About Me
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http://www.myheritage.com
June, 2007 - I'm back in England again, playing every weekend, doing the pubs and clubs circuit. It is going very well. I have Connie Everard (Formerly Rock Therapy/Sleepy la Beef) on Stand up bass and Mark Pennington (The Caravans/Guanna Bats) on drums.Sept 2004, Dave Signs with British Rock n Roll label, "Foot Tapping Records", packs his bags and heads off to England...A new album was recorded, produced by Darrel Higham. "It was a fun experience and I really enjoyed working with Darrel in the studio" Dave explains. "We got right down to business and recorded that thing in three days, no messin' around, just 'Roll the tapes and off we go', type of thing".The album entitled "Shark Attack" was released in December. www.foottappingrecords.co.uk -- The title song "Shark Attack" was the number one most requested song on the British rock n roll circuit for several weeks during December and January.Dave got his band together and quickly got out on the road playing all over the country, and also in December toured Sweden and Germany with Swedish rockers, "The Grapestompers".The new year rolled in and it was business as usual for the Hughes crew. Word was getting around and the reviews were starting to come in, and they were raving about the new kid on the block. Legendary DJ Wildcat Pete wrote a review after Dave guest starred at a show near London and stated."A surprise guest joined the band, guitarist and singer from America, Dave Hughes. I was totally gob-smacked by this guy, he was brilliant. Clive from Foot Tapping Records said "I thought you would like him, he's going to take the rockin' scene by storm..." I can assure you Dave Hughes is going to be on everyones lips shortly! The crowd at Beaconsfield thought he was the business judging by the rapturous applause that he received." A review from a show in Portsmouth in "UK Rock" Magazine said. "Dave had a powerful voice and certainly could play the guitar expertly. Keeping to tunes everyone knew, the dancers danced to "Tore Up", "True love", "Take these chains" and "Twenty flight rock" ending the first set... Back to a storming second set with "Flying saucers rock n roll", "Blue eyes crying in the rain", "Oh, boy" and an earth shattering "Rock this town".Dave returns to the States in August and is already working on a new album, due out in the fall.The new CD "Rocker" will have some good ol' rockin' classics such as, "Good Rockin' Tonight". "Let's Talk about Us", "This Ole House" as well as some self penned songs like, "Tearin' Up The House", and "Lovin' You". Plus a few more gems."I would have to say, my trip to the UK was very enjoyable. I got to work with some of the best musicians in the country, like Darrel Higham, Connie Everard, Mark Pennington from The Caravans, Mark Loveledge and at one show I performed Sleepy's classic, "Tore Up" and was backed up by The Jets!We are in talks now for a UK & European Tour for next year to promote the new CD, and as much as I look forward to returning back to the States and spending time with my family, I look forward to coming back to the UK. The fans have been great, very enthusiastic and supportive and have made me feel very welcome here.