Val Cowell - lead vocals, rhythm guitar;
Richard Hayes - lead and slide guitar;
Harry James - drums, backing vocals;
Pete Stroud - bass, backing vocals.
Influences
Richard - Ry Cooder, Chet Atkins, Frances Rossi, Brian May, Angus Young, Richie Blackmore, Wilko Johnson, Rory Gallagher, Jeff Beck, Duane Allman, Billy Gibbons, Johnny Winter, Robert Johnson, SRV, Bonnie Raitt, Prince, Paul Kossoff.
Val - Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Antz Cowell, Stevie Nicks,
Paul Rogers, Michael Macdonald, Stevie Wonder, Delbert McClinton, Al Green.
Harry - Ian Paice, John Bonham, Neil Peart, Mum and Dad, Keith Moon and Bonnie Raitt to name but a few!
Peter - Freddie King, B B King, Tower of Power, Govt Mule, Steely Dan, Bonnie Raitt, Ella F, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Oscar Pettiford, Weather Report, Yellowjackets, John Paul Jones, Roger Glover, John Entwhistle, Ken Gradney (Lil’Feat) Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, Jimmy Haslip, for starters!
Sounds Like
You like what you hear? Then wander on over to Bad Influence Shop and get your hands on some albums!!! Or go here to download
The History
Originally formed in 1986, by Val Cowell (lead vocals & rhythm guitar), and RichardHayes (lead & slide Guitar), the band has seen many line ups in the years since. Whilst Val and Richard have been the consistent driving force, the rhythm section has seen some changes. Ever since the beginning the band has toured constantly, playing in a wide variety of venues, including the now legendary Marquee Club (both Wardour St and Charing Cross Rd) on a great many occasions.
1986 - 1991 - In the beginning there is Ray Knott (Chicken Shack/Babe Ruth/Liquid Gold) and Chris Sharley (Sassafras, Mick Clarke Band). This line up records one albums worth of material (and releases it untitled in cassette format, remember them?).
1991 - Ray & Chris leave for pastures new and are replaced by Malcolm Foster on Bass (Pretenders) and Andy Wells on Drums (Meatloaf/Romeos Daughter).
1993 - Chris Taylor takes over on Bass, and Neil Salmon joins on drums. Another untitled cassette LP is recorded and sells like hotcakes at gigs.
1996 Neil Salmon leaves and Harry James (Thunder/Magnum) takes over on drums. The band records their first CD, entitled Bad Influence, released in 1997.
1998 Chris Taylor leaves and in steps Chris Childs (Then Jericho/Sam Fox/Go West/Thunder etc etc). Once again the touring goes on and on and on. By now this band has certainly paid their dues..
2000 - One Way Love is recorded. National airplay is achieved when BBC Radio 2 takes an interest (in the guise of Paul Jones), a live studio slot follows, as well as subsequent featured live concerts.
2003 Bad Influence releases their first Live LP - Here There and Everywhere Once again the sales are phenomenal, helped along by the Radio 2 airplay.
2005 Closer is the brand new CD for 2005. Release date 17th July 2005. Featuring 11 brand new songs, all written by the band, and produced by Chris Childs, its the strongest most cohesive recording to date, and shows the band is going from strength to strength.
2006 With the taking of a backseat from Chris Childs for a while due to other musical commitments, Val, Rich and Harry are very happy to welcome Peter Stroud (Papa George Band and Peter Green's Splinter Group) and Bob Skeat (Wishbone Ash) to the Bass stand. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Val and Richard forming the band.(New album in progress).
2008 Pete Stroud (Peter Green/Buddy Whittington) sticks around and the band and Pete are working on long awaited CD, everyones' busy schedules permitting!!
The Style
Bad Influence is described as a Rock and Blues band and that is where they sit quite comfortably. However, this band has many musical influences and it shows in just about every song on the new CD. Val is often described as Bonnie Raitt gone raunchy or powerful like Janis Joplin. Richard squeezes every ounce of passion from the guitar, whilst Harry and Pete hold it very tightly together at the back. Val & Richard sometimes go out as a duo too, so they can tailor their show to just about any occasion.
The live show is exciting and packed full of both original songs and killer cover versions, with songs from artists as diverse as Tom Petty, Dixie Chicks and even Rory Gallagher. All are delivered in their own distinctive style, retaining the gutsy R & B flavour (in the old sense of the phrase) the band holds so dear.
Bad Influence have survived the perils of the live circuit for a number of reasons, but the most striking reason is quite simply because theyre very, very good at what they do.
We are proud to announce that we are HEADLINING the Cream
Insturment Cable Stage at the Lesser Muni as part of the 2009 Great British
R&B Festival in Colne, Lancashire, UK on Monday August 31st. The
Charlie White Project and Sheffield’s blues
poet Mr Billy Martin Jnr are also appearing. Expect great music and utterly
immaculate sound quality using cutting edge PA cables and power amps. Ticket
details are available at www.bluesfestival.co.uk.
Doors open at 7.30pm and we will be onstage at 10.15pm.
Our new album “A Time and Place” is available directly from www.robinhoare.com via Pay Pal and from
good record stores.
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John Kitchen wants you to join their band in Rockstars, a game where you can form bands with your friends and play gigs, battle rival bands, and become famous on MySpace!
Hi Val, Richard & his Royal Highness Sir Harry J. Thanks for visiting The 20-20s. Hope you guys are keeping well, hope to catch up soon. Keep Rocking Paulx
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