John will tell you he has been involved in music since he built a makeshift bass guitar in 1968 which in reality was a painted piece of wood with 4 pieces of string stretched over it. With this priceless piece of equipment he tried vainly to pluck out the notes from the bass parts of his favourite Beatles and Hollies songs. His first proper gig was with the SOUL TOPPERS soul band in 1969. Growing up in the suburbs of Manchester during the 60's inspired a lot of people and helped mould John's musical direction. Along with his long time friends Mike Fogg, Bob Elliott, Gary Lomax, Mario Keenan, John Harvey, John Adams, Glenn Mitchell, Les Roberts, Gordon Milton, Paul Young and his brother Malcolm he has been writing and performing music most of his life.
After stints with SPEED, SLIPPED DISC and PALM SPRINGS in the 70`s (including recording sessions with Bee Gee`s producer Ossie Byrne) John located to North Wales in 1981 and joined Prestatyn-based band CANDIDATES FOR WAX and then THE CENTREPEDES. The 90`s saw him joining up with Bangor-based band THE BALANCE and for the past 7 years John has given up live gigs and decided to concentrate more on his first love, recording his own songs. He has settled down into the digital home recording revolution and is now focusing on getting some of those old songs revitalised and new one`s written. After working on instrumental music for the Welsh Digital College TV programmes in 2001 he went on to complete a lifetime`s ambition of recording his version of The Beatles "RUBBER SOUL" in 2002. He then took steps to record self-penned material with the "NORTH SOUTH" cd release in 2004 under the guise of enigmatic Canadian country-popster Charlie Angel following that with 70`s retrospective "GAINING IMMORTALITY" (2006) and since then he has been working on the much anticipated forthcoming 2007 "KITSILANO" project.
When not resuscitating his youth with his stalwart musican friends, John is right at home producing music with many up and coming artists and bands.
His historical musical pedigree can also be found in the pages of the MANCHESTER BEAT website (www.manchesterbeat.com) and accompanying books. HIS FIRST 3 CDS ARE AVAILABLE FROM CDBABY.COM OR BY CONTACTING JOHN DIRECTLY THROUGH THIS SITE. THE COST INCLUDING P.P. IS £8 PER CD. ALTERNATELY INDIVIDUAL SONGS BY JOHN/CHARLIEANGEL CAN BE BOUGHT FROM I-TUNES.
We realise how this is quite obviously automated and you will probably consider it as spam and ignore it.. but if you are feeling the need for a some fresh new music please visit our page and give our new EP a listen. We've worked really hard on it and had some excellent feedback so far and would love to hear what you guys think.
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Hi there John-similar weather to U over here in France-great!I remember Marcher Sound-but haven't listened online yet - I adore that Purple Gang track btw!! As for gigs...counting the days until October-Gilbert at Royal Albert Hall. Take care x
Hey Johhny-will look out for package-cheers . Presents list ok -will check out this weekend. Made Alfredo on monday, better print/sound-about 20 in -good show! have done cover version of Lay Down Sally for Carl's wife -Sally-Anne (50 in October) will send you backup/mix discs, next week, if I get chance- Speak to you Monday night 6ish- Gazzer
Hi John, I'll be interested to see what design you come up with! Please let me know when it's released. Gilbert's in Israel at this very moment! Best wishes from Jane x
Morning John Well, the weathermen have been wrong here again - no rain - so hopefully you've got some of this gorgeous sunshine where you are too? Spent most of yesterday out in the garden and Im aching for England at the min LOL We're hoping to get out and about this afternoon for a picnic here http://www.derbyshire-peakdistrict.co.uk/shipleypark.htm so fingers crossed it stays like this! Looking forward to the new music - hopefully I'll be able to afford the CD out of me Pension when it comes out! lol (kidding! i'm guessing it must be very frustrating..) Have a GREAT Bank Holiday Monday, whatever you're up to. Spk soon. Kxx
Hi John :) I'm doing good thanks, having a relaxing childless time (it's my weekend off this week! LOL) I hope you're having a good one too, and the weather's treating you a bit better than it's treating us here in deepest Derbyshire right now.. very miserable and more than a little bit windy... (tha'ts the weather - not me!) Rumour has it we had a tornado just north of Derby last night - Crikey!! What's going on?! How's the new music coming along?
Hi Johnny Just popped by to say hello mate, great screening at the cinema!, let's do a musical next!! Ha Ha The boy's would be up for that c u soon Mate, Glenn
Thanks John. I'm guessing that you're a happy Easter bunny then, with Chelsea's result! Hope you had a fab weekend - did you get to see The Boat That Rocked? x
I don't know who's the most excited Gilbert or me!! Eight new songs about events in America...because of Nashville, he's bound to be inspired, can't wait! Keep warm John x
Hiya John just thought I'd pop by and say Hello. Nice one with the Vicious Culture Trailer by the way. Anyone who hasn't seen it go on youtube or my page and look at it now. Anyway, hopefully speak soon
Hi John. What a star you are! Thank you sooo much, that was a wonderful surprise :) I love those tracks. I've been listening to TM quite a lot recently. 'She's My Kind of Rain' and 'Some Things Never Change' are two of my faves. In fact I like everything I've heard so far - he's a bit good isnt he? Thanks again John! You're very kind :) Hope you're having a good weekend. Kxxxx
Hi there John - good hearing from you. Yes I listened to Johnnie's Pirate Radio last Saturday and can't wait for tonight's show. The playlist was superb and JW is the perfect DJ, he knows his stuff and has a great radio persona...anyone would think I like him!!! x
Il y a quelques temps, tu m'as très gentiment laissé un bien sympathique commentaire au sujet de ma musique pop à l'ancienne, et je voulais avec retard t'en remercier chaleureusement !...
Et puis t'annoncer que mon dernier album "SORTIE DE SECOURS" est sorti depuis décembre, que j'en suis très fier parce que je pense que c'est la meilleure musique pop que j'aie faîte, et que l'album est en vente :
ps i'll be in new york for the first week in april, doing - ** 7 shows, ** some in-store thingies (including looney tunes), ** a couple of radios, and ** a cable telly whatsit.
** oh yes,... and i'll be "saving coney island" aswell. that's verr good. !!!
pps there is a rare 7" ep with me and "sss" on ebay.
lol (kidding! i'm guessing it must be very frustrating..)
