BEDROCK (The Band In The Sand) - Namibia (Updated 05/11/2011)

Bedrock's 2011 Release

The band's full catalogue is available as digital downloads to your iPod through the world's most popular vendors such as iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody and Spotify.

You can also buy track downloads on-line through the band's Facebook Music Store or from www.rhythmrecords.co.za and www.cdbaby.com
General enquiries/orders  at:  sandmaster@ananzi.co.za

• Pete Shout - Guitars & lead vocals

• Solange Heusdens - Percussion & backing vocals

• Polla Pretorius - Bass

• Eddie Heusdens - Drums

BEDROCK 2009 - Left to Right:  Solange Heusdens (Keys)/Pete Shout (Guitars & voc), Polla Pretorius (Bass) & Eddie Heusdens (Drums & percussion)

Formed in 1994 as a quartet featuring two Rhodies at its core, in the shape of Charles Piggott (lead vocals/rhythm guitar) and Pete Shout (bass/vocals), in Oranjemund in the south-western corner of Namibia's Namib desert, the band has survived many incarnations over the years.   Only two of the founder members remain with the band - Pete Shout and Eddie Heusdens (drums).   With the original intention of spreading the "rock gospel" in an area where Afrikaans music has traditionally dominated, the band has exceeded these goals by some way, achieving much that would not ordinarily be expected of part-timers.  More so given their geographic isolation and limited resources.

BEDROCK has always embraced technology and wasted no time in launching their first website in the 90's.  They also exploited the possibilities of modern sound recording technology which has enabled them to record and release five full length albums to date.  Although they play a mixture of covers and original material at their gigs, their last four albums have been of original material composed by the band's members.

Their first album of original material was entitled RECOVERY and was released in 2001.   The opening track of RECOVERY, the nostalgic "Rock 'n Roll Man", reached No. 14 on the SA Rock Digest Top 20 of South African music for three successive weeks in August/September 2000.    Over three years later, and quite unexpectedly, this nostalgic ballad entered the SA mp3 Top Thirty on Monday, 8 December, 2003 at #30.   It was also selected by the respected South African Rock Digest as one of the Top 50 South African compositions of 2003, ranking at #38. The band's prolific composer-in-chief during this era was their lead guitarist, Kenny Ramage.

Over the years, the band has been widely featured in the media, their material often being heard on Namibia's leading commercial radio stations, Radio Kudu in particular.  More recently they have joined the internet music host, Jango Airplay (www.jango.com), where they have attracted fans from across the globe. They have also featured on SAFM's Bruce Miller show and have played gigs widely outside Oranjemund, including Windhoek, Keetmanshoop, Luderitz, Kleinzee and Darling where they were probably the first - and oldest -  outfit to ever rock Evita's Se Perron!  The band is also listed in the definitive CD-ROM publication, Music Artists of South Africa by Garth Chilvers and Tom Jasiukowicz (Impetus Books).

 In a Namibian "Battle Of The Bands" contest (sponsored by South African Breweries) held at Keetmanshoop in August, 2002, BEDROCK were the highest placed Namibian entrants, coming second overall.

In early 2003 the band released their second album, SO, WHERE'S THE PARTY?, of original content.   Whilst its predecessor had been largely a mixture of rock and pop, this release was an undiluted stream of pure rock with, admittedly, a touch of reggae!  In March/April, 2003, one of the tracks off the album, "Crowd Invasion", entered the SA mp3 Top Thirty of SA songs.  (See www.samp3.com).   A second track, "What Crap is That?", was also subsequently listed for downloading.   During the same month the band were filmed in rehearsal for a German television documentary on Namibia, the second such time that this has happened. 

In September, 2003, the band appeared at the Windhoek Rock Festival where they played alongside a number of professional South African and Namibian acts, establishing themselves strongly at the forefront of local leading amateur rock music exponents.

COVER-LESS!! BEDROCK IN FULL CRY AT THE 2003 WINDHOEK ROCK FESTIVAL

In 2007, the band signed an agreement with Cape Town's Rhythm Records to make all their original material available as digital downloads via the Internet.  Each track may now be individually purchased for a small fee from www.rhythmrecords.co.za     A similar agreement was entered into with CD Baby in the United States (www.cdbaby.com).   As a result, Bedrock's music is available via all the World's major music downloading service providers including iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, Amazon and Ruckus.

In May, 2008, the band released, SIMPLICITY, spawning a couple of songs which attracted much radio play on Namibian commercial radio stations, most notably the written-for-radio pop song, "My Girlfriend" .    

After a fairly lengthy break from the regular gigging circuit, BEDROCK returned with a bang during the course of 2010, picking up from where they'd previously left off! 

