We were friends from an early age and went through school together where we formed our first band (Out of Reach). After months of rehearsing and driving everyone around us mad, we finally played our first gig at Monroes bar in Workington supporting a thrash metal band. We played 3 songs and most of our schoolmates got thrown out by the police for underage drinking!
The night went really well and from that moment on we were hooked. We went on to form two local bands Ming Fighters and Mad Dog Scone. Whilst in these bands we gigged all over Cumbria, Scotland and even three stints in a ski resort in Italy and also managed to get an appearance at the Belfort festival in France. every one an experience but not all good!
During this time we recorded numerous demos of our own material always trying for that elusive record deal, coming close on a couple of occasions but never putting pen to paper. All the while both of us were working as joiners and ended up going where the money was instead of following our hearts. This took us to London working on different building sites by day but all the while still writing songs in our digs in the evening.
At last after 15 years of trying we finally struck a deal with Aquarian Nation a company set up for all the right reasons namely good, honest music! We liked what they stood for and they liked our songs. In May 2002 our debut album (Nearly Killed Keith) was finally finished and was released in the November of that year. It is an honest album all about two northern lads working away from home.
Since its release we have toured with the likes of Francis Dunnery, Chris Difford, Paul Young, Vonda (Ally McBeal) Shepherd, Marti Pellow, Merryl Osmond, Homespun, Sam Brown, Belinda Carlisle and Glenn Tilbrook.
We are currently writing our second album which will hopefully be recorded later this year and will be produced once again by Francis Dunnery.
Until then keep checking the website for the latest news on tours and release dates. If you have the cd keep playing it (we do) if you havent buy it (we did) and next time we are on tour come and see us and have the crack!
Thanks for your ongoing support.
Best Wishes
John & Wayne x
Just stopping by to say hello and give you some news. The new album 'Coolgilly and the Freakshow' from Centascope is now available worldwide from CD Baby and directly from the merchandise page of the official website. You can also get the album from Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon and many more.
Hi how are you John & Wayne? Where's "Cumbrian at Heart"? Francis been too busy with progressive rockers? Well, I haven't forgotten and just wanted to remind you we're looking forward to it. :-)
Hi John and Wayne, Just wanted to thank you for a superb night at your gig tonight in Thursby. Your songs are the kind I love to hear. No messing about, theyre a genuine reflection of life in general which many people like me can relate to. Its clear that you also have the unusual knack of engaging an audience of all ages with your intesting songs and funny stories of how they actually came about. Great stuff....goood luck, Carol.x
Hi John and Wayne, Sorry for the delay in getting back. Elaine's gig was extremely well received and everything went even better than I anticipated. Speak soon, Carol. x
You may like to check out my recently released book - 100 Great Albums. It's a 220 page review of the best music recorded during the period 1965-08 featuring the Beatles,Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Sex Pistols, Joy Division, U2, Nirvana, Radiohead, the Strokes and many more! Also, 500 vital album tracks are spotlighted (split between five categories... pre-1970, the 70's, 80's, 90's and 2000-08).
My aim is to prolong the existence of something close to my heart, something currently under severe threat from the download generation - The Album! With the modern world increasingly more interested in cherry-picking individual tracks, it seems to me a great shame that the sacred long-player is losing its importance. I'm on a mission to save the album before it's too late. All musicians, whether new or old to the scene, can appreciate the importance of that.
If you click on the button below you can access further details about the book (including an option to preview some of the content) before deciding whether you want to buy. All the best Andy.
Hello! Just wanted to drop in and let you know that pre-orders for my new jazz standards album "Bittersweet" are now taking place! The first 100 pre-orders will receive a signed copy! Release date is set for May 19th, but you will get your copy a few days earlier! Kate and I are very excited about the record, and we can't wait for you to hear it. Head over to www.bittersweetthealbum.com to pre-order! Thanks! ~Mark
Thanks for the add. You have some cracking songs ("Trippin up inclines" especially is so well written) and John, your voice is superb. Good stuff, Carol.
Be warm?? Thats a bit difficult these days don't you think, it's bloody freezing!! Certainly will check out the new album, are you nearly killing someone else or still picking on Keith? lol ;) xx
Hi John & Wayne! Looking forward to your new record. Ask Frankie about the story when he saw Jesus in a tree (or was it Mary?) - something religious and psychedelic like that. Well that's the story he was telling when I first met him with Robert Plant in Sunrise, Florida. Never forget it! xo Love, Melanie
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