Groove – Episode #55: Jeff Pilson
I’m a child of the late seventies and the early eighties. This comes out in the type of jazz that I like (thanks, Jaco, Chick Corea, etc…) and the type of rock that I like (thanks, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, etc…)
The eighties hard rock scene really captured my attention. The look (the hair), the sound (the riffs), the shows (oh, the lights and lasers!) and everything that came with it. A rock star didn’t look or sound like anyone else in the eighties. They were a breed unto themselves.
One of those bands was Dokken, and their bass player – Jeff Pilson. Jeff is currently the bassist for Foreigner (we met up when the band came through Montreal). He joined the band in 2004 and has also taken on both musical direction for the live show and production duties. Pilson is – without a doubt – one of the hardest working rock bassists (songwriters and producers) on the circuit. He was also a member of Dio and MSG. He formed his own progressive metal band, War and Peace, and continues to work with Dokken (and its members) – in one way shape or form.
Pilson also appeared in the 2001 movie Rock Star as bassist Jorgen from the fictional band, Steel Dragon. The film also featured performances by musicians like Zakk Wylde, Jason Bonham, Myles Kennedy and Blas Elias and more. He also played on the film’s soundtrack and served as Musical Director for the film. These days, he’s busier than ever on the road with Foreigner, producing the last Warrant album, and most recently, as a member of the band The End Machine, which features George Lynch (guitars) and Mick Brown (drums) from Dokken along with Lynch Mob/Warrant singer, Robert Mason. There’s a lot of bass and rock talk to cover.
Enjoy the conversation…
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Groove - The No Treble Podcast’s theme music written and performed by Aaron Gibson.