In mid-2011, BEDROCK released their latest album, DESERT ROCK.  This is another eclectic mix of styles and influences and opens with "Band Song" which traces much of the band's history to date.  "Band Song" can also be seen on YouTube!

Recordings to date:

The band's CD's and and digital downloads are available through the band's entertaining websites at: www.bedrockband.com or www.myspace.com/bandinthesand:

• CDBaby at www.cdbaby.com (North America)

• Digital downloads by track at www.rhythmrecords.co.za

Also check out the band in space at: www.myspace.com/bandinthesand

www.rhythmmusicstore.com

DAN SHOUT - (Johnny Clegg) Cape Town (Updated 05/11/2011)

BULAWAYO TIES!!  The Johnny Clegg band rocks Zurich in 2010.

From left to right:  Alistair Coakley (schooled at Falcon before becoming a highly respected guitar player with bands such as Gate and Hotline), Dan Shout (who was born in Bulawayo) and Johnny Clegg (who spent a part of his childhood in the Bulawayo area).

(Photographs used with kind permission of Olivier Hudner of www.juluka.fr)

BRIDGING THE GENERATION GAP!

L - R:  Sipho MCHUNU, Dan SHOUT and Johnny CLEGG at a 2011 Anniversary/Reunion Concert featuring JULUKA, SAVUKA and the JOHNNY CLEGG BAND.

Websites

www.danshout.co.za

  www.shoutmc.com

www.johnnyclegg.comm

Also on FACEBOOK!

Bulawayo born, Dan Shout, is one of South Africa's busiest horn players with his services being in great demand for his talents and versatility.  He completed his junior schooling in Fish Hoek, Somerset West and Oranjemund in Namibia before attending high school at SACS in Cape Town.  As a high school scholar he led the school's senior jazz band and enjoyed selection for South African national age group representative youth jazz bands and ensembles on a number of occasions.  When he returned home to Namibia for school holidays he would guest with his Father's rock band, BEDROCK (www.bedrockband.com) making his debut appearance as a 14 year old. 

His most prestigious appearances whilst at high school included the North Sea Jazz Festival at the Hague in Holland with Standard Bank National Youth Jazz band (2004), as well as at the Cape Town North Sea Jazz Festival with youth bands in 2003/2004.  He also performed at the annual convention of International Association of Jazz Educators in Los Angeles, United States of America, in 2005, with Professors Mike Rossi (UCT) and Darius Brubeck (UK-ZN).  Then, as now, he regularly participates in the annual Grahamstown festival.

After matriculating Dan completed a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance at the University of Cape Town (2002), before continuing to successfully obtain a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies completed at University of Cape Town (2005).

At the beginning of 2006 Dan successfully auditioned for Johnny Clegg's band on saxophone and keyboards and was signed up as a permanent member of South Africa's most internationally recognised music group.   He has performed and toured with Johnny Clegg since then.

Apart from his involvement with Johnny Clegg, Dan has always been active in various music projects simultaneously.  He has appeared at most of South Africa's major rock festivals with various bands, including OppiKoppi, Splashy Fen, Wingredstok, Rocking The Daisies and the Voorkamerfest.  He has seen on stage on the established musical theatre circuit performing in tribute shows such as Duck Chowles' "Glory Days" show and enjoyed a long association with Mike McCullagh's productions, including "Milestones To The Millinneum", "The Original Sixty-Something Show" and "Myths and Legends" for which he arranged the horn parts.

His television appearances have been many and varied, from playing a street saxophone busker in the E-TV soapie, "Backstage", to appearing on SABC's  Espresso programme with the acid-lounge jazz band, Magic Carpet Ride,  and broadcasts of Johnny Clegg performances.  For a time he hosted his own jazz programme, "Inner Circle", on Cape Town's Fine Music Radio.

His involvement with the house music scene has seen him performing at venues in Dubai and the Seychelles, as well as South Africa's best known clubs.

Dan continues to make guest appearances on various stages around South Africa, appearing with artists and bands such as the Blues Broers, the Rudimentals, Junction 021, Sticky Triggers,  the Darryl Andrews' Band, Frank Paco's Art Collective, the Mike Campbell Big Band, Breakfast Included and Hog Hoggidy Hog.  His own jazz band, the Dan Shout Quartet (DSQ), performs regularly on the Cape Town jazz circuit.

When not touring or performing, Dan teaches at the University of Cape Town's SA College of Music sharing his knowledge, skills and experiences with the many budding musicians studying jazz at that institution.

Dan has his own music booking agency in Cape Town at www.shoutmc.com

In 2010, Dan released his first jazz oriented CD, "Greetings & Salutations".

