Guitar: Lee
Past activities
Duudes! Welcome to my bio page (or should that be "bio-hazard" page... you decide).
Well where do I start, I was born in 1969 to the youngest, grooviest greatest parents you could hope for. This is the foundation on which my musical history was laid. First, I recall listening to my dad playing guitar in the spare room of the house where I grew up, whilst I was "asleep" in bed. Secondly, the takeover of ownership of Pa's copy of On The Level by Quo at age 5, and thirdly (and most importantly) getting taken to loads of gigs as a kid. Most memorably John Miles at Canterbury Odeon on the More Miles Per Hour Tour, when aged around 8.
Put 'em all together and you get my life's mission statement: I wanted to be a guitar hero!!
After receiving my first guitar aged 11 (a shite old Zenta SG copy with no bridge pickup), I hooked up with schoolmates - and future bandmates - Paul Delo, Mik Gaffney and Paul's older bro' Clint. I started to learn, playing along to albums like Powerage by AC/DC, Under The Blade by Twisted Sister and a whole heap of other classics.
When I was somewhere around 13, I had a brief period of wanting to be a drummer (a secondary "thing" that I still hold dear). But then on the eve of my 15th birthday, two utterly life changing happenings occurred at the 1984 Monsters Of Rock festival:
- Round And Round by Ratt was played over the PA (to this day one of my fave songs);
- Jake E. Lee playing guitar for Ozzy!! Man, he was aaamazing, strutting and posing and coaxing the most amazing sounds out of that gorgeous white and black "Charvel-ised" Fender Strat.
I wanted to be a guitar hero again!!! And learning began again. This time, IN EARNEST!
After various dalliances with various "almost bands" I got my first proper guitar playing gig in 1990 with long established, Margate based "rock gods" Vigilante, when they decided to add a second guitar to the line-up.
After a six / seven month stint with Vigi', I then hooked with my old friends Paul, Mik and Clint to complete The Homeboys line-up. A 60/40% originals to covers "hair metal-esque" outfit. We changed the name to Mr Scary in early '92-ish.
After Mr Scary kinda broke in 1994 I decided to take a "short break" which lasted til May 2006, which is when, in a crap rehearsal room next to the Fleur De Leys pub in Gillingham, the first sessions of the band that would eventually become Hardtail took place.
And, I have to say like a musical Moses, I've found The Promised Band - ha ha.
Anyway Ladies and Gents, I've gotta go, thanks for reading my page, and see y'all at the next gig!
Equipment used
- Edwards (ESP) Les Paul, with Seymour Duncan Zebra pickups, finished in Vintage Sunburst
- 1987 Charvel Model 4. Fitted with Seymour Duncan "Screamin' Demon" bridge pickup. Neon Blue finish.
- Marshall JCM2000 TSL602, 2*12 Valve Combo
- Jim Dunlop "Cry Baby" Wah, and various Behringer and Danelectro stomp boxes
- Planet Waves picks, capos and leads; Ernie Ball Strings, Jim Dunlop slides
Musical influences
- DAD!, Jake E. Lee, George Lynch (Dokken), Ratt, Enuff Z Nuff, MOTLEY CRUE!
- Van Halen, Thin Lizzy, Rich Robinson (Black Crowes)
- ...and a whole host of others to numerous to mention including The Carpenters, Carole King and Abba among others.
