Kim Nielsen-Parsons
Encyclopedia
Kim Nielsen-Parsons is an American hard rock
bassist
known for being a member of the all-female band Phantom Blue
.
at the age of 12. In the years to come, she played with local bands in Los Angeles
, California
, while taking lessons from Racer X bassist John Alderete. In 1988, following a recommendation by Alderete, Nielsen joined the all-female heavy metal
band Phantom Blue
. The band with Nielsen on bass recorded two albums and toured successfully in Europe.
Following her departure from the band on April 1994, Nielsen moved to England
, where she married former Belladonna drummer Adam Parsons, now an artist manager in the music business. In 1996, she joined the Nottingham
-based metal band Wraith and recorded their Schizophrenia album. After years of living in England, she returned to Los Angeles in 2000, where she had brief stints with the all-female AC/DC
tribute band ThundHerStruck and a Queensrÿche
tribute called Jet City Woman
. In 2004, she collaborated with the supergroup
Asia
as a guest bassist on their album Silent Nation.
Nielsen-Parsons joined former Phantom Blue members Linda McDonald
, Gigi Hangach
and Tina Wood for a reunion at a benefit concert on May 26, 2009 at the Whisky a Go Go
in Hollywood, California
. The concert was for the benefit of brain research in memory of Phantom Blue co-founder Michelle Meldrum
, who died of a cystic growth in her brain on May 21, 2008.
Nielsen-Parsons cites Geezer Butler
, Pete Way
, Steve Harris
and Eddie Jackson
among her musical influences.
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
known for being a member of the all-female band Phantom Blue
Phantom blue
Phantom Blue was an all-female American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1987. Phantom Blue were the first and only female artists to be signed to Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records, only three months after forming....
.
Biography
Kim Nielsen first picked up the bass guitarBass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
at the age of 12. In the years to come, she played with local bands in 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...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, while taking lessons from Racer X bassist John Alderete. In 1988, following a recommendation by Alderete, Nielsen joined the all-female heavy metal
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 Phantom Blue
Phantom blue
Phantom Blue was an all-female American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1987. Phantom Blue were the first and only female artists to be signed to Mike Varney's Shrapnel Records, only three months after forming....
. The band with Nielsen on bass recorded two albums and toured successfully in Europe.
Following her departure from the band on April 1994, Nielsen moved to 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...
, where she married former Belladonna drummer Adam Parsons, now an artist manager in the music business. In 1996, she joined the Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
-based metal band Wraith and recorded their Schizophrenia album. After years of living in England, she returned to Los Angeles in 2000, where she had brief stints with the all-female AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
tribute band ThundHerStruck and a Queensrÿche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
tribute called Jet City Woman
Jet City Woman
"Jet City Woman" is a song by progressive metal band Queensrÿche appearing on their 1990 album Empire.The song talks about coming home to family after a long road trip. "Jet City" is a nickname for Seattle, the band's hometown. It was written about Geoff Tate's first wife, who was a flight attendant...
. In 2004, she collaborated with the supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
Asia
Asia (band)
Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
as a guest bassist on their album Silent Nation.
Nielsen-Parsons joined former Phantom Blue members Linda McDonald
Linda McDonald
Linda McDonald is the drummer of the all-female tribute band The Iron Maidens . In addition, she is a member of the Ozzy Osbourne tribute band The Little Dolls and the cover bands Valley Dolls, Crabby Patty and Unholy Pink...
, Gigi Hangach
Gigi Hangach
Gigi Hangach is an American female singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue. From 1989 to 1997, Hangach recorded three studio albums and a live album with Phantom Blue....
and Tina Wood for a reunion at a benefit concert on May 26, 2009 at the Whisky a Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
in Hollywood, California
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
. The concert was for the benefit of brain research in memory of Phantom Blue co-founder Michelle Meldrum
Michelle Meldrum
Michelle Meldrum-Norum was an American hard rock guitarist known for being a member of the bands Phantom Blue and Meldrum.-Biography:...
, who died of a cystic growth in her brain on May 21, 2008.
Nielsen-Parsons cites Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler is an English musician and songwriter. Butler is best known as the bassist and lyricist of heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He was also involved in Heaven & Hell from 2006 to 2010.-Career:Butler formed his first band, Rare Breed, with old friend John "Ozzy" Osbourne in the autumn of...
, Pete Way
Pete Way
Peter 'Pete' Frederick Way is a bass player.He is the bassist of UFO, Waysted and formerly, Fastway and Ozzy Osbourne....
, Steve Harris
Steve Harris (musician)
Stephen Percy "Steve" Harris is an English musician and songwriter, known as the bassist, occasional keyboardist, backing vocalist and primary songwriter of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, which he founded in 1975...
and Eddie Jackson
Eddie Jackson (musician)
Eddie Jackson is the bass guitarist for the progressive metal band, Queensrÿche. He has been with the group since 1981, when they were known as The Mob....
among her musical influences.
Phantom Blue
- Phantom BluePhantom Blue (album)Phantom Blue is the debut album by American all-female heavy metal band Phantom Blue. It was released in the U.S. by Shrapnel Records and on the rest of the world by Roadrunner Records. Marty Friedman co-produced the album...
(1989) - Built to PerformBuilt to PerformBuilt to Perform is the second full-length album by American heavy metal band Phantom Blue. In contrast to the first album's glam metal sound, Built to Perform displays a more raw, heavy metal sound. It also features songwriting credits by all five of the band members plus former member Nicole...
(1993) - "My Misery" (4-track CD-single)
Other Contributions
- Schizophrenia (Wraith) (1996)
- Silent Nation (AsiaAsia (band)Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a supergroup as it included former members of several veteran progressive rock bands, namely John Wetton , Geoff Downes , Steve Howe and Carl Palmer Asia are an English rock group formed in 1981. The band was labelled a...
) (2004)