As of Feb 2018, I've been playing guitar for 26 years in various different capacities; I've been a session player, band member, solo instrumentalist, guitar tutor and music geek. 

 

  I've always been serious about playing guitar, even when a career in the music industry didn't seem likely.  I had a brief, unfulfilling career in I.T. which ended in redundancy.  After keeping music and performing on an extra-curricular basis, I decided to fully invest and devote myself to the one thing in this life at which I excel - playing the guitar.

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  Many times in my life I've felt discouraged from pursuing music as a meaningful career.  At school, I was 'invited to leave' the music class.  The teacher had zero tolerance for children unable to read music notation.  Despite being competent on drums, bass and guitar, my teenage inability to read standard notation resulted in me being screamed at and sent packing to Social Studies class instead.  

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In case you're wondering, I did eventually learn how to read and write music notation.  I wrote a song called 'Okinawa Girl' which I also transcribed.  Please click here for a free PDF : )

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  Never one to be discouraged from doing what I truly loved to do, I practised for hours, neglecting my Social Studies homework with impunity.  Soon, I was able to jam along to music by guitar gods Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, Steve Lukather (Toto, Michael Jackson) and Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme).  I learned music theory gold such as how to play major and minor scales in every key and in every position, how to instantly know relative majors and minors and, most importantly, how to play in time!

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  My first real band was called Chao:Sphere (and latterly The Belial Project).  This band lasted, in one form or another, from 1998 to 2016.  The band is currently on hiatus, but the sonic assault that IS The Belial Project will no doubt be resurrected once more in the near future.  We delighted in detuned 7-string doom and thundering double kick drums; tectonic "Wall Of Doom" bass tone and death-growl vocals.  We'll be back.

  After that, I was employed by Glasgow singer/songwriter Chris Gorman first as a session guitarist, then as a permanent band member.  We played up and down the UK in a variety of venues from the fabled King Tuts in Glasgow to the annual biker festival in Leicester.  I played guitar on the 'Kairos' album and was in the music video for the single Porcelain, which you can see if you click        

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  After my short career as an I.T. guy, my mind was made up to acquire an official, recognised qualification in music.  I had just been handed notice of my impending redundancy and was feeling generally jaded and unhappy with my life.  I was starting to resent musicians; they had followed their dreams while I had inexplicably suppressed mine for a soulless 9-5 call centre job.  Fast forward 9 months and I was sitting in a classroom at New College Lanarkshire, about to commence my Higher National Certificate in Music.  I am pleased and proud to state that I am now aiming to complete the diploma course and go on to achieve my music degree the following year.  Watch this space!

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  I am currently the guitar player for hard-rock power trio RPM (James 'Spike' McLean - vocals & bass, Kenny Wheeler - drums and percussion).  We gig.  Lots.  We play a selection of hard rock, punk and metal songs guaranteed to bring a smile to your face and whiplash to your neck.  So please, if you want to party, drop me a line and we will, we will rock you!

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"To play a wrong note is insignificant.  To play without PASSION is INEXCUSABLE!"   -  Ludwig Van Beethoven

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