My Family History
* My History*
I was born 18/2/1964 In Doncaster at the undisclosed time only my
parents should care about.
I have two wonderful sisters, Coral the older and Susan the
younger.
I in Turn have five wonderful children Matthew,Nathan, Fiona,Faye
and Damon who are all great kids with good heads on their
shoulders thank the stars. I have one beautiful Grandaughter Evie
Grace who will undoubtedly get spoiled rotten by her Grandad.
I have three nieces Chelsea, Vicky, and Holly and one nephew
Robert. I was Divorced after 20 years of marriage and now live with
a very loving and caring wonderful woman Kerry who my life is
shared with.
I think thats all the personal stuff out of the way lets get back to the
Music.

I Started guitar playing after falling in love with Black Sabbath and
Led Zeppelin. My uncle was a guitar freak so I always had them
around. If we had a family get together then he would turn up with
his latest guitar and entertain us with some Shadows music or
other sixties skiffle treats. I learned a few beginner chords of him
but little else. Meanwhile at school I hated guitar lessons and
thought the teachers didn't understand what I wanted to play
because it had no relationship with three blind mice or I saw three
ships come sailing by.
Around 14 year old I discovered rock music after dabbling with Soul
which all my school friends were into I rebelled and bought some
Jeans and a denim Jacket which my mum embroidered with all my
favorite bands names, it was way cool! I was given a record by my
older Disco loving sister Coral who had this single by a band called
VAN HALEN it changed my life. I knew from that moment on what I
wanted to do become a guitar god instantly. The single was
Running with the Devil with the amazing B side Eruption and You
really got me wow!
After this there was no turning back. My first gig was Judas Priest with the
first lineup of Iron Maiden they were both Awesome and it blew me away.I
couldn't understand how these young men could do what they were doing.
So deeper in a was drawn. I saw some awesome bands during this time
and travelled to Sheffield City Hall most weekends to see my
heros.Scorpions on the Lovedrive tour. Motorhead on the Overkill and
Bomber tours. Saxon as the backing group This was a busy time in my
education as a musician. Learning to love it loud.
Around this time I met and became friends with my best childhood friend
Adam H we became bedroom musicians and mimed to many a Zeppelin
number. It was Through Zeppelin that I sort of discovered the blues through
Led Zep 1. Also I was a fan of Deep purple both mark 1 and mark 2 lineups.
The bluesier side was appealing to me. This in turn led me to discover the
Fabulous Whitesnake who I saw a couple of times. I thought they were so
moving in there attack of the bluesier sound. So I began listening to Free
and Rory Gallagher. I still loved the heavy stuff but loved the blues.
Around this time I was recognised in my community as something a bit
special where the music was concerned and began to develop friendships
with like minded individuals. I was very interested in girls and they in me
which led to a local band Transic becoming interested in me singing for
them as in their words it would attract more girls to their band. The trouble
was my singing was awful i wanted to be a guitarist but that positioned
was filled by Paul Piercy who was the most talented player i have ever
known to this day. I was also a second rate guitarist at this time.I became
close friends with the band even roadied for them a couple of times. My
Best friend Adam who was miming in the bedroom with me was
approached by Transic to audition on another night. He came to me after
and said they tried it with him and would i like to go to the rehearsal room
to watch him with them. When I went with him i sat down and they cracked
into Wishing Well by Free, and he was awesome I couldn't believe it he
was gifted THE BAS****. So I became the roadie he became the singer and
we went on the club circuit and got an education it was fun and hard work
we did this for about a year. I was learning from being around my buddy
Paul all about guitar he was and still is my HERO. The nicest person in the
world just happens to be a guitar great....
So now it was time to get more serious about the guitar...
I went to Reading Rock Festival in 1980 and saw The original Whitesnake,
UFO, Iron Maiden with Dianno, Bruce Dickinson was singing with Samson
at the same gig. Rory Gallagher played and I was mesmerised the
consumption of alcohol didn't cloud my view at all.I just wanted to be a rock
god playing the greatest guitar ever heard. So I began to play more and
strive to buy better instruments. I once swapped all my album collection
150 of em all good uns, for an Ibanez Blazer nice enough guitar but at what
cost. I started Art collage while working as a builder with my girlfriends
father. He became a good lifelong friend. I stuck out art collage because i
was good at it and had worked out that all the greats had at one time been
at art collage, so i thought i would see if it would work for me. I couldn't
handle being skint and so went to work full time and bought a Gibson
sonex from Adams mums catalogue. I went through hundreds of guitars
but have always gone back to playing stratocasters I suppose I am meant
to play them.

To be continued.........
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