Phil Soussan
Encyclopedia
Phil Soussan is a bass guitar
ist, songwriter
and producer
who has gained notoriety as a member of a host of famed rock and roll bands, including some who have been fronted by such vocalists as Ozzy Osbourne
, Billy Idol
, Vince Neil
, Johnny Hallyday
and John Waite
, as well as a membership in Beggars & Thieves
. Soussan has also played in bands featuring Jimmy Page
, Steve Lukather
, Edgar Winter
and Richie Kotzen
.
With Ozzy Osbourne, he played on the album The Ultimate Sin
and co-wrote the hit single "Shot in the Dark
".
Soussan initially played with Vince Neil in the band Black Plague, the band formed for the Movie The Adventures of Ford Fairlane
with Andrew Dice Clay
followed by writing and ultimately recording songs on the demo tape to promote the new Vince Neil Band, and the Vince Neil Band's first official album Exposed.
As a songwriter he has contributed to all of the bands that he has been with, most notably writing Exposed, the first solo album for Vince Neil
, the Luke album for Steve Lukather
and "After You're Gone" the opening track to Mindfields
the album from Toto
. This latter track was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Recently he has also been a producer and mixer and has worked on projects by Dokken
, Jani Lane
, Toto
and Blues Traveler
.
In 2006, he released his highly acclaimed debut solo album entitled Vibrate featuring him singing and playing guitar and bass on original material.
He is currently a member of the supergroup "Big Noize" featuring alongside singer Joe Lynn Turner
, guitarist Carlos Cavazo
, and drummer Vinny Appice
. Cavazo and Soussan previously played together in the band Black Plague. He has just released his latest solo album entitled "No Protection" and is signed to Favored Nations Records
Soussan is also serving as Vice President of the Grammy Awards also known as NARAS, in the Los Angeles chapter.
After performing together at the "Giving 2010" benefit event on May 3, 2010, Soussan formed the cover band "Carnival of Dogs" with Matt Sorum (Velvet Revolver
, Camp Freddy
, formerly of Guns N' Roses
and The Cult), Franky Perez
(Solo, Scars on Broadway
, DKFXP
) and Tracii Guns
(L.A. Guns
, formerly of Brides of Destruction
).
Richie Kotzen
,
Edgar Winter
,
Toto
,
Jani Lane,
Solo dates - Vibrate,
Big Noize
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
who has gained notoriety as a member of a host of famed rock and roll bands, including some who have been fronted by such vocalists as Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, Billy Idol
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad , better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. A member of the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, Idol first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X...
, Vince Neil
Vince Neil
Vincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
, Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan...
and John Waite
John Waite
John Charles Waite is an English rock singer and musician. He was lead vocalist for The Babys and Bad English. As a solo artist, he scored several international hits, including 1984's "Missing You", a top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart, reaching #1 in the...
, as well as a membership in Beggars & Thieves
Beggars & Thieves
Beggars & Thieves is a band initially made up of lead vocalist Louie Merlino, guitarist Ron Mancuso, bassist Phil Soussan, and drummer Bobby Borg...
. Soussan has also played in bands featuring Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
, Steve Lukather
Steve Lukather
Steve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
, Edgar Winter
Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
and Richie Kotzen
Richie Kotzen
Richie Kotzen is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.At a young age, Richie Kotzen was taken by music and first began playing piano at the age of five. At the age of seven he was inspired by the band KISS to learn the electric guitar...
.
With Ozzy Osbourne, he played on the album The Ultimate Sin
The Ultimate Sin
-Personnel:*Ozzy Osbourne - vocals*Jake E. Lee - guitar*Phil Soussan - bass*Randy Castillo - drumsAdditional performers*Mike Moran - keyboardsProduction*Produced and engineered by Ron Nevison*Additional engineers - Martin White, Richard Moakes...
and co-wrote the hit single "Shot in the Dark
Shot in the Dark (Ozzy Osbourne song)
"Shot in the Dark" is a song from Ozzy Osbourne's 1986 album The Ultimate Sin and was written by then Ozzy Osbourne's bassist Phil Soussan. The song's lyrics were supposedly inspired by the movie Prizzi's Honor....
".
Soussan initially played with Vince Neil in the band Black Plague, the band formed for the Movie The Adventures of Ford Fairlane
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane
The Adventures of Ford Fairlane is a 1990 American action/comedy film starring comedian Andrew Dice Clay as Ford Fairlane, a "Rock n' Roll Detective," whose beat is the music industry in Los Angeles. The film was directed by Renny Harlin.-Plot:...
with Andrew Dice Clay
Andrew Dice Clay
Andrew Dice Clay is an American comedian and actor who played the lead role in the film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.Clay has been in several movies and has released a number of stand-up albums...
followed by writing and ultimately recording songs on the demo tape to promote the new Vince Neil Band, and the Vince Neil Band's first official album Exposed.
As a songwriter he has contributed to all of the bands that he has been with, most notably writing Exposed, the first solo album for Vince Neil
Vince Neil
Vincent Neil Wharton is an American vocalist and musician, best known as the lead vocalist of heavy metal band Mötley Crüe.-Early life:Neil was born in Hollywood, California to Odie and Shirley Wharton...
