The first time I picked up the sticks, was when I realised I would never be as good a guitarist as
my mate, he was taught a couple of chords and by the end of the week had written his first tune, just imagine this though,
his first guitar came from a skip !!
It was the neck head and front of an accoustic, we nailed it to a plank to strengthen it and put new
strings on !!! Bob, where is the 'old rot box' now?
Anyway after realising Bob could get a tune out of that thing and I couldn't be bothered practicing
chords on my classical, so borrowing half of my mums kitchen utensils, I built my first drumkit...oh come on, who hasn't ?
My first real taste of a drum kit was at high school, I was supposed to be practicing on my guitar,
(yeah, I told them I wanted to learn !) Well I was on my own in the music room, with the school kit all set up, I rattled
around it for hours, in fact most of the last six months at school !
I formed my first band, shortly after, 'PAST IMPERFECT' with Bob Philburn on lead guitar, Ken, his
brother, on bass and Andy 'Bone' Swindells on vocals.
Next came 'NEVER ON A SUNDAY', same line-up but Andy taking on rhythm guitar and keyboards and Jason Taylor joining for
vocal duties.
After jamming for a couple of years, the band drifted apart and a neighbour approached me, asking
if I wanted to audition for his band, I went to the audition with Mack and landed the job, unfortunitly this band was short
lived and after a shortwhile Mack came back, asking me to jam with a new guitarist he'd discovered, I went along and the guitarist
blew me away, that was Tony 'slap' Dodd.
I didn't think much of the bass player and neither did Mack, who went on to join another band. Tony
came to my house, we got extremely drunk and decided to form another band.
'OCTOBER MOON' was born, we recruited a bass player, a singer and a rhythm guitarist, Hi Paul, Paul
and Martin, we wrote some good material and played several successfull gigs, getting a regular spot at the 'Lantern', until
Tony, going through a bad break up, got on stage 'plastered', we launched into one song and Tony began another one, leading
to me sensationally sacking him and the entire band live on stage !!!
After a few auditions I landed the drumming stool with Tameside Indie band 'POSSIBLE WORLD THEORY',
unfortunatly the singer was heavily pregnant and eventually decided that she would need to take time off, this led to the
last line up of that band.
After that I made up with Tony and once again we began the process of recruiting musicians, along
came Rob 'menephes' Haydock, singing and playing guitar and bass duties went to Paul Garvin, I can't remember why, but Tony
ended up out of that band as well, LOL, and we recruited Daniel as vocalist, becoming 'JOHNNY CANT DANCE' at this time
we were rehearsing at Duke St. practice rooms, near where I live, there were two other bands in there alongside us, one having
John Norfolk and Andy Swan and the other having Milly, bear with me, this is relevant.
Rob decided that he'd had enough of bands and promptly ended that line up, so I decided to change
musical direction, all I'd done upto this point was Rock music in all its forms, even a dabble with Floyd-esque stuff, cheers,
for the encouragement to master the click track.
Aprt from, on keyboards, Tony on Guitar and Bob now on bass, upto then, probably the most talented band I'd been in,
Bob had gotten into 'Acid Jazz' and had played me some stuff by Jamiroqui and Corduroy, this was the change I was
looking for, although the other two weren't, so off we went our seperate ways and advertised for a keyboard player.
Matt Davies, answered that ad. and told me he'd phone to arrange a jam, in the meantime Bob had got
hold of Jason, another keyboard player, with a Hammond organ, we auditioned him and his girlfreind Marie for vocals, along
with Andrea, vocals and Andy on guitar, this became 'JUNKFUNKTION' Jason eventually went off to university, taking Marie with
him and just as he left, Matt phoned to say, "Sorry I've not been in touch, but I've been to Hong Kong for a couple of months!!"
Needless to say I drafted him in straight away, along with Andy, guitar, Andrea, vocals, Simon, Saxophone
and flute, Terry, percussion, My brother Jud and Webby on decks and Paul Garvin replacing Bob on bass, Bob was on his way
to University, Phd to follow.
We became 'BIG CITY DAYDREAM' named after one of our songs. Tjhe highlight and crowning glory
came when we played the 'Boddingtons Festival' in Manchester City centre. I think there were probably too many alpha males
in this band, because after one to many arguements we split, ah well 'such is life'
After jamming with Matt and Bob for a while along with my Stepdad, Alan Leonard, and then some
more jamming with Tony, I was approached by Rob, to start a band, OK said I and looked for a bass player, enter John
Norfolk (see above) and replacing Tony, (who by now must really like me...LOL) came Mark Boswell, Tony now had Family commitments,
lone parent to Macca, he thought it best to give his young son all the attention.
John had heavy work commitments, after going self employed, so Rob took the bass on and we became
'MENEPHES' named after a dream Rob had had. We performed several successfull gigs, in Oldham, Manchester, Hyde and went
to a recording studio to record a four track demo, another Mark joined us for that and after one gig, Rob again decided he
wasn't happy with the way the band was going, (Sorry Rob, but you are.......you know you are, LOL) and went to look for Milly,
(again see above) Ian 'Milly' Millington joined and brought Jay with him as a bass player, we re-recorded some material and
after several practice rooms Rob called it a day (see I told you!!!!!!)
Enter my Brother Justin 'Jud' Leonard on vocals, bbecoming 'INNAFUSION' discovering he could
sing during a kareoke contest.
Now it was my turn to bow out, differences between myself and other members, you know how it goes.
I then joined UV, with John Norfolk and Andy Swan, with Steve on vocals, this band is currently on
a break, watch this space, in the meantime I am recording with both Rob and Tony, seperatly of course.
Next up Frantic! Myself, Tony and introducing Graham Moore on vocals and Nat Headley on bass, after
several kick ass live shows, I moved to Cambridgeshire, for personal reasons, leaving the drumming stool to Nats mate Dave,
unfortunitley Dave and Nat parted company with Frantic! leaving the 2 remaining members still writing and recording.
Now I have my own recording studio and am looking for another project.......watch this space!
