Biography

I was in a garage band and there were 2 guitarists a biscuit tin player and singer. No bass player , so I went out and bought a bass (less competition) and learnt that.
When I wa...

Biography

I was in a garage band and there were 2 guitarists a biscuit tin player and singer. No bass player , so I went out and bought a bass (less competition) and learnt that.
When I was 19 my father bought me an acoustic guitar so I could play my own songs and for the best part of 20 years was that all I played were my own songs. Most of my songs are basic 3 chords – I would put status quo to shame

The Journey

Just before I came out to Spain my local bar started up a Sunday night jam session. I was in there and no one was getting up there to do a spot so the poor guy was trying to entertain the crowds – successfully I may add. Then one of my friends asked me to get up there and do a spot – nope – only do my own songs and no one knows them.

Anyway said friend decided to have a word with the guy running the show who sent his very pretty girlfriend over to talk me into it –took a while but I eventually said yes so long as they were aware I don’t know anyone’s songs but my own. I played 2 songs which went down a storm (a receptive audience made up of people who I knew helped of course) After that I came out to Spain in 2003 and started doing party tricks playing guitar at bbq’s spurred on by a good friend of mine who just loves guitar music and no matter how bad I was he always said it was good (ah it is so nice to have friends who are socially deaf and completely inebriated)

Anyway it progressed from there when I started playing in my local bar on a Friday night acoustically – no amps only me and trusty guitar. I knew about 10 covers by then having learnt a few. After a few weeks there was actually a growing crowd – not just the usual 5 or 6 but people were coming in to listen – amazing – and my repertoire was building because they kept asking did I know xxxx. I Being a novice guitarist I told them no but I will learn it. They came back to listen and I always made sure I played that song for them.

Then I was asked to perform on New Years Eve in another bar. As I had a few weeks to prepare I did some backing tracks and spent a while learning more songs. I did U2’s with or without you and when I finished there was a standing ovation (believe me it was because they were all drunk and Spanish and the Spanish love U2 – nothing to do with how well (or badly) I did the song.

I also played occasionally at a bar in Oliva in a jam session with about 7 others. One night was a guy called Ingo. I did an Eagles song with him and jokingly said –“and now Ingo on Lead Guitar” and he did – he was brilliant. After that we played regular at my local bar Spinach. I asked the local music store in Gandia if they would put a notice to find a Drummer and Bass guitarist. She suggested I go to Versus in Gandia as there was a band played every week – the Drummer was her drum teacher in the store (the one that taught the stores students.)

I went to see them armed with my guitar, played two songs and the manager of the bar asked if I would play there again on my own. I said no problem would think about it.

Later that week got a call from the Drummer asking if I would like to form a band. Spoke to Ingo and a bassist friend who both said yes – and so begun an adventure.
We were practicing at Versus nightclub in Gandia once a week when one afternoon the owner came in. Luis – the drummer – who also worked in the bar as a DJ, mentioned to the owner that Vince (ie me) who was English, could sing a song which happened to be a favourite of the owner.

He asked us to play it which we did. Not only did he love it but his wife adored it. He then saw our set list and one of the songs was another favourite of his . We did this and afterwards he asked us to play the next evening. We weren’t really prepared for that but we did it and went down a storm. So much so we were invited to perform for the anniversary a week later When we did the anniversary gig we did a set outside which was acoustic – within minutes there were about 30-40 people sitting outside. Later we did another set inside on stage and to a full house – some 400 people. Both sets went down a blast.

The Dream

Probably the same as most artists I had a Saul on the road to Damascus experience. In 1994 I went to see the Eagles play at Wembley Stadium. The crowd was a very mixed bunch – from ageing hippies (and their parents it seemed) right down to a little 6 year old. The Eagles played my favourite song – Lying Eyes – and the whole audience joined in – word for word. It was a moving experience and I could feel what it must be like to have 20,000 people all singing one of your songs. That is my goal.

My other dream would be to support U2 and the Eagles. I think both bands have expressive lyrics and great tunes and put the music back in to the music industry. Who knows one day I may just get that call from Bono and or Don Henley to ask for my time. Anyone have their Myspace address.

The Goal

Well obviously to conquer the world and have U2 supporting me. Seriously though I have one aim in mind whether writing music or playing live and that is to leave the audience with the feeling they have witnessed a bit of magic. Hopefully by doing so some of that feeling will last into their daily lives that they can smile a little bit more.

My current musical goals are to finish the CD (which has only been two years in the making) and perform a mini tour of Spain (ie not just Oliva, Piles and the surrounding areas) followed by the UK, Europe and rest of the world, as well as hopefully getting some airplay on Radio and TV – and who knows maybe even selling a few CD´s along the way. But to have fun whilst doing it is the main aim