Tom Heslin - ProfilesArchive

About Me

I'm a long time bass player. I learned by copping lines from Paul McCartney, John Paul Jones and Tom Petersson. Other influences over the years have been too numerous to list. I'm more into bands than individual players. I'm an experienced synthesist/programmer and backing vocalist, occasionally picking up the guitar when needed. My band experience has taken me from being a new wave bassist/keyboardist (Randon Axis), to punk funk wannabe (Stuff Treatment, Onion Loaf), to straight up rocker (Voodoo Rain), to techno metal machine (Pivot Man, gearHed), and recently, getting back to my McCartney roots with Ivory Wire (former members of Dovetail Joint). I've toured throughout the midwest and into Toronto and New York City, released several independent CDs with various bands, and played some of the best rooms in Chicago - Park West, Riviera, Metro, Double Door, House of Blues, the legendary Avalon, Martyr's, Schubas, Elbo Room, etc. I am currently the bass player for Chicago based cover band, CoverGurl.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 9/7/2006
Band Website: You Are Here
Band Members: Tom Heslin - bass, vocals, synths, programming, guitar
Influences: Beatles, Zeppelin, Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, KISS, Cheap Trick, Queen, the Who, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Wings, Aerosmith, Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, P-Funk, Roxy Music, Iggy Pop, Yes, Rush, King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, ELP, Brand X, Bruford, Return to Forever, Jeff Beck, Dixie Dregs, the FIXX, the Cure, the Police, U2, B-52s, Missing Persons, Thomas Dolby, Duran Duran, RHCP, Fishbone, Bad Brains, Living Colour, Depeche Mode, Ministry, NIN, KMFDM, Type O Negative, Peter Murphy, Muse, the Killers, Jet, Garbage, Wolfmother...

Sounds Like: The end of the world.
Record Label: Can't Stop
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

And another....

OK, before you think I've lost my mind completely, I AM going to be selling a couple of things to pay for this one.....I've been searching the world for one of these. And I've found the best I've ever...
Posted by Tom Heslin on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 08:59:00 PST

New member of the family - CAUTION! Bass geek content

I just finished a project I wanted to get done in time to mark the five year anniversary of the death of John Entwistle, the man WHO invented rock bass playing as we know it. It all started when my fr...
Posted by Tom Heslin on Tue, 26 Jun 2007 07:08:00 PST

I've joined CoverGurl

I'm about to get very busy! I have just become the new, permanent bass player for CoverGurl. I've been a part of the CG family since nearly the very beginning. First, as a sub for original bassist Sul...
Posted by Tom Heslin on Sat, 24 Feb 2007 02:51:00 PST

Machines Gone Mad!

After much thought, I've decided to go ahead and either form or join a local cover band. It's a good way to keep your chops up, be onstage regularly, and actually get paid at the end of the night. I d...
Posted by Tom Heslin on Sun, 19 Nov 2006 02:55:00 PST

Welcome

Quick update of recent activity - I've done a couple of Pressure Point sessions, including more Lucy Duarte stuff. Looks like she's got a myspace page now - http://myspace.com/lucyduarte Ivory Wire...
Posted by Tom Heslin on Sun, 10 Sep 2006 02:04:00 PST