Recordings:

"La Cantina" by Bedrock (played piano) (2000)
"Nasty" by Golliwog - 2002
"A Moment In Cape Town" - Various 2002
SL's "Selection #4" (with Golliwog) (2002)
SL's "Selection #6" (with Golliwog) (2003)
Tassenberg All Stars No 4 (Live @ The Tassenberg Wingerdstok)(2003) 
"Station 70" (Mike McCullagh)(2003)
"Oink!" - Hog Hoggidy Honk (2004)
"Een Dag In Die Somer" - Johnny & Vivian (2006)
Various demos & advertising jingles
"Live At Kirstenbosch Gardens" - Rudimentals (2008)
Johnny Clegg LIVE at the Nelson Mandela Theatre (2007)
"Simplicity" by Bedrock (2008)
"Greetings & Salutations" by Dan Shout (2010)
UCT Jazz Conceptions (2010)

DVD Releases:

The Rudimentals LIVE at Kirstenbosch Gardens.

Johnny Clegg LIVE at the Nelson Mandela Theatre (with the Soweto Gospel Choir) (2007)

For more on Dan, see his websites at www.danshout.co.za  or www.shoutmc.com, as well as www.johnnyclegg.com

DAVE MONKS - Umhlanga Rocks

Dave (see also LEPRECHAUN in the BANDS section) continues to perform his brand of Irish party music throughout South Africa and his services are in constant demand.  Based in Umhlanga Rocks in Natal concentrates his activities on his own label, Monks Music.

DEREK 'BOKKIE' DE BEER - Toronto, Canada (Added 29/04/07)

 – Reminiscing with Rhodesia’s master drummer & percussionist -

Derek “Bokkie” de Beer was born in Bulawayo on 2 May, 1949.  Bokkie was one of four children, two boys and two girls – Brian, Merle and Lorraine.  His parents, Lorna and Sonny, were clearly pondering a change of scenery for, a couple of years later, they relocated from their Hillside home to Shabani when Sonny obtained employment with the asbestos mine.    It was 1951.   Like all local youngsters, Bokkie attended junior school at Shabani Junior School and enjoyed an upbringing and youth “second to none”.  He thrived in the carefree existence based on wide open spaces, a sense of adventure, close friendships and revelled in the peace and security of small town life.   When it was time for high school, Bokkie became a boarder at one of the country’s most prestigious schools, Chaplin in Gwelo.

Although Bokkie did not come a musical family and had not been exposed to any  music coaching at junior school, he was forever “drumming” away at his desktop with, usually, a compass and ruler.  As he got older he began to recognise in himself a sense of timing and rhythm.  It would seem that around about this time, his mother saw this latent talent in him and duly took him shopping for a set of drums in Bulawayo.  It was at Harry Gerber’s music shop that his eyes fell upon a sparkly, red, flashy set of of Roxy drums.  The deal was done and Bokkie returned to school with the kit in his loving care!

The acquisition of a drum kit was his “entry ticket” to the STRANGERS, a high school band made up, primarily, of Chaplin day scholars.  The band’s full line-up was:

Ø      Ryk de Kock – Guitar
Ø      Bob Fortune – Guitar/vocals
Ø      Peter Badenhorst – Bass
Ø      Derek de Beer – Drums

The band was very popular amongst its peers and played regularly around and about Gwelo, doing popular covers of the day.  Sessions were the social “happenings” of the day and the STRANGERS played a feast of them!

In 1964 it was time to move on from high school and Bokkie, without having any really clear idea of where he wanted to go in life, moved to Bulawayo where he quickly established contact with local musicians.   The MERSEYS soon became the band that would allow him to showcase his talents on the Bulawayo circuit.  The band were:

Ø      Brian Powell – Vocals
Ø      John Kaizer – Guitar
Ø      Paddy Powell – Guitar
Ø      Hugo Rijpftra - Guitar
Ø      Nippy Cripwell – Bass
Ø      Bokkie de Beer – Drums and percussion

Eight months later the inevitable happened – Bokkie received his military call-up papers for National Service.  His intake was one of the first to be conscripted for nine months, the length having been recently increased from four months.  He was based at Lewellin Barracks which he found to be “a breeze after boarding school.  I knew how to make my bed and fold my clothes”, recalls Derek with a smile.  

It was after one bush deployment that he returned to camp to be told that the Commanding Officer, Major Wells, wanted to see him.  Fearing the worst Bokkie duly presented himself in full regalia, coming to attention and saluting with all the correctness and energy he could muster in a bid to stave off, or soften, whatever fate was about to be dealt out by the Major.  He needn’t have worried because all the Major wanted to confirm was that he was de Beer – and that he had a band in Bulawayo!  As soon as he confirmed that he had, he was instructed to get the members together as quickly as possible as they were required to play at a function.  Although Derek was unlicenced to drive he implied to the Major that the opposite was the case and, with the keys to the Major’s transport, set off to town to round up the MERSEYS.  Needless to say, apart from the MERSEYS’ wonderment at how Bokkie’s rise in the military had become as meteoric as it was – given that he had already “acquired” an Army staff car! - the dance was an unmitigated success!

