Meet the Old Dogz
Graham
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On leaving school Graham joined a couple of bands - nothing very serious - until he joined "Shiralee" as lead guitarist in 1965. The line up was guitar - bass - organ - drums - vocalist. The music varied from American Soul to Beach Boys vocal harmony numbers to Emerson Lake and Palmer instrumentals. The main gigs were London clubs - universities and colleges and the dreaded US bases. Shiralee used to support bands such as The Nashville Teens - Swinging Blue Jeans - Cliff Bennett & the Rebel Rousers - Jimmy James & the Vagabonds - Jimmy Cliff. They played at an open air concert for the NME at Battersea Funfair with the Rolling Stones. The band went professional in 1967 and had a single out on the Fontana Label called - I Will Stay By Your Side. The band folded in 1970. Graham's favourite memories include: - His mental faculties |
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Phil
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Phil, the oldest band member, has been playing live music for 40 years. He plays bass, guitar and keyboards. He played keyboards in Stumpy, a runner-up in Opportunity Knocks, besides other TV appearances. On the back of this success, Stumpy achieved national status and toured the UK and Europe, touring with the Tremeloes. He has done many unusual gigs, including playing to all all male audience in the Shetlands and supporting Gasoline, Denmark's answer to Status Quo. |
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Roy
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Roy began his singing career at school, playing ‘Captain Cocoran’ in HMS Pinafore. That was it, he had the singing bug. Realising he was not yet ready for the Palladium he carried on regardless joining a number of bands trying to find his niche. His love for 50’s and 60’s music led him to try out the Rock n Roll scene and he joined a band called ‘The Blue Suedes'. He travelled the length and breadth of the UK and finally hung up his microphone. It was not until the early 90’s that he came out of musical retirement, teaming up with a Guitarist to form the duo ‘Revival’. He successfully sang and played keyboards frequenting the South West circuit for over five years. Then in 2004, after another break, he joined 'The Graduates,’ a five piece function band playing weddings, theatres and clubs. The function band ‘Nevertheless’ followed. Roy joined ‘Old Dogz' in January 2011 , considering it to be the pinnacle of his singing career. Asked what his main assett is, he says that he has his own teeth and hair. Rather worryingly, joining the other Dogz made him feel young and vibrant again, so he has not yet checked into the retirement home with the other Dogz. However he is very pleased to be able to join them on stage and looks forward to meeting you all very soon.
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Jon
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Jon, the least decrepid member of the band, made his drumming debut in 1963 playing Wipeout in his brother's band The Silhouettes. He learnt his drum rudiments and discipline in a marching band, and in the late sixties played at venues including the Royal Albert Hall and the Colston Hall in Bristol, amongst many visits to France. In 1966 Hughie Green presented Opportunity Knocks in a summer season at the Pavilion Theatre, Weymouth. Jon entered the competition playing in a duo called David and Jonathan. They won it two weeks running and their reward was to appear twice nightly on the show working with people like Monica Rose, Tony Holland (remember the Muscle Man?) and Bobby Bennett (Junior Showtime). He had a fantastic time and even got to sail on Hughie's boat. In the late sixties Jon appeared a couple of times on Westward Television. On one occasion he appeared in a period drama playing a regimental drummer - he recalls having to go to the makeup room to have his hands made up (because that's all that was seen). That's showbusiness! He has played in many venues, mainly in the South West, with several bands including Outward Bound, Reflections, Inspirations and Ex-Directory. He joined Old Dogz... New Trix in March 2006. |
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Jerry
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Jerry, the least old member of the band, thinks that there are two ways you can recognise an international pop star. The first is they have a bad memory... he can't remember the second. He has tinkered with keyboards since the late 1950s. However it wasn't until 1997 that he did anything half serious when he co-formed a scratch band with a pro saxophonist who wanted to play at his own wedding reception. Whilst the intention was to disband afterwards, the event proved so memorable that the band continued playing rhythm and blues to local audiences for a few months. His second band was HTFib, which after a year of intensive rehearsal, started performing a highly polished set of self-written music. After a year or two Jerry left to devote more time to his family; HTFib continues to this day. He has played keys in the orchestra pit for various shows and summer schools. Jerry has made regular appearances at the Royal Variety Performance - at the 2006 show he could be seen in row F, seat 40. Jerry has no claims to fame whatsoever, although his mother was interviewed about under-age sex by Ali G, if that counts. His other interests include wildlife, recording musicians and doing live sound for events and shows. Interesting projects have included producing and recording the album Chardbusters and he recently recorded the principle oboeist from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for a pro CD. He can't recall much else...
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