Gary Strater R.I.P.

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 8:43 am

Gary was the bassist for Starcastle, the Yes influenced prog band from the late 70's (their song "Lady of the Lake" got a lot of air time in these parts). I first saw them in 1976 (I think) on a double bill with country crooner Elvin Bishop; although I was already hooked, I believe that Gary's was the first Rickenbacker bass that I actually saw in person. I saw them several times in Champaign afterwards, by then he had switched to Alembic.

He was 51, I think. Too many of these lately.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 9:27 am

I just started getting back into them lately having just picked up "Shine On Brightly" and "Citadel" on CD. I saw them open up for Bill Brufords' once. They toured a lot back in the '70's opening up for Rush, Jethro Tull, Boston and just about everyone you could name at the time and always put on a very tight show with six excellent musicians. The band did a re-union show lately as a benfit to help Gary pay some of his medical bills(I think he had pancreatic cancer) but he seemed to be getting better and was even posting on the band website. I'll toast Gary tonight when I crank up "Lady Of The Lake" in his honor.

byu · Post by **byu** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 10:18 am

Great band. I saw them open for UK. Gary had the Alembic & Ric. I'll have to put on a couple of their CDs now.

mortivan · Post by **mortivan** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 10:59 am

Starcastle's first album is one of my favorite Rickenbacker bass albums. Forces and Lady of the Lake have great playing and great tone.

In the later albums you can hear the shift away from the RIC sound to the Alembic sound. Interesting that Gary went back to the RIC for his benefit reunion.

And they were not a Yes clone!

51 is young. RIP Gary.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 3:28 pm

Thats to bad, he was a great player saw him with Starcastle in Dayton, he played a white 4001 with black trim, and also had the Alembic.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Oct 02, 2004 7:46 pm

Elvin Bishop is a blues player, first got famous in the Paul butterfield Blues Band, and is still playing the blues.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Oct 03, 2004 4:15 am

I will never forget the first Paul Butterfield Blues Band album with Mike Bloomfield. It was an outstanding bit of work.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 6:16 pm

I just played "Born in chicago" the other night at the blues jam for the featured artist, great song. I think it was the best song we did the whole hour. I loved Mike Bloomfield especially on Highway 61 Revisited

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:38 am

Bob: You are maintaining a fine legacy. What I enjoyed most about Bloomfield was his innovative blues riffs in which you could clearly hear each note. A fast paced lick is impressive but Bloomfield's recordings had a smooth action that was tough to beat. In a nutshell, more about technique and less about gear.

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sun Oct 24, 2004 9:26 am

Peter, He was always one of my favorites, I have a lot of the old Butterfield stuff on LP (of course haha!) Years ago I had The live Adventures of Al cooper and Mike Bloomifield Super sessions (or something like that), I have always liked that Dylan Album though and am on my third copy I think. It was the first one I bought, I was 12, I had no idea what he was talking about but knew something was different, Do you Mr. Jones?