Jon Brant

For those of a similar name, see John Brant (disambiguation).

Jonathan Edward "Jon" Brant (born February 20, 1955 in Chicago) is an American musician, best known as the bass player for the band Cheap Trick from 1981 to 1987. Brant was a founding member of the Chicago band D'Thumbs with Tommy Aldridge and Pete Comita and has also played with Chris Spedding, Robert Gordon, Lou Reed, Diana Ross, Leslie Gore, Micki Free and others. He was also bassist for the band Red Siren (formerly Siren, following their legal band-name change). Brant has over 30 albums and records to his credit as composer and bassist. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jon-brant-mn0000214657.

With Cheap Trick

After original bassist Tom Petersson left the group in 1980, he was replaced by Pete Comita. Comita left the group in the early recording stages of "One on One" and was replaced by the Los Angeles based Brant. Though this was the first album to feature Brant. Brant played bass on three tracks of this album ("Saturday at Midnight", "If You Want My Love" and "She's Tight"). Brant moved to Rockford, Illinois to join Cheap Trick after his Diana Ross tour in 1981.

Brant played on all of the tracks of the band's next three studio albums, (1981-1987), Up The Creek, Top Gun album and co-wrote the hit "Tonight It's You" and "This Time Around" from 1985's Standing on the Edge. In 1987, Brant left Cheap Trick when Sony bought out CBS Epic. He remains good friends with drummer Bun E. Carlos to this day, and the two of them occasionally play together.

Brant rejoined Cheap Trick on stage to play bass during "If You Want My Love" and "She's Tight" during the band's 25th anniversary concert. In 2004, when Petersson was unable to tour, Brant re-joined the band for a month of shows as opening act for Aerosmith. Brant started the tour with Cheap Trick a few days after returning from a month-long Department of Defense tour of military bases in the Middle East. He performed in Baghdad, Djibouti, Africa and the UAE. Brant returned to help Cheap Trick for one show again in 2007 Augusta, Georgia when Tom Petersson was unable to perform.

Outside the band

Brant performed with Pete Special and blues artist Lynne Jordan for several years in Chicago, then played and recorded with new age artist Nicholas Gunn and Micki Free. Brant competes in the equestrian sport of eventing and has a horse ranch in Illinois. He co-owns Equustock,LLC a national consumer products company focused on horse bedding Guardian Horse Bedding, cat litter, absorbents and fuel pellets. Brant still occasionally performs with Native American artist Micki Free and performs for the US troops. The two perform regularly at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's and other venues around the world.