Jon Brant
Encyclopedia
Jon Brant was the bass
player for the band Cheap Trick
from 1981 to 1987. In addition to his work with that band, Brant has also played with artists including Chris Spedding
, Micki Free
, Robert Gordon, Lou Reed
, and Diana Ross
. He was also bassist for the band Red Siren, or Siren after they legally had to change their name.
When Tom Petersson
, the original bassist for Cheap Trick, left in 1980, the three remaining band members chose a much-publicized replacement with Pete Comita. Comita had quit before the end of the year after having only played on Cheap Trick's contributions to the Heavy Metal
soundtrack. With a new album due out in 1981, Cheap Trick went into the studio, and Rick Nielsen
played all the bass and guitar parts himself, while auditioning replacement musicians for the tour. They chose Los Angeles
-based, Chicago-born bassist Brant as bassist, who joined and is credited with playing bass on their 1982 album One on One, on which he overdubbed the bass parts on three songs for which Nielsen had originally played bass.
Brant played on all of the tracks of the band's next three studio albums and co-wrote the hit "Tonight It's You" from 1985's Standing on the Edge
. In 1987, when Petersson decided to rejoin the band, he displaced Brant. He remains good friends with drummer Bun E. Carlos
to this day, and the two of them occasionally play together in "The Bun E. Carlos Experience", a side-project blues band.
Brant rejoined Cheap Trick briefly on stage to play bass during "If You Want My Love" and "She's Tight" during the band's 25th anniversary concert. In 2004, when Petersson was unable to tour briefly after the birth of his child, Brant re-joined the band for a month of shows as opening act for Aerosmith
. Brant started the tour with Cheap Trick a few days after returning from a month long tour of bases in the Middle East. He performed in Baghdad
, Djibouti
, Africa
and the UAE. Brant returned once again in 2007 to Cheap Trick for one show in Augusta, Georgia
.
Brant performed with legendary blues artist Lynne Jordan for several years in Chicago, then played for a few years with new age
artist Nicholas Gunn. Brant also competes in the equestrian
sport of eventing
.
Brant performs with Native American artist Micki Free. The two perform regularly at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida and other venues around the world.
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player for the band Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973. The band consists of members Robin Zander , Rick Nielsen , Tom Petersson , and Bun E...
from 1981 to 1987. In addition to his work with that band, Brant has also played with artists including Chris Spedding
Chris Spedding
Chris Spedding is an English rock and roll and jazz guitarist, best known for his session work. Allmusic states - "Spedding is one of the UK's most versatile session guitarists, and has had a long career on two continents that saw him tackle nearly every style of rock and roll, as well as...
, Micki Free
Micki Free
Micki Free is a Grammy-winning Native American guitarist and singer, and a two-time Native American Music Award winner. He is also the director of Promotions & Special Events for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, owners of Hard Rock International.-Biography:...
, Robert Gordon, Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, and Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
. He was also bassist for the band Red Siren, or Siren after they legally had to change their name.
When Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson
Tom Petersson is an American musician, best known as the bassist and sometime guitarist for the rock band Cheap Trick.-Career:...
, the original bassist for Cheap Trick, left in 1980, the three remaining band members chose a much-publicized replacement with Pete Comita. Comita had quit before the end of the year after having only played on Cheap Trick's contributions to the Heavy Metal
Heavy Metal (film)
Heavy Metal is a 1981 Canadian fantasy-animated film directed by Gerald Potterton and produced by Ivan Reitman and Leonard Mogel, who also was the publisher of Heavy Metal magazine....
soundtrack. With a new album due out in 1981, Cheap Trick went into the studio, and Rick Nielsen
Rick Nielsen
-External links:* * *...
played all the bass and guitar parts himself, while auditioning replacement musicians for the tour. They chose Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based, Chicago-born bassist Brant as bassist, who joined and is credited with playing bass on their 1982 album One on One, on which he overdubbed the bass parts on three songs for which Nielsen had originally played bass.
Brant played on all of the tracks of the band's next three studio albums and co-wrote the hit "Tonight It's You" from 1985's Standing on the Edge
Standing on the Edge
Standing on the Edge is an album by the American rock group Cheap Trick, released in 1985. Jack Douglas, the producer of Cheap Trick's debut album Cheap Trick, made a return for this release.-Overview:...
. In 1987, when Petersson decided to rejoin the band, he displaced Brant. He remains good friends with drummer Bun E. Carlos
Bun E. Carlos
Bun E. Carlos, born Brad Carlson, June 12, 1951, is the primary drummer for American rock band Cheap Trick. He is the band's chief setlister and archivist, and maintains recordings of all the band's shows, some of which have been released under the name 'Bun E's Bootlegs'.Carlos is left-handed, but...
to this day, and the two of them occasionally play together in "The Bun E. Carlos Experience", a side-project blues band.
Brant rejoined Cheap Trick briefly on stage to play bass during "If You Want My Love" and "She's Tight" during the band's 25th anniversary concert. In 2004, when Petersson was unable to tour briefly after the birth of his child, Brant re-joined the band for a month of shows as opening act for Aerosmith
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "The Bad Boys from Boston" and "America's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based hard rock, has come to also incorporate elements of pop, heavy metal, and rhythm and blues, and has inspired many...
. Brant started the tour with Cheap Trick a few days after returning from a month long tour of bases in the Middle East. He performed in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and the UAE. Brant returned once again in 2007 to Cheap Trick for one show in Augusta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
.
Brant performed with legendary blues artist Lynne Jordan for several years in Chicago, then played for a few years with new age
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
artist Nicholas Gunn. Brant also competes in the equestrian
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
sport of eventing
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
.
Brant performs with Native American artist Micki Free. The two perform regularly at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Florida and other venues around the world.