After completing his military service Derek joined Rhodesia Railways as a fireman.  Apart from being a useful way to fill in time and earn a salary, it was also a convenient “out” from constant army call-ups as the railways was an essential service.  As such, its employees were exempt from military camps.  Some eight months later, however, Derek noticed that many of his friends in music were relocating to South Africa and decided to follow suit.   In true Bokkie style, he hitch-hiked to Durban with “a toothbrush, one sock and half a shirt!”.  Shortly after arriving in the city, and without any network as yet, he was ambling along the beachfront one day when he was hailed by a bunch of ex-Rhodies who recognised him.  He was no longer a stranger in a strange city!

Derek soon joined his first Durban-based band, SCRATBY HUD.  Apart from himself, its members were:

Ø      Dave Evans - Vocals
Ø      Geoff White – Guitar
Ø     Freddie Van Rooyen – Bass

After a period with this group he formed KORTA:

In due course KORTA gave way to PRELUDE:

Ø      Peter Pappa – Guitar
Ø      Clive Goodwill – Keyboards
Ø      Chris Ghelakis – Bass
Ø      Derek de Beer – drums

PRELUDE’s reputation soon started to spread and they starting gigging throughout the country in all the major centres – Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and East London.

Chris Ghelakis later moved into production and will be best remembered, as a vocalist, and was the voice behind the phenomenally successful 60’s hit, “Mammy Blue”.  On the production scene he gained notoriety as the producer of all-girl band, CLOUT, who scored a massive international hit with “Substitute”.

In due course PRECLUDE was superceded by FANTASY:

Ø      Peter Pappa – Guitars
Ø      Chris Ghelakis – Bass (later replaced by Trevor Gordon)
Ø      Costa Anadiotis – Keyboards
Ø      Bokkie de Beer – Drums

It was whilst doing session work for Hilton Rosenthal at SATBEL studios in Johannesburg that Derek’s career took a major step forward.  At the time he was doing session work for a new band on the scene called Juluka.  The band was the brainchild of Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu, with band members Gary Van Zyl on bass, Glenda Miller on keyboards and Zola Mtiya on drums.  Whilst doing session work Derek was told by one of the sound engineers, Peter Thwaites, that Johnny Clegg was scouting around for a drummer.  He suggested that Derek think of applying.  Ironically enough, Clegg was unaware of the fact that Bokkie was actually the drummer doing session work for him on the band’s very first album, “African Litany”!   After a period of reflection, he decided to go with it and so began his relationship with what was to become South Africa’s most successful internationally recognised musical export.

Derek remained with Juluka, and then Savuka, until 1994 when he decided to retire from touring.  During the intervening years Clegg’s bands had achieved international acclaim.  In America they appeared no less then six times on the Johnny Carson show, three times on the Jay Leno show and appeared on Saturday and Sunday night “live” television programmes.  They toured and played with some of the World’s greatest stars, including George Michael, Robert Palmer, Steve Winwood, Earth, Wind and Fire and Tracey Chapman, appearing at some of the biggest festivals and venues.

Derek has been very happily resident and settled in Canada since 1997 and has two teenaged children.  He lectures drums and percussion and is in great demand as a motivational speaker at schools and corporate functions.  As a sideline he also manufactures wooden furniture.    

His drum site may be accessed at:  www.debeer@magma.ca

EDWARD (ED) O'DONNELL - Canada  

FIONA TOZER (Added 16/07/06)

Fiona was born in England and, as a young child, led something of a nomadic life as her parents travelled from place to place.  Her first opportunity to realise her dream of learning a musical occurred when living in Rhodesia as a 14 year old.  By working for extra money she was able to fund the purchase of a Bellini guitar for all of 15 Rhodesian dollars!  Like some many embryonic guitarists and musicians of the era, Fiona was heavily influenced by the folk sound, especially of artists such as Joni Mitchell and Crosby, Stills & Nash.

After leaving high school she dabbled in various music ventures and even made an appearance on television!  She also started to compose her own music and explored a variety of finger playing styles as well as alternative guitar tunings.  Proceeding to the University of Cape Town to study her musical horizons were expanded by the influences about her.  She joined a band again and, after gigging for a time around Cape Town, decided to return to Bulawayo where she gained "daytime employment" as a computer programmer.  Throughout this period she continued to ply her music trade in the various clubs and venues outside office hours.

Marrying in 1975, she set off with her husband to explore the World.  This led to her working in London for a year, taking all that that music scene had to offer whilst she played the occasional gig on the folk club circuit.  After exploring the Middle East she eventually returned to South Africa where she settled in Pietermaritzburg in 1980.  After three years there she relocated to Durban where she continues to live.

