Biography
Biography
When I first moved to London some wise soul said I should play with anyone, anytime, anywhere, for any amount of money, or none.
He said that musicians get work for musicians, so you need to work with as many as you can. He was bang on. Every job I ever got was through other musicians.
After playing pubs and wine bars I eventually started to pick up session work for record companies doing demos for writers - and during this time learned a lot about recording, as well as playing.
My first tour was with a band called “B-Movie”, whose single “Nowhere Girl” is still something of a cult record. They had just been signed to Madonna’s label, and we toured America to promote the first album. That was an eye opener for a quiet young man like I was! The drummer was the wonderful Tim Goldsmith, of Go West, Tanita Tikaram, and Paul Brady.
Around this time, Stock Aitken and Waterman were beginning their domination of the charts, and through another friend I wound up playing on lots of stuff for them.
I remember playing on tracks for Rick Astley, Mel and Kim, Dead or Alive, Matt Bianco, Divine and many others.
In the late Eighties I joined“Habit”, to support Level 42 on their European tour.
I was convinced that they were the next big thing. Brilliant songs, and a brilliant front man.
These were the biggest audiences I‘d ever played in front of - every stadium in every European capital city.
Level 42s guitarist at the time was the late great Alan Murphy, and on sessions in those days, he was invariably the guitarist you were asked to emulate. He was a complete diamond, and is sadly missed.
See Youtube: HABIT - Shotgun City
In the nineties I toured and recorded for a number of years with Murray Head (most famous in Britain for “One Night in Bangkok“ - but rightly revered in French speaking countries as a serious singer songwriter). This was a great period as I was playing with friends and musical heroes such as Jennifer Maidman ,Steve Fletcher and Geoffrey Richardson. Between them their credits encompass Boy George, Paul Brady, The Penguin Café Orchestra, David Sylvian - and too many others to mention.
Steve Fletcher and I produced Murray‘s album “Wave“, and it was on this album that I met my pal Charles O’Connor (of “Horslips“) , who is to blame / thank for my eventual move to Whitby.
See Youtube: MURRAY HEAD Say it ain't so, Joe
I did a couple of tours with Maggie Reilly (Moonlight Shadow) - to promote the “Echoes” album. This was another “biggie” for me, as the other guitar player was Tim Renwick, a long time influence from his work with Al Stewart, The Sutherland Brothers, and of course Pink Floyd. I’d also been a fan of “Moonlight Shadow”, and getting the chance to sing backing vocals on that every night was a buzz.
See Youtube: MAGGIE REILLY Everytime we touch
On Jennifer Maidman’s recommendation I was asked to put together a band to tour with Guesch Patti, whose video for the single “Etienne” was infamous Europe wide. Jennifer had produced the album at Paisley Park, and it sounded like Edith Piaf meets Prince! I got to pick exactly the players I wanted, and Jennifer became available at the last minute. So, my ideal band,wacky music, a different French town (and restaurant!) every night, and a hotel in Paris to call home for weeks on end whilst we were recording.
See Youtube: GUESCH PATTI Etienne
Some of the work of which I’m proudest is on an album called “Lucky” by Jo Fletcher (Steve’s little sister). She and her writing partner had a batch of songs, and somehow raised a budget to do an album at The Chapel, a residential studio in Lincolnshire. I’d produced their demos, which I loved (I’m a sucker for a girl singer songwriter!) and they asked me to co-produce the album. The best time I’ve ever had in a studio - again, the best players, .....Carol Isaacs (Indigo Girls, Sinead O’Connor), Jennifer Maidman, Steve Fletcher, Mitt Gamon, Murray Head,
Phil Saatchi, Charles O,Connor, and others. Even Robert Wyatt sang on a couple of tracks!
Give it a listen on: JO FLETCHER "Lucky"
In the late nineties Charles O’Connor and I decided to use some “downtime” to write and record an instrumental album (sort of film score / ethnic / systems music). We set up a studio at Charles’ house in Whitby, and recorded the weirdest collection of instruments I’ve ever encountered.
Here is a taster:
Since moving to Whitby I’ve been mainly teaching guitar, and for a few years I lectured in Recording and Music Technology at Redcar College.
I'm now teaching guitar two days a week at Fyling Hall School, and playing with a couple of local bands ( "Back in the Habit", and the "Dave Crabtree Band").
I’ve been lucky enough to have several pupils / protégés who have gone on to do well -
Joe Smithson graduated from Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, and now earns his living as a guitarist and singer
See Youtube: JOE SMITHSON Take a moment
Tommy Hubbard is now Record and Concert Producer at Rolling Stone Los Angeles - could be worse …
See Youtube: TOMMY HUBBARD Bring it back
David Neil studied music at Edinburgh University, and is currently writing with Charlie Dore and Danny Schogger
See Youtube: DAVID NEIL Letting you go