My musical timescale:
1970's - Learned to play guitar and took lessons so that I could read and write music. Then I really learned to play guitar by picking up songs by ear! I started the first bands with Richard Firman who is still drumming with me today.
1976 - S.URGE - My first attempt at a band and we played a few tunes at school.
1977 - SWEET PANDEMONIUM and RAPSCALLION. First gig advertised us as "Sweet Pendulum!"
1978 - TRAITORS GAIT - My first success! We played some sell out gigs in Rotherham and Sheffield, almost got on the radio (!) and recorded our first demo songs. The local newspapers, Sheffield Star and Rotherham Advertiser, said "two new bands to watch our for, Def Leppard and Traitors Gait!"
The photo is from that time. I was playing a telecaster into a 50W Marshall 2 x 12 valve combo and as you can see, I was heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix. The band continued for a few years and a few lineup changes before moving onto playing the working men's clubs for a regular income.
1980's - DUECE - I played in a duo, with backing tracks, on the working men's clubs, but didn't like the emptiness on stage. So, I formed - PARTISAN - a three piece which worked well. Then I started PERFECT STRANGERS - Success on the working men's clubs circuit as a four piece with keys.
1990's - SCOOTCH - I named the band after my cat! We were a three piece playing my rock songs and we also played Julies songs (with me playing bass) as a group called FRUITION at the same time. We even double gigged with Fruition playing support to Scootch where we changed instruments in the break ;-)
2000's - SCOOTCH continued and then we took a break for many years
2010's - to present - THE BLUEST BLUES EXPERIENCE - I formed this 3 piece in time for my 50th birthday and it continues to this day. Named after "the bluest blues" by Alvin Lee and 10 Years After and infused with the Jimi Hendrix Experience. It is now a 4-piece with keys for a broader sound.
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2022 - I decided to join another band - GEMSTONE - to let loose the rocker in me! And more recently I joined Full Moon Frieda too!!
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Today, the Bluest Blues Experience, Gemstone and Full Moon Frieda are regular gigging bands...