SMBs top musician



My belief was that at that point the Police had formed, but done nothing yet, Sting was in something called "Last Exit" before that, but I was on the stage as part of a full Newcastle School's orchestra, so it sounds better than it actually was!!
I saw, I think it was, Rock Nativity. with him in the band because he taught at my school. Think it was the City Hall
 
Have you never had any A & R sniffing round? Or is it no chance if you don't play original stuff?
No chance mate. We would never expect it either. We're at the point where we are fully booked over a year in advance now and starting to play the really big events so that is what success looks like to us.

We would have to make some changes to make the leap to ticketed events, which is the next step up and would mean we would be a touring band, which we can't do with the other lads having young kids.
 
Highlights for me:

Having our song on the film "The Tournament" with Roberty Carlyle / Ving Rhames and listed on the IMDB listing: The Tournament (2009) - IMDb

Having a CD released and available in HMV (definitely a bucket list moment for me)

Being played on Bruce Dickinson's BBC Radio Rock Show and him saying "we're destined for bigger things", which was nice of him.

Playing the O2 Academy in Newcastle quite often supporting touring bands, and filling venues like Trillians and The Cluny ourselves.

Playing one of the Evolution festivals on Newcastle Quayside, roughly around 2005 which was a brilliant experience.

Going on small tours, my bands always had great local support but not as much elsewhere (these bands were mainly from pre-social media/youtube) so harder to spread the word but made some friends for life in other bands we were touring with.

One band in particular came close on a few occaisons to getting signed and had some major labels sniffing around for a few years, we'd play quite a few A&R events and showcases, we were always told we had the songs for a great album and go away and write a killer break through single but as hard as we tried it was unsuccessful and the band collapsed.

I have some great stories and memories but just wish I made it, even if only for a few years but other bands always seemed to make it instead of us. Recently got back in a covers band, playing for the first time in 10 years and absolutely loving it.
 
No chance mate. We would never expect it either. We're at the point where we are fully booked over a year in advance now and starting to play the really big events so that is what success looks like to us.

We would have to make some changes to make the leap to ticketed events, which is the next step up and would mean we would be a touring band, which we can't do with the other lads having young kids.
How much do you charge for a gig?
 
Highlights for me:

Having our song on the film "The Tournament" with Roberty Carlyle / Ving Rhames and listed on the IMDB listing: The Tournament (2009) - IMDb

Having a CD released and available in HMV (definitely a bucket list moment for me)

Being played on Bruce Dickinson's BBC Radio Rock Show and him saying "we're destined for bigger things", which was nice of him.

Playing the O2 Academy in Newcastle quite often supporting touring bands, and filling venues like Trillians and The Cluny ourselves.

Playing one of the Evolution festivals on Newcastle Quayside, roughly around 2005 which was a brilliant experience.

Going on small tours, my bands always had great local support but not as much elsewhere (these bands were mainly from pre-social media/youtube) so harder to spread the word but made some friends for life in other bands we were touring with.

One band in particular came close on a few occaisons to getting signed and had some major labels sniffing around for a few years, we'd play quite a few A&R events and showcases, we were always told we had the songs for a great album and go away and write a killer break through single but as hard as we tried it was unsuccessful and the band collapsed.

I have some great stories and memories but just wish I made it, even if only for a few years but other bands always seemed to make it instead of us. Recently got back in a covers band, playing for the first time in 10 years and absolutely loving it.
What were the names of the bands?
 
Tried to play guitar from an early age, couldn't sing as baritone with a very limited range. Lived with Mike Stock for a time who got me writing songs, though I couldn't play them very well. Got into Abba mid eighties which inspired me to write seriously. Took me 10 years to sell a song. Have 300 songs, 100 really decent...learnt to sing and play piano through lockdown and start recording today, as in I don't think I'll get much better. The missus has played some big venues, and been on TV abroad.

I sound better than I look.
 
Started a Punk band at school 1979/80 - played a few gigs to 100's of people
Formed a new one in 1980-83 - Had one single out - the person that pressed the record fucked it up and we sound like pinky and perky
Co-ran a record label for a year or so 84-85: Released 2 albums, discovered (the now) heavy metal band Onslaught, met loads of bands in US (inc Jello Biafra taking us around San Fran) and had the Exploited turn up at my door with baseball bats looking for the other co-owner.

Gave it all up at the grand old age of 18
 
Tried to play guitar from an early age, couldn't sing as baritone with a very limited range. Lived with Mike Stock for a time who got me writing songs, though I couldn't play them very well. Got into Abba mid eighties which inspired me to write seriously. Took me 10 years to sell a song. Have 300 songs, 100 really decent...learnt to sing and play piano through lockdown and start recording today, as in I don't think I'll get much better. The missus has played some big venues, and been on TV abroad.

I sound better than I look.
Impressive. How do you sell songs. I write a lot some of which we do with the band some of which I do nowt with. They may be rubbish but who knows.
 
Depending on the gig, minimum is £350 for your bog standard bar. Anything up to £1500 for a big wedding or festival slot.

We're pretty fair with what we ask for and it's very rare anyone negotiates the price.

We're on 600 tonight, 400 tomorrow. Next weekend we're doing 4 gigs and getting 1800 between the 4.
We used to underprice ourselves, but then only Grace sang, and mostly covers. First gigs will be August with orignal songs...£700 for two 45 minute slots, and we take the dogs 👍 Hope to sell a few CD's at gigs also.
 

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