Album Session Players

Steve Via

Born:
June 6th 1960. Long Island, USA

PiL:
Lead Guitar

Bio:
Already a well respected 'heavy-rock' guitarist, Vai was hired in autumn 1985 as a session musician by producer Bill Laswell to play lead guitar on 'Album'. Vai plays guitar on all tracks. The basic tracks had already been recorded at Power Station Studios and Quad Recording Studios. Vai added lead and solos at Electric Lady Studios.

Vai: "Bill Laswell, the producer, called and I flew in and out of New York from Alcatrazz shows to cut the parts. I basically did all the guitar parts in two days... Some of the material I'd never heard and just went in and started playing on it. At the end, Johnny Lydon came in and liked it. "

Vai considers 'Album' to be some of his best work; appreciating the musical freedom he received. He still refers to it as "a brilliant record". Lydon was also a fan of Vai's guitar work on the album calling it "magnificent" and applauding it for its "energy".

Classically trained, Vai is known as one of the technically best guitarists in the business. Getting into music as early as 1968, he formed his first serious band Axis in 1978. He played for Frank Zappa (1980-82 & 1985-86), then released his first solo album 'Flex-Able' in 1984; and later played with Alcatrazz (1985), David Lee Roth (1985-87) & Whitesnake (1990).

Vai continues to release solo albums; and also owns the recording and publishing company Favored Nations..

Bernie Worrell

Born:
April 19th 1944. Long Beach, New Jersey, USA

PiL:
Keyboards

Bio:
A previous Laswell collaborator, before playing on 'Album' Worrell had also played keyboards on Time Zone: 'World Destruction' and The Golden Palominos 'The Animal Speaks': both of course featuring John Lydon. Worrell's parts for 'Album' were recorded at Quad Recording Studios. He plays on the tracks 'FFF', 'Fishing', 'Round' & 'Home'.

A well respected funk keyboardist and pianist, Bernie "The Wizard" Worrell was a founder member of the hugely influential Parliament-Funkadelic playing on fifty-plus albums, and is regarded as one of the most sampled musicians ever. In 1997 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with Parliament.

Still an in-demand session man, Worrell has worked with the likes of The Pretenders, Talking Heads, Soul Asylum & Keith Richards. As well as numerous Bill Laswell projects, including Ginger Baker's 'Middle Passage' (1992); which also featured Jah Wobble. Worrell continues with various solo activities: including Bernie Worrell & The WOO Warriors, and Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains.

Ginger Baker

Born:
August 19th 1939. Lewisham, London, England

PiL:
Drums

Bio:
Back in 1981 'NME' printed an April Fool's joke that the drummer-less PiL were set to enlist the help of legendary Cream drummer Ginger Baker. A complete hoax, that six years later would actually come true, when Bill Laswell coaxed him out of retirement to be one of the drummers on 'Album'. Baker plays on the tracks 'Fishing', 'Round', 'Bags' & 'Ease'.

Although sceptical at first, John Lydon was won over by the end product; along with Baker's approach: "He just goes in and does it, no pretentiousness". Baker's drum parts were recorded at Power Station Studios. Roger Trilling (Laswell cohort): "First we recorded drums, with (engineer) Jason Corsaro, in the Power Station and its huge concrete resounding garage. Then we moved over to Quad, for bass, keyboards and rhythm guitar."

Heavily influenced by jazz in his youth, Baker would go on to form Cream; along with Eric Clapton & Jack Bruce in 1966. After their split in the late 60s Baker spent several years in Africa, particularly Nigeria, working on ideas of how traditional West African rhythms could fuse with rock music. He is now widely acknowledged as one of the pioneers in bringing 'world music' to the mainstream. In the 70s Baker had several solo projects before retiring in 1982 to reportedly run a "drum school in the hills of Italy".

After a jokey comment by Lydon that he wanted Baker as drummer on 'Album', Bill Laswell completely taken by the idea, made a personal pilgrimage to Italy to track him down and bring him back to New York. Laswell and Baker would develop a close bond and collaborate on a number of projects over the years; including Baker's solo album 'Middle Passage' in 1992; which also featured Jah Wobble.

Nicky Skopelitis

Born:
USA

PiL:
Guitar

Bio:
Another previous Laswell collaborator, before playing on 'Album' Skopelitis had played guitar on the Time Zone: 'World Destruction' single with John Lydon & Afrika Bambaataa. His guitars for 'Album' were recorded at Quad Recording Studios. Skopelitis plays on the tracks 'FFF', 'Rise', 'Fishing', 'Round' & 'Home'.

Skopelitis later contributed to Jah Wobble's 'Heaven And Earth' album (1995). He'd previously played with Wobble – again via the Laswell connection – on his own 'Ekstasis' (1993) & 'Wake Up and Dream' (1998) albums.

Skopelitis has worked with Bill Laswell since 1983, playing on records by the likes of Bambaataa, The Golden Palaminos & Ginger Baker. He also has his own "Psychedelic Trance" ensemble Ekstasis; together with various musicians from the Laswell fold.

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Born:
January 17th 1952. Tokyo, Japan

PiL:
Synthesiser

Bio:
A well respected session man Sakamoto was hired in autumn 1985 by producer Bill Laswell to play Fairlight CMI synthesiser on 'Album'. His parts were recorded at Quad Recording Studios. Sakamoto plays on the tracks 'Rise', 'Fishing', 'Bags' & 'Ease'.

A classically trained composer Sakamoto formed the Yellow Magic Orchestra with Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi in Tokyo 1978; receiving international success in 1980 with the single 'Computer Game'. He went onto become one of the most in-demand session players of the 80s and 90s; playing with the likes of Iggy Pop, Brian Wilson, David Sylvian and Robbie Robertson.

