THE ULTIMATE BOWIE TRIBUTE SHOW

Throughout my childhood I idolized bands like Def Leopard, Iron Maiden and Metallica. Air guitar was my speciality, playing heavy rock & metal really loud in my bedroom when I should have been doing homework. I hated the music lessons in school. I didn’t feel my music teachers encouraged me enough with the right instrument, being taught scales on Casio keyboards whilst staring longingly at the guitars on the wall left there only for the older more qualified students to learn left me  un-stimulated.  

It wasn’t until a year or so after I left school I was helping out a band my friend played bass guitar for. I was “roadie” for him, although thinking back now more like “taxi” as I could drive and he couldn’t. He asked one day would I like to learn to play bass guitar. I thought the bass was easiest alternative to guitar and I still would look cool as it was still some sort of guitar. Funny how you think like that when you’re young and foolish. Maybe it was the fact I thought four strings couldn’t be as complicated as six. I was really pleased that I found I could play by ear and after being shown to use my fingers instead, bought myself a second hand Aria Pro bass guitar for £80 and played along to my rock CD’s in my bedroom. It wasn’t long after I stopped playing taxi I played bass with a group of old guys doing covers of songs from Free, The Eagles & Fleetwood Mac Etc. 

I then met up with an old friend who was planning to form a new band and go on tour to Zimbabwe; I was asked to join as bass player and instantly took up the chance to play music in another country. Since then my musical experiences have been fantastic. Other than playing venues up and down the UK I have played in Greece, Florida and have frequented the clubs down Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. My most humbling experience was recording and Album for Leon in 2005 with Billy Idol’s producer Brian Reeves. It is an amazing feeling actually working with a record producer and it makes you realize how much work goes into making a record. Whilst staying in Los Angeles for a few months during the previous year I ended up on the US hit Television program The Late show with Jay Leno and on my first visit to Los Angeles found myself having drinks with Lemmy from Motor head. On return to the UK I then had experience playing on the BBC stage in the Regent Street festival sharing the line up with the now popular Newton Faulkner.  

100’s of gigs later I had the great pleasure to lend a hand with Aladdinsane and play bass guitar with them at The Thorney festival. Being a huge David Bowie fan I enjoyed every single musical note as I struggled through a set list of songs I hadn’t played before. Luckily Paul and the guy’s didn’t notice my mistakes and asked me to join them as bass player, for which I have honourably accepted.  I now look forward to my new musical chapter with Aladdinsane and know that owing to their dedication and respect to one of the greatest living icons who is David Bowie, we can re-create his sound as the greatest David Bowie tribute band the UK is ready for.