steantval

[quote name='GremlinAndy' post='698529' date='Jan 2 2010, 03:33 AM']Hi Steve. I'll put the pot on if you're popping over buddy! Maybe I can convince you to do a few gigs with us? lol[/quote] Hi, Joking apart. If you are playing any gigs further south I will try to be at the gigs. Tried to get a Journey tribute together a couple of years back, quality musicians all in place but just could not find a vocalist to do the job.

[quote name='GremlinAndy' post='696891' date='Dec 31 2009, 01:24 AM']Thing is, I'm an old school dude. Before the internet it was possible to be called the same name as *many* club-cover bands, even in the UK. It was unlikely you would ever cross paths with a band from down London way, if you were from, say, ...Sheffield (as I am). But then the internet comes along, and everyone can see the other bands, and it's like they own the name. Well *FECK THAT!* We're just tribute acts, in different continents... Neither one of us are gonna *make it big* so I reckon that we'll not be confused with the US based band... We're not trying to sell ourselves in a big internet based promotional experience... If someone were to turn up to one of our gigs expecting those guys, I'd be *very* surprised, and would laugh my tats off at them. and finally, to be honest, we didn't know about the other guys when we decided on the name. A quick search of the internet only showed a UK based, original pop boy-band type thing... but we rehearsed for 3 years waiting to get a full line up... and we stuck with the name, cos we were used to it...[/quote] Oh sh*t, I better cancel my flight tickets from the States..........Steve Perry

[quote name='GremlinAndy' post='672086' date='Dec 2 2009, 01:43 PM']As a return favour for allowing us to rehearse at the Eastwood View WMC in Rotherham we, "Departure" have agreed to do our first gig there. So if you're in the South Yorkshire area on Sat 12th Dec we will be performing. You'll probably have to be an old fart to be interested in Journey songs ...and the ticket fee is £5 on the door or £3 in advance from the club, (I have some too if anyone *was* interested in hearing my Schroeder rig of doom, marred by my bad playing... ) It'd be great to see you there. So come and introduce yourself if you do come! ...and may God bless all who sail on her! Andy[/quote] Love Journey. The band name is not to original though. Check out these guys? [url="http://www.myspace.com/departureband"]Visit My Website[/url]

Hi, I play bass in a FREE tribute band called Stealer. We are based in the Cambs/Lincs area and are looking to spread our wings to play venues further afield in 2010. The gigs we have played so far have gone down a storm and feedback from audiences has been brilliant. We [u]are not [/u][b][/b]a look alike tribute act but put all our efforts into recreating the classic blues/rock sounds of FREE. We are not interested in playing small pubs etc as we have already paid our dues over the years and are now playing venues at the next level up or supporting larger acts i.e Wishbone Ash etc. [url="http://www.myspace.com/stealer1"]Visit My Website[/url] Can any of you fellow musicians out there recommend any venues or contacts/promoters where our particular brand of music would be appreciated?

[quote name='waynepunkdude' post='690459' date='Dec 21 2009, 10:49 AM']I have agree with the rest, if your drummer likes Status Quo get rid.[/quote] Our drummer is ex Status Quo, with them for 14 years (Jeff Rich), a very nice guy and excellent drummer. Jeff also has worked with Climax Blues Band, Judie Tzuke and Def Leppard.

[quote name='doctor_of_the_bass' post='674584' date='Dec 4 2009, 11:13 PM']Allo! Tonight was opening night for `Dick Whittington And His Cat', at the Key Theatre, Peterborough - we've had two and a half days worth of tech/dress rehearsal and the show went off really well! Anyone else started yet? (I know mine brother Richard of Out To Play Jazzeth is supplying biblical tones for Toyah Wilcox in Sheffield!). Ciao! Nick (not widow tw an key!)[/quote] Hi Nick, Stealer are playing at the Cherry Tree this Friday 11th December. If you can't make it, send your old chap along, I'm sure he would enjoy it.

Stealer play their musical tribute to late 60's early 70's icons Free. Saturday 28th November Mama Liz's Voodoo Lounge Stamford, Lincolnshire

Anything by Status Quo. All along the Watchtower ................J Hendrix

Have any of you folks out there played at this venue? Does it have an in house PA/lights and soundman? I'm currently trying to book our band in there.

Used to be an 18 mile round trip with the old band. Now it's a 90 mile round trip with the new one.

