This is a little different introduction as there is not much point in telling you the same old stories.I had my very first live on stage experience at the age of 6 at my school St. Augustine, singing “Hound Dog†by Elvis and ‘plonkin’ on my plastic Tommy Steele guitar. When people started clapping I got really frightened and ran off in tears. Around that same time my uncle Brian played in a ‘skiffle group’ and he used to let me play on his guitar. I played it like a double bass because I was too small to hold it properly. Eventually, at the age of 9, my dad realised how much I enjoyed playing and that I had potential so he bought me my first electric guitar (Vox) from my friends Paul and Clyde Briggs. In that same year my dad took me to see Del Shannon live in concert in Bradford – that made a huge impression on me and from that day onwards he influenced me to the point that I recorded one of his songs on my forthcoming new album with Pete Spencer.From the age of eleven I went to St. Bede’s Grammar School. Within the first week there two ‘bullies’ picked on me as a new boy but I knew how to fight back so they moved on and started picking on Chris Norman who I did not know at the time. I thought, Chris looked like a ‘skinny, little angel’ who could do with some help. I went over to help him out but realised Chris was quite capable of sorting it out himself. That’s how Chris and I became friends and no more bullies picked on us again at school!When we both found out that we love music and could play very basic guitar we very initially started playing and singing Everly Brothers-, Kinks-, Hollies- and Beatles songs.
During those school days I also met Ron Kelly, carrying some ‘chop sticks’, in a doorway of a music shop in Bradford and asked him if he was a drummer….?!! I finished up joining Ron’s band. Firstly the singer and then the bassplayer left, that’s when Chris and I re-united and finally asked Terry to join the band. This line-up stayed together for 7 years, playing live in various clubs, e.g. Radio 1 Club throughout the UK. In 1973 Ron decided to leave and Pete Spencer, who had stood in for Ron a couple of times before, was asked to join the band. After almost another year of sleeping in vans, tents etc. the band “Mud†introduced us to Chinn and Chapman. They then signed us up and “Smokey / Smokie†was born. It all took off, Smokie had huge success throughout the world from 1975 – 1981. Then the band split, Chris and Pete went their ways and Terry and myself formed a new “Smokie†with Alan Barton as lead singer in late 1986. We did lots of live work esp. in Germany, Scandinavia and Ireland and recorded a number of albums throughout that period.After the tragic car accident in Germany in 1995 in which Alan Barton lost his life I decided to take some time away which resulted in leaving the band for good.
I have recently formed a new band called “Silson†and I am performing again.More info at:
The Official Website: http://www.alansilson.com
The Official Fan-Portal: http://silson-and-friends.adc.kzLOVEMYFLASH CODE
