Band Bio: I was born in a former WW2 military hospital just three minutes after Haloween, 1981. I grew up surrounded by music. My Mother played piano and often provided a classical soundtrack in my early ...   Read More »

Band Bio: I was born in a former WW2 military hospital just three minutes after Haloween, 1981. I grew up surrounded by music. My Mother played piano and often provided a classical soundtrack in my early years-Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and many others. Father was more of a rocker. Bowie, Cream, Supertramp. Very much an Old Grey Whistle Test kinda guy. Even my Grandparents shared their love of music with me. Traditional Scottish songs, Perry Como and the Shadows. Every Sunday afternoon we would all gather round the radio to listen to Pick Of The Pops with the late,great Alan Freeman. At school, I was selected to play the trombone. Frankly I had little interest in the (somewhat snooty) school band and longed for something a bit more rock n roll than "Michael row the boat ashore". I suppose it was only natural that I picked up my first guitar when I was thirteen. A number of years were then spent teaching myself to play. I learned by ear from my records. As my record collection grew, so did my playing ability. Gradually I became more interested in instrumental music and a whole new "World experience" opened up to me. Meanwhile, I had been trying desperately to set up a band. I met many people who loved the idea but had no intention of going beyond the idea. I met many who had instruments but wanted only to get drunk or stoned. Then in 2004, I thought I had found something special. Teaming up with a keyboardist and another guitarist we made a couple of demos. I was charged with lead vocals. Our finest three minutes was a cover of Pink Floyd's Cymbaline which many described as "More like Pink Floyd than Pink Floyd!" Flattering words indeed. Things however, quickly fell apart for various reasons. I chose to go it alone. The aquisition of a Boss digital studio promptly resulted in "A Scorpion's Tale". Which was as much a learning curve in recording and production as it was an exploration of texture, melody and genre crossover. Shortly after, "The Mirror Within" was released. This was much more of a guitar focussed album. Lively, fast rock tracks were complimented with blues-jazz fusion and healthy dose of melancholy. "Lost For Words" was written and recorded in fifteen days. Having aquired the magnificent Roland guitar synthesiser, I was able to pursue a more orchestral approach. Yet despite the grand orchestral sound, a hip-hop beat was used on "Childhood's End". Although recorded with guitar, nowhere was the guitar to be heard on this album. It was during the recording of "Unstoppable" that I first held the guitar up on my shoulder like a violin. Currently, I'm working on album four. Inspired by "The machine age" and the transition from pasture to factory. Texture, synthesisers, orchestra and electric guitar are all coming together in what will, hopefully, be my best work until album five........   Read Less »

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