Bill Bacon - ProfilesArchive

About Me

William Elisha Bacon was born on October 2, 1953 in Schenectady, New York. In 1964 Billy was given his first pair of sticks and a practice pad by his mother (who was a supportive believer from day one).. His interest in drumming soon became an obsession and a way of life. Bill continued to practice the drums during his high school years while playing with local bands. He listened and studied a wide variety of music to enable himself to learn different drum styles and techniques. His early influences were The Beatles, Joe Morello, Ginger Baker, Tony Williams, Jack DeJohnette, Bill Bruford, Billy Cobham and John Bonham. In 1974, after a brief period of study at Berklee School of music, Bill was asked to join the band "ROAD APPLE" which later became "FLYING ISLAND". It was during this time that Bill wrote a letter to Colin Wolcott (of "Oregon"), expressing his interest in Colin's music. Colin Wolcott responded to Bill's letter and invited him to come to New York City. Bill was fortunate to obtain tabla and rhythm lessons from Colin, and even more fortunate to be invited to one of his recording sessions at Vanguard Records. Bill met the engineer, Jeff Zaraya, where he told him that he was in a band called "Flying Island". Jeff asked Bill to bring him a demo tape and told Bill that "things don't usually work like this". The tape was given to Ed Bland, the A & R Rep of Vanguard Records. Shortly thereafter, Ed called Bill to tell him that he loved the tape. "Flying Island" was then signed onto a 5 year recording contract through Vanguard. "Flying Island" recorded two albums. In 1978, Bill attended the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock, New York where he had the opportunity to musically interact with the likes of Don Cherry, Steve Lacey, Leo Smith and Colin Wolcott. He also performed with the Karl Berger Orchestra at Carnigie Hall. Later, in 1978, Bill joined Carla Bley's punk band "THE BURNING SENSATIONS". 1979: Bill was approached by Kramer (Shimmey Disc Records) and Daevid Allen to join "NEW YORK GONG" which culminated into a two and a half month tour of the United States and recorded the album "New York Gong". "New York Gong" boasted the largest crowd [to date] to attend CBGB's! In 1980, George Cartwright approached Bill to join "CURLEW" with Bill Laswell. At approximately the same time, Bill Laswell approached Bill to join the band "MATERIAL", and Bill actually played with both bands during the same period of time. Both "Curlew" and "Material" performed at the famous GBGB's and many other "happening" clubs, both uptown and downtown, in New York City. One of Bill's most fond memories during the mid 80's, was the experience to fly west to California to jam with Allan Holdsworth on two different occasions. Once with Jeff Berlin and again with Jimmy Johnson. Later in the 90's Bill was able to maintain a foot-hold in the music industry by being involved with occasional recording projects with Kramer's Shimmey Disc Records resulting in recordings with Daevid Allen, Hugh Hopper, Ralph Carney, Captain Howdy, Blueberry Spy, and several others. Also during the 90's Bill worked as Manager/Director of the Monteverdi Music School in Montpelier, Vermont where he also taught drumming to numerous students over a period of 5 years. His most recent project was a journey with THE BACON LINDBERG ORR BAND in upstate New York.. Otherwise known as BLOB.. Ted Orr on midi-guitar and John 'Geeze' Lindberg on upright bass.. But spiritual necessity required a move back to the sea in Gloucester Massachusetts.. The next step in drumming is a mystery.. but 'step' he will.. "Drumming is like painting... one should be able to hear and feel each note like one is able to see colors, brush strokes, forms and textures."- Bill BaconBill Bacon plays Tamburo Drums and K Zildjian Cymbals exclusively.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 5/13/2006
Band Members:

Compilation of musicians with whom Bill Bacon has performed or recorded:

Daevid Allen
Artificial Intelligence
Karl Berger Orchestra
Jeff Berlin
Carla Bley
Blue East
Blueberry Spy
Jeff Bova
Captain Howdy
Ralph Carney
George Cartwright
Don Cherry
Tom Cora
Cliff Cultreri
Curlew
Donnie Davis
James Emery
Joe Farrell
Flying Island
Baird Hersey
David Hild
Allan Holdsworth
Hugh Hopper
Gong
Penn Jillette
Percy Jones
Kramer
Steve Lacy
Bill Laswell
Stu Martin
Material
New York Gong
Ted Orr
Win Ridabock
Leo Smith
Nicky Skopelitis
Stan Stokowiski
Virginia Tate
Billy West
Gary Windo
Colin Wolcott
Robert Wyatt
Michael Zentner

Influences: Joe Morello
Ginger Baker
Elvin Jones
John McLaughlin
Vincent Van Gogh
Tony Williams
Jack DeJohnette
Bill Bruford
ACIM
Billy Cobham
John Bonham
Colin Wolcott
Jon Anderson
Peter Gabriel
Bernard Herrmann
Kahlil Gibran
Chogyam Trungpa
Paramahansa Yogananda

