I first started playing the guitar at around eight years of age, forming a skiffle group at my Primary school in the village of Droxford in Hampshire, with a couple of friends (Lonnie Donegan songs were the order of the day). A few years later,a five piece band was formed with some like minded boys in the village. The band was eventually named ‘Rodney Burke and The Kluds’, although I can’t remember who thought of the name or why, I do remember the lead singer,Malcom, didn’t particularly like being called ‘Rodney Burke’. ‘The Kluds’soon became popular gigging at village halls and youth clubs around Hampshire.My mum took me to gigs in her Austin A35,my prized red ‘Watkins Rapier’guitar and Vox AC10 carefully placed on the back seat. In 1964, my family (mum, dad & brother Pete) moved to Ashford in Kent. Within a few weeks I’d formed a band with some new found friends and brother Pete on keyboards. There were two sets of brothers in the band,the other two being Gary and Phil, the other two members of the band were Steve( the singer)and drummer Tim (later replaced by Les Sampson)whom I was to work with again in years to come. The band started out as ‘The Couriers’, this was later changed to ‘Cleopatra’s Needle’.The band became popular on the South coast and London,they also became very much in demand as a support band, gigging with bands such as The Tremoloes Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas, The Move,Dave Dee Dozy etc,Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull,Love Sculpture,The Troggs,The Kinks,Amen Corner,Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Long John Baldry (with Rod Stewart & Julie Driscol), Bluesology (with Reg Dwight), Status Quo, Deep Purple, a very early Genesis,PP Arnold & The Nice,Bonzo Dog Do Da Band,Geno Washington,Jimmy James, Caravan, Soft Machine, Love Affair, the list goes on. I remember this period in my life as being a great time for gigging and meeting lots of musicians most of them very nice people, one of them being Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience) who used to let us rehearse in his studio while he would go to one of the local pubs with his mates. These rehearsal nights would often end up as late night ‘jam’ sessions with whoever was left standing after visiting the’Walnut Tree’. I remember one of these nights in particular when another local musician (at that time)returned from the pub with Noel, this was Jeff Beck.I wish I had recorded the jam session that night! I later joined ‘The Noel Redding Band” in 1976 appearing on the bands second album’Blowin’.Also in the band was Les’Leadfoot ‘Sampson,David Clarke and ex Thin Lizzy guitarist Eric Bell. I joined Kent based band Tristram Shandy around 197O.The band made a living playing American air bases all around the UK,this eventually lead to the band being signed to Mecca Agency. Tristram eventually ended up based in Nottingham consisting of the original line-up of Dave Bowley (guitar, piano,mouth-organ), Arthur Sparks (bass),Pete Sewell (drums) and myself.Whilst working as resident band at Nottingham Palais,the band went through several changes of line-up,the last of these being local bass player & vocalist Boris Carlin,Pete,myself and from Leicester Adam Seymour(guitar/vocals).When the band folded up, Adam moved to London and eventually joined Chrissie Hyndes ‘Pretenders’.I then spent some time gigging with other bands,doing sessions and the club circuit with Boris. In 1982 I was invited to join Nottingham based rock band ‘Dawn Trader’when guitarist Steve Humphries(now playing bass with Queen tribute band 'Mercury') left the band.This was when I first met and worked with Keith White(drums).So began a long and lasting working relationship which has lasted to the present day.Keith and I left ‘Trader’at the same time and teamed up with Boris to form rock trio ‘ABK’ (Andy,Boris & Keith).The band built up a good following in the Notts area lasting from early 80’s until 1997,ending in a storming gig at ‘The Running Horse’in Nottingham one hot steamy night in July.
My next move was to join up with Cam,Dran and Leon with Mansfield based band ‘The Stumble Brothers’.When Leon,the drummer, left Keith was invited to join, bringing back together the old team of ‘A & K’.This line-up lasted around eight years or so.The ‘Stumbles’ are still going strong-catch them at a gig near you soon! When I met up with ‘Jimbo’ Price at a ‘Stumbles’ gig one night the seeds were sown for forming a new band.Jim and I had last worked together in ‘Tristram Shandy’.So ‘BUZZARD’ was formed with Keith,Jim,myself and Rob Tomlinson on keyboards and guitar.The band are writing and performing self-penned original material + a selection of classic rock and blues songs.The band have teamed up with ex Tristram Shandy road manager and lyricist Michael Farris,from Kent,to help out with lyrics for the original songs.
LOOK OUT THE ‘BUZZARD’ IS LANDING!
(November 2007)
