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The band are proud to be the first of the Blues Matters family to have a top twenty hit (number 4) in the USA I-Tunes Blues Singles download chart.

It has been a long, hard road with many twists and turns. But, it has been worth it.

The band play, as has been described, heavy blues/rock and in live performances take no prisoners. Many reviews have talked about the bands fantastic rhythm section, their, ‘in your face’ style.

The band play a selection of songs from their Blues Matters album ‘Are you Ready’, including, ‘Are you Ready’, ‘Hometown’, ‘Changes’ their American hit ‘Spirit in the Sky’ and ‘Love in the fast lane’ which is included on the Blues Matters album ‘Blues without the blinkers’ which reached number 2 in the UK I-Tunes blues album charts.

In addition to their original material they also play covers such as ‘I got my Mojo Working’, ‘Spoonful’, ‘White Room’, ‘Rock me Baby’, ’Hey Joe’ and many more.

The band are hoping to enter the studio later this year to record their follow up album to ‘Are you Ready’.

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Mick Rutherford began his career in 1963 and has played in excess of 3,000 live dates. Two of his albums are now collectable, ‘Saga of the Ice King’ by his band Ice, recorded in 1979, is now worth more than £150 with one selling in Birmingham for a staggering £375. His 1975 album with Dickens called ‘Standing Out’ is worth a minimum of £50. He played in front of 35,000 people at the third Mildenhall Rock and Blues Festival in August 1990 and, between November 1990 and January 1991 performed in Abu Dhabi to the American Navy during the first Gulf War build up.

Mick uses Vintage Musicman Bass Guitar, Vintage custom 335 semi- acoustic Guitar. Fender 135 watt Bass Amplification through a Carlsbro 300 watt custom Bass cabinet. He also uses a Zoom on stage tuner.

Paul Westmoreland He played his first gig during early ‘80’s. He has been a member of Bluesology and with this band played at the Bulldog Bash at Avon Park Raceway. Destiny Ranch recorded on the Parliphone Lable and, with Mick, formed The Mick Rutherford Band. His influences are Cozy Powell, Ginger Baker and Ian Paice. His Baker influence has been noticed by critics, especially during ‘White Room’.

Paul uses a Pearl Export 5 shell drum kit with Paste cymbals.

Carl Axon started in the late ‘70’s and joined Blind Drunk. He then formed his own rock band, Stained Glass, before being picked out by the management team of 80’s hitsters, Dr and the Medics. Although he helped write, and played on the bands Blues Matters album. He has appeared, with the Medics, on several TV shows, including 'Top of the Pops' and 'Hit me baby one more time'. His influence is Michael Shenker, who he has jammed with at The Monsters of Rock Festival at Donnington Park. In November 2006 Carl left The Medics to join The Mick Rutherford Band on a full time basis.

Carl plays a Gibson Flying V and Fender Telecaster and uses Marshall amps and speakers.

The band is self contained and travel with a 1,500 watt PA system using McGregor and Peavy power amps with a sound cube desk. The band use Shure SM58 microphones.

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Over the years the various members of the band have performed with; The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Slade, T. Rex, The Animals, Nine Below Zero, Dr Feelgood, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies, The Zombies, The Searchers, Manfred Mann, The Blues Band, Blodwyn Pig, John Mayall’s Blues Breakers, Bakerloo, Juicy Lucy among others.

The Mick Rutherford Band have played on the same bill as: Jethro Tull, The Bruce Dickinson Band, Andrew Strong, The Hamsters, Saxon, The Pretty Things, John Ottway, Tony ‘T.S.’ McPhee and the Groundhogs among others.

They have performed at; The Bulldog Bash, The Rock and Blues, The National Welsh Show, The West of England Show, The National NABD Show, The Skegness Rock and Blues Weekend, The Nantwich Blues Festival, The Burnly Blues Festival, The Colne Blues festival, The Maryport Blues Festival, The Cropredy Festival, The BMF Show, The Garden of England Show, The NABD Tailender and many more.

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The band can be contacted by E Mail at mickrutherford@talktalk.net, by phone on 07743702743 by post to Mick Rutherford 3 Watery Lane, Scropton, Derbys DE65 5PL. If you input The Mick Rutherford Band onto your internet search engine you can see the reviews of this great band , who have been called, THE ULTIMATE BRITISH POWER TRIO.