Randy Gregg (musician)

Randy Gregg
Randy Gregg, performing live at Kaliakra Rock Fest in Bulgaria in 2009
Background information
Born	November 8, 1969 Rockaway Beach, Queens New York City New York
Genres	Hard rock, Glam rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Bass guitar
Associated acts	Lauren Harris, Dee Snider, Thin Lizzy, Angel, Garlic
Website	randygregg.com

Randy Gregg (born November 8, 1969, in Rockaway Beach in Queens, New York City) is an American hard rock musician. Currently, he is the bass guitar player for Almost Queen, a Queen tribute band. Gregg has additionally performed and recorded with notable acts that include Thin Lizzy, The Lauren Harris Band, Angel, Dee Snider's SMFs and Garlic.

Randy Gregg began his musical oeuvre along with Joey Anderson when they formed the band Garlic in 1995. The line up was finalized when they brought on guitar player Glenn Walsh in 1997. Fronted by vocalist & 'stand up' drummer Joey Anderson along with Randy Gregg on 4, 8 & 12 string bass guitars, the New York–based rock trio exposed Randy to a slew of studio and stage experience. From weathering the local turf to weddings and strip clubs . . . sometimes simultaneously, Garlic pressed on. Their 2 ¹⁄₂-year run saw the release of 2 critically acclaimed studio albums: "Stinks" (1998) and "Homemade" (2000). Live performances all along the East Coast and opening for such acts as Cheap Trick, Thin Lizzy, L.A. Guns, Sebastian Bach, and more, jump started Randy into second gear.

In September 1999, Randy joined the newly re-formed Angel. The legendary 1970s Casablanca recording artists were originally formed in 1975 by vocalist / lyricist / composer Frank DiMino, guitarist Punky Meadows, keyboardist Gregg Giuffria, drummer Barry Brandt and bassist Mickie Jones (who was later replaced by Felix Robinson). Angel were best known for their magical stage shows, majestic anthems and heavenly harmonies. They released five studio albums and one live record under the Casablanca label. This line-up remained active from 1975 – 1981. In 1999, Frank DiMino and Barry Brandt carried on the legacy with the release of a new album entitled "In The Beginning". The new touring band also included Lillian Axe's Steve Blaze and Hardline's Michael T. Ross. This line-up would be the mainstay until it's hiatus in 2008. To date, the last performance was held at the New York KISS Expo in Secaucus, New Jersey, which consisted of Frank DiMino, Randy Gregg, Michael T. Ross with Keith Robert (guitar) and Joey Anderson (drums).

In 2001, Randy saw a brief stint with Dee Snider's SMF's. Joining Twisted Sister's iconic frontman and drummer AJ Pero, along with guitarists Dan McCafferty and Tony Palmucci, Randy performed select shows before Dee and AJs return to the reunited Twisted Sister in early 2003. Randy's short-lived tour of duty boasted playing such rock anthems as "I Wanna Rock" and "We're Not Gonna Take It"

In 2003, Randy had the honour of stepping in for the irreplaceable Phil Lynott, joining the highly esteemed Thin Lizzy. Alongside Scott Gorham, John Sykes and Michael Lee, Randy had found contentment in completing the new Thin Lizzy line-up. Having a successful 2003 headlining tour of the United States and Europe, plus a winter tour with Deep Purple, he once again joined Thin Lizzy with Joe Satriani & Deep Purple in the Summer of 2004 for a tour of U.S. & Canada's amphitheaters and arenas.

Early 2005 Randy came full circle when he joined Almost Queen, a lookalike and soundalike production of his primary and most prominent childhood influence, Queen. Teamed with some of New York City's best musicians, 4-part harmonies and a killer Freddie, Almost Queen takes fans & critics by surprise with a dead-on recreation of one of the worlds most respected groups. Featured on television and radio, including the Howard Stern show and with an honorable mention from Brian May himself... Almost Queen delivers !

In 2006, Randy joined the Lauren Harris Band, a new project from the daughter of Iron Maiden's Steve Harris. Early performances included local clubs, theaters and opening slots on European festivals, but by the end of the year, the Lauren Harris Band were invited to support Iron Maiden on the "Matter of Life And Death" tour. The following two years also saw tours as support for such acts as Alice Cooper, Within Temptation, The Answer and Thunder, as well as Summer festivals before returning as the main support for Iron Maiden. The "Somewhere Back in Time" World Tour saw the birth of "Flight 666", Iron Maiden's own chartered airplane. Both bands, crew and gear all boarded "Ed Force One", which travelled over 50,000 miles, playing to 24 concert halls in 21 cities across the globe ... twice, performing to over two million people. In the months that followed, the band toured as support for Mötley Crüe, had changed their name and also recorded an album at Compass Point Studio with Kevin Shirley, but early 2010 saw the departure of Randy Gregg and later the same of Richie Faulkner who left to join Judas Priest. Since then, Lauren Harris and Olly Smith continued onward with the formation of "Six Hour Sundown".

References

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1. "Randy Gregg Talks Rock & Roll with TimesSquare.com".
2. "Interview With Randy Gregg of Almost Queen".
3. "Welcome to Dave's on Tour!!". Davesontour.com. Retrieved 2012-03-21.

External links

• Randy Gregg.com