Willie Basse

Willie Basse
Background information
Born(1956-08-06)August 6, 1956
Odessa, Texas, United States
DiedOctober 28, 2018(2018-10-28) (aged 62)[1]
GenresHard rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, producer, engineer, actor
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass, guitar, drums
LabelsNew Empire Media / Rocks Cool Records
Formerly ofBlack Sheep, Slash, Guns N' Roses, Snew, Scorpions, Kottak, Mr. Big, Racer X, Canned Heat, Lynch Mob
Websitewilliebasse.com

Wilber Cornelius Rice, Jr. ((1956-08-06)August 6, 1956 – (2018-10-28)October 28, 2018), known by the stage name Willie Basse, was an American hard rock vocalist, bassist, music producer, engineer and songwriter. He was the frontman for Black Sheep, a 1980s metal band that featured a number of noteworthy musicians throughout its line-up changes.[2] The last known line-up consisted of Basse on bass, Kyle Harrison and Brian Conroy on guitars, and James Kottak on drums.[3] Other members included Slash,[4] Paul Gilbert, Randy Castillo, Kurt James, Kevin Reye/Kevin Reyes (Micheal Bolton Band, Fortress, White Lie/TRIIX, Martial Law, Power Squadron, Network, Zodiac), Todd Devito, Ed DeGenaro, Kyle Harrison, Randy Meers, Mitch Perry and Patrick Abbate.[5] Kevin Reyes & Todd Devito performed on 1984 7 song demo, which was featured on KLOS 95.5 Local Licks show in late 1984. Popularity of the demo helped paved the way to a record deal with Enigma Records. In 1985, the band released a full-length album, "Trouble In The Streets", on William and Wesley Hein's Enigma Records[6] for which Billboard Magazine noted Basse as the producer.[7] Their EP "Sacrifice"[8] was released on Quicksilver in 1999.

  1. ^ "RIP: Willie Basse, Legendary 'Ambassador to the Sunset Strip' Dies from Cancer at 62". 29 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Black Sheep". Racer X Online. Racer X Online. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Black Sheep Last Known Lineup". Encyclopaedia Metallum The Metal Archives. Encyclopaedia Metallum.
  4. ^ "Slash's Early Bands". Slash Paradise. Slash Paradise. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  5. ^ http://www.patrickabbate.com
  6. ^ "Kill From The Heart Enigma Records Discography". Kill From The Heart. Chris Hubbard. Archived from the original on January 25, 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ "Reviews". Billboard Magazine. 97 (45): 78. 9 Nov 1985. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Sacrifice" Black Sheep Album Info". All Music. Media Network LLC. Retrieved 13 June 2015.