Biography
Billy Sheehan, whose hard-rock foundation with Mr. Big stretched back to the late 1980s, launched Niacin in the mid-1990s to pursue his interests in jazz fusion and progressive rock. The power trio was completed by keyboardist John Novello and drummer Dennis Chambers, each of whom had already moved fluidly between jazz and rock settings throughout their careers. Within the group, Novello concentrated on the Hammond B-3 organ, an instrument central to both jazz and prog traditions. Niacin issued its self-titled debut on Stretch in 1996 and returned two years later with High Bias. An import-only live set, Live!: Blood, Sweat and Beers, also appeared in 1998. For the follow-up, the band switched to Magna Carta, a label that had become closely identified with technically demanding neo-prog at the turn of the century. Deep arrived in 2000 and introduced the group’s first vocal performance, delivered by special guest Glenn Hughes of Deep Purple; Toto guitarist and noted session player Steve Lukather also contributed.
Albums
