I was brought into this world ; with a natural & understanding ear for melodies , contemporary & popular music .
Early memories of listening are ; watching a VHS of Elvis Costello music videos , listening to the top 40 chart countdown , on BBC radio 1 ; & hearing artists like Annie Lennox & The La's .
The first guitar I was given , belonged to my father in the 1970's ; it was a replica of a Gibson SG , in a dark maroon colour ; with a jet black scratch board & machine head . The first thing I learnt how to play on guitar , was an open e - minor chord on a cheap Hohner acoustic , which never belonged to me originally ; until I eventually claimed it as my own .
I’ve been making music since the age of twelve. I was born in Harlow , Essex , England ; the UK in 1982 . Harlow was one of the new towns built after the second World War , 25 miles outside of London .
It was alright growing up as a young lad ; living with me Mum & Dad in their council house with a younger sister , & sharing a bedroom with me older brother . I went to primary school & comprehensive school like everybody else had to. Which was around about the time I started listening to music ; with local lads & mates .
I was about 11 years old in 1993 , when I first heard a compilation cassette of Rave music ! which was the beginning of it all really .
The 90’s Britpop phenomena was the soul inspiration & desire to want to become an artist . It was such a unique decade & period for the UK , with the likes of British guitar bands breaking into the charts ; & hearing them on Top of The Pops !
I picked up my first guitar when I was thirteen years old; socialising with other local musicians by teaching & sharing.
I began to have guitar lessons at the age of fifteen; with a local musician, who had success throughout the nineties with a cover of Bryan Adams ‘Run to You’; & he’s band Rage.
He taught me how to play what I know on guitar, and embedded the theory behind Songwriting.
I performed as lead guitarist & songwriter, in two local bands throughout the nineties; Aqualung & Bluebaker. It never really took off to be honest, I was the only C**T who was serious about it! it was like a Malcom McLaren & ‘The Sex Pistols’ punk rock thing, yer know; where F*****G S**T but everyone still loves us. The other band members were half A***D about it to be honest.
Those two bands were a stepping stone, to play my songs to the public & improve my live act. I much prefer my solo act as a live thing, because then i get it to sound how I like, without arguing with some T**T!
I wanted to be involved in the music industry, as soon as I pressed play on my old stereo system, and could hear Oasis ‘Digsy’s Dinner’ coming back at me through my speakers! It sounded F*****G amazing!
I am a product of the 90’s Britpop phenomena, That period & decade of music, was defiantly unique, I will probably never experience anything like it again, in my lifetime. To have British guitar bands like ‘Cast’ in the UK charts doing there thing was great! You literally had to go into a record shop to buy your music on CD, Cassette or Vinyl. The live band & gig thing went through the roof as well!
