Its been a long and beautiful journey so far. I was 13 when I did my first gig, and that was a little while ago now. I started my career as a guitarist in Brisbane, and had already toured up and down the east coast in an original band for several years before I moved to Melbourne in 1983. It took awhile to get settled in my new home town, but before long I found myself playing in cover bands for the first time, and I ended up in a band called The Nazz, which was kinda like Cold Chisel doing 60's covers on nitrous oxide, but without the class. We worked that poor old horse into the ground for 5 years, until I eventually said "enough!"
One of the great things to come out of that band was a lifelong friendship and working relationship with keyboard giant Michael Caruana. When I said I was leaving The Nazz, he said he was coming with me. We weren't exactly sure what to do, so we put together a band with his brother Nicky Bomba, and a young singer named Tony Kopa, and we called ourselves The Truth. An ironic band name, because we all used to bullshit A LOT. One thing lead to another, and we woke up one day to find that Triple J were playing one of our songs. The interesting thing was that we hadn't sent it to them. Still, that's Rock'n'Roll, and that's how it generally happens.....(?)
Next thing we started getting very busy. We signed to Mushroom, and released our debut album, and seemed to be getting a lot of commercial radio airplay. We became everyone's favourite support act (always the bridesmaid...) and found ourselves on an endless merry-go-round of touring, with the likes of Bryan Adams, Roachford, Baby Animals, Diesel, Hunters & Collectors, Bon Jovi and some other guys as well. We were poor, but we didn't care, we were living the dream, but without the sleep.... One of the highlights was a gig in Sydney where Living Color turned up, and got up and jammed with us onstage for 45 minutes, doing Stevie Wonder tunes and basically anything other than "Love Rears its Ugly Head." We were ready to play it, but apparently they didn't know it. Fortunately for me, Vernon Reid was back in his hotel room....It was good.
Anyway, we split up.
That's when I started my new career as a sideman. Basically, I was willing to play with just about anybody. But I was blessed to work with some real fine ladies and gentlemen. It started with a brief promo tour with Jon Stevens, which lead to some work with Ross Wilson and Daryl Braithwaite, who must have spoken to Tina Arena, because she offered me a tour through Europe which included a show at Wembley Stadium, supporting the Bee Gees. I said yes. When I got back to Australia, I was working with both Ross and Daryl when I got the call to do a tour with John Farnham. I said yes to that too. The tour saw us also working with Human Nature, Kate Ceberano, James Reyne, Ross Wilson and Merril Bainbridge, and yielded the Live At The Regent album. I remember that the tour bus was very full and that we laughed a lot. Then John very kindly sang one of my songs, The Way, on his 33 1/3 album. He sang it real nice.
These days I'm still working with Daryl Braithwaite, and I'm currently putting together a band called The Geoff Wells Experiment, with keyboardist Mark Amato, drummer, John Corniola, Jason Vorherr on bass and a monster of a singer in Jimmy Cupples. We'll be doing the stuff that made me want to play guitar in the first place....Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Free, Hendrix, Jeff Beck, that sort of thing. Onward and upward....
Hello Darlings, The Wishing Well are performing an all out folkfest at the Northcote Social Club (Our last Melbourne show for 2008), Saturday August 2nd. With supports from Jacks Castle and Kinematic. Doors open 8:30pm. You can buy tickets from us (cheaper) for $10 through emailing us at:
thewishingwellband@gmail.com or online via the Northcote Social Club's www. northcotesocialclub. com or at the door for $12.
Just wanted to say that I enjoyed another magnificent show on Sunday at the Fly By Night. thanks for the entertainment and what a fantastic job you did accompanying Russell Morris. You are brilliant. Next time I might even pluck up the courage to come over and say hello.
Hey, thanks for the add, and it’s good to be back on MySpace.
Did you know that the first tune in my music player, “CiCient”, is dedicated to my wife, CiCi, and she helped me compose it? It’s awesome, and so is she.
Also check out our MySpace blog posts for all the latest buzz on the upcoming CD, “Magic Heart”, and learn about all our blogs.
CiCi’s is TechnoBabe’s Adventures, with great writing and graphics, and I write a new blog called Bipolar Initiation, which offers a startling spiritual approach from over 40 years of experience. If you live with bipolar or know someone who does, you don’t want to miss Bipolar Initiation.
And if you’re a romantic, you’ve got to check out Twin Souls, the blog we write to each other, openly expressing our love for each other.
All the links to these great sites are right here:
Hi Geoff :) I just found out that I might finally be getting to see you guys perform again in Adelaide later this year ! Woohooo hoping to be there with bells on LOL ! Have a great weekend and please give my best to DB and the boys for me as well :)
Yo Geoff, 1971 reminds me of...1971, around about August...the 29th. Love your work Geoff. Are those the new pickups on that track? Love and Peace, DFJ
hey buddy. It was great catching up the other night. I am in sydney now. We missed our flight to Caledonia yesterday and qantas put us up for the night. In the qantas club now waiting for our flight. Talk soon buddy.
1971? It's dramatic, turbulent and rambunctious - with just a touch of dirty. I like it. Will I end up liking it more than Floydy? Aah, only time will tell...