Bassist Billy Sheehan by Makayla

Full name: William "Billy" Sheehan
Date Born: March 19th, 1953
State of Origin: Buffalo, New York
Genre of music they play: Hard rock, heavy metal, jazz fusion, instrumental rock, progressive rock.
Known for: his work on bass with Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, and Niacin.

Bio: Billy Sheehan has changed the way bass guitar is played. Rising to god status in the 80's with his Buffalo, NY based band Talas, Billy was recruited by David Lee Roth when Roth left Van Halen in '85. He recorded two platinum selling albums with Roth before setting out on his own. Forming Mr. Big in 1989, with "To Be With You" from their album release "Lean Into It" the band achieved a Billboard #1 single in the US and 14 other countries. While developing his trademark style of playing he has performed over 4000 live performances on every continent except Africa and Antarctica.
He was voted the "Best Rock Bass Player" 5 times in Guitar Player magazines Readers Poll, an honor which placed him in their "Gallery of Greats" (alongside Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee and Eddie Van Halen to name a few). On January 27, 1999 Billy's handprints and signature were captured in cement on the Hollywood Rockwalk at Guitar Center. This is an honor given only to those artists who have made a considerably noteworthy contribution to Rock and Roll. In Japan, Billy has won the prestigious "Player Magazine" (Japan's #1 Music magazine) Readers Poll for Best Bass Player 14 consecutive times. In 2000 by he performed before 40,000 fans with Mr. Big at the Osaka Dome in Japan then began work on his solo album. Billy's first solo album titled "COMPRESSION" was released on April 25, 2001. On "COMPRESSION", Sheehan wrote, sang, played Baritone 12 string and 6 string guitar, played bass and programmed drums on the entire record, except for 2 songs.
CD's: Billy Sheehan: Holy Cow, prime cuts, Compression, Toss it in the flames, All mixed up, Caroline, and Cosmic Troubadour

Video Links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veLGBk1mE5U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_3KmT5YDUI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9bG8hwZ9Bo

Other links: http://www.billysheehan.com/
http://www.myspace.com/billysheehan
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Billy-Sheehan/36797576876


Other upcoming records include a new Mr. Big album (their 6th) slated for release in Fall 2001, an all instrumental bass album, an experimental Bass & Drum record w/ Terry Bozzio, and the 5th Niacin album featuring Dennis Chambers on drums (Funkadelic, Steely Dan, and Mahavishnu Orchestra). Niacin is an all-instrumental Bass, Drums, and Hammond B3 band at the cutting edge of a new musical movement.