Gary Phillips

### AKA

Gary Phillips, The Former Bass Player From The Front Line, Gary Beserkley, Greg Phillips, King Phillip

### Occupation

Musician, employee of Rather Ripped Records and Beserkley Records in Berkeley, California

### Years active

1965, 1973 - 1984, 1995, 2002, 2004, 2007

### Associated acts

Earth Quake, Greg Kihn Band, The Residents

### Website

http://garyphillips.blogspot.com/

**Gary Phillips** (born **Gary Edmund Phillippet**, also known as **Gary Beserkley**, **Greg Phillips** and **King Phillip**) (February 5th 1947 - January 17th 2007) was an American musician, and guitarist in groups Earth Quake and the Greg Kihn Band.

In 1975 Phillips worked at Rather Ripped Records in Berkeley, California, and in this capacity came into contact with The Residents, leading to his appearance on guitar on the closing section of the suite "Hitler Was a Vegetarian" on the group's 1976 album *The Third Reich 'n Roll*.

Phillips later worked at Beserkley Records, and was familiar to many in the Bay Area music scene at the time.

He passed away on January 17th 2007 after a battle with cancer.

## History with The Residents

Gary Phillips was an employee at Rather Ripped Records in Berkeley, California in October 1975, when one night the store received a phone call from someone asking if there was a guitar player in the store who could add a part to a record they were recording. Phillips volunteered his services, and was directed to The Residents' Sycamore Street warehouse.

He described the experience in an interview with British music magazine Sounds: "I walked into this big warehouse and somebody asked me did I know "Hey Jude". I said, "Sure," and he asked me if I knew "Sympathy For The Devil". I said "Sure" again, and he said that was all they wanted me to play on the end of their record. I got my portable tape recorder and plugged into that. I didn't even use an amplifier."

Phillips' contribution was part of the closing section of "Hitler Was a Vegetarian", the second suite on the group's album *The Third Reich 'n Roll*, which was released on Ralph Records the following February. On the liner notes of the original release of the album, Phillips is credited simply as "The Former Bass Player From The Front Line".

The release of the album was promoted at Rather Ripped with the installation of a large, swastika-themed display in the front windows of the store. This display remained for two days until it had to be removed due to local outrage. By way of thanks, The Residents performed their first official live performance at Rather Ripped's fifth anniversary party the following June.

## See also

* Snakefinger
* James Aaron

## External links and references

* Gary Phillips at Discogs
* Gary Phillips Tribute Page on Blogspot

1. ↑ Ian Shirley, *Never Known Questions: Five Decades of The Residents*, 2016
2. ↑ Jim Knipfel, "Ignorance of Your Culture is Not Considered Cool", *The Third Reich 'n Roll* pREServed edition liner notes, 2018

**Side A:** **"Swastikas on Parade"**
"Let's Twist Again" · "Land of a Thousand Dances" · "Hanky Panky" · "A Horse With No Name" · "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love)" · "The Letter" · "Psychotic Reaction" · "Little Girl" · "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" · "Talk Talk" · "I Want Candy" · "To Sir With Love" · "Telstar" · "Wipe Out" · "Heroes and Villains"
**Side B:** **"Hitler Was a Vegetarian"**
"Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)" · "96 Tears" · "It's My Party" · "Light My Fire" · "Ballad of the Green Berets" · "Yummy Yummy Yummy" · "Rock Around the Clock" · "Pushin' Too Hard" · "Good Lovin'" · "Gloria" · "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" · "Sunshine of Your Love" · "Hey Jude" · "Sympathy for the Devil"
**Personnel**
The Residents · Pamela Zeibak · Margaret Smyk (as Peggy Honeydew) · **Gary Phillips**
**Related works**
"Wooly Bully" · "Satisfaction" · *The Beatles Play The Residents and The Residents Play The Beatles* · *German Slide Music* · Oh Mummy! show · *The Third Reich 'n Roll* video · Collectors' Box series · "Double Shot" · *Icky Flix* (soundtrack) · *I Am A Resident!* · Dog Stab!
**Related articles**
Residents, Uninc. · Sycamore St. studio · Ralph Records · *Vileness Fats* · The Cryptic Corporation · Porno/Graphics · Collectors' Box series · Dick Clark · James Brown · The Rolling Stones · The Beatles