Rock

Thundering bass lines, not to mention Michael Anthony’s instantly recognisable backing vocals, play a crucial role in the unique sound of high-octane rockers Van Halen, a band that has been Michael’s musical home since their formation in the mid ‘70s. 

When he was young, Mickey Curry dreamed of being a top session player, like his heroes Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd and Jim Gordon. He’s achieved that aim, playing with many top artists over the past twenty years. But during that same time he’s also maintained a high-profile and fulfilling gig with Canadian rocker Bryan Adams.  

With recording, performance and co-writing credits as varied as Eric Clapton, Babyface, Al Jarreau and Phil Collins, Nathan East has deservedly gained a reputation as much for musical versatility as his profound skills on bass. Few players are in more constant demand. 

Few guitarists have extended their playing horizons like Rik Emmett. From rock and blues, through jazz and fusion, to folk and classical, his long and flourishing career underlines his ability as one of the world’s most accomplished and versatile exponents of the instrument. 

Anton was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and started playing the drums at age four. He moved to Boston in the USA when he was 17 and studied both jazz and classical music at the New England Conservatory, graduating in 1975. The following year he moved to New York and began making his name as a freelance musician. He soon met Letterman show MD Paul Shaffer on a session for Joan Armatrading, but it was almost ten years before he got the chance to join Shaffer on the Letterman show. 

Emerging from the vibrant late-1960s San Francisco East Bay music scene, the mighty Tower of Power eleven-piece soul-funk machine featured the famous Tower of Power horns and the devastating rhythm team of Francis ‘Rocco’ Prestia on bass and David Garibaldi, purveyor of some of the slickest funk beats ever heard. 

Ralf began playing at the age of 10, first experimenting with selfmade drum sets composed of tin cans and a soap containers. He started out by playing to the music of the local American radio station AFN, who aired a lot of R&B, Rock, Funk, Jazz and Soul. 

From power ballads, chopping rhythms to soaring fretboard forays, Matthias Jabs guitar work has been intrinsic to the hard-rocking Scorpions’ sound and repertoire since joining the band in the late ‘70s. Along with founder members Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker, he remains at the heart of an outfit that just keeps on rockin’. 

Parisian born Manu was a respected session player in Paris before coming to international recognition through his stylish work with Peter Gabriel on the influential 1986 album ‘So’. He combined percussive brilliance with an unmistakable groove in a manner not heard before and overnight became the drummer everyone wanted. 

Larry Mullen is an instinctive drummer who, like the rest of U2, plays what comes naturally, directly from the heart. Larry has never liked to clutter U2’s songs with busy drumming – he’s always understood the value of drama-laden space. When U2 first made it big in the 1980s Larry already had a mature style which belied his youth.