Here are some interesting facts about the Scottish musician Neil Murray, best known as the former bassist of "Whitesnake", "Black Sabbath", Gary Moore and many more:
(Photo: Richard Ecclestone)
= He was born on 27 August, 1950 in Edinburgh, Scotland. His full name is Philip Neil Murray.
= His first musical instrument was drums, but in 1967 he switches from drums to bass and forms his first band, "Slap Happy and the Dum-Dums".
= Murray was heavily influenced by Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce, and later by "Motown" legend James Jamerson and Tim Bogert of "Vanilla Fudge", "Cactus" and "Beck, Bogert & Appice".
= In 1971 Murray joins the progressive rock band "Hanson" and records "Now Hear This".
= In 1973 he briefly played with the jazz-fusion band "Gilgamesh".
= In the years 1974-1975 Murray toured with "Cozy Powell's Hammer" alongside Don Airey and Bernie Marsden.
= In 1976 he joined "Colosseum II" where he met Gary Moore, they recorded the album "Strange New Flesh".
= In 1977 Neil teamed up again with ex-"Gilgamesh" keyboardist Alan Gowen in "National Health". They recorded a self-titled album the same year.
= In 1978 Murray worked with Bill Bruford, playing on the rehearsals for Bruford's "Feels Good to Me" debut solo album, standing in for Jeff Berlin. The album cover read 'Thanks to Neil Murray: A bass player when I needed one'.
= The same year Murray joins "Whitesnake", and recorded "Snakebite" and "Trouble". He becomes a key member of the band during their rise to fame.
= Murrey continued to record and perform with "Whitesnake" on great albums like: "Lovehunter" (1979), "Ready An' Willing" (1980), "Live... in the Heart of the City" (1980), "Come an' Get It" (1981), "Saints & Sinners" (1982).
= In 1982 Neil left "Whitesnake" with Ian Paice, the two join Gary Moore. They recorded the album "Corridors of Power" released that year.
= Murray and Paice will continue to record "Victims of the Future" (1983) and "Rockin' Every Night – Live in Japan" (1983) with Gary Moore.
= After his departure from "Whitesnake", Murray also briefly formed "Badlands" (not the American band featuring Jake E. Lee) with "Uriah Heep's" John Sloman on vocals and future "Thin Lizzy's" John Sykes on guitars. The band only produced demos.
= In the years 1979–1982 Murray participating in a number of solo albums of Bernie Marsden, Graham Bonnet, Cozy Powell, "Forcefield" Jon Lord and more.
= In 1985 Murray was part of the "Phenomena" project contributing to their debut eponymous album released the same year. He will also contribute to their second album "Dream Runner' releases in 1987.
= The same year he was part of the "Gogmagog" supergroup, featuring former "Iron Maiden" singer Paul Di'Anno, future "Iron Maiden" guitarist Janick Gers (ex-Ian Gillan), ex-"Def Leppard" guitarist Pete Willis and another ex-"Iron Maiden" member Clive Burr on drums. The band released an EP "I Will Be There".
= In 1987 Neil left "Whitesnake" after the band shifts to a more Americanized sound.
= The same year he joined Japanese band "Vow Wow" and records four albums with them starting with "V" released in 1987.
= In 1989 Murray joined "Black Sabbath", recording their 17th album "Tyr" released in 1990.
= In 1992 he joined "Brian May's band", touring and recording "Back to the Light" released the same year.
= In 1994 Neil rejoinrd "Black Sabbath", recording "Forbidden" and touring in support of it.
= In 1997-1998 Murray played with "Peter Green's Splinter Group", recording "Peter Green Splinter Group" and "The Robert Johnson Songbook".
= In 1998 Neil was featured in Brian May's "Another World" album.
= He forms "The Company of Snakes" in 1999, with Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody, focusing on classic "Whitesnake" material.
= He released two albums with with "the Company of Snakes" - "Here They Go Again" in 2001 and "Burst the Bubble" in 2002.
= In 2002 Neil joins the house band for the "Queen" musical "We Will Rock You" in London.
= In 2005 Murray Joins "M3 Classic Whitesnake", reuniting with former "Whitesnake" members.
= In 2008 he plays on "Michael Schenker Group's" album "In the Midst of Beauty".
= In 2013 Murray joins "Snakecharmer", a band featuring former "Whitesnake" members, releasing their debut album "Snakecharmer".
= In 2017 He Recorded "Second Skin" with "Snakecharmer".
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