COMPLETE BAND HISTORY

1972: Age 14: After having 6-string guitar lessons quickly moved over to the bass guitar, after advice given from guitar tutor. Dad bought me my first bass guitar in March '72. Acquired a bass guitar tutor book & had a lesson from Phil Mitchell (local bassist). Self-taught over 6-months listening & copying favourite bass players i.e: Andy Fraser, Geezer Butler, John Paul Jones, Chris Squire, Paul McCartney, John Entwistle etc.

1st performance in front of an audience with Dad's covers band at 'The Smugglers Den' in Hullbridge, Essex. 3-Songs played: Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress, All Right Now & Johnny B. Goode.

1973: 'The Off Limits Quintet' A Jazz Rock 5-Piece. Southend area musicians, mainly local gigs. Piano player taught me different scales & fretboard fingering patterns.

1973-74: 'Streamer' 5-Piece Basildon Rock/Pop covers band. Regular gigs in Southend, Basildon & surrounding areas. Material by The Moody Blues, Jethro Tull, The Doobie Bros, Queen, AWB, Sweet etc. With Basildon musicians: Clive Dimmock / sax & flute, Terry Loosley / rhythm guitar & vocals, Martin Cook / lead guitar & vocals & Kevin Booker / drums. 

1974/5:'Hiker' 4-Piece Rock/Pop band playing original material from the Southend area. Music written by Chris Turner / piano & vocals, Mark Duckworth / guitar & Gary Warr / drums. We played gigs in Southend & London. Melodic Rock with a Glam image. At this point I starting to sing backing vocals.

1976:'The Toys' A short lived 4-piece band. Energetic Rock/Pop material with a 60's feel. Again including Chris Turner's original material with London based songwriter Phil Chambon / guitar & bv's & Gary Warr / drums.

1977-79:'Tonight' 5-piece Power-Pop, New-Wave outfit, playing original material written By Chris Turner & Phil Chambon. Adding Dave Cook / lead guitar & Gary Thompson / drums, both from the Southend area. Band secured a record deal with W.E.A subsiduary Target Records. Released 4 x singles & an un-released album, finally released on 'Angel Air Records' 2010. 1st single 'Drummer Man' reached no.14 chart position. 3 x TOPS appearences for Drummer Man & 2nd single: 'Money (That's Your Problem)'. Two more singles released: 'Wheels' & 'Jealousy Kills (Beware)'. Other T.V: TisWas, Cheggars Plays Pop, Crackerjack, Saturday Banana. Toured all over UK, Holland & Belgium.

1979-85: 'Wilko Johnson' 3/4 Piece Rhythm & Blues. Through the Southend music grapevine I was introduced to Wilko (living in Westcliff nr. Southend) via his manager in Feb '79, eventually joining Wilko's band in April '79. Along with Alan Platt (Fisher Z) (1979/1983-4) from London on drums, who previously played with Wilko's 'Solid Senders'. Also including John Denton / piano  from Leigh-On-Sea nr. Southend (1979-82). The band then carried on & off as a 3-piece with Alex Bines / drums (1979-82) from Southend. 6 years of gigs & tours of the UK, as well as European & Scandinavian tours, BBC radio sessions & recordings including: 2 x 7" Singles: 'Down By The Waterside' 1980 / 'Casting My Spell' 1981, 1 x 12" Mini-album: 'Pull The Cover' 1984 & an LP: 'Ice On The Motorway' 1980. There were 2 x filmed appearances on The Chorus Show in Paris (with John Denton), & The Old Grey Whistle Test, both in 1980. Salvortore (Sav) joined Wilko Johnson on drums in late 1984.

1982-84:'Wilko Johnson & Lew Lewis Band' 4-Piece Rhythm & Blues / Soul. With Lew Lewis from Canvey Island on vocals & harmonica, Buzz Barwell (Lew Lewis Reformer) from Southend & Alan Platt later on drums. Recorded a 7" E.P 'Bottle Up & Go' 1983, and a BBC Paris studio performance in '83. Again touring UK, Europe & Scandinavia.

1985-87: 'Eddie & The Hot Rods' 4-Piece Rhythm & Blues & New-Wave Rock band. I joined a re-formed E&THR in Feb '85, along with original singer Barrie Masters / vocals & drummer Steve Nicol from Rochford, Nr. Southend. With Dr.Feelgood roadie Warren Kennedy from Canvey Island on guitar & bv's. 2 years of UK & Europe gigs/tours continued, and a 6-track live in France recording 'One Story Town'.

