IMMusicRulz
Tele-Holic
Born in Newport, RI, in 1952, but raised in Jacksonville, Leon Wilkeson was the most well known bassist for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Having replaced their original bassist Larry Junstrom (Junstrom later joined fellow Southern Rock band 38 Special), Wilkeson was a very powerful bassist with a style that owed most to Paul McCartney of The Beatles, and above all, to Jack Bruce of Cream, John Entwistle of The Who, Phil Lesh of Jefferson Airplane and Berry Oakley of Allman Brothers.
Wilkeson played on all the Lynyrd Skynyrd releases up to 2000's Christmas Time Again, though it is widely rumored that he did not play on Pronounced Leh Nerd Skeh Nerd, his bass tracks having been replaced by Ed King, a skillful guitarist who also played on the original studio version of Incense and Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock. Wilkeson was one of the survivors of the plane crash that killed Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines, though severe injuries would force Leon Wilkeson to find alternatives to playing bass.
Wilkeson was also nicknamed "The Mad Hatter" because of his tendency to wear top hats whenever he played.
His first bass was a Rickenbacker 4000 bass in Jetglo finish, but he is also well known for playing a Fenderbird (a Fender Precision Bass neck attached to a Gibson Thunderbird body) that was given to him by John Entwistle of the Who. (Lynyrd Skynyrd and Wishbone Ash toured with The Who in 1973, in support of the Quadrophenia album.) Wilkeson also played a 1964 sunburst Gibson Thunderbird bass, as well as a 1962 Fender Jazz Bass, a Guild bass and a 65 Fender Jazz Bass that Ed King gave to him. (the 65 Jazz Bass that Ed King gave Leon was eventually smashed onstage by Leon during a gig in 1975.) Wilkeson also used various Peavey and Ampeg SVT amps, which were crucial amps for every bassist in the 70s.
Wilkeson also played in the Skynyrd spinoff band the Rossington Collins Band, and eventually took part in the Lynyrd Skynyrd tour in 1987, but after battling various personal and health problems, Wilkeson died in 2001.
His Thunderbird and his Rickenbacker were both sold to private collectors several years ago, and I also believe his 62 Jazz was sold too. It is interesting to know where those basses are now...
Wilkeson played on all the Lynyrd Skynyrd releases up to 2000's Christmas Time Again, though it is widely rumored that he did not play on Pronounced Leh Nerd Skeh Nerd, his bass tracks having been replaced by Ed King, a skillful guitarist who also played on the original studio version of Incense and Peppermints by Strawberry Alarm Clock. Wilkeson was one of the survivors of the plane crash that killed Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines, though severe injuries would force Leon Wilkeson to find alternatives to playing bass.
Wilkeson was also nicknamed "The Mad Hatter" because of his tendency to wear top hats whenever he played.
His first bass was a Rickenbacker 4000 bass in Jetglo finish, but he is also well known for playing a Fenderbird (a Fender Precision Bass neck attached to a Gibson Thunderbird body) that was given to him by John Entwistle of the Who. (Lynyrd Skynyrd and Wishbone Ash toured with The Who in 1973, in support of the Quadrophenia album.) Wilkeson also played a 1964 sunburst Gibson Thunderbird bass, as well as a 1962 Fender Jazz Bass, a Guild bass and a 65 Fender Jazz Bass that Ed King gave to him. (the 65 Jazz Bass that Ed King gave Leon was eventually smashed onstage by Leon during a gig in 1975.) Wilkeson also used various Peavey and Ampeg SVT amps, which were crucial amps for every bassist in the 70s.
Wilkeson also played in the Skynyrd spinoff band the Rossington Collins Band, and eventually took part in the Lynyrd Skynyrd tour in 1987, but after battling various personal and health problems, Wilkeson died in 2001.
His Thunderbird and his Rickenbacker were both sold to private collectors several years ago, and I also believe his 62 Jazz was sold too. It is interesting to know where those basses are now...
