John Gustafson (musician)


John "Johnny" Gustafson was an English bass guitar player and singer, who had a lengthy recording and live performance career. During his career, he was a member of the bands The Big Three, Ian Gillan Band, Roxy Music and his own group, Quatermass, among others.

Career

Born in Liverpool to a father of Swedish descent and mother of Irish descent, he is known for his work with 1960s bands The Big Three and The Merseybeats, and for singing on the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar as Simon Zealotes. He made an appearance on Roger Glover's The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast album track, "Watch Out for the Bat", as a vocalist. He is probably best known for playing bass guitar for several re-incarnations of the Ian Gillan Band and for his earlier participation in the progressive rock band, Quatermass. He also re-formed The Pirates, originally the backing band for Johnny Kidd.
Gustafson was a member of Roxy Music for four years and performed on three studio albums. His final record with the band, Siren, included their only American top 40 hit single, "Love Is the Drug".
He was bassist on several tracks for Flamenco guitarist Juan Martin's 1981 concept album, Picasso Portraits namely: Harlequin – 1918, Desire Caught By The Tail – 1943, The Aficionado – 1912 and Girls of Algiers – 1955. Also played on Kevin Ayers' album The Confessions of Dr Dream, 1974.
In 1983 he was in the group Rowdy which included Ray Fenwick and Billy Bremner.
Gustafson is the father of John and Lee from his first marriage, and Alice, Lucy and Joe from his marriage to Anne Gustafson, a mental health practitioner who he was married to for over 30 years until he died.

Discography

;With The Big Three :
;With The Merseybeats :
;With Quatermass :
;With Bullet / Hard Stuff :
;With Roxy Music :
;With Ablution : With Peter Robinson, Jayson Lindh, Jan Schaffer, Malando Gassama, Barry De Souza, Ola Brunkert.
;With Ian Gillan Band :
;With The Pirates
;With Roger Glover And Guests
;With Shawn Phillips :
;With Steve Hackett
;With Bryan Ferry :
;With Gordon Giltrap :
;With Joe Jammer :