1987-2005:'Love Affair' 4/5 Piece 60's Pop band. Initially a permanant member from 1987-1998, then as a stand-in dep until 2005. UK Gigs & tours mainly on the nostalgia circuit. Various L.A members from the Southend area were Martin Lyons / vocals, John Skelton (Eddie & The Hot Rods) / Drums & Ted 'Telecaster' Tomlin (Brothers Grim) / guitar, Adam Ridealch / guitar, Chris North (Kim Wilde, The Enid) / drums, Ian Gibbons (Roger Chapman, The Kinks) / keyboards & Glen Sissons (The ilIegal Eagles) / bass.

1989-90, 1994, 2011, 2016:'Steve Hooker' Local Rock 'n Roll, Blues & Soul singer-songwriter from Southend. 3-Piece band doing various gigs & small tours in the U.K & Europe. Originally with Wayne Bronze & John Buck (Polecats) from London / drums. Then later with Brian Clark from Wickford, Essex. Recordings including: 'Southchurch Style' CD (1990 sessions), 'Back In The Day' E.P CD (Steve & Wilko tracks from 1988) & 'Duente Blues' E.P CD (2016 release).

1991-92: 'C.I.A' (Canvey Island Allstars) Psychedelic covers band formed in 1990 by Dean & Warren Kennedy fron Canvey. Perfoming gigs in U.K, Holland, France & Spain. Also various Dr. Feelgood support gigs. Originally Paul Gray (Eddie & The Hot Rods) on bass. Dean Kennedy / Vocals & Guitar, Warren Kennedy / guitar, Roman Jugg (Damned) / vocals & guitar & Clyde Dempsy / drums

1993-1995:'Mrs. Huggins' Indie Pop/Rock 4-Piece group, fronted by former 'Tonight' drummer Gary Thompson on vocals & guitar. Also with Phil Bricknell on lead guitar from Southend & Ashley Gough on drums rom Canvey. Gigged in Southend & London, all original material performed by Gary Thompson. 

1994-1999: 'Panik' 4-Piece Rock & Pop covers band. Members from the Southend area with: Ted 'Telecaster' Tomlin / guitar & vocals), Adam Ridealch / guitar & vocals & John Skelton / drums. Gigs & tours in the U.K & Germany,  with Panik serving as a backing band to singers Chip Hawkes (Tremelos) & Bobby Harrison (Snafu). Recorded a 3-track cassette 'By Appointment'.

1998-2015:'Chalice' 5-Piece Prog/Rock band from Southend area. Original material written by Rob Pearce / keyboards, with Stephanie Andrews  / vocals, Rick Wills / drums & Jeff Green (illegal Eagles) / guitar. Then later: Tony Sandeman / guitar. Various gigs performed in and around Essex, with a CD album recorded 'Back To Back'.

1999-2000:'The Brew' Blues/Rock 3-piece covers with Ian Mcloud (Radio Stars) / vocals & guitar from Benfleet nr. Southend & Gary Thompson / drums. Mainly local Southend gigs performed.

1999-2002:'Blonde And Beyond' A Blondie 6-Piece tribute band from Southend with Maddie Maxwell (Pete Brown/Mickey Jupp) / vocals, Andrew Clarke / Guitar & bv's, Stevie Bacon / drums, Ian Pearce / lead guitar & Jason Fortis / keyboards, later played by Phil Aldridge (illegal Eagles / Carpenters tribute). The band did various gigs & tribute shows around the U/K.

2000-02:'Roy Mette Band' Blues/Rock 3 -piece band from the Southend area again. Original material written by Roy Mette (Warrior) / guitar & vocals, also including a Rory Gallagher tribute set in the show. Southend area & London gigs performed, with a live CD album produced at 'The Belvadere Club' in Billericay called: 'A Right Performance'. Rob Somerville (Bad Manners / Bushfire) on drums.

2003-2017: 'The Magnets' 5-Piece 1960's covers band performing gigs in the Essex area. Members included: Jim Proops (Bojangles) / vocals, Vic Collins (Kursaal Flyers) / guitar, Paul Crudgington (Crossfire) / lead guitar & Pat Green / drums, replaced later by John Skelton, then finally by Rob Somerville.

2003-06:'Broken Friend' An Alternative Pop/Rock 4-Piece Band with original material written by James Russell / keyboards & vocals, Southend based. Other members including: Kev Woods (Bushfire) / guitar & Rob Somerville / drums. The band recorded a CD album 'Nobody Else's Business' in 2006. Performing gigs in Southend & London.

2006-2020:'Phil Burdett Group' 5/7 Piece Alt. Folk/Rock, Soul band. Local Southend singer-songwriter Phil Burdett from Basildon / acoustic guitar & vocals, a poet with two published novels. Various Southend area members including: Terry Lewis (Mama's Gun) / guitar, Claire Furley / & Colleen McCarthy / bv's. Phil Aldridge, Richard Boniface, Jack Corder & Ben Floyd / drums. Steve Stott / mandolin & violin from Basildon, John Bennett / guitar (The High Lamas) from Brentwood. Tim Huskinson / piano, Dee Hepburn / piano & bv's from Chelmsford. PBG Mainly performing gigs in the Southend area.  To date I've contributed to 7 x CD albums: 'By The Time I Get Tomorrow' (2009), 'Good For Mr. Bad Hat' (2012), 'Mercenary Thought Of A Lush' (2012), 'Dunfearing & The West Country High' (2013), 'Shaky Path To Arcadia' (2015), 'Humble Ardour Refrains' (2015) & 'Psychopastoral' (2018). 