------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------DAVE: David Hughes DAVID HUGHES WAS BORN IN MERTHYR TYDFIL, SOUTH WALES. UK, FEBRUARY 16 1967.AT THE AGE OF 5 YEARS OLD HIS PARENTS ENCOURAGED HIM TO TAKE PIANO LESSONS, WHICH AFTER SOME STERN ENCOURAGEMENT, TOOK LESSONS, AND AFTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS WAS ENTERTAINING FRIENDS AND FAMILY. BEETHOVEN WAS A GREAT INFLUENCE IN THE YOUNG BOY'S MUSICAL CAREER."I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A KID, I LOVED BEETHOVEN.DAVID WAS SO IMPRESSED BY THE DEAF, STUBBORN, BAD TEMPERED COMPOSER, HE WOULD TELL PEOPLE THAT SOMEDAY HE WOULD BE JUST AS IMPRESSIVE AS HE WAS. EVEN THOUGH WHEN BEETHOVEN WAS ALIVE, MOST PEOPLE HATED HIM, ESPECIALLY THOSE CLOSE TO HIM. THEY SAID HE WAS NOTHING BUT A WOMANIZER, WHO USED HIS MUSIC TO SEDUCE THEM TO HIS BEDROOM, AND THEN DID NOT FULFILL ANY ONE OF HIS PROMISES. SOUNDS LIKE A TYPICAL MAN TO ME!!IN THE EARLY PART OF 1977, A 10 YEAR OLD DAVID WAS EXPOSED TO THE MUSIC OF ELVIS PRESLEY. "WHEN I FIRST SAW ELVIS ON THE TV. I SAID TO MYSELF. THIS IS THE BEETHOVEN, MUSICAL GENIUS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY. BUT MY PARENTS WERE TOTALLY AGAINST THE FAT, FRANTIC 42 YEAR OLD KING OF ROCK'N'ROLL. LUCKILY WE HAD A FRIEND IN MY DAD'S CHURCH, WHO HAD A BUNCH OF ELVIS PRESLEY ALBUMS AND AFTER SOME RECONSIDERING MY DAD, (MINISTER OF THE CHURCH HE ATTENDED REGULARLY), AGREED TO LET HIM LOAN ME THE ALBUMS".THIS IS ALL DAVID NEEDED TO FIND HIS CALL, SO HE THOUGHT. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, POOR OLD ELVIS DIED. IT BROKE DAVID'S HEART, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, HIS PARENTS BEING TOTALLY ANTI ROCK'N'ROLL DID NOT SYMPATHIZE AT ALL.A FEW YEARS LATER WHEN DAVID THOUGHT ROCKABILLY WAS DEAD AND GONE. OUT CAME SHAKIN' STEVENS A WELSH MAN ROCKIN' THE COUNTRY WITH "THIS OLE HOUSE.""WHEN I SAW SHAKY ON THE TV. I DECIDED RIGHT THERE ON THE SPOT, THAT I WOULD BE A ROCKABILLY SINGER. I COULD DO WHAT SHAKY DID. I FELT THE SAME WAY HE DID. I KNEW WHERE HE WAS COMING FROM.IN 1984 THE HUGHES FAMILY WAS CALLED TO THE U.S.A. BY A CHURCH IN UPTON, MASS WHO HAD DAVID'S FATHER PASTOR THE LOCAL EVANGELICAL CHURCH THERE. DAVID, UNFORTUNATELY, REBELLED AGAINST HIS PARENTS WISHES AND BECAME A ROCKABILLY CAT, LISTENING TO THE SOUNDS OF, THE STRAY CATS, ELVIS, SHAKY, MATCHBOX, BILLY IDOL, GEORGE THOROGOOD AND SLEEPY LABEEF, TO NAME A FEW.IN 1985 DAVID GOT TO MEET SLEEPY LABEEF IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THE TWO OF THEM HIT IT IF RIGHT AWAY, DAVID PLAYED FOR SLEEPY FOR 18 YEARS! TOURING ALL OVER THE USA AND EVEN GOING TO AUSTRALIA, JUST THE TWO OF THEM. SLEEPY ADMIRED DAVID'S TALENTS VERY MUCH, DAVID COULD PLAY PIANO, GUITAR. DRUMS AND BASS SO WELL, ON SOME TOURS YOU WOULD SEE DAVID WITH SLEEPY, BUT GUESS WHAT INSTRUMENT HE IS PLAYING THIS TIME!!!WHILE WORKING WITH SLEEPY, DAVID FORMED "DAVE AND THE ALLEY CATS" IN 1990. NOW HE HAS LEFT SLEEPY AND HIS BAND AND HAS DEVOTED HIS TIME TO "DAVE AND THE ALLEY CATS"THEY PLAY AROUND THE USA AND DAVID RECENTLY GOT A CALL FROM SHAKIN' STEVENS MANAGER TO LET HIM KNOW THAT HE IS BEING CONSIDERED TO BE THE SUPPORT ACT ON THE NEXT EUROPEAN TOUR THAT SHAKY WILL DO. PRETTY GOOD I SAY!DAVID IS ALSO A KEEN AUTO RACING FAN AND AFTER GETTING HIS NASCAR LICENCE, BOUGHT A STOCK CAR, AND YOU CAN SEE HIM RACING AT COLUMBUS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, SATURDAY NIGHT RACING NEXT SUMMER.DAVE AND THE ALLEY CAYS PLAY A BLEND OF COUNTRY SWING, BLUES, ROCK"N" ROLL, GOSPEL, TEXAS BOOGIE AND ROCKABILLY, A FINE SHOW TO SEE. IF YOU EVER HEAR THAT DAVE AND THE ALLEY CATS ARE IN TOWN, REMEMBER, THEY ARE LEAD BY A GUY WHO KNOWS WHAT ROCKABILLY IS ALL ABOUT.Rockabilly Rules! Dave & the Alleycats By VideoVB - From Hollywood to Boston, audiences have rocked to the music of Dave & the Alley Cats. This trio of guitar, drummer