On Sunday night Simon Cowell proved he is the biggest PRICK in the world by keeping those Dickhead Twins in the show. By voting them out it would also have left the other Dickhead (L Walsh) on the show with nothing to do. The show is totally fixed (who checks the votes) and loses what little credability it had. It's all about his money and ratings, the contestants are merely pawns in his game. Lets hope smarmy Cowell has another go in the reasonably priced car on Top Gear and some f*cker cuts the brake pipes, that's what I call reality TV.

I just love mine it's perfectly balanced and plays like a dream. I currently have to play an SG bass every gig for our Free tribute act, it's pretty awful to play and totally unbalanced but it looks correct and makes the right sounds for the material we are doing. Sadly the Musicman just sits in its case but I will never get rid of it. [attachment=35083:P3210008.JPG]

Our drummer Mr Jeff Rich has secured us a gig at High Barn in Great Bardfield and looking at the website the venue looks superb. Has anyone out there had any experiences of playing at the venue?

I had a bad experience on Saturday night. Brand new SG bass and brand new purchased that afternoon Bass Centre strap. Played at a large venue, support slot of forty minutes and one song from the end of the set and the strap gives way, being an SG I had a solid hold on the neck and saved the bass from just hitting the stage. I ended up playing the last song sat on a stage monitor with the bass supported by my knee. I inspected the strap and found the hole had ripped wide open that goes over the button. I have now purchased a full leather strap and will be fitting locks as a precautionary measure.

Picking songs within a band should really be done democratically. Rot does start to set in when members have to play songs they do not enjoy. Time is precious, why waste time learning something you have no enthusiasm for.

STEALER (FREE TRIBUTE) PLAY AT THE CROWN AND MITRE IN NEWARK. FRIDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER, STARTS AT 9.00PM. [url="http://www.myspace.com/stealer1"]Visit My Website[/url]

It's our first gig with our new drummer - Jeff Rich - ex Climax Blues Band and Status Quo. Newark Blues Festival, Crown and Mitre, Friday 11th September.

I have played in several cover bands and in my opinion the band is only as good as the lead vocalist. If the vocalist is rubbish the band will come over as rubbish. All of the bands I have been in have had the luxury of having superb vocalists and we have never had the arsing about of changing keys. If you are constantly having to change keys to suit a limited vocal talent, ditch the songs and choose ones they can sing. Certain key changes totally wreck the feel of certain songs, as I have witnessed on many occasions.

Seen them twice in the last couple of years. Excellent live band with some awesome songs.

[font="Comic Sans MS"]Andy Fraser on Mr Big by Free..........................a real classic.[/font][size="5"][/size]

Just finished watching the Stevie Wonder concert from the 02 in 2008 on BBC2. What a joy to watch some seriously good musicians. Cool dude of a bass player, excellent and really laid back. Not to mention the three stunning female backing vocalists.

I'm currently playing in a band called Stealer and our whole set is devoted to the band Free. We are a tribute band but not a look alike, we feel the music is the most important factor. We are based in the Cambs/Lincs area and are looking further afield for suitable venues to perform at. Could any of you folks suggest anything in the East Midlands, Beds, Herts, Essex or North London areas? Your suggestions would be greatly appreciated. [url="http://www.myspace.com/stealer1"]Visit My Website[/url]

Stealer, musical tribute to late 60's early 70's classic blues/rock legends Free. Playing at Mama Liz's Voodoo Lounge, Stamford, Lincolnshire. Friday 5th June, starts at 9.00pm. [url="http://www.myspace.com/stealer1"]www.myspace.com/stealer1[/url]

Really enjoyed our gig last night as support to the mighty Wishbone Ash (Andy Powell). The only negative was the promoter cocked up the timings and we only had a twenty minute slot. It was great to see some pro musicians in action. Andy Powell came over as a decent bloke, he signed my original Pilgrimage LP from 1971. The bass player had a nice sound with a Musicman five string, Hartke head and 1x15, 4x10 Galien Kruger cabs.

Really enjoyed our gig last night as support to the mighty Wishbone Ash (Andy Powell). The only negative was the promoter cocked up the timings and we only had a twenty minute slot. It was great to see some pro musicians in action. Andy Powell came over as a decent bloke, he signed my original Pilgrimage LP from 1971. The bass player had a nice sound with a Musicman five string, Hartke head and 1x15, 4x10 Galien Kruger cabs.