Earl Slick (born Frank Madeloni in Staten Island, New York,1 October
1952) is a guitarist best known for his collaborations with David Bowie,
Jim Diamond and Robert Smith, although he has also worked with other
artists (John Lennon: Double Fantasy, Milk and Honey, Yoko Ono), John
Waite, and even released some solo recordings.
In
the early 1970s, Earl Slick gained his reputation on New York music
scene as a talented, skillful rock guitarist while playing in a band
called Mack Truck featuring both singer/songwriter Jimmy Mack and his
brother drummer Jack Mack. His work with Scottish singer/songwriter Jim
Diamond was as the duo Slick Diamond. They did some tours and
performances for a short time in the late 1970s.
Slick was initially
hired by David Bowie to replace Mick Ronson as lead guitarist for the
Diamond Dogs tour in 1974 (the live album David Live was culled from
this tour). Slick also performed lead guitar on Bowie's Young Americans
and Station To Station albums, released in 1975 and 1976 respectively.
It was Slick's powerful playing that made the latter album's "Stay" an
enduring favourite of fans of Bowie and of guitar heroics alike. After
running afoul of Bowie's management, Slick was replaced as lead
guitarist for the Station To Station tour (1976), his role being taken
by Stacey Heydon. Slick then became a hired gun, working for Leo Sayer,
Ian Hunter, John Lennon, and Yoko Ono. He also formed his own solo band.
Slick
returned to Bowie for 1983's Serious Moonlight tour, to support the
Let's Dance album. Ironically, Slick, who was ousted as lead guitarist
from Bowie's 1976 tour, was the last-minute lead-guitarist replacement
for Bowie's 1983 tour (substituting for Stevie Ray Vaughan).
Tracklist :
01 . It's All Right
02 . Past Yourself Home
03 . Waiting
04 . Cheap Shot
05 . Dead Man's Ransom
06 . Leaving Town
07 . Such a Doll
08 . Razor Sharp
09 . Games