Bass

DOB: 22 June 1957

Biography

Don’t let the passive demeanor fool you. With elastic-fantastic basslines a specialty, Garry Beers is anything but a silent participant with INXS. Approaching his bass duties with the thunderous attack of one third of a power trio, but with the unassuming precision of a seasoned session player, Gary makes it all look so easy. Obviously the INXS rhythm is a vital component of the bands appeal and by underpinning it so effectively; Garry brings it to life – giving it a thickness and warmth.

“I’ve never had any bass lessons. I was learning the guitar for about nine months and was just terrible. I trundled off and bought the first bass I looked at. It was a Maya – a Les Paul copy – which cost me .” Garry Beers

The eldest member of INXS, Garry Gary William Beers was born on 22 June 1957 in Manly, New South Wales. While attending Forest High School (and working at a local petrol station), a fortuitous meeting with Andrew led to Garry joining his band Doctor Dolphin, which led to The Farriss Brothers conglomeration with Tim, Kirk and Jon, and the eventual name change to INXS in 1979. Hard work playing pubs and hotels up and down the coast and the development of a song repertoire which included choice covers mixed with band originals got a fan base going and a record contract wasn’t far behind. From that time up to the present the band hasn’t turned back…

“I love Garry because he’s always been rock solid. You always know exactly where he’s at and you know that he won’t fly off on some passing fad or interest. He’s not the kind of guy who changes his mind about who he is.” Jon Farriss

Throwing in on band compositions like ‘Just Keep Walking’, ‘Don’t Change’, ‘The Swing’ and ‘Listen Like Thieves’ in the early days of the band kept Garry’s hand in the mix, but it was his innovative single b-side tracks like ‘Sweet As Sin’ and ‘Middle Beast’ which exposed his particular talents best. Recording projects with Flaming Hands (‘Cast Your Love’), Jenny Morris (‘You’re Gonna Get Hurt’) and Richard Clapton (‘Glory Road’) kept the creative fires burning for Garry during INXS downtime.

In 1989, when INXS took a well deserved break after the long Kick/ Calling All Nations tours, Garry worked with a number of other notable Australian artists. The band Absent Friends was formed, with Wendy Matthews, Sean Kelly and James Valentine and an album Here’s Looking Up Your Address with hit single ‘I Don’t Want To Be With Nobody But You’ both released to widespread praise. Absent Friends live shows soon followed – which Garry duly participated in, occurring mainly at choice Sydney and Melbourne pubs. Rumours spread that Garry was enjoying the experience with Absent Friends so much, that he had quit INXS. These rumours were quickly quashed when he returned to the studio with them and began recording the X album in mid 1990.

“Our music was always meant to be a celebration and something personal to share with the world. That’s what it’s all about!” Garry Beers

On more recent solo work, Garry has played with artists such as The Whitlams and Melissa Etheridge, recorded the likes of Silverchair and Bonic in his Mangrove Studios as well as writing and recording a fully-fledged side project entitled Mudhead. In 1998, Garry teamed up with Richard Clapton, Wendy Matthews and the musicians from Garry’s Mudhead project to play at a tribute concert to Australian singer Marc Hunter (Dragon). This performance resulted in an album and video. Garry also has the distinction of being the only band member to perform on tour in a Balinese skirt, which most people thought looked quite fetching on him combined with combat boots. 2004 brought more studio work out of his studio, most notably working with a band, Owenell.

Songwriting Credits

On A Bus
Doctor
Just Keep Walking
Learn To Smile
Jumping
In Vain
Roller Skating
Body Language
Newsreel Babies
Wishy Washy
Big Go Go
Fair Weather Ahead
Barbarian
What Would You Do
Just To Learn Again
Don’t Change
The Swing
Listen Like Thieves
Simple Simon
We Are The Vegetables
I’m So Crazy (Par-T-One Vs Inxs – Radio Edit)
Perfect Strangers
The Unloved One
Citizen Pain
Equipment List

Guitars:
- G&L LB 100 Custom (Black)
- G&L LB 100 Custom (Blue)

Amplifiers:
- 2 x Ampeg SVT II

Cabinets:
- 2 x Ampeg 1 x 15, 4 x 10 and horn

Wireless:
- Shure ULXP4 Guitar Wireless System

Effects:
Rack:
- Ampeg
- SVP Pro Preamp
- MXR Phase 100
- BBE Mind Bender Tremelo/Vibrato
- Ampeg Sub Blaster
- Tech 21 NYC Bass Compactor
- MXR Bass Auto Q
- Electro Harmonix Bass Big Muff
- Akai SB1 Deep Impact

Pedal Board:
- Digital Music Corp GCX Loop Switcher
- Boss DD-6 Digital Delay
- MXR Bass DI +
- Boss TU 2 Tuner
- Boss FS 5L Foot Switch (mute)

Switching:
- Digital Music Corp GCX Loop Switcher

Strings:
- Ernie Ball, .45 to .105

Endorsee’s:
- Ernie Ball
- In Tune Guitar Picks
- Ampeg
- G&L Guitars