Gary Thain
Gary Mervin Thain (15 May 1948 – 8 December 1975) was a New Zealand bassist, best known for his work with British rock band Uriah Heep.
Gary Thain

Majalah VARIANADA Edisi 153 Tahun 1974 · https: museummusikindonesia.id/id/2020/12/02/varianada-edisi-153-1974/ · Public domain
- Birth Name
- Gary Mervin Thain
- Born
- 15 May 1948
- Birthplace
- Christchurch, New Zealand
- Died
- 8 December 1975
- Place of death
- Norwood Green, London, England
- Occupation
- * Musician
- Full name
- Gary Mervin Thain.
- Nationality
- New Zealand and United Kingdom.
- Fields
- music.
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
Gary Mervin Thain (15 May 1948 – 8 December 1975) was a New Zealand bassist, best known for his work with British rock band Uriah Heep.
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Authority files
wikidata · Q724243 · wikipedia · Gary Thain
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Birth Name — Gary Mervin Thain • Born — 15 May 1948 • Birthplace — Christchurch, New Zealand • Died — 8 December 1975 • Place of death — Norwood Green, London, England • Genre — * Hard rock • progressive rock • heavy metal • Occupation — * Musician • songwriter • Instrument — Bass • Years Active — 1963–1975 • Past Member Of — * Keef Hartley Band • Uriah Heep
Early life
Early life
• Illustration — Uriah Heep in 1972 L–R: Ken Hensley, Mick Box, Gary Thain, David Byron and Lee Kerslake Thain was born in Christchurch. He had two elder brothers, Colin and Arthur. He was described by a childhood friend as a "quiet and broody". He started performing when he was thirteen and won a talent show in high school by singing "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?".
Early career
Early career
He recorded three singles in Christchurch with his first band, The Strangers (not to be confused with the Australian band of the same name) with his brother Arthur (vocals and lead guitar), Graeme Ching (rhythm guitar) and Dave Beattie (Drums). At 17, he moved to Australia and joined The Secrets, which dissolved in 1966 after releasing just one single. Later, Thain was part of the rock trio The New Nadir with Ed Carter on guitar and Mike Kowalski on drums. They were popular in Switzerland and backed female vocal trio The Toys. Along with drummer Peter Dawkins he travelled from New Zealand to London, and once jammed with Jimi Hendrix before the trio split in 1969.
Keef Hartley/Uriah Heep
Keef Hartley/Uriah Heep
Thain joined the Keef Hartley Band in 1968, performing at Woodstock in 1969. Thain toured with Hartley for four years and played on five studio albums. In 1971, they toured with Uriah Heep; Uriah Heep asked him to join the band (replacing Mark Clarke) in February 1972. He stayed in Uriah Heep until January 1975, playing on four studio albums: Demons & Wizards, The Magician's Birthday, Sweet Freedom and Wonderworld as well as a live album, Uriah Heep Live. During his last U.S. tour with Heep, Thain was seriously injured when he suffered an electric shock at the Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas, on 15 September 1974. Due to his drug addiction he was not able to perform properly, and was fired by the band in early 1975 and replaced by former King Crimson bassist/vocalist John Wetton.
Death
Death
Thain was married twice and had two daughters, Karen and Natalie. He died of respiratory failure due to a heroin overdose, on 8 December 1975, aged 27, at his flat in Norwood Green in London.
Champion Jack Dupree
Champion Jack Dupree
• Scoobydoobydoo (1969)
Martha Velez
Martha Velez
• Fiends and Angels (1970)
Keef Hartley Band
Keef Hartley Band
• Halfbreed (1969) • The Battle of North West Six (1969) • The Time is Near (1970) • Little Big Band Live at The Marquee 1971 (1971) • Overdog (1971) • Seventy-Second Brave (1972)
Miller Anderson
Miller Anderson
• Bright City (1971)
Pete York Percussion Band
Pete York Percussion Band
• The Pete York Percussion Band (1972)
Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep
• Demons and Wizards (1972) • The Magician's Birthday (1972) • Uriah Heep Live (1973) • Sweet Freedom (1973) • Wonderworld (1974) • Live at Shepperton '74 (1986)
Ken Hensley
Ken Hensley
• Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf (1973)
Me and the Others / The New Nadir
Me and the Others / The New Nadir
• Uncovered (2009)
The Strangers
The Strangers
• 1963: "My Blue Heaven"/"The Dark at the Top of The Stairs" • 1964: "Pretend"/"Alright" • 1965: "Can't Help Forgiving You"/"I'll Never Be Blue"
The Secrets
The Secrets
• 1965: "It's You"/"You're Wrong" • 1966: "Me and the Others"/"Love Is Not a Game"
Champion Jack Dupree
Champion Jack Dupree
• 1969: "Ba La Fouche" (MT/Jack Dupree)/"Kansas City" (Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller)
Martha Velez
Martha Velez
• 1969: "Tell Mama"/"Swamp Man"
Keef Hartley Band
Keef Hartley Band
• 1969: "Don't Be Afraid"/"Hickory" • 1969: "Halfbreed"/"Waiting Around" • 1969: "Just to Cry"/"Leave It 'Til The Morning" • 1969: "Plain Talkin'"/"We Are All the Same" • 1970: "Roundabout"/"Roundabout pt 2" • 1973: "Dance to the Music"/"You and Me"
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1975
Gary Thain died at London.
Places
Named by the record
Places
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Christchurch.
Birth place
London.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q724243: Gary Thain
Unverified · Wikidata
reference work
- “Gary Thain”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Literature
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authority record
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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