John G. Perry (born 19 January 1947 in
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States. Located at the north end of Owasco Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in Central New York, the city had a population of 26,866 at the 2020 census. It is the largest city of Cayuga County, the ...
, United States) is a British
bass guitarist
A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboard bass or a low bra ...
and singer. He was born in the U.S. to British parents and when he was young, the family moved back to England.
Perry's first band of note was Gringo, originally called Utopia, which released an eponymous album in 1971, with future
Sailor
A sailor, seaman, mariner, or seafarer is a person who works aboard a watercraft as part of its crew, and may work in any one of a number of different fields that are related to the operation and maintenance of a ship.
The profession of the s ...
keyboard player
Henry Marsh. A brief stint touring with Spreadeagle followed until Perry was asked to join
Caravan
Caravan or caravans may refer to:
Transport and travel
*Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together
**Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop
*Camel train, a convoy using camels as pack animals
*Convoy, a group of veh ...
, with whom Gringo had done a UK tour.
He played with Caravan in 1973-74, with whom he recorded one studio album ''
For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night
''For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night'' is the fifth studio album released by the Canterbury scene band Caravan.
Richard Sinclair and Steve Miller left the band prior to the recording of this album. They were replaced by John G. Perry and the ...
'' (1973), and one live album ''
Caravan and the New Symphonia
''Caravan and the New Symphonia'' is a record by Caravan recorded on 28 October 1973 at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane and originally released in 1974 on UK Decca's subsidiary Deram. Bringing the band and The New Symphonia Orchestra together ...
'' (1974). He also appears on various collections of BBC radio recordings released in subsequent years.
He left Caravan to concentrate on a new band venture,
Quantum Jump
A quantum jump is the abrupt transition of a quantum system (atom, molecule, atomic nucleus) from one quantum state to another, from one energy level to another. When the system absorbs energy, there is a transition to a higher energy level (exc ...
, led by keyboardist, vocalist and producer Rupert Hine, and consisting of musicians who had initially assembled to play together on studio sessions. The band had a belated hit with a re-release of their single ''The Lone Ranger''.
In 1976 Perry released his first solo album entitled ''Sunset Wading''.,
John G. Perry: Sunset Wading
at Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
with an all-star cast of Geoff Richardson (Caravan) on viola and flute, Rupert Hine on keyboards and production, Michael Giles on drums, Morris Pert on percussion and two members of the Italian jazz-rock band Nova. The album was well-received and moderately successful, and the same line-up recorded a follow-up album, ''Seabird'', which was to remain unreleased for over 15 years.
During the second half of the 1970s he collaborated with Gordon Giltrap
Gordon Giltrap, MBE (born 6 April 1948) is an English guitarist and composer. His music crosses several genres. He has been described as "one of the most revered guitarists of his generation", and has drawn praise from fellow musicians including S ...
and Anthony Phillips
Anthony Edwin Phillips (born 23 December 1951) is an English musician, songwriter, producer and singer who gained prominence as the original lead guitarist of the rock band Genesis, from 1967 to 1970. He left in July 1970 and learned to play mo ...
on several studio albums, and also played on albums by Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers (16 August 1944 – 18 February 2013) was an English singer-songwriter who was active in the English psychedelic music movement. Ayers was a founding member of the psychedelic band Soft Machine in the mid-1960s, and was closely assoc ...
and Curved Air
Curved Air are an English progressive rock group formed in 1970 by musicians from mixed artistic backgrounds, including classical, folk, and electronic sound. The resulting sound of the band is a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock, and fus ...
.
In 1978, he got together with guitarist-vocalist Mick Rogers (ex-Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Manfred Mann's Earth Band are an English rock band formed by South African musician Manfred Mann (musician), Manfred Mann. Their hits include covers of Bruce Springsteen's "For You (Bruce Springsteen song), For You", "Blinded by the Light" an ...
