I started playing guitar to impress a girl at school, and got so into music that I forgot about her! Ironically she went on to become a successful music journalist!
At high school I also reached grade 4 Clarinet, and played drums in school concerts. I also attempted to play a variety of other instruments including Keyboards, Cello, Oboe etc, with varying degrees of success?arguably! I was then in a band of no-fixed-name who did a handful of gigs playing a range of less known Rock Covers, and some originals written by me.
Aged 16 I won a singer/songwriter competition run by Anglia Television, and around that time started working in theatres and recording studios. During this time I worked for people such as Lisa Stansfield, Cilla Black, Freddie Starr, and various other dubious celebrities! I then established a recording studio for a resources company in Northampton, and became involved in organising Christian events at some large venues around the UK, and working with artists from that circuit including Dave Bilborough, and the charting band ?Heartbeat? among many others.
After returning to Norwich in 1996, I played Bass-guitar in a great band called ?Lardy?. We played mainly originals and got great reviews and released a CD. However, this was short lived and then I gave up playing for 10 years!
In March 2007 I saw ?Pure Floyd? as a 4-piece, and felt the band had potential as a great tribute act. I was then delighted to join the new 8-piece line up, playing guitar and providing additional vocals.
My day job is working for the Council dealing with Anti-Social Behaviour. I also do a bit of research work for the Performing Right Society.
My musical hero is Roy Wood, with most of my favourite bands coming from the ?Brum Beat? era of the 60s-70s. Incidentally, my first record as a child was ?See Emily Play? by Pink Floyd, which I remember playing on a red and yellow plastic Fisher Price record player! I am hoping that we will be doing our own version of this in the near future.
I currently use Levinson, Martin, and Ibanez Guitars: Marshall Amps: and Boss effects.
