Tony Franklin

about

Tony Franklin is the FRETLESS MONSTER! The names of few bassists over the past two decades have become more synonymous with the fretless bass guitar than that of Tony Franklin—the Fretless Monster! In January 2006, Fender proudly introduced the Tony Franklin Signature Model Fretless Precision Bass® guitar, the design of which the renowned bassist played a prominent and hands-on role in (Franklin juggles his professional music career with his numerous artist relations duties for Fender Musical Instruments Corporation and his role as a clinician for Fender and SWR). It’s quite a distinctive instrument; Franklin used the original in his work with Jimmy Page, Paul Rodgers, Whitesnake, Blue Murder, numerous sessions and his own successful solo career. A born performer who first took the stage at age 5, Franklin got his big break in 1984 as bassist in stellar supergroup the Firm, with guitar legend Jimmy Page, vocalist Paul Rodgers and drummer Chris Slade (AC/DC, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band). Franklin’s signature fretless growl was a distinctive and instantly recognizable element of the band’s first hit, “Radioactive.” After two hit albums with the Firm, Franklin subsequently performed with Blue Murder (John Sykes, Carmine Appice), David Gilmour, Kate Bush, Whitesnake, Donna Lewis, Pat Travers and many others. An in-demand session bass ace, he has appeared on more than 150 albums. Franklin has released two solo albums, Brave New Tomorrow and Wonderland. To view Franklin's Select

top songs

albums

We Salute You: an All Star Tribute to ACDC

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We Wish You A Metal Xmas

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Bass Heroes

Brave New Tomorrow

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Harder & Heavier - '60s British Invasion Goes Metal

The World's Greatest Metallica Tribute

Wonderland

We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year

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Deephouse Beach: Sunset Elements

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Numbers From The Beast: An All-Star Tribute To Iron Maiden

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Implosion

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A Tribute To Pink Floyd

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