My life with the guitar.....
I really wish I'd still got all the pictures and slides of me playing back then, but sadly, over the years I've lost them!
Anyway, here's the oldest photo I can find of me with a guitar.
And here I am with my first real Strat. It would be worth a small fortune now.
I must be aged 16 or 17 in this pic. Before that, I'd had a variety of copies and a 'Ned Callan' SG which I wish I still had. And I don't even want to think about all the 'could have had / should have kept' gear ... but we all have those stories, for sure! These must have been my first experiences of GAS :-)
Every day I wish I still had that 50 watt Marshall too!
Here I am doing what we've all done sometimes - practicing in the bedroom. At least my parents knew what I was doing!
I remember this gig well - it was LOUD! :-)
Groundhog days
By the mid-eighties I had known Tony McPhee (below and right) of the Groundhogs for a while. Although I'm not really a bass player, when the job playing bass came up I jumped at it.
How many people are lucky enough to get to play with a band they loved when they were growing up?
Here's one of the only gigs I have a photograph of with me as a
Groundhog.
I really enjoyed my time with the Groundhogs, especially as the band was original line up (apart from me). Tony McPhee on guitar & vocals and Ken Pustlenik on drums. What an honour!
For various reasons, I left the band. Since then I've not really played so much, apart from local bands as there isn't really a music scene as such around here, although I miss it very much indeed. Any offers?
Tony, me, Alan Fish
Noel Redding
I couldn't resist putting this photo in! (right). I had known Noel Redding (of the Jimi Hendrix Experience) for a few years, and although I had him autograph a few things for me over the years, I've never had my photo taken with him. Daft as I felt, that's what I did in February 2000 (in Clonakilty, Co Cork). I sent him the pic when we got back and he kindly signed it and returned it for us below. Thanks Noel :-)
Sadly, I never did get to play on stage with Noel. I know I am going to regret for the rest of my life missing out on a chance! We walked into DeBarra (probably one of the best pubs in the world - hi Bobby!) one Friday night where Noel was playing his usual Friday night session. His bass player hadn't turned up, and after the gig Noel came over to me and said '.... if I'd known you were coming, you could have played bass.' Arrgghhhh!!!
Noel's excellent book - Are You Experienced?
Read how Noel's sad loss and funeral were reported in the Irish and UK press. I went over to Ireland for his funeral.
I think of him very often, and still can't believe he is gone.
Rest In Peace -
Noel Redding:
25 December 1945 -
11 May 2003
We will never forget you!
Leslie West
And what an amazing pleasure and honour to meet another of my all-time heroes - Leslie West (centre) of Mountain seen here in Crewe with my friend Mark :-)
Robin Trower
Here I am with Robin Trower, after seeing him Manchester in March 2005. I was very lucky to be able to see Robin and the band on tour several times in 2005/6. What a nice guy he is - and Davey Pattison on vocals too :-)
What a guitar god - what a tone!
I look drunk, but I think I was just in total awe!
Thanks for taking the time to look at my page!
So, there you have it - a potted history of my life so far with the guitar.
What now? It's very difficult to find people - even harder to find anybody of my own age, to play with around here now. A definite lack of venues in the area (only one good one) doesn't help things much either.
In all honesty I can say that if I had never picked up a guitar all those years ago, my life would have been very different, and very much for the poorer. Without if I would have missed out on some of the best times of my life, and not met some of the wonderful people and friends I have made along the way.
As far as style of music goes, the older I get, the more I return to the Blues!
We will just have to see what happens. Whatever, I will never give it up!