Mahavishnu Orchestra bassist Rick Laird has died, aged 80

Rick Laird, finest generally known as a founding member of the jazz fusion band Mahavishnu Orchestra, has reportedly handed away on the age of 80.

Information of the bassist’s demise has been confirmed by a number of former bandmates, together with Mahavishu Orchestra guitarist John McLaughlin and drummer Billy Cobham, who eulogised Laird in a post on his Facebook page yesterday (July 5).

“To all who have been near the M.O. you knew that essentially the most reliable particular person in that band was the bass participant. He performed what was essential to preserve the remainder of us from going off our musical rails. He was my rock and allowed me to play and discover musical areas that I might not have been capable of navigate with out him having my again,” Cobham wrote.

“Rick Laird bid this world good bye at solar up this morning. Already I miss his likeness and voice that was featured within the highly effective quietness and authority he projected on and off stage. The physique goes however the persona will stay as an affect on no matter I play for the remainder of my days. I miss him already.”

Laird was born born in Dublin, Eire in 1941. He moved to New Zealand on the age of 16, the place he started critically pursuing music. He stop his day job to grow to be an expert bassist two years later, touring the nation extensively earlier than transferring to Sydney, Australia on the age of 19 looking for a extra energetic jazz scene.

In 1962, Laird relocated to England, the place he turned the home bass participant at Soho’s Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Membership, carried out with Brian Auger and toured extensively earlier than transferring to the USA to attend Berklee School of Music in 1966.

Laird was one of many founding members of Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1971, alongside McLaughlin, Cobham, keyboardist Jan Hammer and violinist Jerry Goodman. He carried out on the band’s 1971 debut album ‘The Internal Mounting Flame’ together with its 1973 follow-up, ‘Birds of Fireplace’.

Laird additionally seems on the band’s 1973 reside album ‘Between Nothingness & Eternity’. The unique lineup performed their last gig in December of 1973, and Laird by no means returned to the group.

After leaving Mahavishnu Orchestra, Laird launched one album as a bandleader, 1979’s ‘Tender Focus’. He additionally carried out with the likes of Stan Getz, Buddy Wealthy, Sonny Rollins, Benny Golson and Chick Corea. Laird retired from performing music in 1982, occurring to grow to be a photographer and bass guitar teacher.

Amongst these to have paid tribute to Laird are McLaughlin, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Membership and Walter Kolosky, who wrote a e-book on the band – Energy, Ardour & Magnificence: The Story of the Legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra.

RIP brother Rick Laird. What nice recollections we now have . Miss you !!! pic.twitter.com/6cIW51uHSj

— John Mclaughlin (@jmcl_gtr) July 4, 2021

Unhappy information on Rick Laird who was home bass participant at Ronnie's from 1962. https://t.co/YphiLvAs2n

— Ronnie Scott's Jazz Membership (@officialronnies) July 5, 2021