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HISTORY....

AWOL has evolved to their present form along a rocky 5 year road.....

Their first public appearance was Dec 2002 when they were guests at the Deadbeats Christmas party at Whitmore Village Hall with Neil Faulkner (ex Blister & Phil Littler band) on vocals & rhythm/sometimes lead guitar, Geoff Bridgwood on lead  & Sally Mancell on bass with guest drummer Mike Warrillow ( now with Indecision (Lead) & Silva (bass).....

On the quest for a drummer they asked Dave Heath, drummer with Silva if he’d come and help out, he did and he stayed, liking the classic rock Free, Cream &  Santana numbers and in December 2003 they supported Silva at the Thistleberry in Newcastle.....

Neil & Sal had worked with Big Al Maslankowski (ex Jim Crow & Foxy) at Doulton. As well as being a superb figure modeller he was a supremely talented percussionist. They asked him if he would add congas etc. to the Santana numbers, he did, loved it, and stayed ! So, AWOL progressed as a five piece with an expanding list of bookings.....

However, Summer 2005 lead guitarist Geoff decided he’d had enough and with several bookings to honour Al asked his old pal Dave Edge (ex Grace) if he’d help out. Dave learned 18 songs in 2 weeks and the show went on with an initiation at the Shroppie Fly, Audlem in July 05.....

Things were steady for a few months as the set changed to suit Dave’s style and he settled in well with new bookings arriving week by week.  But all was to fall apart again as Neil developed horrendous tinnitus. There was no way he could continue and the band had to cancel gigs with no singer or rhythm guitarist.....

Once again Al came to the rescue.  A chance meeting with his old pal Harry from Grace and Al & Sal decided to go along to see their performance one Saturday at the Gardeners Retreat in Stoke.They explained their plight to Grace’s vocalist Mac Austin (yet another old chum...!) who offered to step in while Neil recovered.....

Neil didn’t return, his affliction too intense and Mac stayed.... and gradually the band adapted to Mac’s vocal style and began to enjoy gigging again. The classic rock elements of the set gradually changed to suit Mac’s softer style but he still does justice to rock classics like Tull’s Locomotive Breath and Cream's Tales of Brave Ulysses  and his Bryan Ferry style vocals really shine in Lets stick Together, Virginia Plain and Slave to Love.....

As if AWOL hadn’t had their fair share of mishaps worse was to come when Al, known to his older mates as Maz, had a fatal heart attack at home after the Cosey Club gig in September 2006.....

The band was stunned by the tragedy, but Al’s enthusiasm and love of music pushed them on to continue. They have remained a 4 piece and continue on with fond memories of Al aka Maz without whom they wouldn’t be playing today.....

PRESENT....

Today AWOL is a  pub band that have been told their strength is their choice of material, just that bit different from other classic cover bands. They love to play their own interpretation of songs Strawberry Fields without the backwards orchestra, Sweet Dreams Are Made of This no synth... to songs that complement Dave’s Fender Strat or Gibson SG like Badge or Walking in Memphis.  The second set generally starts with 6 or so acoustic numbers featuring Dave’s Washburn or his favourite old 1970’s Yamaha 12 string and includes numbers such as Here comes the Sun, Solsbury Hill, Itchycoo Park & Mrs Robinson.....

They are always looking for new songs to hopefully do justice to, that  keep them and the audience happy and coming back for more !....