Sakamoto has also released various solo albums to critical acclaim; featuring a mix of western pop with traditional music from Japan, the Middle East and Africa. He is also a successful film composer; and actor, with the likes of 'Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence' & 'The Last Emperor' among his credits. Sakamoto continues to record, compose and act. John Lydon later jokingly referred to him one of his "cast off's".

Tony Williams

Born:
December 12th 1945. Chicago, USA
Died:
February 23rd 1997

PiL:
Drums

Bio:
Williams was hired in autumn 1985 as a session musician by producer Bill Laswell to play drums on 'Album'. His parts were recorded at Power Station Studios. He plays on the tracks 'FFF', 'Rise' & 'Home'.

Raised in Boston, Williams had been playing drums since the age of 10. A respected jazz drummer he played with the likes of Miles Davis and John McLaughlin; among many others.

Williams lived and taught drums in the San Francisco Bay Area until his death in 1997 – aged 52 – from a heart attack following routine gall bladder surgery. One of his final recordings was with Bill Laswell's Arcana.

Jonas Hellborg

Born:
June 7th 1958. Gothenborg, Sweden

PiL:
Bass

Bio:
Another previous Laswell collaborator Hellborg was hired in autumn 1985 to lay down bass parts for 'Ease' at Quad Recording Studios.

Laswell & Hellborg first worked together when Laswell invited him to play on Deadline's 'Down by Law' back in 1984. He would continue to work regularly with Laswell and cohorts; later founding Greenpoint Studios in New York (1990) along with Laswell. He also appeared on Ginger Baker's 'Middle Passage' album (1992); which also featured Jah Wobble.

A self-taught bassist, with roots in jazz and punk, Hellborg moved from Sweden to New York in 1981; then to London in 1982. A long time admirer of jazz guitarist John McLaughlin; he would later become a member of his Mahavishnu Orchestra (1983-88). Hellborg still tours and records with a variety of artists.

Malachi Favors

Born:
August 22nd 1937. Lexington, Mississippi, USA

PiL:
Acoustic Bass

Bio:
Favors was hired in autumn 1985 as a session musician by producer Bill Laswell to play acoustic bass on 'Album'. His parts were recorded at Quad Recording Studios. He plays on the tracks 'Fishing', 'Bags' & 'Ease'.

A jazz bassist since the age of 15, Favors moved to Chicago and became a member of The Art Ensemble Of Chicago. Through his work with Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) he is now considered one of jazz's greatest talents.

Favors is famed for his eccentric behaviour; he often uses a third name Maghostut (an African word meaning "I'm your host") and has been known to claim he has lived for 43,000 years! He has also been known to paint his face African-style to "blend in with the spirits in the music."

Shankar

Born:
April 26th 1950. Madras, India

PiL:
Violin

Bio:
Lakshminarayana Shankar (to give him his full name) (and not to be confused with Beatles collaborator Ravi Shankar) was hired by Bill Laswell to play electric violin on 'Album'. Shankar's parts were recorded at Quad Recording Studios. He plays on the tracks 'Rise' & 'Round'.

Apparently John Lydon and Shankar hit it off and would often spend hours talking about different styles of folk music; especially Irish. Lydon later called his work on 'Album' "absolutely excellent".

Growing up in Sri Lanka Shankar got his first violin at the age of five. He moved to the USA in 1969 to teach Indian music at University; where he met jazz musicians such as Ornette Coleman, Jimmy Garrison, and John McLaughlin. He later started his own band The Epidemics; who's debut was produced by Frank Zappa in 1979.

Although working mostly within jazz, Shankar has flirted with more mainstream acts such as Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Pretenders and Van Morrison. Since 'Album' he has continued to work periodically with Bill Laswell; and is still an in-demand musician.

Bernard Fowler

Born:
New York, USA

PiL:
Backing Vocals

Bio:
Another previous Laswell collaborator Fowler was hired in autumn 1985 to sing backing vocals on 'Album'. He is credited with backing vocals on all tracks. His vocal parts were recorded at RPM Studios.

Fowler has worked on various Laswell projects over the years including Tackhead (along with Doug Wimbush of On-U-Sound fame); and has also sung with experimental New York composer Philip Glass; and the Rolling Stones (including many solo projects). He is probably best known for his work with the electro Peach Boys in the early 80s; and is still an in-demand session vocalist.

Steve Turre

Born:
September 12th 1948. Omaha, Nebraska, USA

PiL:
Conch Shells & Didjeridu

Bio:
Williams was hired in autumn 1985 as a session musician by producer Bill Laswell. His conch shells and didjeridu parts on 'Ease' were recorded at Quad Recording Studios.

Roger Trilling (Laswell cohort): "[During the recording] I would give John bulletins as we drank beer in bars. 'Today Steve Turre blew into conch shells', 'tomorrow a Didjeridu'. John grew wary, restive, even aggravated…"

A respected jazz musician, Turre has played trombone with the likes of Art Blakey, Ray Charles & Woody Shaw since the 60s. However, he is probably best known for his mastery of sea shells as musical instruments. As well as collaborating with a variety of artists he has also released solo albums.

Ayib Dieng

Born:
Senegal, Africa

PiL:
Chatan

Bio:
Another previous Laswell collaborator Dieng was hired in autumn 1985 to play chatan on 'Round'. His parts were recorded at Quad Recording Studios.

Mainly known as a drummer and percussionist, Dieng has worked on various Laswell projects since 1984 including Nicky Skopelitis 'Ekstasis' album (1993) & Ginger Baker's 'Middle Passage' album (1992); both of which featured Jah Wobble. Dieng also later played on Wobble's 'Heaven And Earth' album (1995).

As well as collaborating with a variety of artists, such as Bob Marley, Brian Eno & Yoko Ono, he also released a solo album in 1997.