In 1986 she co-founded the Durban Folk Club in order to resurrect the defunct folk scene and more than succeeded in this venture.  Her involvement in this activity allowed her to meet a number of other prominent local musicians.  With two of these fellow artists, WILL WALLACE and DAVE ATKINSON, they formed a trio called ODYSSEY which gained respect, not only for their collective musicianship, but also for their right three-part harmonies.  The band later changed its name to BONA FIDE.  The band later led to spin-offs which became prominent on the local scene, including the FIONA TOZER BAND and ALIEN.

In the early 90's an album by ODYSSEY was released.  Of the twelve tracks on the recording, eight were original compositions of Fiona's.  The album received modest acclaim and joined some airplay.  In 1996 a second album was released, NEVERLAND.  Fiona promoted this album at numerous musics "happenings" including the Maynardville Festival in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth's Mannville Festival and Splashy Fen.  Once again it earned a reasonable amount of airplay.  In 1998 a third album was recorded and released, LIGHT & SOUND. 

In 2001 Fiona started studying Music at the University of Natal and is, today, completing a Master's degree in composition at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.  In the interm she passed both his initial BA (Music) and BA (Honours) with distinction.  Her classical composition TRIPTYCH FOR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA was performed by the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in 2004.

The latest band she has formed is called QUARK and features alongside her ANTON CAWTHORN-BLAZEBY on violin and LOGAN BYRNE on double bass.

For more on this most interesting artist's past, present and future visit her extremely professional website at: www.fionatozer.com

The band run their own club in Crouch Hill, North London, called "The Chill On The Hill" which is gaining a reputation as a showcase of new talent on the London scene.  Naked Angel follow a full gigging programme and, apart from their London based activities, have appeared at festivals in Germany and Holland.  Away from Naked Angel, Jim is very active with Music In Hospitals which is an organisation with a pool of musicians who play for hospitals, retirement homes and institutions for the mentally ill. 

Check the band out at nakedangel.co.uk

In his own words...

JOE KRIGE - RSA  

The son of PAUL KRIGE (See SOLO section), Joe has followed in his Father's footsteps and is fine voice is in consistent demand.

JOHN EDWARDS (FASTLANE) - East London, South Africa  

John originally played bass in Bulawayo band CLASSIC FOUR (See BANDS) in the mid-70's.   Leaving Rhodesia in 1975 he joined an outfit called MELODY FAIR in East London but "retired" from music when he left this band.  Recently he has rediscovered his taste for music and entertainment and is now in a four piece called FASTLANE.

JOHN MILLER - Musician & Journalist - London, England (Added 09/05/06)

John was born in Salisbury in January 1951 and was blinded in a shotgun accident as a 10 year old.  This traumatic event drastically changed his life and he went on to attend King George VI primary school in Bulawayo for 3 years before continuing his secondary education at the School for the Blind in Worcester, South Africa.  He matriculated in 1969.

John's interest in musician took hold shortly after he lost his sight.  His first experience of a live gig came in 1961 when his grandmother, who was far more "cool" and adventurous than his disapproving mother!, accepted an invitation from Mickie Most to attend a couple of sessions in Salisbury.  

Like so many aspiring musicians of the era, John fell under the spell of the Shadows and later, thanks to the kindness of the Cyclones' lead vocalist Dyllis Stevenson, he met Cliff Richard and the Shadows, as well as Carole Gray, the Bulawayo actress who starred opposite Cliff in the Young Ones.   

John's path of introductions to the rich and famous (probably more famous than rich, truth be known!) continued  when he met Jeremy Taylor of "Ag Pleez Daddy" fame.  Jeremy had occasion to visit the Miller home and sat for a while with John who was learning his way about the guitar.  John was inspired by Jeremy's enthusiastic support and encouragement, spurring him on to persevere with his guitar playing ambitions.

After working as a personnel consultant in Salisbury for a couple of years, John returned to South Africa.  Relocating to Pietermaritzburg in Natal via Johannesburg he joined a band formed by old school mates in 1974.  John made his debut with As You Like It on rhythm guitar.  The leader of the band was a Northern Rhodesian, Ian Farrington.

About a year later John formed his own semi-professional outfit and called it Choice.  This quartet played nurmeous gigs throughout Natal for the next 4 years, a highlight of which was playing at a Rhodie bash at the Durban City Hall and backing Graham Boyle, formerly lead singer of the Gentle People.  Choice also made appearances at Bretts and Club Tomorrow in Johannesburg.

John then left the music scene and, in 1980, was offered a job as a journalist on the Johannesburg based Rand Daily Mail.  Whilst working as a court reporter he managed to ease himself back into the music scene.  With the assistance of the editor of Express Beat, Suzanne Brenner, he began freelance entertainment writing for the Express, as well as the Mail on occasion.  The Express Beat was part of the Sunday Express newspaper.

