- Earl Slick
Earl Slick (born Frank Madeloni in
Staten Island, New York , 1952) is aguitarist best known for his collaborations withDavid Bowie , Jim Diamond andRobert Smith , although he has also worked with other artists (John Lennon : "Double Fantasy", "Milk and Honey",Yoko Ono ) and even released some solo recordings.In the early 1970s, Earl Slick gained his reputation on New York music scene as a talented, skillful rock guitarist while playing in a band called "Mack Truck" featuring both singer/songwriter Jimmy Mack and his brother drummer Jack Mack. His work with Scottish singer/songwriter Jim Diamond was as the duo 'Slick Diamond'. They did some tours and performances for a short time in the late 1970s.
Slick was initially hired by David Bowie to replace
Mick Ronson as lead guitarist for the "Diamond Dogs " tour in 1974 (the live album "David Live " was culled from this tour). Slick also performed lead guitar on Bowie's "Young Americans" and "Station To Station " albums, released in 1975 and 1976 respectively. It was Slick's powerful playing that made the latter album's "Stay" an enduring favourite of fans of Bowie and of guitar heroics alike. After running afoul of Bowie's management, Slick was replaced as lead guitarist for the Station To Station tour (1976), his role being taken by Stacey Heydon. Slick then became a hired gun, working forLeo Sayer , Ian Hunter,John Lennon , andYoko Ono . He also formed his own solo band.Slick returned to Bowie for 1983's Serious Moonlight tour, to support the "Let's Dance" album. Ironically, Slick, who was ousted as lead guitarist from Bowie's 1976 tour, was the last-minute lead-guitarist replacement for Bowie's 1983 tour (substituting for
Stevie Ray Vaughan ).Slick then formed Phantom, Rocker & Slick with
Slim Jim Phantom andLee Rocker . In 1990, Slick was in the collaboration "Dirty White Boy" which only saw one album, "Bad Reputation" (1990) and industry show cases inLondon andLos Angeles .The early 2000s saw Slick return to Bowie's roster, appearing on the tours to support the "Heathen" (2002) and "Reality" (2003) albums. He also played briefly in Little Caesar in 1991-92. He is now dually a member of Slinky Vagabond and The Eons. Slinky Vagabond are
Glen Matlock ,Clem Burke , and Keanan Duffty. The Eons are a duo with singer, songwriter Saphin. Slinky Vagabond played their debut concert at theJoey Ramone Birthday Bash in May of 2007. [cite web | author= | year=2007| title="Joey Ramone Birthday Bash 2007" | work=The Village Voice | url=http://www.villagevoice.com/gallery/0721,21rockshow,76761,3.html?pic=8&total=19| accessdate= | accessyear=2007]Solo discography
* "The Earl Slick Band" (1976)
* "Razor Sharp" (1976)
* "Phantom Rocker And Slick (1986)
* "Cover Girl (1987)
* " In Your Face" (1991)
* "Lost and Found" (2000)
* "Live 1976" (2001)
* "Slick Trax" (2002)
* "Zig Zag" (2003)References
External links
* [http://www.myspace.com/earlslick Earl Slick on MySpace] Official MySpace
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