Gar

Gar, a workers’ compensation defense attorney by day, and a demonic fire-breathing bass player by night (wait, no, that’s Gene Simmons!), grew up in the Hollywood Hills surrounded by music and musicians. He used to sit on the piano bench next to his father, watching and listening to his dad play ragtime classics and loved every minute of it.

He took piano lessons from his next door neighbor who was part of a very musical family. Jazz legend Les McCann lived 3 doors up from him, and was an important influence on him since the age of eight. When he found himself in the fence as to whether to move on to guitar or bass, Les told him, “Guitar players are a dime a dozen.” And that was it! Gar played bass!

Gene Simmons was an early influence, not just because he appeared to have so much fun playing bass and captivating his audiences with his wild antics and distinctive vocals, but because his bass sound and tone was and is so strong, balls out, and badass. While Gar’s playing style bears the mark of many different bass players, his tone is most influenced by that of Gene’s.

As Gar progressed with the bass guitar, many of the other usual rock and jazz suspects naturally became a part of Gar’s thing, such as John Paul Jones, John Entwistle, Jaco Pastorius and Marcus Miller, to name just a few.

Gar spent the 1990s in San Francisco and played in various rock and blues bands when he wasn’t stomping around on his mountain bike. He currently enjoys playing in a rock and blues covers band, playing songs he loves to hear and play. He also enjoys oil painting, skiing and cooking as well.