THE LOW END Vol.9 - Neil Murray

We’ll be continuing the Low End series by introducing one of the best and least-exposed rock bassists of all times - Neil Murray. His melodic, yet rhythmically steady bass lines shaped the music of many bands and projects, most importantly the music of Whitesnake. The quiet man behind the bass is responsible for the band’s best-known songs, in terms of groove and flow. Just take a listen to the phenomenal background he provides on the original 1980 version of ‘Fool For Your Loving’ together with drummer Ian Paice (another groovy rock musician.). Murray’s strength comes from his diverse musical background (besides his obvious talent and technical readiness.)

Originally a drummer who started playing bass in 1967, Murray formed his first band with school friends in 1967 (Slap Happy and the Dum-Dums). His musical tastes were heavily influenced by the mid-1960s 'blues boom' bands and musicians, especially Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce, and later by Motown legend James Jamerson and Tim Bogert of Vanilla Fudge, Cactus and Beck, Bogert & Appice. Murray moved to bass shortly before studying graphic design at the London College of Printing.

During 1973, Neil briefly played in Gilgamesh, a jazz-fusion band led by Alan Gowen. After his departure from Gilgamesh, Murray toured the USA with Junior Hanson, following a recommendation from Jeff Beck's bass player Clive Chaman. Hanson later became a member of Bob Marley & The Wailers under the name Junior Marvin. Neil spent early 1974 supporting the album he recorded with them, Magic Dragon.

Murray's next gig came again through a recommendation from Clive Chaman, touring with Cozy Powell's Hammer in 1974 and 1975. The line-up included Don Airey and Bernie Marsden. After Cozy Powell decided to fold Hammer, Murray and Airey joined a revamped version of the British jazz rock band Colosseum, named Colosseum II. The band's leader, drummer Jon Hiseman, had evolved the band's sound by eliminating the saxophone in preference for a rockier sound courtesy of Gary Moore's guitar, a perfect surrounding for Murray’s playing style.

After Colosseum II, in 1976 Neil teamed up again with ex-Gilgamesh keyboardist Alan Gowen in National Health with whom he recorded a self-titled album in 1977. National Health's complex music and the lack of commercial success prompted Murray to investigate other musical avenues, which ultimately led him to Whitesnake. In late 1977, ex-Deep Purple singer David Coverdale was auditioning drummers for his new band Whitesnake, which featured guitarists Micky Moody and Bernie Marsden. Marsden invited Murray to help out with the process which led to him landing the gig together with drummer Dave Dowle. Deep Purple's Jon Lord joined in the summer of 1978 and, after recording Lovehunter in 1979, Dowle was replaced by Ian Paice. From 1978 until late 1986, Murray helped make Whitesnake one of the most popular bands in Europe and Japan, and later America. He recorded 9 albums (Snakebite, Trouble, Love Hunter, Ready An' Willing, Live in the Heart of The City, Come An' Get It, Saints An' Sinners, Slide It In, and Whitesnake). Murray's melodic basslines, influenced by Jack Bruce, Andy Fraser, and even Jaco Pastorius, stand out from the rock bass-playing of the time.

After the departure from the band, Murray and Paice joined Gary Moore for a very successful two-year collaboration. They recorded three albums with Moore: Corridors Of Power, Victims of The Future and Rocking Every Night – Live In Japan. The period 1979–1982 also saw Murray participating in a number of solo albums from Bernie Marsden, Graham Bonnet, Cozy Powell, Forcefield and Jon Lord, sometimes playing with drummer Simon Phillips, which led in 1981 to Murray playing with a trio of superstars – Jeff Beck, Sting, and Eric Clapton. He briefly rejoined Whitesnake for the mega successful 1987 album before leaving the band once more to pursue his own interests.

Neil Murray was a part of a number of popular rock bands that came from the UK in the seventies and beyond, including Black Sabbath, Brian May, Judas Priest, Michael Schenker Group and Queen + Paul Rodgers. A much sought-after musician, he also served as a bassist for Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Graham Bonnet, Jon Lord, and many more.

THE LOW ENDVOL.1: THE BASS THE LOW END VOL.2:CHARLES MINGUS THE LOW END VOL.3:PAUL CHAMBERS THE LOW END VOL.4: NIELS-HENNINGØRSTED PEDERSEN THE LOW END VOL.5: RON CARTER THE LOW END VOL.6: STEVE SWALLOW THE LOW END VOL.7: STANLEY CLARKE THE LOW END VOL.8: PETER KOWALD