John Poole

My first live performance was at the age of 13 in a band called The J-Beats during the interval of a Saturday afternoon film matinee at The Gaumont, Dingle, Liverpool 1963. I went on to play The Cavern Club, Majestic Ballroom and Youth Clubs etc; at the height of the Merseybeat era 1964/65. Through the years of 1966-78, other bands followed such as The Klik, Familiar Compound Spirit, Stone Circle and Cuddly Toys encompassing R&B, psychedelic, blues, folk and indie guitar rock. In 1980 I formed studio band The Relations, specifically to record a single featuring two of my songs, Summer Romance/One More Record produced by Phil Ault for the legendary Birkenhead independent Skeleton Records. This single sadly didn't sell loads but did pick up some favourable reviews and is now somewhat a collectors item. Around the same time, I was a member of another studio band The Drugs, formed by friend Graham Pike who wrote and arranged the material. Following a move to East Anglia 1981/2 and a period of relative musical inactivity, I met some new faces, got involved again and between 1987-2002 wrote, recorded and performed with the Messing Scratch Band, Bo Diddley Diddley and Bopp! playing arrangements of trad. Irish music, Folk/Blues standards and self-penned songs. During 2002, I formed a duo with Bopp! fiddler Jon Potts under the name of Wanderin' Soles performing and recording music of a similar nature to the bands previously mentioned. Graham Pike guesting on Harmonica/Vocals. Also included in the above period was seven years or so of work in a theatre band playing guitar and bass for several productions including "A Slice of Saturday Night" and various Pantos, musically directed by Graham Pike and later Nick Lacey. Since 2005, I have taken a break from gigging (apart from the odd one or two) and concentrated more on recording and writing. My most recent project was recording and producing a soundtrack for a local film called "Boudica" featuring music composed by director Ellie Scrivener. The recording of my song "Better Days" (as featured here) was also used for a scene in the film. Alongside all this stuff, I work as a guitar tutor and have done so for the last 15 years. My future plans are to keep making music! ........Stay Tuned!