About me: I was born at the end of 1966 (a good year for football and music) and grew up in the border market town of Wrexham, North Wales. At that time, Wrexham was known for just two things..coal mining and drinking (well...mining makes you thirsty I guess).
As the local pits closed, I didn..t grow up to become a miner....oh no......!
In 1983 I discovered bass guitar, women and beer (not necessarily in that order)...and my future was assured!
As a student in Portsmouth Art College (1987 - 89), I found a great jazz bassist by the name of Rob Milner and he taught me quite a few things about bass that I still practice and use to this day. Without a doubt, Rob has been the biggest influence on my playing, but I..d also say that Norman WattRoy (Blockheads), Cliff Williams (AC/DC) and Lemmy (Motorhead) have also left an indelible scar on my 4 string antics!
After college and back home in Wrexham, I formed The Madison Blues Band, playing a mix of Chicago and Texas blues in a sleazy style for many years, in various pubs, clubs and festivals all over the UK and backing many notable blues artists...anywhere there was a bar basically! So years of late nights travelling in old transits around the UK, failed relationships and breadline living were to come...ahhhh the joys of creativity!
During this time, I played many deps and sessions (live and studio) with whoever needed the low end adding, putting my rumble all over such bands as.. The Shining, Rain, Badger Bell, K-Klass, Bottom Dollar, Wicked Annabella, CJD Project, Davy Graham (Tornadoes), Ivan Horn (Danish Solo Artist), Kingsize Funk, King Unique, DJ Sneak, Astrotrax, Sun (London), Hywyn (Welsh Rock Band), Giro Gypsies (Celtic Folk Funk) , Gerald Watkiss (ex – Rubettes), Sign Dance Collective (ex - Common Ground Theatre Co), Blue Eyed Black, an acoustic folk/blues band formed by Steve Jones (ex - Y Brodyr) and more recently, AC/DC tribute band Seedy/DC, (toured Scotland in 2001) and freestyle rappers, Dirtee Rotten Scoundrels (DRS Krew) in 2006.
Together with Tom O..Carroll, better known as the soundman from TV..s ..Most Haunted.. programme, I became involved with music for TV, recently contributing to the score for ..Man Del.. a hilarious welsh language sitcom about a family of no-good f**k ups, based in a council housing estate in a generic North West Wales town, broadcast on S4C in Sept 2007.
In August 2004, I formed the promotion company, Eat Cat 2 Productions and began running ..The Big Ball.. AC/DC tribute convention, where invited bands from across the world came to Wrexham to play on a replica AC/DC tour stage over an epic weekend in early August. For three blurry and arduous days and nights, fans.. hungry for the nuts & bolts rock n roll AC/DC produce, could see, hear, drink and smell it to their heart..s content.
Featured artists included Dave Evans (original AC/DC singer, with whom I played bass), Hayseed Dixie (their first UK appearance – I brought them to the UK as I thought they..d be interesting...), The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (Alex was Bon Scott..s best mate) and many other tribute and original bands in a nuts & bolts rock n roll stylee!! The whole event was MC..d by (in my opinion) the greatest UK graphic artist..art director for Kerrang! ...Monsters Of Rock MC, TV personality and ultimate rock n roller himself..Steve KRUSHER Joule! The lighting was also designed by Dave Lights – famous as Iron Maiden..s lighting engineer and face of Eddie! It was like a mini ..Monsters.. ...tidy!!
During this time I also promoted bands at the (sadly now closed) underground sweatbox ..The Talbot Bar.. in Wrexham, where new rock, metal and blues were showcased for the thirsty throng of Wrexham..s denim clad society every Friday and Saturday night until stupid o..clock!
April 2007.. I joined Band Of Rain, a bunch of bad asses playing gothic stoner rock, from the darker reaches of Mid Wales (and East Anglia). But this didn..t work out, so am now playing with The Loving Cup, a Deeside based band playing southern rock / americana style original music (first album on sale now, visit www.myspace.com..thelovingcup) along the lines of The Band / Stones / Little Feat / Neil Young etc. Check it out, you..ll love it!!
