Background
I studied classical music for 6 years on the clarinet. And by the time I got to 12 I had started to dabble around with the guitar but nothing sufficiently moved me to get really serious. Then, something happened when I turned fourteen. I heard a song that changed my whole perspective on music. Voodoo Chile moved me to such a degree that I ditched the clarinet and picked up the guitar. There are some out there who, after having heard my guitar playing, say that I should have stuck to the clarinet! Sadly Hendrix died not long after and left a gaping hole in the world of music.
I lived in the Bedford area back then and from around the age of 15 I played in several bands including, Driftwood Refinery, The Score and MPH with Dave B who played bass at the time. The venues and stages got bigger (sadly not the money), and we trod the boards at American Air Bases, civic theatres and got a couple of big support slots, one of which was opening for Marillion.
After a while people moved on, got married and during my long absence from the live music scene, I jammed with a few guys, played guitar on a couple of demo tracks and lost touch with everyone I ever had the pleasure of playing with. Just over 4 years ago however, I placed an ad on one of the musician’s wanted web sites and as they say, the rest is history...
Influences and Favourite Players
Hendrix (obviously), Albert King, BB King, Paul Kossoff, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eddie Van Halen, Gary Moore, Satriani, Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Ritchie Kotzen. Greg Koch, Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Steve Morse, Michael Schenker and Steve Lukather and the amazing Buddy Whittington. But the man who does it all for me (aside from Hendrix) and produces tone to die for – Eric Johnson. I now have to add another guitarist that I've recently discovered, Mr Thomas Blug from Germany. Awesome!
I also love listening to and watching drummers. Here are the ones that create that tingle on the back of my neck: Carl Palmer, Neil Peart, Mike Portnoy, Steve Gadd and Simon Phillips.
What I'm Currently Listening to
Latest Dream Theater album (my favourite band of all time), Simon McBride, Alter Bridge, Buddy Whittington, Matt Schofield, Thomas Blug, Prashant Aswani (great jazz/fusion/rock player), Andy Timmons Band.
Gear
Guitars:
Ibanez RGT 320Z, Music Man John Petrucci Signature, Music Man Axis EVH, PRS CE22, PRS Singlecut (this one I use for slide work) and a beaten up Godin Artisan TC which sadly are not made any more. It’s about 15 years old and plays like a dream. I've since acquired another Godin Artisan TC - not so beaten up.
Amps:
The main one is a Mesa Boogie Lone Star 2 x 12 (monster). I also have a Fender Blues Deville, an Ashdown Fallen Angel 100DSP and a Crate 120 watt.
Floor:
Flight case fitted with a Cry Baby Wah, Boss Distortion, Boss Delay (set to short), Boss Chorus, Boss Compressor, Line 6 Delay Modeller (set to long), TC Electronics Tremolo (creamy) and a Vox volume pedal. I also have a Digitech RP500 Processor.
Dreams and Aspirations
To play alongside BB King, record a solo album, continually improve my playing and singing, give up work and do this for a living, go on tour, have Godin build me an Artisan TC to my spec and get me to endorse it, watch my daughter grow into the fine woman that I know she will be.