Ron Meagher

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Ron Meagher
Ron Meagher.png
Meagher in 1965
Background information
Born (1941-10-02) October 2, 1941 (age 83)
Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres Folk rock, pop rock, garage rock
OccupationBassist
Years active1964–present

Ron Meagher (born October 2, 1941) is an American musician, best known as the bassist of the rock band The Beau Brummels.

Contents

The Beau Brummels

When guitarist-songwriter Ron Elliott was putting the band together in 1964, he asked a friend, Kay Dane, if she knew any good bass players. [1] Dane recommended Meagher, but cautioned, "He's kind of weird. He has long hair!" [1] After joining the band, Meagher proved to be important to the band's image, as he was one of the first American rock musicians with Beatlesque hair. [2] In addition to providing backing vocals, Meagher sang lead on occasion, as on "They'll Make You Cry," a song from the band's 1965 debut album, Introducing the Beau Brummels . [2] Meagher appeared with the band in the 1965 science-fiction/comedy movie Village of the Giants , which was featured in a 1994 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000 . [3] He remained with the band as it reduced from a quintet to a trio by 1967's critically acclaimed album Triangle . [4]

During the recording of the band's next album, 1968's Bradley's Barn , Meagher was drafted, becoming one of the few musicians from a well-known rock band to serve in the military at the height of the Vietnam War. [2] Over the next three decades, Meagher has also participated in several Beau Brummels revivals, most notably in the mid-1970s when the band released a 1975 self-titled reunion album. [5] After he was discharged two years later, Meagher played in the Black Velvet Band with former Beau Brummels bandmate Declan Mulligan. [2]

Discography

Related Research Articles

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The Beau Brummels were an American rock band. Formed in San Francisco in 1964, the band's original lineup included Sal Valentino, Ron Elliott, Ron Meagher, Declan Mulligan, and John Petersen (drums). They were discovered by local disc jockeys who were looking to sign acts to their new label, Autumn Records, where Sylvester Stewart—later known as Sly Stone—produced the group's early recording sessions. Initially, the band's musical style blended beat music and folk music and typically drew comparisons to the Beatles, while their later work incorporated other music genres such as psychedelic rock and country rock.

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References

  1. 1 2 Tahsler, Bruce (2007). Garage Bands From the Sixties, Then and Now (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Teens 'N Twenties Publications. p. 73. ISBN   978-1-4243-1813-1.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Ron Meagher – Biography". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved August 27, 2009.
  3. ↑ Renzi, Thomas C. (2004). H.G. Wells: Six Scientific Romances Adapted for Film (2nd ed.). Lanham, Md.: Scarecrow Press. p. 173. ISBN   978-0-8108-4989-1.
  4. ↑ Unterberger, Richie (2000). Urban Spacemen and Wayfaring Strangers: Overlooked Innovators and Eccentric Visionaries of '60s Rock. San Francisco: Miller Freeman, Inc. pp.  180. ISBN   978-0-87930-616-8.
  5. ↑ March, Jeff; Childs, Marti (1999). Echoes of the Sixties. New York: Billboard Books (Nielsen Business Media, Inc.). p. 136. ISBN   978-0-8230-8316-9.
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