), drummer Clive Bunker
Clive William Bunker (born 30 December 1946) is a British drummer. Bunker is best known as the original drummer of the rock band Jethro Tull, playing in the band from 1967 until 1971. Never a self-professed technical drummer, Bunker engaged ...
(ex- Jethro Tull/Steve Hillage
Stephen Simpson Hillage (born 2 August 1951) is an English musician, best known as a guitarist. He is associated with the Canterbury scene and has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s. Besides his solo sound recording and reprodu ...
) and reeds player Jack Lancaster
Jack Lancaster is a British composer, record producer and musician.
In the late 1960s, Lancaster co-founded the British rock group Blodwyn Pig with Jethro Tull (band), Jethro Tull guitarist Mick Abrahams and in the late 1970s he was a member of ...
(ex-Blodwyn Pig
Blodwyn Pig was a British blues rock musical ensemble, band, founded in 1968 by guitarist–vocalist–songwriter Mick Abrahams.
Career
Abrahams left Jethro Tull (band), Jethro Tull after their debut album, ''This Was'', was released, due to a ...
) to form Aviator, which released a couple of albums and toured around Europe.
In the early 1980s, he toured with Sally Oldfield
Sally Patricia Oldfield (born 3 August 1947) is an Irish singer-songwriter. She is the sister of composers Mike and Terry Oldfield.
Early life
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Oldfield was raised in the Roman Catholic faith of her mother, Maureen. Sp ...
, and features on her 1982 live album, but then quit touring to concentrate on library music.
The first ever Wal
WAL or Wal may refer to:
Places
* Wał, Lublin Voivodeship, village in eastern Poland
* Wał, Masovian Voivodeship, village in east-central Poland
* Wales, constituent nation of the United Kingdom
* Wallonia, Walloon Region of Belgium
* Wallops F ...
bass guitar was produced by John Perry's friend Ian Waller to Perry's specifications.
Discography
* ''Gringo'' (Gringo, 1971)
* ''Solid Ground'' ( Dave Elliott, 1973)
* ''For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night
''For Girls Who Grow Plump in the Night'' is the fifth studio album released by the Canterbury scene band Caravan.
Richard Sinclair and Steve Miller left the band prior to the recording of this album. They were replaced by John G. Perry and the ...
'' (Caravan
Caravan or caravans may refer to:
Transport and travel
*Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together
**Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop
*Camel train, a convoy using camels as pack animals
*Convoy, a group of veh ...
, 1973)
* ''Caravan and the New Symphonia
''Caravan and the New Symphonia'' is a record by Caravan recorded on 28 October 1973 at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane and originally released in 1974 on UK Decca's subsidiary Deram. Bringing the band and The New Symphonia Orchestra together ...
'' (Caravan, 1974)
* ''The Confessions of Dr. Dream and Other Stories
''The Confessions of Dr. Dream and Other Stories'' is the fifth studio album by Kevin Ayers. Ayers moved to Island Records for this release which employed a vast array of session musicians. The album also marked the arrival of Patto guitarist Ol ...
'' (Kevin Ayers
Kevin Ayers (16 August 1944 – 18 February 2013) was an English singer-songwriter who was active in the English psychedelic music movement. Ayers was a founding member of the psychedelic band Soft Machine in the mid-1960s, and was closely assoc ...
, 1974)
* ''Midnight Wire
''Midnight Wire'' is the fifth studio album by Curved Air and was recorded in 1975. It marked another line-up change in the band, with Darryl Way and Sonja Kristina recruiting new musicians after the end of the reunion tour marked by the ''Curve ...
'' (Curved Air
Curved Air are an English progressive rock group formed in 1970 by musicians from mixed artistic backgrounds, including classical, folk, and electronic sound. The resulting sound of the band is a mixture of progressive rock, folk rock, and fus ...
, 1975)
* ''Sunset Wading'' (John G. Perry, 1976)
* ''Visionary
A visionary, defined broadly, is one who can envision the future. For some groups, this can involve the supernatural.
