John Gustafson (musician)
Encyclopedia
John "Gus" Gustafson also known as Johnny Gustafson (born John Frederick Gustafson, 8 August 1942, in Liverpool
, Lancashire
, England
) is an influential bass
player who has had a thirty eight year recording and live performance career. He is said to be the most important bassist to come out of Liverpool after Paul McCartney
and is known for his work with '60s band The Big Three
and The Merseybeats
and was famed for singing on the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar
as Simon Zealotes. He made an appearance on Roger Glover
's The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast album track, "Watch Out For The Bat Now" as a vocalist. He is probably best known for playing bass for several re-incarnations of The Ian Gillan Band
and for his earlier participation in the Progressive rock
band Quatermass
. He also re-formed The Pirates, originally the backing band for Johnny Kidd. Gustafson also played with Roxy Music
on four of their early albums which included their only American hit single Love Is The Drug
.
With The Merseybeats
With Quatermass
With Hard Stuff
Butterfly Ball (Roger Glover
)
The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast (1974) re-issue Purple 2003
Furthermore (1974)
Rumplestiltskin's resolve (1976)
Stranded
Island (1973)
Country Life Island (1974)
Siren
Island (1975)
Viva! Island (1976)
Gillan/Fenwick/Gustafson/Moran/Nauseef
Child In Time
Oyster(1976)
Gillan/Fenwick/Gustafson/Towns/Nauseef
Clear Air Turbulence
(1977) Island re-mastered Eagle 1998
Scarabus
(1977) Island re-mastered Eagle (1998)
Live at the Budokan
Virgin (1978) (2LP set)
The Rockfield mixes Angel Air (1997)
Live at the Rainbow Angel Air (1978)
The peacock party PVK (1981)
Live Electric (1981)
Green/Gustafson/Farley
Lights out/I'm into something good EP(1986)
Green/Gustafson/Britton
Still shakin Magnum/Thunderbolt (1988)
Green/Gustafson/Samson
Live in Japan Thunderbolt (2001)
Re-issue [2CD set]
Gillan/Fenwick/Gustafson/Moran/Nauseef
Gillan/Fenwick/Gustafson/Towns/Nauseef
Green/Gustafson/Farley
Green/Gustafson/Britton
Green/Gustafson/Samson
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is an influential bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player who has had a thirty eight year recording and live performance career. He is said to be the most important bassist to come out of Liverpool after Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and is known for his work with '60s band The Big Three
The Big Three (musical group)
The Big Three were a Merseybeat group from Liverpool. They are best known for their 1963 recording of "Some Other Guy".-Career:The Big Three evolved from a group called Cass & The Cassanovas, formed in May 1959 by Brian Casser as a trio comprising Casser , Adrian Barber The Big Three were a...
and The Merseybeats
The Merseybeats
The Merseybeats are a Merseybeat band that emerged from the Liverpool scene in the early 1960s, performing at The Cavern Club along with The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers and other similar artists....
and was famed for singing on the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
as Simon Zealotes. He made an appearance on Roger Glover
Roger Glover
Roger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
's The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast album track, "Watch Out For The Bat Now" as a vocalist. He is probably best known for playing bass for several re-incarnations of The Ian Gillan Band
Ian Gillan Band
The Ian Gillan Band was a jazz-rock fusion band formed by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan in 1975.-History:After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, Ian Gillan had retired from the music business to pursue other business ventures, including a motorbike manufacturing company and a hotel. These ventures all...
and for his earlier participation in the Progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Quatermass
Quatermass (band)
Quatermass was a British progressive rock band formed in London, England in September 1969. Lauded as a band of the future on the release of their debut album and supplementing single, "Black Sheep of the Family", major commercial success eluded the band throughout its brief duration.-Career:The...
. He also re-formed The Pirates, originally the backing band for Johnny Kidd. Gustafson also played with Roxy Music
Roxy Music
Roxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
on four of their early albums which included their only American hit single Love Is The Drug
Love Is the Drug
"Love Is the Drug" is a 1975 single from Roxy Music . Taken from the album Siren it omits the gravel footstep sound effects at the start...
.