Recently, (April this year) I started jamming with a coupla guys I..ve not played with before, but have known for a long while, Daz (drummer from The Swillers - festival rock party band), Aziz (ex - Stone Roses / Ian Brown) and John McLean (ex Quireboys / Dogs D..Amour, but nowt to do with Dying with Difficulty) and the results are very exciting...can..t wait to get a set together and get out there with this!
Also, I..ve just been asked to Deputise with DC/79 for a few gigs until they find a permanent bassist...so am getting to play a bit of the old head shakin.. AC/DC stuff again...great fun...check their website for gigs...
See ya at the bar mofo..s...
Bass regards,
Andy
Who I'd like to meet: Jaco Pastorius (the man with blurred fingers but no slurred notes), Geddy Lee (Rush)...a total GOD!!, Les Claypool (Primus)...the best sense of humour on any instrument PERIOD!, Samuel L Jackson..I want his vocabulary and imagination (always creases me up), Quentin Tarantino (I..d like a day rooting through his record collection), Robert Rodriguez (wanna be an extra who dies in one of his films), Ian Dury (R.I.P. Sir Ian! Can..t say enough about the guy, riveting performer, poet, lyricist and gentleman!). Met Wilko, Norman, Monty, Chas, Mickey (Blockheads)..mighty fine musicians / blokes they are too...just wished I coulda met Charlie Charles and Ian too...one day eh...AAA passes to the great gig in the sky...make sure the dressing room bar is well stocked fellas!), Rob Zombie (Mr Prolific...does this guy ever sleep!), Nick ..Grindcore.. Barker (jammed with him at Cheshire Cheese in Frodsham....WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!! Loved that! Great drummers are good to find). John Wayne, Seasick Steve, Ozzy, Huw Lloyd Langton..the sound of Hawkwind (again). Kate Tunstall...the most fanciable woman in the world today!...one day girl!)
The guy who stole my bass amp in 2005 (I..d like to get pre-history on him...I..ll find you, ya Bastard Tea Leaf!)
I..d like to jam with: Elvis (he ain..t dead you know!...no he isn..t...), AC/DC, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackfoot, The Foo Fighters, Hanoi Rocks, Stones, Aerosmith, Steve Earle, Motorhead, Quireboys (ya lucky bastard..Jimmy, next time I see ya lol! I notice the Derek Smalls Beard has gone though!! ahem), Eagles, OCMS, Burrito Bros, Bowie, ZZ Top, Queens Of The Stone Age, Eagles Of Death Metal, Neil Young, The Almighty, Wildhearts....
Many thanks for accepting us and supporting our music, it really does mean a lot!!
Feel free to stop by our page and check out our tracks, we'd love to hear your thoughts.
Our version of Eleanor Rigby had it's worldwide premier recently on the Bruce Dickinson show on BBC Radio 6....feel free to pick up a copy of the podcast!! It's now uploaded on our page...come listen in and see what he said about us!!
Once again many thanks and sending all the best from Croatia and we hope you have a great weekend!
Andy!!! You are the best,,, I had such a rocking time at your house these past few weeks,,,,, it was sooooo hard to leave today,,, I hope you make it over soon,,, Miss you already !! we will talk soon,,, Love Ricci
Andy - I'll have a glass of tea, no coke and no ice and a cup of Jack Daniels with one sugar! LOL We rocked! was so cool to see ya matey. ROCKETH ON! xx
Hi Hows it going ? Thanks for the friendship, appreciated, glad you enjoyed the Gig, we're trying to do something origional, which is hard thease days, but I'm afraid my influences keep spilling out (for them see your heroes list !). Take care and hope to see you again. Cheers Dale Keep in touch, Your Comments welcomed as always. Here's the shameless self promotion bit Our latest promo Video at WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/BBBLACKDOG
ANDY! Are you still on the OFF LICENSE "call before we close " list? I think that is fabulous! Proud to know you Sir!!! Hope they call me when I come in April, I do plan on making it out,,,, from the 10th to the 20th of April,,, book a gig so I can see Loving Cup!!! A special gig just for me!! lol..... Take care see ya soon,,,, Ricci
Online Now!