Sounds Like:

DISCOGRAPHY

Flying Island [Vanguard Records, 1974] Faith Fraioli - electric violin and flute Thom Preli - bass Ray Smith - guitar With guest artists Ray Armando, congas (1, 3) and Joe Farrell, soprano sax (5, II-1) Bill Bacon - drums and percussion Jeff Bova - keyboards

Flying Island -Another Kind of Space [Vanguard Records, 1975] Jeff Bova - keyboards Faith Fraioli - electric violin and flute Thom Preli - bass Ray Smith - guitar Bill Bacon - drums

Curlew [Landslide Records, 1980] George Cartwright - alto/tenor/soprano saxophones, flute Bill Laswell - fender bass Tom Cora - cello, indingiti Bill Bacon - drums, percussion, gamelon Nicky Skopelitis - guitar

Daevid Allen New York Gong - About Time [Charlie Records, 1980] Daevid Allen - guitar, vocals Cliff Cultreri - guitar Mars Williamson - bass sax Bill Bacon - drums and percussion Fred Maher - drums Bill Laswell - bass Michael Beinhorn - synth

Daevid Allen - DividedAlienPlayBax80 [Charly Records, 1982] Bill Bacon - drums Bill Laswell - bass Cliff Cultreri - guitar Daevid Allen - rhythm guitar, glissando guitar Don Davis - alto sax Fred Maher - drums Gary Windo - tenor sax Kramer - organ Michael Beinhorn - synth

Michael Zentner - Present Time [Red Music, 1983] Alan Braufman Bill Bacon Carla Bley Daevid Allen Dan Gandel Fred Frith George Bishop Hansford Rowe Kenwood Dennard John Greaves Lisa Herman Percy Jones Peter Blegvad Steve Moses Vaunette Yanagimuma

Material - Temporary Music [Celluloid, 1984] Cliff Cultreri - guitar Bill Bacon - drums and percussion Fred Maher - guitar, drums, rhythm box Don Davis - sax Bill Laswell - bass (4 & 6 string) Michael Beinhorn - synth, piano, clarinet Daevid Allen - Alien in New York [1983] Daevid Allen - vocals Ralph Carney - bass sax Fred Maher - drums Gary Windo - tenor sax Bill Laswell - bass Bill Bacon drums

Artificial Intelligence (w/ Baird Hersey) - Data Drone [Bent Records] Baird Hersy - tenor, soprano & electric sax, mutes and vacuuphone Bill Bacon - electric drums, percussion, loops & samples Tom Guralnick - vocals, computer, synth & guitar

MATERIAL w/ Bill Laswell [Red Records, 1985]

Hugh Hopper & Kramer - A Remark that Hugh Made [Shimmy Disc, 1994] Bill Bacon - drums Hugh Hopper - bass, fuzz bass, piccolo bass Kramer - piano, organ, voice, guitar, mellotron, percussion, bass (3) Gary Windo- tenor sax, voice Robert Wyatt - words & voice (1)

Kramer - Secret of Comedy [Shimmy Disc, 1994] Bill Bacon - drums and percussion Kramer - bass, voice, mellotron, electric piano, slide guitar, percussion Randolph Hudson III - guitar

Carney/Hild/Kramer - Black Power [Shimmy Disc, 1994] Bill Bacon - drums Ralph Carney - sax, guitar, voice Daved Hild - words, voice Kramer - bass, mellotron, guitar, piano, voice Randolph Hudson III - criticaster

Blueberry Spy - Sing Sing [Shimmy Disc, 1995] Bill Bacon - drums and percussion Christeen ? - guitar, vocals Nastasya Thibodeaux - bass, vocals Kramer - guitar

Daevid Allen - Dreamin A Dream [Cleopatra, 1996] Daevid Allen - vocals & liner notes Tim Hall - bazouki Graham Clark - violin Bill Bacon - drums

Daevid Allen & Kramer - Hit Men [Shimmy Disc, 1996] Daevid Allen - vocals Kramer - bass, guitars, organ, emulator, tapes & vocals Bill Bacon - drums and percussion

Captain Howdy - Money Feeds my Music Machine [Knitting Factory, 1998] Billy West - guitar Penn Jillette - vocals Kramer - engineer Bill Bacon - percussion, drums

Daevid Allen - Divided Alien Clockwork Band [Blueprint, UK 1998] Daevid Allen - construction, loops Fred Maher- drums Bill Laswell - bass Bill Bacon - drums

Material - Secret Life [Subharmonic, 1998] Michael Beinhorn Cliff Cultreri Fred Maher Bill Laswell Bill Bacon

My Blog

Awareness..

Storm brewing... thick air.. lightening.. wind.. wonderful thunder... Holiday fireworks are a lame imposter.. Grasp the moment.. Think!! That bug on your floor or flying around in your 'space'?&...
Posted by Bill Bacon on Thu, 01 Jun 2006 06:50:00 PST