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 Phil Turcio, 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....
Once again I have a favour to ask of everyone out there in the MySpace world, and I’m sorry because I know these things can get a bit annoying, but every vote counts, and I am happy to return the favour if you need me to vote or rate anything of yours, so… if you get the chance could you please rate my new song “Million Miles Away” on Triple J Unearthed?
Need ya vote...ATTACK OF THE MANNEQUINS video of "Bruised & Beatdown" is at No:10 on Channel V video show Mon-Thurs @ 8:30pm. View it on the link, vote & lets get it to No:1 ..http://www.channelv.com.au/ucode?U1291
FINGERS MORRIS rip it up in FRANKSTON this sat 25th july come down and watch reginald have 16 cans of beer and a bottle of wine, bonox have a little bit of cocain, danger inflate four litres and smash drink everything he can get his hands on its going to be a cracka day w/ HEAD WRONG and DANA KELSON this is one rock n roll party you dont want to miss join the mayhem @ GROOVERS LOUNGE 12 young st FRANKSTON get one up ya down load FINGERs MORRIS songs now @ www.mp3.com.au/fingersmorris
it would be mad wicked if you chould make it down to one or both of these FINGERS MORRIS gigs on the weekend fri 17th july @ THE GEORGE 123 fitzroy st ST. KILDA w/ THE BAD KILLS kick off 8pm & sun 19th july @ THE BRUNSWICK HOTEL 140 sydney rd BRUNSWICK w/ THE BEAT BROTHERS & THE MANGROVE MILE kick off 5pm for your fix of sex drugs & high energy rock n roll boogie on down & get one up ya
Hello hello! Long time no speak! It is my birthday this week.. 21.. wat the?! I am still writing & getting on with the music. Loving it :) How's things with you? Music? x
I'm hitting the road in a couple of weeks to raise money for War Child, Coast-to-coast – 50 cities – ALL PROCEEDS TO WARCHILD. Why? 66% of all war victims are CHILDREN. Shocked like me? War Child helps these children that have been affected by war. Check out the new blog – the whole story is up there. Love to have you be a part of it.
You’ll find a Blog, Tour page and a Bio page. I’ll be blogging daily from the road.