Bilbo Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 Original bassist with the legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra, Rick Laird has passed away following a long illness. I am told that, after MO, he got sick of poorly paid Jazz gigs and became a portrait photographer. He was aged 80. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 Sad to hear of his passing. As is usual when a past fave dies I think back to the gig or gigs I saw him at. Somehow in my teens I was into the Mahavishnu Orchestra ( Possibly the influence of Melody Maker). I went to see them at Newcastle City Hall c. early 70's and was astounded at their virtuosity: I had not really encountered bands who did not play exactly as their records before.... and they were loud! Even then (16 ish) I was into Bass and did not play it but appreciated how Rick held down the bottom end whilst the rest of them went off on 100 mph solos. As usual I bought up all their past material as well as their current album Inner Mounting Flame. Sharing a house with a load of Leeds Music College students a year or so later, I proudly told them I had all the Johnny Mac stuff including 'Extra polation' ( my pronounciation).........! They put me right very quickly! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 Great player... R.I.P I remember owning one of his tutorial books many moons ago. 'Jazz Riffs For Bass'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 Very sad. I'm not really aware of his work outside of the MH - but that's enough alone to be mind-blowing for eternity. RIP RIck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassace Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 He was with Buddy Rich for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skb558 Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 7 hours ago, yorks5stringer said: Somehow in my teens I was into the Mahavishnu Orchestra ( Possibly the influence of Melody Maker). I bought ‘Between Nothingness and Eternity’ when it came out, on the strength of the cover, the exoticism of the title and band name. As a 16 year old into Wishbone Ash, it was…hmm…a departure, shall we say. I listened to it until I liked it, a process of attrition, I imagine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted July 5, 2021 Share Posted July 5, 2021 Great player and a fantastic educator. He seemed to have a wonderful and rich life. Loved some of his music too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazBeen Posted July 6, 2021 Share Posted July 6, 2021 RIP Rick Laird, I listened to Birds of Fire a gazillion times trying to suss out his bass parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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