Gus Gustafson

John "Gus" Gustafson also known as Johnny Gustafson (8 August 1942 – 11 September 2014), was an English bass guitar player and singer, who had a lengthy recording and live performance career. During his career, he was a member of the bands The Big Three, Ian Gillan Band, Roxy Music and his own group, Quatermass, among others.

Career

Born in Liverpool to a Swedish father and Irish mother, he is known for his work with 1960s bands The Big Three and The Merseybeats, and for singing on the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar as Simon Zealotes. He made an appearance on Roger Glover's The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast album track, "Watch Out for the Bat", as a vocalist. He is probably best known for playing bass guitar for several re-incarnations of the Ian Gillan Band and for his earlier participation in the progressive rockband, Quatermass. He also re-formed The Pirates, originally the backing band for Johnny Kidd.[2]

Gustafson was a member of Roxy Music for four years and performed on three studio albums. His final record with the band, Siren, included their only American hit single, "Love Is the Drug".

He was bassist on several tracks for Flamenco guitarist Juan Martin's 1981 concept album, Picasso Portraits (Flamencovision CD FV 03, 1994) namely: Harlequin – 1918, Desire Caught By The Tail – 1943, The Aficionado – 1912 and Girls of Algiers – 1955. Also played on Kevin Ayers' album The Confessions of Dr Dream, 1974.

In 1983 he was in the group Rowdy which included Ray Fenwick and Billy Bremner.

Discography

As contributor[edit]

With The Big Three

• At The Cavern Decca EP (1963)
• Resurrection Polydor (1973)

With The Merseybeats

• The Merseybeats Fontana (1964)
• On Stage Fontana EP (1964)
• I Think of You Fontana EP (1964)
• Wishin' and Hopin' Fontana EP (1964)
• The Merseybeats Greatest Hits Look (compilation album) (1977)
• Beats and Ballads Edsel (compilation) (1982)

With Quatermass

• Quatermass Harvest (1970) reissue Repertoire (1990)

With Hard Stuff

• Bulletproof Purple (1972)
• Bolex Dementia Purple (1973)

With Butterfly Ball (Roger Glover)[4]

• The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast (1974)

With Shawn Phillips band

• Furthermore (1974)
• Rumplestiltskin's Resolve (1976)

With Roxy Music

• Stranded Island (1973)
• Country Life Island (1974)
• Siren Island (1975)
• Viva! Island (1976)

With Ian Gillan Band

• Child in Time Oyster (1976)
• Clear Air Turbulence Island (1977)
• Scarabus Island (1977)
• Live at the Budokan Virgin (1978)
• The Rockfield Mixes Angel Air (1997)
• Live at the Rainbow Angel Air (1978)

With Gordon Giltrap band

• The Peacock Party PVK (1981)
• Live Electric (1981)

With The Pirates

• Lights Out/I'm into Something Good EP (1986), with Mick Green and Frank Farley
• Still Shakin Magnum/Thunderbolt (1988), with Mick Green and Geoff Britton
• Live in Japan Thunderbolt (2001), with Mick Green and Les Sampson

With Joe Jammer

• Headway Angel Air (2015), recorded 1974 with Mitch Mitchell on drums

Solo albums

• Goose Grease Angel Air (1997)

Associations

• The Pirates
• Gordon Giltrap Band
• Johnny Gus Set
• Johnny Gustafson
• Johnny and John
• The Merseybeats
• Poormouth
• The Quotations
• The Seniors
• Shawn Phillips
• Quatermass
• Juan Martin
• Rowdy

***

John "Gus" Gustafson also known as Johnny Gustafson (8 August 1942 – 12 September 2014), was an English bass guitar player and singer, who had a lengthy recording and live performance career. Born in Liverpool, he is known for his work with 1960s bands The Big Three and The Merseybeats, and for singing on the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar as Simon Zealotes. He made an appearance on Roger Glover's The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast album track, "Watch Out for the Bat Now", as a vocalist. He is probably best known for playing bass guitar for several re-incarnations of the Ian Gillan Band and for his earlier participation in the progressive rock band, Quatermass. He also re-formed The Pirates, originally the backing band for Johnny Kidd. Gustafson also played with Roxy Music on four of their early albums, which included their only American hit single, "Love Is the Drug".

Discography

As contributor

With The Big Three

• At The Cavern Decca EP (1963)
• Resurrection Polydor (1973)

With The Merseybeats

• The Merseybeats Fontana (1964)
• On Stage Fontana EP (1964)
• I Think of You Fontana EP (1964)
• Wishin' and Hopin' Fontana EP (1964)
• The Merseybeats Greatest Hits Look (compilation album) (1977)
• Beats and Ballads Edsel (compilation) (1982)

With Quatermass

• Quatermass Harvest (1970) reissue Repertoire (1990)

With Hard Stuff

• Bulletproof Purple (1972)
• Bolex Dementia Purple (1973)

With Butterfly Ball (Roger Glover)

The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast (1974)

With Shawn Phillips band

• Furthermore (1974)
• Rumplestiltskin's Resolve (1976)

With Roxy Music

• Stranded Island (1973)
• Country Life Island (1974)
• Siren Island (1975)
• Viva! Island (1976)

With Ian Gillan Band

• Child In Time Oyster (1976)
• Clear Air Turbulence (1977) Island
• Scarabus (1977) Island
• Live at the Budokan Virgin (1978)
• The Rockfield Mixes Angel Air (1997)
• Live at the Rainbow Angel Air (1978)

With Gordon Giltrap band

• The Peacock Party PVK (1981)
• Live Electric (1981)

With The Pirates

• Lights Out/I'm Into Something Good EP (1986), With Mick Green and Frank Farley
• Still Shakin Magnum/Thunderbolt (1988), With Mick Green And Geoff Britton
• Live in Japan Thunderbolt (2001), With Mick Green And Les Sampson

Solo albums

• Goose Grease Angel Air (1997)

Associations

• The Pirates
• Gordon Giltrap Band
• Johnny Gus Set
• Johnny Gustafson
• Johnny and John
• The Merseybeats
• Poormouth
• The Quotations
• The Seniors
• Shawn Phillips
• Quatermass