In his role of music journalist, John was able to attend many concerts and shows with his press pass and he fully exploited these opportunities.  During this period he interviewed virtually all South Africa's leading artists, entertainers, record producers and executives, including Clout, Ballyhoo, Juluka, Patric van Blerk, Hilton Rosenthal and Emil Zoghby.  He was a frequent visitor to local recording studios although, for most of the time, he was supposed to be writing up the details of some gory court case or another.

One of his biggest scoops was breaking the news that Queen would be playing at Sun City, as well as being the first to report the break up of Juluka.  The latter article appeared on the front page of the last ever edition of the Rand Daily Mail newspaper published on 30 April, 1985.

Shortly before the closure of the newspaper, John also financed and produced a concept rugby album with English lyrics on one side and Afrikaans on the other.

In the early 80's he teamed up with Suzanne Brenner and they wrote and published the first South African Country & Western booklet called "Surprisingly Enough" (SA Country Music).  John attributes most of his success as an entertainment writer to Suzanne Brenner.

In 1984 John was offered the position as Southern African correspondent with Billboard Magazine.  Again, Suzanne hand had played a role in this offer being made.  He took up the post and filled it for 7 years until a shift in editorial policy unsettled him and decided to leave the position.

It was at this stage that John decided to leave South Africa and he settled in England in 1997.  During the interceding years he worked as a consumer journalist on the Star newspaper.

John continues to have deep links with the continent of his birth and has visited South Africa, the last occasion being shortly before the death of his close friend and renowned musician, Kevin Mason.   

John has recently considered getting a band together again so, if there are any ex-Rhodies in the London or Sussex areas who are interest in country and western, let your webmaster know about it so that you may be connected to John! 

JULIAN PELLATT - Chester, England  

Since emigrating to colder English climes in the 1990's, Julian has continued to follow the music scene very closely, albeit it hasn't, himself, been musically active throughout these years.  He has, however, met up with another Beverley Rocks motel stalwart, Dave Walmsley who has established himself on the Manchester music scene.  In 1998 Julian, a huge James Taylor fan, had the pleasure of organising a James Taylor open air concert at Tatton Park in Cheshire.  Not only did 9000 people turn up for the occasion, but Julian also got to shake the hand of the man who had had such an influence on his own taste in music.  Julian is hoping to repeat this experience in 2004.   In 2002 Julian re-ignited his musical activities for a time by investing in a Martin D35 Dreadnought guitar and quickly landed a residency at Alexander's Jazz Bar in Chester.  He performed there for many months and his song list included Clem Tholet's "Song For Johnny".   In 2000 and 2001 Julian accepted an invitation from English music professional, Mark Reeder, and participated in concerts he had a hand in organising in the Macclesfield, Cheshire, area.  It is reported that Julian and Mark's rendition of "Orange Blossom Special" could relied upon to get the audiences going!  Currently not active in the public eye as a performer, he continues to take an avid interest in the music scene. 

(See also SOLOS - Julian Fortune)

JULIET GREEN (LOCO MUNDO) - Warwickshire, England  

Juliet initially took up recorder whilst a pupil at Blakiston Junior and later progressed to clarinet, although her heart was really set on learning the saxophone.  Her parents duly relented and she acquired her sax.  In due course she moved to England where she joined a community band before going for sax jazz tuition.  This led to her successfully applying to join a band called THIS WAY UP.  Juliet then diverged from THIS WAY UP and formed LOCO MUNDO where she was able to play more latin, funk and African-influenced material.  LOCO MUNDO gig regularly and a popular entertainers.

You can read more about their activities at their comprehensive website:

Nick's passion for drumming manifested itself at an early age when, as a youngster in Salisbury, he armed himself with a pair of coat hangers and started belting the hell out of his mother's cake tins!!  As far as he can recall, this demonstration followed a television programme in which he saw footage of Buddy Rich.  Such was his determination that he literally built his first drum kit, including the pedals and all the frills.  With a set of headphones on his head he would try to emulate the drummers of his favourite bands of the day, including Deep Purple, Led Zep, Yes, Genesis, Kansas and Wishbone Ash.  His mother tried to divert this interest to violin but gave it up after two years as a bad job.  Nick would come home and immediately get back to practicing...on the drumkit!

His first band was ANTIOCH (see BANDS) which he formed with a bunch of mates, none of whom had received any formal music training or education.  After this band dissolved, he moved to Johannesburg and joined TANGIER (1979 - 1982) along with Carol Welsh on vocals, Martin Yeats on bass and vocals, Jorge Arrigone on guitar, vocals and keyboards.  TANGIER gigged the local Johannesburg circuit in the main.  One of their more notable achievements was winning the Casio Battle Of The Bands competition in 1981.