As contributor
With The Big ThreeThe Big Three (musical group)
The Big Three were a Merseybeat group from Liverpool. They are best known for their 1963 recording of "Some Other Guy".-Career:The Big Three evolved from a group called Cass & The Cassanovas, formed in May 1959 by Brian Casser as a trio comprising Casser , Adrian Barber The Big Three were a...
- At The Cavern Decca [EP] (1963)
- Resurrection Polydor (1973)
With The Merseybeats
The Merseybeats
The Merseybeats are a Merseybeat band that emerged from the Liverpool scene in the early 1960s, performing at The Cavern Club along with The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers and other similar artists....
- The Merseybeats Fontana (1964)
- On stage Fontana [EP](1964)
- I think of you Fontana [EP] (1964)
- Wishin' and hopin Fontana [EP] (1964)
- The Merseybeats greatest hits Look [compilation] (1977)
- Beats and ballads Edsel [compilation] (1982)
With Quatermass
Quatermass (band)
Quatermass was a British progressive rock band formed in London, England in September 1969. Lauded as a band of the future on the release of their debut album and supplementing single, "Black Sheep of the Family", major commercial success eluded the band throughout its brief duration.-Career:The...
- Quatermass Harvest (1970) reissue Repertoire (1990)
With Hard Stuff
Hard Stuff
Hard Stuff was an English hard rock group, which included John Du Cann and Paul Hammond, formerly of Atomic Rooster...
- BulletproofBulletproof (Hard Stuff album)Bulletproof is the first album by Hard Stuff, a 1970s British rock band. It was released on Purple Records, the Deep Purple-related record label.It also featured vocalist Al Shaw, but he had left the band by the time of its release and was uncredited....
Purple (1972) - Bolex DementiaBolex DementiaBolex Dementia is the second and final album by Hard Stuff, a 1970s British rock band.-Track listing:# "Sick n' Tired" – 4:04# "Mermany" – 5:58# "Jumpin' Thumpin' " – 2:55# "Dazzle Dizzy" – 3:41# "Bolex Dementia" – 3:41...
Purple (1973)
Butterfly Ball (Roger Glover
Roger Glover
Roger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
)
The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast (1974) re-issue Purple 2003
- Shawn PhillipsShawn PhillipsShawn Phillips is a folk-rock musician, primarily influential in the 1960s and 1970s.Phillips has recorded twenty albums and worked with musicians including Donovan, Paul Buckmaster, J. Peter Robinson, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Bernie Taupin, and many others...
band
Furthermore (1974)
Rumplestiltskin's resolve (1976)
- Roxy Music
Stranded
Stranded (album)
Stranded is the third album by art rock band Roxy Music, and was released late 1973, reaching number one on the UK album charts. The cover features Ferry's then girlfriend and 1973 Playmate of the Year, Marilyn Cole...
Island (1973)
Country Life Island (1974)
Siren
Siren (Roxy Music album)
Siren is the fifth album by British rock band Roxy Music, released in 1975 .In 2003, the album was ranked number 371 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time...
Island (1975)
Viva! Island (1976)
- Ian Gillan BandIan Gillan BandThe Ian Gillan Band was a jazz-rock fusion band formed by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan in 1975.-History:After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, Ian Gillan had retired from the music business to pursue other business ventures, including a motorbike manufacturing company and a hotel. These ventures all...
Gillan/Fenwick/Gustafson/Moran/Nauseef
Child In Time
Child in Time (album)
Child In Time is an album by British jazz-rock fusion band Ian Gillan Band, released in 1976. The album took its title from the Deep Purple song "Child in Time", a version of which appears on side two of the LP. This was Ian Gillan's first release after leaving Deep Purple, and also features his...
Oyster(1976)
Gillan/Fenwick/Gustafson/Towns/Nauseef
Clear Air Turbulence
Clear Air Turbulence
Clear Air Turbulence is an album by British jazz-rock fusion band Ian Gillan Band, released in 1977 with cover by Chris Foss. The album was reissued in 1989 by Virgin Records on CD.- Track listing :...
(1977) Island re-mastered Eagle 1998
Scarabus
Scarabus
Scarabus is an album by British jazz-rock fusion band Ian Gillan Band, released in 1977. The album was reissued in 1989 by Virgin Records on CD. The reissue included an extra track, "My Baby Loves Me"...
