About Me
I was born on the 24th February 1950 into a musical [Brass Band] family. At 15 I worked in the local WMC's doing cover versions of the Rolling Stones, Pretty Things & old blues numbers, as THE IMAGE. The Guitarist in the band Brian Schofield was one of the best local guitarists and I learned so much from watching him play !!
In 1967 I was asked to join CKREED BLUES BAND as Singer/Harp player. The band included Dave Hewitt, later of Doc K's & Babe Ruth, and Gren Fraser later of Elias Hulk and Blow. We toured for 2 years with bands like Chicken Shack, Fleetwood Mac etc and were regulars at the legendary Builders Club in Huddersfield.
After my dad passed away in 1969 I went to London to try and "Make it" as a lot of young musicians did, I did endless auditions for bands like Uriah Heep, CMU, Mott the Hoople and King Crimson [Bob Fripp said I was great but the wrong star sign ??] I toured with IRON DUKE until 1972, included in this band early on was Laurence Juber [Wings] supporting The Herd, Yes, Black Widow, T Rex etc.
In 1975 I joined RUDY & THE ZIPPS, we toured and supported acts like Chris Spedding, Quiver, Be-Bop Deluxe, and recorded 2 sessions for EMI [Tracks like "Reborn" were written around this time]
I then had an horrific accident which squashed my middle finger, and put together with the accident at 5 years old, which took of half of my first [Bar] finger, I only had, and still have, two working fingers. Not thinking I would ever play again I sold some of my treasured Gibsons.
It took me 15 years and a kick up the arse from my two sons [now in EVILE] to develop a different style of playing I was happy with - hopefully you cant see the join !!!
In 2000 I met Andy Wells [Voyager, John Verity, Baby Taccoo, Berlin] in a Bradford Music shop, and I agreed to put some lead guitar on his "Lost the Will to Play"" album, that went so well we formed PILGRYM, initially just to record, but we released it on Transubstans Records in Sweden in 2004, with distribution through Record Heaven, to great worldwide reviews.
www.pilgrym.co.uk
www.myspace.com/pilgrym
2008 should see the follow up CD "The Great Divide" released in the summer, and if everything goes OK, my solo CD will be recorded in Rotterdam at Survivals Studio & Hydeaway Studios in Bradford
The 6 tracks posted are all featuring my most recent guitar work, including tracks from my new solo CD, I hope you get something from them.
HAVING A DISABILITY SHOULD NEVER HOLD YOU BACK FROM REALISING YOUR DREAMS. TAKE INSPIRATION FROM STEVIE WONDER, TONY IOMMI, RAY CHARLES, JEFF HEALY & DJANGO REINHARDT.
IF THEY HAD NOT HAD GREAT COURAGE AND SELF BELIEF, THE WORLD WOULD HAVE BEEN ROBBED OF SOME WORLD CLASS MUSIC !
ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD IS POSSIBLE !!
"YOUNG DEVELOPING MUSICIANS ARE OUR FUTURE, HAVE FAITH IN YOUR ABILITY, DEVELOP AN INNER STRENGTH, LOOK INTO YOUR HEART FOR SOUL IN YOUR PLAYING AND LIFE, SO IF YOU GET KNOCKED BACK, YOU HAVE THE BELIEF TO KEEP GOING !!
"NEVER EVER GIVE UP" - TONY DRAKE 2008
FEATURED TRACKS ARE :
1. REBORN "LIVE" - This track is taken from the PILGRYM CD "Pilgrimage" and features myself on vocals, this was recorded early in concert with the original llineup.
2. MR.MAJESTIC - This is a DEMO version of the instrumental track due to appear on my solo CD, released on MYSTICAL RECORDS in 2008, it will be totally re-recorded, but you get an idea of the riffs etc from this demo version.
3. UNKNOWN SOLDIER [PART 3] - Taken from the new PILGRYM CD "The Great Divide" due for release in summer 2008, part 3, of the 4 part "Unknown Soldier Suite". This track is finished and mixed and gives an insight into the new album.
4. WAITING FOR THE NIGHT - Taken from the Andy Wells solo CD "Lost the Will to Play", a more heavy sound on this track, solo recorded with 1961 SG Standard through the Marshalls !!! This was my first work after a 15 year forced break due to the finger accident !!
5. CIRCUS OF THE ABSURD - Taken from the PILGRYM CD "Pilgrimage", this is the single "Edited" version, great Hammond playing from Andy Wells !!!
6. MOVE IT - The first track to be finished and mixed from my solo CD, released on MYSTICAL RECORDS and distributed by PLASTIC HEAD worldwide in 2008, this is an instrumental, the inspiration is from a busker I heard whistling in the train station at Kings Cross !!!