THE HELICOPTERS - Powering Up!

In 1983 Nick joined the band which was to enjoy the greatest acclaim of his career , the Helicopters.  The rest of its members were Bernard Binns (vocals and guitars), Paul Hughes (guitar and vocals), Alistair Broadhead/Bert Askes (bass) and Jon Mason (keyboards).  The Helicopters quickly established themselves at the very top of South Africa's rock music pile and appeared on television on at least forty occasions and had five No 1 hits on the South African charts.   In addition to this, they recorded four albums and as SA's white rock act of the 80's the were pretty much second only to Rabbitt in terms of success.  They headlined several major tours and filled venues such as Cape Town's Good Hope Centre.  And the band lived the rock lifestyle to the full, indulging in the full array of antics from destroying hotel rooms, getting drenched with fire extinguishers on stage, drum risers falling over during performances and dealing with stage bombs exploding in their faces!  All good things come to an end they say, and so it was that the band called it quits in 1990 after a phenomenally successful tenure.

Nick, however, wasn't about to stop playing and did session work, and toured, with acts such as Steve Hofmeyr and Patricia Lewis.  In 1990 he joined Flash Harry with Keith Bereal and Dieter Enderling.  This was followed by a couple of years with Carte Blanche (not the television programme!) and Stryder.  It was with the Diamond Dogs that he was to again get a taste of high profile success.  The band produced two commercial hit records and enjoyed plenty of radio and television exposure.  Highlights were backing Jethro Tull on their tour of South Africa and meeting Bruce Springsteen.

Nick's time with the Dogs ended in 2002 and he then found himself with Jump Start who, as he describes it, morphed with Red Flash.  The band are still active and are a favourite at bike rallies.

JUMP START/RED FLASH

NIGEL DAMS - (ANTIOCH & others) - United Kingdom (Added 06/03/08)

Nigel's music career began as a youngster with the Salisbury band, Antioch, amongst whose other members was Nick Matzukis who was later to achieve stardom on the South African rock scene.  After the demise of Antioch and the departure of various members from Zimbabwe, Nigel stayed on to play a role in a  number of local bands for many years.  These included the well known outfits, GUTTER, the BANNED and the PROOF.

Nigel eventually relocated to England where he was a founding member of the No-Name Band.  The band was formed on a whim to play a British Telecom staff party in 1995 in Fleet, Hampshire.  The following year they played at The Underground in Leeds and the Frimley Green Working Men's Club in Hampshire.  The following year saw them gigging at the Telecom Tower in London!

The gigs at Leeds and Frimley left many memories.  For a start, due to Anton's unavailability, a drummer had to be found at very short notice.  Nigel got onto the telephone and call his old Antioch mate in Jo'burg, Nick Matzukis, a call and offered him the stand-in gig.  Nick leapt at the offer and boarded a plane for London, arriving on a Thursday.  The next day was spent rehearsing at Guildford, followed the next day by the road trip to Leeds for the gig that same night.  Sunday was used to recover before their return road trip to London where they played the Frimley Green gig the following night.  The gig was a blinder, all on the back of one day's rehearsing.  For the Telecom Tower gig, the band played right on the very top on the revolving floor which houses a restaurant.  They have indeed had London at their feet!

PETER GUNTRIP (Added 10/11/2011)

VINTAGE BREW - Pete on guitar on left

Peter is well known in Rhodie Music folklore as a founder member of such notable bands of the VAMPIRES and VERTIGO.   After leaving the VERTIGOS in the sixties his music activities went into hibernation for a time although he kept a guitar close by.  Moving to Malawi he did a couple of sporadic gigs before finding his way to Australia, via the United Kingdom, where he joined the Queensland Police in 1972.  In 1973 he was posted to Monto, a small town in central Queensland where he was introduced to Australian country music which made an immediate impact on him.  Pete was soon providing solo backing for country artists on stage and soon met local bands, including Netz's Silver Comets, who invited him to join after learning that he could play bass.

The band's line-up was quite a novelty, given Pete's previous experiences, and ncluded two saxophones, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, rhythm guitar, drums and piano.  He recalls that the pianos one would find in country halls were often pretty close to disrepair.  The situation was so common that their piano player would be permanently equipped with a "repair kit" of wire, string, drawing pins and chewing gum to carry out running repairs on any instrument that required attention.  On one occasion they picked up a piano to move it across the stage and were left holding the outer case whilst the pedals and works stayed where they were!  Undaunted, they managed to put the piano back together again and used it for the gig.  Sometimes the tuning on this instruments was so bad the pianist just had to strike the key with the nearest sound.  Luckily, none of these gigs was amplified.