The visionary state is achieved via meditation, lucid dreams, daydreams, or art. One example is Hildegard of Bingen, a 12th-c ...
'' (Gordon Giltrap
Gordon Giltrap, MBE (born 6 April 1948) is an English guitarist and composer. His music crosses several genres. He has been described as "one of the most revered guitarists of his generation", and has drawn praise from fellow musicians including S ...
, 1976)
* '' Flyaway'' (Nutshell
A nutshell is the outer shell of a nut. Most nutshells are inedible and are removed before eating the nut meat inside. It covers and protects the kernel which may be edible.
Usage
Most nutshells are useful to some extent, depending on the circums ...
, 1977)
* ''Perilous Journey
''Perilous Journey'' is a 1977 studio album by guitarist Gordon Giltrap.
The album was remixed and re-released in 1998.
Reception
AllMusic awarded the album with 2.5 stars and its review by Stewart Mason states: "Part of a trilogy of mid-'70s ...
'' (Gordon Giltrap, 1977)
* '' Round the Back'' (Café Jacques
Café Jacques are a progressive rock band originally formed in Edinburgh, Scotland and most active in the 1970s. An early version of Café Jacques numbered seven musicians, but the most successful line-up was a trio, consisting of Chris Thomson ...
, 1977)
* ''Progress
Progress is the movement towards a refined, improved, or otherwise desired state. In the context of progressivism, it refers to the proposition that advancements in technology, science, and social organization have resulted, and by extension wi ...
'' (Michael Giles
Michael Rex Giles (born 1 March 1942) is an English drummer, percussionist, and vocalist, best known as one of the co-founders of King Crimson in 1969. Prior to the formation of King Crimson, he was part of the eccentric pop trio Giles, Giles a ...
, 1978)
* ''Fear of the Dark'' (Gordon Giltrap, 1978)
* ''Wise After the Event
''Wise After the Event'' is the second studio album by English musician and composer Anthony Phillips, released in May 1978 on Arista Records in the United Kingdom and in June 1978 on Passport Records in the United States. After promoting his pre ...
'' (Anthony Phillips
Anthony Edwin Phillips (born 23 December 1951) is an English musician, songwriter, producer and singer who gained prominence as the original lead guitarist of the rock band Genesis, from 1967 to 1970. He left in July 1970 and learned to play mo ...
, 1978)
* ''International
International is an adjective (also used as a noun) meaning "between nations".
International may also refer to:
Music Albums
* ''International'' (Kevin Michael album), 2011
* ''International'' (New Order album), 2002
* ''International'' (The T ...
'' (Café Jacques, 1978)
* ''Lone Ranger'' (Quantum Jump
A quantum jump is the abrupt transition of a quantum system (atom, molecule, atomic nucleus) from one quantum state to another, from one energy level to another. When the system absorbs energy, there is a transition to a higher energy level (exc ...
, (1976)
* '' Sides'' (Anthony Phillips, 1979)
* ''Aviator
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its Aircraft flight control system, directional flight controls. Some other aircrew, aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are al ...
'' (Aviator
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its Aircraft flight control system, directional flight controls. Some other aircrew, aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are al ...
, 1979)
* ''Turbulence'' (Aviator, 1980)
* '' The Virgin'' (Adrian Snell
Adrian Snell (born 1954) is an English pianist, keyboard player, singer and composer.
Biography
Classically trained at the Leeds College of Music and with a music diploma to his name (LGSM), Snell's musical career spans nearly four decades. Du ...
, 1981)
* '' Daybreak'' ( Paul Field, 1983)
* ''Seabird'' (John G. Perry, 1995)
* '' Songs for Oblivion Fishermen'' (Caravan, 1998)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perry, John G
British rock bass guitarists
British rock singers
1947 births
Living people
People from Auburn, New York
Progressive rock bass guitarists