovery Centers.
Although he is known primarily for his work as a bass guitarist, Pilson also plays guitar
and keyboards
.
, 2001. Pilson played bassist Jorgen, of the fictional band Steel Dragon, along with Zakk Wylde
, Jason Bonham
, who also contributed to the Soundtrack, with Miljenko Matijevic and Jeff Scott Soto
as vocalists, who can not be seen. Zakk Wylde later stated in an interview for Metal Hammer
that before their collaboration he "had only known him as a member of Dokken. I didn't know about all his skills. This guy is unbelievable."
He also contributed to the Mortal Kombat reboot, performing the voice acting for Johnny Cage.
Dokken
Michael Lee Firkins
Wild Horses
McAuley Schenker Group
Dio
Steel Dragon
Lynch/Pilson
War and Peace
Underground Moon
George Lynch
Foreigner
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band Dokken
Dokken
Dokken is an American heavy metal and hard rock band formed in 1978. They split up in 1989 but reformed four years later. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide...
. He has been the bassist for Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
since 2004.
Pilson was also a member of Dio
Dio (band)
Dio was an American heavy metal band from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Formed in 1982 and led by vocalist Ronnie James Dio, after he left Black Sabbath with intentions to form a new band with fellow former Black Sabbath member, drummer Vinny Appice. Naming the band Dio made sense from a commercial...
, and has his own progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
group called War and Peace, which was formed in 1993, releasing two albums: 1993's War and Peace and 2004's The Walls Have Eyes.
He has worked with his ex-Dokken bandmate, guitarist George Lynch
George Lynch (musician)
George Lynch is a hard rock/heavy metal guitarist best known as a member of the band Dokken, his own bands Lynch Mob and Souls of We.-Pre Dokken:...
in a two-member group called Lynch/Pilson. He also played in the band Wild Horses
Wild Horses (American rock band)
Wild Horses was a band that originally featured former Buster Brown and Montrose members Johnny Edwards and James Kottak. The band also featured James Kottak's former Kingdom Come bandmate Rick Steier...
(not to be confused with the British band of the same name).
In 2010, Jeff participated in a tribute album titled Mister Bolin’s Late Night Revival, a compilation of 17 previously unreleased tracks written by guitar legend Tommy Bolin
Tommy Bolin
Thomas Richard "Tommy" Bolin was an American-born guitarist who played with Zephyr , The James Gang , and Deep Purple , in addition to doing solo work...
prior to his death in 1976. A percentage of the proceeds from this project will benefit the Jackson Recovery Centers.
Although he is known primarily for his work as a bass guitarist, Pilson also plays guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
.
Acting career
Jeff Pilson is also an actor, having appeared in the movie Rock StarRock Star (2001 film)
Rock Star is a 2001 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Herek and starring Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston. It tells the story of Chris "Izzy" Cole, a tribute band singer whose ascendance to the position of lead vocalist of his favorite band was inspired by the real-life story of Tim...
, 2001. Pilson played bassist Jorgen, of the fictional band Steel Dragon, along with Zakk Wylde
Zakk Wylde
Zachary Phillip Wylde , best known by the stage name Zakk Wylde, is an American musician, songwriter, and occasional actor who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory,...
, Jason Bonham
Jason Bonham
Jason John Bonham is an English drummer. Jason's parents are Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and his wife Pat Phillips. After his father's death in 1980, he has played with Led Zeppelin on different occasions, including the Ahmet Ertegün Tribute Concert at The O2 Arena in London in...
, who also contributed to the Soundtrack, with Miljenko Matijevic and Jeff Scott Soto
Jeff Scott Soto
Jeff Scott Soto is an American rock singer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for being the lead singer for the group Talisman from 1990 till the end of Talisman in 2007, the vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen's first two albums, and for stepping up to the job of lead vocalist for Journey on...
as vocalists, who can not be seen. Zakk Wylde later stated in an interview for Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
that before their collaboration he "had only known him as a member of Dokken. I didn't know about all his skills. This guy is unbelievable."
He also contributed to the Mortal Kombat reboot, performing the voice acting for Johnny Cage.
Discography
Rock Justice- Rock Justice (1979)
Dokken
- Tooth and Nail (1984)
- Under Lock and KeyUnder Lock and KeyUnder Lock and Key is the third studio album by heavy metal band Dokken, released in 1985 through Elektra Records.The album contains three singles: "In My Dreams", "It's Not Love" and "The Hunter" all became moderately successful...