(1977) Island re-mastered Eagle (1998)
Live at the Budokan
Live at the Budokan (Ian Gillan Band album)
Live at the Budokan is a live album by the Ian Gillan Band, recorded live on 22 September 1977 in Tokyo, Japan. Originally it was released in two volumes in Japan in late 1977 and early 1978 by EastWorld Records. In July 1983 it was re-issued as a double album in the UK by Virgin Records. CD...
Virgin (1978) (2LP set)
The Rockfield mixes Angel Air (1997)
Live at the Rainbow Angel Air (1978)
- Gordon GiltrapGordon GiltrapGordon Giltrap is an English acoustic and electric guitarist and composer, whose musical styles cross multiple genres, including folk, blues, folk rock, pop, classical and rock....
band
The peacock party PVK (1981)
Live Electric (1981)
- The Pirates
Green/Gustafson/Farley
Lights out/I'm into something good EP(1986)
Green/Gustafson/Britton
Still shakin Magnum/Thunderbolt (1988)
Green/Gustafson/Samson
Live in Japan Thunderbolt (2001)
Re-issue [2CD set]
- Sony/Columbia (2001)
- Sanctuary (2002)
- Indigo (2008)
Associations
- The Big ThreeThe Big Three (musical group)The Big Three were a Merseybeat group from Liverpool. They are best known for their 1963 recording of "Some Other Guy".-Career:The Big Three evolved from a group called Cass & The Cassanovas, formed in May 1959 by Brian Casser as a trio comprising Casser , Adrian Barber The Big Three were a...
- BulletBullet (band)Bullet was a one-hit wonder American rock band. Its only hit, "White Lies, Blue Eyes", peaked at #28 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 1972. Band member Roget Pontbriand went on to play with K.C. and the Sunshine Band and Wild Cherry...
- Cass and the Casanovas
- Episode SixEpisode SixEpisode Six was a British vocal pop-rock group during the mid 1960s. The band was not well known, but foreshadowed the arrival of Deep Purple in late 1960s...
- Mick FarrenMick FarrenMichael Anthony 'Mick' Farren is an English journalist, author and singer associated with counterculture and the UK Underground.-Music:...
- Hard StuffHard StuffHard Stuff was an English hard rock group, which included John Du Cann and Paul Hammond, formerly of Atomic Rooster...
- Ian Gillan BandIan Gillan BandThe Ian Gillan Band was a jazz-rock fusion band formed by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan in 1975.-History:After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, Ian Gillan had retired from the music business to pursue other business ventures, including a motorbike manufacturing company and a hotel. These ventures all...
Gillan/Fenwick/Gustafson/Moran/Nauseef
Gillan/Fenwick/Gustafson/Towns/Nauseef
- Gordon GiltrapGordon GiltrapGordon Giltrap is an English acoustic and electric guitarist and composer, whose musical styles cross multiple genres, including folk, blues, folk rock, pop, classical and rock....
band - Johnny Gus Set
- Johnny Gustafson
- Johnny and John
- The MerseybeatsThe MerseybeatsThe Merseybeats are a Merseybeat band that emerged from the Liverpool scene in the early 1960s, performing at The Cavern Club along with The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers and other similar artists....
- The Pirates
Green/Gustafson/Farley
Green/Gustafson/Britton
Green/Gustafson/Samson
- Poormouth
- The QuotationsThe QuotationsThe Quotations are a doo-wop band, primarily from James Madison High School in East Brooklyn, New York.The group started in 1958 at Barney's Pool Room on Kings Highway in East Brooklyn, New York. The original members of the group were Richie Schwartz , Lew Arno and Harvey Hersh[kowitz] who hung...
- QuatermassQuatermass (band)Quatermass was a British progressive rock band formed in London, England in September 1969. Lauded as a band of the future on the release of their debut album and supplementing single, "Black Sheep of the Family", major commercial success eluded the band throughout its brief duration.-Career:The...
- Roxy MusicRoxy MusicRoxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
- The Seniors
- The Spencer Davis Group
- Shawn PhillipsShawn PhillipsShawn Phillips is a folk-rock musician, primarily influential in the 1960s and 1970s.Phillips has recorded twenty albums and worked with musicians including Donovan, Paul Buckmaster, J. Peter Robinson, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Bernie Taupin, and many others...