Duncan Sanderson

• Genres: Rock
• Instrument: Bass

Biography

Duncan Sanderson is a very influential and too-little-acknowledged bassist whose major contribution to music took place in two bands, the Deviants and the Pink Fairies. In 1967, when they were still known as the Social Deviants, he succeeded Cord Rees in the bassist's spot in the former group, and was on all three of their albums. He lasted through a couple of lineup changes that ended up placing him as the focal point between guitarist Paul Rudolph and drummer Twink, as the group eventually morphed into the Pink Fairies -- and it was there that he became kind of the music underground's answer to John Entwistle of the Who (who, by then, were playing venues like New York's Metropolitan Opera); he was at the vertex between lead guitarist Rudolph and drummer Twink, keeping up with the former's prodigious meld of metal/punk/blues licks and holding the beat together with the latter, and the mix was especially potent in concert. Sanderson later did the same with Larry Wallis taking the guitar spot, and since then has never moved far from the Pink Fairies/Deviants orbit. Any of the Pink Fairies' original albums or their Live at the Roundhouse concert release from 1975 (which put him between both the band's guitarists, in the lineup at once) is a great showcase for his work, which includes some strong vocals as well. ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide