I have been playing with The Toasters since 1981. Before that I played with various SKA, reggae and rock bands in the UK and Europe.
I was bored whilst cramming for my A level exams. Just for laughs I picked up my friend’s guitar to relieve the tedium. I was 17 at that time so I guess you can say I was a late starter.
A Fender Jaguar.
The Harder They Come – Soundtrack
Joe Jackson – Look Sharp
Elvis Costell – This Year’s Model
Free – Tons Of Sobs
Chuck Berry – Greatest Hits
Releasing our first EP in 1985 that was produced by my friend Joe Jackson.
I had seen the usual run of adverts etc, but I took my first serious look when we were approached by the boss’s daughter at the 2008 NAMM show. Apparently she’s a big fan! It’s not until Ken Haas showed up at a show (in Bowling Green, Ohio) with a raft of guitars for me to test-play that i realized what a different type of instrument i was looking at.
I have the Club King hollow body – killer sound!! somehow I don’t think it will be my only model!
It’s versatile with a wide range of sounds. The action is incredible and I haven’t broken a string yet (touch wood). On top of that it’s light and the retro look is great.
I have a Fender Twin and a Deluxe Reverb. The only pedal I use is a Boss Turbo Distortion (the old one).
Not really. I’m pretty boring off the road. I have three kids and i like to spend as much time with them as possible. I don’t watch TV but i read loads of newspapers (propaganda!).
Don’t quit your day job! Seriously… This is one of the worst business climates that I have ever seen – particularly for indie music of any genre – and so it is of paramount importance that a band has it’s business skills together as without those you are not going to survive. Unfortunately, musicians now have to be as familiar with financial and budgetary chops as they are with a chord progression.
The Toasters are finishing up a run of North American dates and we are on our way down to Brazil. In 2009 we will have 2 American tours and 2 European tours. we will also visit South and Central America. We will start work on another album. More details at www.toasters.org and www.megalithrecords.com.