(1985) - Back for the AttackBack for the AttackBack For The Attack peaked at #13 on the billboard U.S. charts, and was certified platinum by the RIAA.-Track listing:#"Kiss of Death" — 5:51#"Prisoner" — 4:20#"Night by Night" — 5:23...
(1987) - Beast From The EastBeast from the EastBeast from the East is a live album recorded by heavy metal band Dokken in Japan in April 1988, during their Back for the Attack album tour. It was released on November 16, 1988. The album has live versions of the band's most popular songs and includes a studio track entitled "Walk Away"...
(1988) - Dysfunctional (1995)
- One Live NightOne Live NightOne Live Night is a 1995 semi-acoustic live album by heavy metal band Dokken. The reunited Dokken recorded the album during their 1995 tour. The album went virtually unheard at the time of its release. MTV had no interest in any Hair Metal, so Dokken decided to do their own "unplugged" album...
(1995) - ShadowlifeShadowlifeShadowlife is the sixth studio album by heavy metal band Dokken, released in 1997. It marks a change in the band's musical style, moving towards alternative rock...
(1997) - Erase the SlateErase The SlateErase the Slate is the seventh studio album by heavy metal band Dokken, released in 1999. It is the only Dokken album to feature former Winger guitarist Reb Beach.-Track listing:...
(1999) - Live from the SunLive from the SunLive from the Sun is a live rock album recorded in 2000 at the Sun Theater in Anaheim, CA by heavy metal band Dokken. This album captures the reunited Dokken, minus guitarist George Lynch, in Anaheim on November 4, 1999, running through a live set of mostly greatest hits, plus two songs from the...
(2000)
Michael Lee Firkins
- Michael Lee FirkinsMichael Lee Firkins (album)- Personnel :* Michael Lee Firkins – electric guitar* James Kottak – drums* Jeff Pilson – bass guitar * Mark Rennick – bass guitar , mixing* Steve Fontano – engineering, production* Joe Marquez – engineering* Marc Reyburn – engineering...
(1990)
Wild Horses
- BarebackBareback (Wild Horses album)Bareback is the first album by the American rock band Wild Horses.Shortly before the recording of this album, former Shout lead vocalist John Levesque replaced original Wild Horses lead vocalist Johnny Edwards, who left Wild Horses to replace Lou Gramm in the band Foreigner.Apparently, this band...
(1991) - disputed - Dead AheadDead Ahead (Wild Horses album)Dead Ahead is the second album by the American rock band Wild Horses.Apparently, the band had split up after the release of their first album and later reunited to record and release this album.-Track listing:# Can't Get By# Ride On...
(2003)
McAuley Schenker Group
- M.S.G.M.S.G. (McAuley Schenker Group album)M.S.G. is the third and final studio album from Michael Schenker and Robin McAuley's project, the McAuley Schenker Group. It was released in 1992....
(1992)
Dio
- Strange HighwaysStrange HighwaysStrange Highways is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Dio. It's also their first album since Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice's reunion tour with Black Sabbath. The European release was on Vertigo, in October 1993; the U.S...
(1994) - Angry MachinesAngry MachinesAngry Machines is the seventh studio album from the heavy metal band Dio. It was released first in Japan on October 4th, 1996 by Mercury Music Entertainment with 11 tracks and in the USA on October 15, 1996 on Mayhem Records but with only 10 tracks...
(1996) - Master of the MoonMaster of the MoonMaster of the Moon is Dio's tenth and final studio album. The album was released on September 7, 2004 in America through Sanctuary Records and August 30, 2004 in Europe through SPV Records....
(2004)
Steel Dragon
- Rock Star (Soundtrack)
Lynch/Pilson
- Wicked Underground
War and Peace
- Time Capsule (1993)
- The Fleash and Blood Sessions (1999)
- Light At The End Of The Tunnel (2001)
- The Walls Have Eyes (2004)
Underground Moon
- Underground Moon (2008)
George Lynch
- Sacred Groove (1993)
Foreigner
- Extended Versions (2006)
- No End in Sight: The Very Best of ForeignerNo End in Sight: The Very Best of ForeignerNo End in Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner is a compilation album that was released on July 15, 2008 by the rock band Foreigner. Aside from the classic hits, in their original versions, the album contains a brand new track, "Too Late", as well as live renditions of "Say You Will", "Starrider", and...
(2008) - Can't Slow DownCan't Slow Down (Foreigner album)Can't Slow Down is the ninth album by the rock group Foreigner. It is the group's first studio release with lead singer Kelly Hansen and the group's first new studio album since 1994. In the U.S. the album was first available exclusively through Wal-Mart retailers...
(2009)