and bass do exhilarating renditions as varied as Vaughan and Elvis. The Welsh born David Hughes plays a screaming rock guitar, injecting interludes of insight into his musical talent. Schooled in classical piano, Beethoven is one of Dave's idols. If you're smart you won't ask for the others.Dave fell in love with rockabilly during his many years on the road with the legendary Sleepy LaBeef. Featured initially in Sleepy's stage entourage for his keyboard talent, Dave moved on to play both guitar and drums in concerts from Australia, to Sweden, to Spain.Leading The Rock Martin Band in the early 90's, Hughes could be found playing his hot-rodded, hollow bodied guitar in the pubs of New England. From the East coast he went on to do a stint under the bright lights of Hollywood. From the Rhythm Room in Phoenix to German Village in Columbus, Dave is currently preparing for an upcoming tour in New England.As an unsigned band the Alley Cats are looking for sponsorship to fund recording sessions. In Columbus, Ohio, The Alley Cats have played at: Little Brothers. Chelsie's, Oldfield's, Bernie's, Hey Hey, and a slew of other venues.Musical Influences "I would have to say that many people have influenced me during the last decade. But none more than Sleepy LaBeef. Sleepy taught me so much, ranging from different styles of guitar picking, to listening to the music that influenced him when he was a kid, people like Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Bob Wills, Hank Williams, Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, just to name a few."Other influences would include many Sun Recording artists, who, like Sleepy, had that freight train boogie sound, people like Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash. I have also been influenced by things I hear from other artists such as the bad boy sound and attitude of ; Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Brian Setzer, The Stray Cats, George Thorogood, Stevie Ray Vaughan.. All of them in their own way has influenced me musically one way or another."Touring "Touring is what I live for. Its a great feeling to meet new people at each town I travel to. I really like the anticipation of going to a new venue. There's always A surprise around the next corner."I must admit it's a lot of hard work and determination to stick with a long tour schedule. I remember times when it was really rough, but we did what we had to do and always looked back and felt good knowing that we hung in there and made it through."Last year we were traveling through New York state with Sleepy, and lost a wheel on our trailer at 5 a.m. in the middle of a blizzard. We had just left a show in Michigan and decided to head straight out to New York, with our playing clothes on. By the time we hobbled to the side of the road, the wheel had rolled down an embankment. Sleepy and I had just a little flash light. We searched for that wheel for what seemed to be hours. We ended up driving to the next town to get a U-Haul. Then we drove back to our broken trailer unloaded all the equipment into the new trailer and continued our 10 hour drive to the show in New York. We made it, we were tired and cold but we did the show anyway."But I would say touring is great. We've traveled to different countries, seen different cultures, eaten exotic foods.... it's like a permanent paid vacation. As long as you take care of yourself, eat right, sleep well, you'll do all right. You take the good with the bad, keep your spirits up and make the most of it. It sure beats a day job! Everyday is an adventure."
