Bio
I got my first guitar at 14 years old but I was already an accomplished player of many great tunes on the tennis racquet and cricket bat. Admittedly the transition was slow but I persevered.
MOMENT ONE:
Hearing “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys.
I heard it on a compilation album and, along with “Here, There and Everywhere” from The Beatles’ “Revolver” album it completely captivated me. Songs were suddenly very special to me.
I think shortly after I had strung three chords together for the first time I attempted to write a song, utterly convinced that I could do it. The song was pretentious twaddle called, I think I can just about remember, “Toe The Line” (Nothing to do with Toto as this was 1976).
I just wanted to learn so I copied, stole, adapted from songs I loved – anything to improve.
My first band at school was called “Argon” (the strapline was “It’s A Gas”), only ever played covers although I occasionally convinced them to jam my ideas at rehearsals.
Only in the 1980s did I start to imagine writing songs to be played in public.
MOMENT TWO:
Hearing “Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now” by The Smiths.
This was the point where my lifelong passion for Poetry started to inform my new love of songs. Morrissey was no singer – but he was a vocalist, a lyricist and an original. I too have not been blessed with a singer’s voice (a major barrier to ever getting songs heard) but Morrissey, and others subsequently, convinced me that if you can tell stories through lyrics – and express yourself in a genuine way – then people might listen. Morrissey was known as being miserable, yet he has written some of the funniest lyrics in Pop history.
That’s when I decided – “If you can make them laugh, and make them cry, then you might make them listen” – and all my songs try to do that. They have pathos, humour or both.
During the 1980s I formed a band called The Principle. We released a single called “This Is Not A Song By Talking Heads” – in keeping with my love for songs where the singer was lyrically adept but perhaps did not have a perfect voice I loved Talking Heads – and it did quite well for an independent release. We ended up playing it on TV and it got airplay on Radio One and many local stations nationally. The follow up, “Kimberley”, was less played and less successful.
Then at the beginning of the 1990s I morphed some of The Principle into more of a Rock Band and renamed it “The View From Without”. This band had local success, winning the East Anglian Rock Competition in 1991 – and one of my compositions, “Brand New Wilderness”, won the Best Song prize.
MOMENT THREE:
Hearing “Rain Dogs” by Tom Waits (then everything else).
As The View From Without ended I never gave up on studying the art of the song. It was in the early 90s that I encountered my new guiding light. Once again, a vocalist but not necessarily a great singer. The lyrics. The humour. The Poetry. I fell as much in love with Tom Waits as I had with Morrissey and began copying, stealing and adapting all over again. I still have everything he has ever released.
MOMENT FOUR:
Seeing Ron Sexsmith solo.
Another defining experience. Ron Sexsmith has a unique mastery of melody, story-telling and simplicity. His songs are amongst the finest I have ever heard, and he personifies the truly gifted singer/songwriter. He is also extremely gracious, supportive and humble in real life. A true gentleman and a wonderful human being. I have learnt so much from listening to and learning to play his songs.
If you don’t know Ron then check him out – you are in for a treat.
During the late 1990s I joined a covers band in Peterborough called “Naked”. We came close to doing original material but sadly didn’t quite get there. I loved playing with that band though and have many great memories of superb gigs.
MOMENT FIVE:
Turning 60.
As I reached this landmark I found myself taking over the St Ives Poetry and Folk Club. This gave me a safe space to start to perform songs and I am forever grateful to all the members who listened politely, occasionally gave feedback and most of all allowed me to build confidence to play and sing solo.
Haunted by the spirits of Morrissey, Tom Waits, Ron Sexmith and latterly other greats like Neil Young, Bob Dylan and even Nick Cave I decided at the age of 60 to return to songwriting and capture ideas for posterity – even if just for my own family.
The plan was, and still is, to record demos, play live and meet fellow music fans, performers and players. In these strange times of Artificial Intelligence, digital connectivity and of course streaming, I have found real joy in traditional Open Mic nights, Acoustic Jam nights and the simple pleasures of interacting with like-minded human beings.
Yes I had to bow to the inevitability of using the Internet (it is 2025 after all) so this web site does that…but I hope it enhances and does not detract from the thing I hold most dear – human interaction.
I still play in a great local covers band called “Poke” – I always learn a great deal from performing cover songs and we do like to put our own original spin on the covers we do.
Matt Johnson and Andy Mottershead from Poke have helped on some recordings and will, from time to time, join me live I hope.
Chris Chalker, bass, has been with me through The Principle, The View From Without and Poke and he was incredibly helpful and supportive in getting me to actually get out and do something.
Luan, vocals, is a proper singer, like Matt, and has been a great source of encouragement for me. We co-wrote a song together once for a newly wed couple.
So that’s it.
There are various links to videos, recorded interviews and songs on the site for all my various projects.
Thank you for visiting and I hope I see you at a gig soon.
“I’ll meet you in the coda
Of a sad old country song
Girl, I’m thinking about you a lot”