The band often travelled 200 km's to gigs.  Most country hall gigs did not allow alcohol to be served but the food was exceptional.  A modest entry fee was charged and ages ranged from 2 to 90 making these events real family affairs.  The band's repertoire included everything from old-time dance numbers through rockabilly to modern rock, all by memory and, in Pete's case, little rehearsal!  He quickly cottoned onto watching the brass players and worked out that "one upraised finger meant key of F (one flat), two meant B flat (two flats) and so on!"

Five years later he moved away from the country hall music scene to a completely different environment in Brisbane.  Pete soon started to pick up club and cabaret work.  He also undertook some jazz studies during this period to broaden his chord work and improvisation skills.  During this period highlights included playing Christmas street concerts on the back of a truck in small towns, playing to 50 000 at Lang Park Stadium (now Suncorp Stadium where rugby test matches are played) and taking a Police Variety Show around Queensland.

For some years Pete had a family band called Vintage Brew.  He has now returned full circle to Netz's Silver Comets and old-time music again.  The band now comprises only brass, keyboard and guitar.  

Pete also continues to support and collaborate with old friend and professional muso, Stan Lenz, who lives close by.  Stan was, at one time, lead guitarist for The Five, one of Brisbane's best bands in the 60's.  The young Bee Gees would often support The Five before they headed overseas to seek their fame and fortune. 

THE STAN LENZ BAND

Now retired, Pete works at producing backing tracks on his computer and has a mini-studio for solo performance. 

ROB (RUSSELL) DAVIES (FLAGSHIP/WIZARD)(Added 18/07/06)

Although hailing originally from Durban, Rob spent quite a period of time in Rhodesia after playing residencies with a couple of bands at CLUB TOMORROW Salisbury.  The first of these bands was FLAGSHIP and, later, WIZARD.  Both bands were quick to establish themselves on the local scene and well very popular with clubbers.  Throughout his life Rob has had a passion for music and his interest has taken him into many musical spheres, from participation in rock bands and duets to theatre musicals.  His earliest influences came from ELP (Emerson, Lake & Palmer) with Emerson's skills on the keyboard appealing deeply to Rob's music instincts.  So much so that he launched himself with a single-minded determination into the world of keyboards!  His first band was FLAGSHIP which, in turn, gave way to WIZARD.  Rob then formed the duo, ANTHEM, with another former WIZARD member, GEORG VOROS.  After a year of gigs Rob and Georg decided to relocate to Leeds in the United Kingdom where they linked up with two friends, GEORGE VAN DYK and GRAHAM CLIFFORD. 

Out of this liaison was born WOZANI, a Zulu word meaning "come and join".  The band produced produced music which Rob describes as being a meeting of "African rock and British pop".  George and Graham penned most of the band's material.  Much of their songs' content related to the injustices of Apartheid, stories of life in Africa and were politically relevant.   The band toured and played extensively, recording an album in London.  The "big break", however, never came for reasons still being debated by the band's former members.  The band later regrouped in South Africa - without Rob who had remained in the United Kingdom - and achieved modest success.

Rob's next "band" was a duo with TIM DELANEY called SAMPLE THIS.  Inspired by being in full control of his creations in SAMPLE THIS he stepped into the world of stage musicals and wrote the script for a show called THE GARDEN OF EDEN which was set in South Africa.  He returned to South Africa to promote this work and witnessed its premiere at the Durban Playhouse in 1995.  After returning to the UK Rob joined a rock 'n roll band called BLONDIN before going out solo under the name of ROB RUSSELL.  He chose to use this name as there was already a Rob Davies on the scene who had been a member of the 70's band, MUD.  Since then Rob has continued to build his skills, particularly in the songwriting sphere, and has steadily consolidated his career and build a reputation for himself.  He maintains a very interesting and entertaining website at: www.robrusmusic.com

TONY WHITAKER-WILSON (MOJO/DELROY WILLIAMS SOUL SHOW/CAUGHT IN THE ACT) - England/Scotland (Revised 7/09/08)

After leaving The Livin' End (See BANDS), Tony relocated to England where he met up with another ex-Rhodie, Tim Elliott.  Tim Elliot is a highly competent vocalist and blues harp player.  Tim and Tony then joined two Scottish musicians and formed the band. MOJO.  The group enjoyed moderate success in the Edinburgh area playing roots blues.  Tony later returned to England where he secured a  place in the Delroy Williams Soul Show.  This line-up was essentially made up of musicians from Jamaica and the type of music played was a mixture of R & B and reggae.  The highlight of Tony's time with the Show was performing at Brockwell Park in south London to a crowd of 15 000 people. 

In 1980 Tony immigrated to Canada and decided that he needed to improve his technique and, in pursuit of this, linked up with a World Class bass player in Rene Worst.  Worst was from the renowned jazz fusion band, SKYWALK.  Since that time Tony has co-written and recorded a children's album at Ocean Sound Studios in Vancouver.