, the Luke album for Steve Lukather
Steve Lukather
Steve "Luke" Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer best known for his work with the rock band Toto. Lukather has played with many artists, released several solo albums, and worked as a composer, arranger, and session guitarist on more than 1,500 albums...
and "After You're Gone" the opening track to Mindfields
Mindfields
Mindfields is the 10th studio album by the American rock band Toto. It was released on November 16, 1999. Mindfields saw the return of vocalist Bobby Kimball, who departed the band following the 1982 album Toto IV.-Reception:...
the album from Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
. This latter track was nominated for a Grammy Award.
Recently he has also been a producer and mixer and has worked on projects by 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...
, Jani Lane
Jani Lane
Jani Lane , born John Kennedy Oswald, later changed to John Patrick Oswald, was an American recording artist and the lead vocalist, frontman, lyricist and main songwriter for the hard rock band Warrant....
, Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
and Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler
Blues Traveler is a rock band, formed in Princeton, New Jersey in 1987. The band has been influenced by a variety of genres, including blues-rock, psychedelic rock, folk rock, soul, and Southern rock...
.
In 2006, he released his highly acclaimed debut solo album entitled Vibrate featuring him singing and playing guitar and bass on original material.
He is currently a member of the supergroup "Big Noize" featuring alongside singer Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner , is an American rock singer, known for his works with Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Deep Purple. From the late 1990s, he continued to perform in a large number of solo albums and other studio projects...
, guitarist Carlos Cavazo
Carlos Cavazo
Carlos Cavazo is a Mexican-born American guitarist best known as the guitarist for Quiet Riot during their commercial peak. Born July 8, 1957, Cavazo is originally from Mexico City where their first band with his brother Antonio Cavazo was called Speed of Light...
, and drummer Vinny Appice
Vinny Appice
Vincent Samson Appice , also known as Vinny Appice is a rock drummer of American Italian descent and the younger brother of drummer Carmine Appice...
. Cavazo and Soussan previously played together in the band Black Plague. He has just released his latest solo album entitled "No Protection" and is signed to Favored Nations Records
Soussan is also serving as Vice President of the Grammy Awards also known as NARAS, in the Los Angeles chapter.
After performing together at the "Giving 2010" benefit event on May 3, 2010, Soussan formed the cover band "Carnival of Dogs" with Matt Sorum (Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver is an American hard rock supergroup consisting of former Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum, alongside Dave Kushner formerly of punk band Wasted Youth. Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland was Velvet Revolver's lead singer from their formation until...
, Camp Freddy
Camp Freddy
Camp Freddy is a group of established musicians who play rock and roll covers at various shows around America. The band is composed of core members Dave Navarro , Billy Morrison , Matt Sorum , Donovan Leitch, Jr. and Chris Chaney...
, formerly of Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
and The Cult), Franky Perez
Franky Perez
Franky Perez is an American musician best known as the guitarist for Scars on Broadway as well as being a solo artist. He has released two solo albums, Poor Man's Son and My 4th of July, and performed with Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash in his live band before Slash has assembled the tour band...
(Solo, Scars on Broadway
Scars on Broadway
Scars on Broadway is an American-Armenian rock band, founded by System of a Down members Daron Malakian and John Dolmayan. The band's eponymous debut album was released on July 29, 2008....
, DKFXP
DKFXP
DKFXP is the name of a musical collaboration between Franky Perez , of Scars on Broadway, and Dave Kushner , of Velvet Revolver...
) and Tracii Guns
Tracii Guns
Tracii Guns is an American guitarist best known as the founder of glam metal group L.A. Guns as well as the supergroups Brides of Destruction and Contraband. He was also involved in the formation of the first lineup of Guns N' Roses but eventually left the group and was replaced by guitarist...
(L.A. Guns
L.A. Guns
L.A. Guns is the name of a hard rock group formed in Los Angeles, California, of which two rival incarnations currently exist due to numerous line-up changes. The first incarnation of the group was formed, by Tracii Guns, in 1983 but disbanded in 1985 following its merger with fellow Los Angeles...
, formerly of Brides of Destruction
Brides of Destruction
Brides of Destruction were an American hard rock supergroup from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002. The band's last lineup consisted of singer London LeGrand , Tracii Guns and Scot Coogan...
).
With Ozzy Osbourne
- The Ultimate SinThe Ultimate Sin-Personnel:*Ozzy Osbourne - vocals*Jake E. Lee - guitar*Phil Soussan - bass*Randy Castillo - drumsAdditional performers*Mike Moran - keyboardsProduction*Produced and engineered by Ron Nevison*Additional engineers - Martin White, Richard Moakes...
(1986) - The Ultimate Ozzy (1986) DVD and video
With Johnny Hallyday
- Rough TownRough TownRough Town is a 1994 album recorded by French singer Johnny Hallyday. It is entirely written in English-language to win over the anglophone countries. It was released in September 1994 and achieved success in France, where it debuted at the top of the charts on October 2, 1994, but dropped just...
(1994) - Live at La Cigale (1995)
- LoradaLoradaLorada is a 1995 album recorded by French singer Johnny Hallyday. It was released on June 20, 1995, and achieved success in France and Belgium , where, however, it failed to top the charts, being blocked by Michael Jackson's HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I and Céline Dion's D'eux...
(1996) - Lorada Tour Live (1996)
- Destination Vegas (1997)
Other recording and live appearances up to the present
John Waite,Richie Kotzen
Richie Kotzen
Richie Kotzen is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter.At a young age, Richie Kotzen was taken by music and first began playing piano at the age of five. At the age of seven he was inspired by the band KISS to learn the electric guitar...
,
Edgar Winter
Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
,
Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
,
Jani Lane,
Solo dates - Vibrate,
Big Noize