Realising at an early age that if you picked up a guitar you got attention, especially from her dad whose guitar it usually was, it was inevitable that she would get one of her own. So at the ripe old age of three, she got her first guitar, a half size acoustic.
At seven she started lessons but soon noticed that not only did the electric guitars have a smaller neck, making them ideal for little hands, but they could also make a lot more noise. After more lessons and a lot more noise, and at the grand old age of eight she became the youngest person in the country to pass a Rockschool grade. More lessons followed and with them came the realisation that if you want people to listen, you need to sing!
So it came to pass that at the age of twelve she arrived at the famous Melborn Hotel in Bradford to play and sing at the weekly jam session. Helped and encouraged by all the musicians, she developed rapidly into a incredible rock and blues musician.
Now described as a "prodigy", a visit from a major label soon followed and at fourteen she was told "great voice, but girls don't play guitar like that!" by the head of their A&R. Their advise to change styles because boys would be intimidated was met with an attitude of "that's their problem! I'm not changing!" Singing and playing on national television and radio soon followed.
A meeting with two renowned producers soon lead to a change in direction from live performance to recording and writing. This coupled with exams and advice meant an end to live performing for most of the last four years. As seems common in the music industry, once lawyers get involved, things can get messy!!!!!
Now qualified at grade eight and the holder of the prize for outstanding musicianship at the world renowned Leeds College of Music for 2006/2007, a chance meeting with a well known local band saw Chantel back at what she does best! - singing and playing with feel to die for.
This has now lead to the formation of the “Chantel McGregor Band” a rock/blues trio, with Alex Jeffrey on bass and Martin Rushworth on drums.
Click on the video below to see me performing 'Come Back To Bed' by John Mayer, I've performed it on my own electrically, using a Boss Loopstation, which enables me to play the solo at the end with the rhythm that I have just looped, accompanying it.
Again, the video is not great quality as it was recorded on a handheld video camera in my lounge.
Hi - great gig last night at the Red Lion - nice to see you play live at last & chat with your folks - good luck with all the new gigs in 2010 - hope you like our CD !! - Julian, Sean & Pete aka "The Cohen Brothers" x
So glad you're enjoying life... and congratulations on graduating!! :O)
Things are great with me too... just finishing an album off with my friend Murray Hockridge, and I also have a couple of gigs coming up with my friend Guthrie Govan... It's good to be busy!!!
Hey Chantel i really love your ability to play, its such a shame that "loud guitar rock music" has been stereotyped as a mans "thing", you would shit all over them anyways :) Love it, keep it going Take care Pete
Hey Chantel! Just got back from the Queen's Hall gig in Edinburgh. It was good to see you and I really enjoyed it though I could have listened to three times as much. Look forward to you coming to Edinburgh again with a longer set. Wishbone Ash were great. Did you enjoy them? All the best for now and many thanks! Bruce.
May I presume to bung a plug for HOWDEN RiBFEST II on to your comments please?
Its Friday, Saturday and Sunday October 9th, 10th & 11th with free stuff and paying stuff and drinking stuff and eating stuff and errrmmmm....other stuff.
Find the link to the Howden Live website on me myspace......I thank you.
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