Giblin, John (26th February 1952-14th May 2023)

He was a bass guitarist and double bass player born to a musical family in Bellshill, Scotland who started his interest in music when he was very young. Before he was 18 years old he was already playing with various pop bands.

In 1970 he answered an advert for a bass player and after passing his audition went to Manchester to work. After just a few months he moved down to London and became a member of the Latin American band Gonzalez.

His performing ability was noticed fairly early too and before too long he was touring and recording with Peter Gabriel as well as playing for Kate Bush, Phil Collins and Annie Lennox.

He became the bassist, often the fretless bass, for the band Simple Minds when he replaced Derek Forbes and performed with them on three albums before returning to his life as a studio musician.

Over his career he worked with countless artists and groups, in a huge range of musical genres. These include Joan Armatrading, David Arnold, Richard Ashcroft, Asia, Big Dish, Colin Blunstone, Brand X, Elkie Brooks, Duncan Browne, Eric Clapton, Sarah Brightman, Chris De Burgh, Donovan, Brian Eno, Exile, Roberta Flack, Al Green, Steve Harley, Natalie Imbruglia, Elton John, David Knopfler, Mark Knopfler, kd Lang, George Martin, Paul McCartney, The Psychedelic Furs, Ralph McTell, Gerry Rafferty, David Sylvian, Sting, Tanita Tikaram and Scott Walker among many others.

His recording output was immense and just a select few of his albums are Song of Seven by Jon Anderson, Red Cab To Manhattan by Stephen Bishop, Never For Ever by Kate Bush, Face Value by Phil Collins, EB 84 by The Everly Brothers, Vigil In a Wilderness of Mirrors by Fish, Peter Gabriel (3) by Peter Gabriel, Criminal Tango by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Classics by John Martyn, Crocodile Shoes by Jimmy Nail, On Air by Alan Parsons, Back Against the Wall by Pink Floyd, Once Upon a Time by Simple Minds, Again by Alan Stivell, Ritmo by Judie Tzuke, as well as the film soundtracks of Ratz and Tomorrow Never Dies. He has also worked on the single “Grow Old With Me” by John Lennon.

He died in May 2023 when he was 71 years old.

Peter Gabriel Recordings
Games Without Frontiers (Peter Gabriel)
(Charisma CB 354)(UK45)

He performs here on “Babooshka” by Kate Bush…

Sources:

Giblin, John (26th February 1952-14th May 2023)

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