2012-14'Bootleg Blondie' New-Wave pop 5-Piece. Another Blondie tribute band this time from London, fronted by Debbie Harris / vocals, Andy Harris / guitar & bv's. With Stu Bent / drums & Keys players: Derror Magrith, Maddie Maxwell, & Chris Kibble (Terry Callier / M People). U.K national gigs performed at festivals, clubs, Butins etc.

2014-16:'Class Of '76' / 2017-18 'Barrie Masters Inmates' New-wave rock related covers band, Rhythm & Blues / Soul. Featuring: Barrie Masters / vocals, Steve Nicol / drums. Also, Nigel Bennett (The Members) / guitar / bv's from London. Later replacement guitarist Steve (The Statins) from Southend. The band released a single: 'Emma (burning me up)' download only in 2015. Gigs around the U.K plus a tour of Spain completed.

The band changed their name to Barrie Masters Inmates in the summer of 2017, with replacement guitarists: George Page (Reaction with Mark Hollis) from Farnborough & Didier Pasquier / rhythm guitar from France. More U.K gigs with a trip to Japan.

2015-20:'Snafu' A Rock/Funk/Soul 70's 5-Piece band. I originally backed Bobby (Snafu) in the 90's whilst in Panik. This was another re-formed version of Snafu with original singer Bobby Harrison (Procol Harum / Freedom) with Maddie Maxwell / keys & bv's, Russ Cook / guitar from Hornchurch, Essex, & Dave Engal / drums from Romford, Essex, later Mich Revivo / drums from Southend. Various gigs around the U.K including supporting 'Atomic Rooster' and performing at the '100 Club' in London.

2019-Present:'Roy Mette Band' / 2019-21: 'Dangerous Daydream' Blues/Rock & /Pop/Rock. D.D was a project (4-piece) set up by Roy Mette to do original Pop/Rock songs with an americana feel. Featuring a shared lead vocal with Mandie Graham (Roadhouse) from Yorkshire & Dave Allen (Changes Bowie Tribute) on drums from Rochford, Essex. Festival gigs in Suffolk & Kent performed with various round Essex area gigs.

RMB (3-Piece) as previously performed with, features Roy's original Blues/Rock material with a Rory Gallagher tagged on set. With David George Allen again on drums. Essex & U.K gigs played with Belguim & Holland selected venues as well.

2021-Present:'The Poachers' Local Southend 5-Piece covers band (5-piece) covering 60's-00's Rock/Pop/Soul genres. Band originaly formed in 2018 by Paul Smith / guitar (ACDC Tribute) from Southend, Essex & John Davies (Love Street) / lead guitar from Benfleet, Essex, originally as a blues-rock band. Re-formed as a covers band in 2021 with: Joe Beer / vocals from Barling, Essex & guitar & Jack Corder (Phil Burdett Group) / drums & bv's. Band playing regular gigs in the Southend & surrounding Essex areas. Gary Porter (Crisis Days), a local singer-songwriter replaced the vocal spot in 2022. David George Allen (Changes Bowie/Roy Mette) coming in on drums 2024.

2022-25:'Hazy Cosmic Vibe' 60's-00's All genres. Another local covers band (3-piece) with an extensive repertoire fronted by Joe Beer & myself from The Poachers. Also occasionally working as a sepearate item with Joe Beer as a duo. Building up a solid reputation & regular gig work in the Southend & Essex areas since. 

2023-Present:'The Chemics' 4-Piece Alternative Pop/Rock, New-wave, Blues & Country. Original material fronted by Southend singer-songwriter Mick Remmington (Red House Groove Band) on vocals & acoustic guitar, Jack Corder / drums & bv's, Greg / guitar. Local Southend gigs performed. Promotional 3-song CD/Download recording in process. 

2024-Present:'One Big Sugar' 70's-20's' 4-Piece covers band Rock/Pop/Soul. Band presented by husband & wife team from Rochford nr. Southend. Claire Hawkins / vocal, Tony Hawkins / guitar & bv's & Paul Jackson / drums. Local gigs in the Southend area.

2024-Present: 'Mabel Rodgers' (Mabes) Local female singer-songwriter from Benfleet. Pop/Soul artist established for over 10 years with previous success in the music industry. Working as a backing band with Zoltan Pozsar / Drums & Phil Sheldon on guitar both from Leigh-On-Sea.