A short guide

Music Making

I was taught Violin to the dizzying heights of grade II. I then joined the
school Brass band playing first the Cornet and later the Tenor Horn. The Band
toured in West Germany when I was 16 about the time that I was learning
Guitar. It was also at this time that I made my first instrument, a Bass Guitar
in order to join a Rock Band. The first performing Rock band 'Arc' was a very
mild mannered affair combining Music and Poetry, then 'The Amazing
Schmoltz Band' (later just 'The Schmoltz Band') followed, before 'Liquid Laugh'
emerged from the embers. `Liquid Laugh` was a very busy band but it became
monotonous and I needed to move on.
What followed next was lots of recording, firstly with a fairly loose collection
of musicians under the title 'Starblind', and then later with former flat mate
Clive Willson and also former 'Liquid Laugh' Guitarist, Chris Powell.
Plenty of solo recording has also allowed me to be fairly experimental
whilst integrating the results into an accessible music form.

The first instrument was a Bass guitar, as was the second some few years later.
A long period then elapsed whilst I was working and studying. Then in 1993 I started
again, this time more seriously, firstly from plans and also by copying instruments
that I came across. The instrument plans that I work to are not static but evolve
constantly from one to the next and so each instrument has it`s own individuality.

Employment

I worked in Engineering for 4 years before studying Graphic Design and then worked
in Graphics in a freelance capacity. I subsequently worked as Production Manager
for a company called Colour Studios where I worked on Displays and
Construction. When I am not making Musical Instruments I work freelance
as a Carpenter and Joiner often using interesting homegrown timbers
such as Burr & Tiger Oak. I have worked on Slug and Lettuice Bars
and Tup Inns amonge others.   

Studies

I studied Engineering at Worcester and Bromsgrove, and
Graphic Design at Brunel College Bristol.