Following the success of previous albums; "MIDNIGHT", "IN THE MOVIES" and "THE BEST OF", Tony ceased his "Shadows" based instrumental set tours and joined UK rock giants Guns'n'Oatcakes in a complete change of musical direction working a long side Paul "fasker" Johnson (Saxon), Steve Johnson (ex-Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy) and Darren Hurst (ex-Steve Vai).
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In 1996 Tony had the privilege of playing "Ghost Riders in the Sky" with ex-Shadows bass player Brian "Licorice" Locking at a Hank Marvin event. Despite having known and played with a number of "well-known" artists, he remembers this guy as the nicest and most interesting guy he has have ever met.
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In 2000 after having some of his music included in the "National Geographic Channel" and due to heavy work commitments he stopped playing live gigs and concentrated on recording before taking a rest and never even picking up a guitar for 4 years.
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____As a recent news clipping explained: "I honestly thought I would never want to play again, in fact I had not picked a guitar up for years when I was asked to play at my sisters wedding. I quickly realised three things; I really missed doing it, I was VERY out of practice and one minor point, I had sold 90% of my equipment and gear!"
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2007 saw Tony back in the studio working with his cousin bass player Rob Hayes (ex Thunder) and son David in a new venture and the intention of being out and about late 2007/2008 with a new album "Hits from 2000" which includes an instrumental of Snow Patrols "Chasing Cars" a surprise hit which has resulted in almost 14,000 downloads!. More of a surprise when the tune was put together in just a few hours.______________________________________________________
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2008 came, and for many personal reason will be remembered for some very good but also some very sad times, and following some brief recording with his cousin, bass guitar player Rob Hayes, Tony was again reunited with the 'mighty' Steve Johnson, and once again rock music took centre stage with rock bands 'Guns'n'Oatcakes' and 'The Brothers Johnson', although the latter was short lived, Tony found the world of rock bands and travel to be again too restrictive, and as 2009 is now almost upon us, concentration will be on completing his long overdue and part completed album 'Memories' with "New Age" instrumentals including 'Enya', 'Richard Marcs', 'Snow Patrol', 'Whitney Houston', 'Frank Sinatra', 'James Horner' and 'Andrew Lloyd Webber' again with bass player Rob Hayes and keyboard player David Hayes in a new band 'AMEIENCE'.
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(MOVIE OF MY SISTERS WEDDING LIVE TO DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA)
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I will take this opportunity to mention my good friend Carl Hurst who has stood by me through my times of real trauma and never wavered with his supportive phone calls even though at times he had it hard himself. This friend I will never forget, a true friend and a great guy. Thanks Carl.
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