Started playing guitar at the tender age of 16 when I spent my first Y.T.S. cheque on my first lead guitar and amp only to find out that there were far more guitarists out there, so I decided to try bass as a means to getting into a band. Bought my first bass for £20 and after a couple of weeks had joined my very first band with a couple of mates from college.
A chance meeting at a party (believe it or not ) led me to audition for Soixante Neuf which led me to my first gig 30 songs to learn in 6 weeks but we managed it and managed to
get 140 people into a venue on a Tuesday night in Tynemouth. The band then later became 7th Avenue after a few line-up changes and played mainly in Newcastle and Sunderland , the crowning glory was to play at the Riverside a number of times if anyone can remember that venue .
After leaving 7th Avenue a few years later, I joined Deliverance which was formed by Phil Martin(Guitar god of Sticky Fingers) at the time deliverance were concentrating on their own material of which I still have some of the ruff cuts of songs written by the band. I then gave the music scene a bit of a rest and sold all of my gear and tried to settle down, but as all muso’s know you never really give it up as it’s always there in you blood .
So I purchased a second hand bass form the paper and thus a bass
monster was born again. A chance meeting with a former member of 7th Avenue ‘Big ‘ Al Hey led me back into playing in bands and trying to write our own material as The Beheyvers (a word play of both our surnames). If I had not met Al at that point I don’t know what would of happened as it was his advice that pushed me into looking of a suitable band to join, due to his work commitments we could not schedule practices to our advantage, I remember his words exactly ‘the magic only happens once in a blue moon, when all the people gel and you find that your all heading in the same direction you just got to keep a tight grip on it and enjoy the ride ‘. With Al’s guidance I started looking for a suitable band to join, After answering their advert I ventured down to my audition and sealed my fate as the missing part of the instrument side of the band.
After selling all my gear to enable me to get married to my wife Margaret (the most understanding women in the world) I’ve started collecting basses and currently have a squad of over 20.
Well what can I say about the rest of Spartan , except I could not wish to be in a band with anyone else we are all kindred spirits who can’t get any more pleasure out of playing than we do as Spartan it just feels so right !
Musical Influences are – iron maiden, chilli’s ,journey , Thunder , and or course ABBA to name but a few.
Bass players I worship – Steve Harris, Cliff Burton, Donald ‘DUCK’ Dunn Flea and of course Derrick Smalls(what a god)
Likes– bass guitars, my old leather jacket, drinking with my mates and watching live bands.
Dislikes - Being late for anything, the colour green, and people who think the bass is just a guitar with less strings !!!
Best song that we do ? - I really love down to the doctor’s but also have a real soft spot for anything with a bass solo in it!
Songs I’d like to do ? – We are always trying new and different songs, so you just can’t tell what my get into the set list (would love to get some iron maiden in there),
The motto you live by? No matter what happens in life you’ve just smile and enjoy it ! (unless Kev’s telling one of his jokes !)
One last thing – Come on over and have a natter with us as we don’t bite (usually)
