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GUEST MUSICIANS


Steve Hackett - guitar
Steve's career began as a jobbing harmonica player - but then along came Genesis! In over twenty solo albums since he left that legendary band, his work ranges from the raucous rock of 'Blues with a Feeling' to the beguiling classical guitar tone poem of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream. "Worlds in collision" is how Steve justifiably describes his music. How he conjures up those myriad colours and complex layers of sound from just a guitar and a D.I. box, we may never know - but the results are applauded the world over. Classics such as 'Please Don't Touch' and 'Spectral Mornings' remain firm favourites with the fans. His latest album invites us 'To Watch the Storms'. 
 


John Hackett - flute
John studied music at Sheffield University. He joined his brother as an original member of the Steve Hackett band and toured the USA and Europe, as well as appearing on several of the band's albums. Later, he made up a foursome with the English Flute Quartet, appearing with them at the Purcell Room. May 2000 saw the release of 'Sketches of Satie', an album of compositions by Erik Satie arranged for flute and guitar by John and Steve. His music has been heard on both TV and radio, particularly with the ambient group, Symbiosis. His most recent release is the atmospheric 'Velvet Afternoon'. 
 


Geoff Whitehorn - guitar
Procol Harum's guitarist,
Geoff Whitehorn blames it all on Hank Marvin and Bert Weedon! Thanks to them, he discovered the guitar at the age of eleven - a relief to all those who had until then been subjected to his really bad violin and clarinet playing. Hailed as the master of good taste, Geoff wrings highly charged emotion from every note he plays. His solo albums include 'Big in Gravesend' and 'Geoff Who?'. In an illustrious career, Geoff has worked with The Who, Paul McCartney and Roger Chapman. He found himself in Bad Company and has even got his instrument out for Dame Edna Everage...
 


Pete Hicks - vocals
Yet another veteran of the Steve Hackett band, Pete now concentrates on song writing. Some of his recent work can be found on 'About Time', the album by Dik Cadbury - yes, the bass player in
that band. An enigmatic and rather reclusive character, Pete spends most of his waking hours with his wife and assorted imaginary friends in a shed on the beach, staring at out to sea and dreaming up lyrics. He is known for his rich and extensive vocal range. His voice may be meaty, but his diet certainly isn't: Pete is a dedicated vegan.

 


Tony Patterson - vocals
Though Tony is perhaps best known to audiences as the lead vocalist with ReGenesis, the top UK Genesis tribute band, he has also released two solo albums to critical acclaim: 'Defining Blue' in 2001 and 'Barriers' in 2003. Tony's first flirtations with music began at the tender age of ten, when he picked up the cornet - only to discover he didn't have enough puff to follow a note through!  After making a swift change to flute, which he still plays today, he also took up keyboards and later guitar. Tony played keyboards and sang backing vocals in several bands before landing the job of lead vocalist with ReGenesis in 1998.
 


Siobhan McCarthy - vocals
Siobhan played the role of Juan Peron's mistress in the original cast of 'Evita'. She went on to star in many of the West End's most successfull musicals from Fantine in 'Les Miserables', through 'Blood Brothers' and 'Chess', to 'Mama Mia'. Her performance in the lead role of Donna in this Abba-inspired hit show won her a nomination for a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award. In more classical vein, Siobhan recently appeared alongside Fiona Shaw in the Broadway production of 'Medea'. She's even found herself on the wrong side of the law, banged up in ITV's 'Bad Girls' as a lesbian drug addict - nothing if not versatile!
 


Debi Doss - vocals
US-born Debi came to England on a mission to photograph the fledgling super-stars of the 70s. She soon discovered a voice of her own and stepped on stage as a backing vocalist, touring with The Kinks for over three years. Debi joined the girl-band, Love Force and, later, The Rhythm Slaves. As a busy session singer, she sang with many of pop and rock's biggest names. Her memorable vocal on 'Video Killed the Radio Star' helped catapult the hit song to number one. Always a delight to work with, Debi has been a 'cow' on only one occasion - when she provided the voice for the original singing bovine in the Anchor butter TV commercial!
 


Clare Brigstocke - vocals
Clare adds that classical touch! A member of the world-famous Bach Choir, she's an accomplished and versatile choral and solo singer who trained in Toronto and London. Clare's experience ranges from singing at the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles - there's posh! - to performing backing vocals for Sarah Brightman in the Royal Albert Hall. Her recordings include Handel's 'L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato' and a solo cover version of Charlotte Church's 'All Love Can Be', the title song from the film, 'A Beautiful Mind'. Her musical ambition is to be able to sing a faultless high C at the drop of a hat!
 


Ninian Boyle - violin, viola
Originally trained as a classical violinist, Ninian also developed a great affection for traditional music such as folk and jazz. He was lured into the progressive rock scene towards the end of the 1970s. Electrifying an old violin, he discovered new ways of coaxing interesting sounds out of the classical instrument - "a liberating experience," he recalls. Ninian began building his own instruments, both acoustic and electric, based on the form of the violin but experimenting with different designs and sounds. The instruments he plays on 'Hexameron' are two of his creations
 


Melvyn Hiscock - slide guitar
A leading authority on guitar building for over 25 years, Melvyn's book 'Make Your Own Electric Guitar' is undoubtedly the world's definitive publication on the subject.  As well as writing books, playing in his band Run With Scissors and building guitars, Melvyn gallavants around the world restoring vintage aircraft, and can often be found in front of the microphone at airshows, providing an irreverent commentary to the proceedings. His ambition is to take to the skies in his own self-built airplane.  Watch out, Gary Numan...
 

 

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