THE SIDEVALVES
Classic rock & blues
PAT BENNETT
Bass guitarist
GEAR
Guitar1: Musicman Stingray 3EQ bass guitar
Guitar2: Fender Mexican bass guitar
Amp: Ashdown MAG C410T - 500w Bass combo (1 x 15 speakers + tweeter); Ashdown 1 x 15 bass cab
BANDOGRAPHY
The music interest came in 1973 whe a few mates from a nearby village learned to play guitar but I didn't take to the 6-string too well, so I took up the bass, found I could play it well (even if I say it myself).
Got a real nice Fender Jazz tortoiseshell scratchplate & maple neck. Joined a trio with Jeff Snowdon & Jimmy Mason called Whisky Joe doing country/ folk/acoustic rock. Didn't last long but I enjoyed it.
Did a bit of stand-in bass with Blueprint then joined the army in mid-80's, bit of welding & fighting the 'argies! Did my bit, came out after a few conflicts.
Got asked to join Hat Trick with Davey H, Brian A & Kasher, good laugh, covering all types of music, got paid, took on drummer & keys, hit the clubs. Lasted several years, several 100 chinese take-aways in the van, until we folded.
Davey H always loved the blues & he formed Delta Connection - I joined a few months later. Did the pubs, doing stuff we liked, got a good following, lasted quite a while 'til we called it a day. Or so I thought!
A 10 year gap followed, sold all my gear, no thought of playing again, got into bikes & restoration. The on holiday with that man again (Davey H), got (drunk) talking about playing again, as you do, got back home, more talking, and......bingo....The Sidevalves landed! Greta to be back playing. See you at some gigs. Back on the road....again...yeah!
ALTERNATIVE FACTS
Known as: Saddam, Whistler
Favourite saying: he hasn't got one, just whistles, he's not a bad singer you know (not a reference to our singer though!)
Favourite food: rollies, mini-donuts
Things don't like: high kerbs & steps, singer checking his hair in his musicman guitar's mirror scratchplate, zz top's 'She loves my automobile'
Most embarrssing moment with the band: missing the start of the 2nd set at Sacriston Cricket Club due to being in the bog - making my entrance into the concert room from the toilet to applause from the crowd & p*ss taking from the band!
DAVEY HERRON
2nd guitar, vocals, harp player
GEAR
Guitar 1: Gibson 345 Stereo BB King 'Lucille' model
Guitar 2: Fender Telecaster
Guitar 3: Paul Reed Smith
Amp: Marshal TSL 122 100w 2 x 12 Valve Combo; Marshal T30 1 x 12 Combo
Effects: Chorus pedal
Vocal: Sure SM58 vocal mic
Harps: Sure Bullet harp mic & assorted harps
BANDOGRAPHY
First band 1971, Blueprint, 4-piece, 2 years in clubs, various pop songs of the day; 1st decent guitar Fender Telecaster 1974, joined country band, didn't like country scene & quit!
1985, an old mate Cliffy, got me back on the road again (sounds like an old Canned Heat number!), formed a duo, I played bass, we used a drum machine, Cliff on guitar, did pubs & clubs, with the odd residency, for a few years, then Cliff went to play the bars in sunny Spain. 1987('ish).
Met Kasher & old mate Brian Alderson, teamed up & formed trio Hat Trick, Pat Bennett joined to play bass & I went back to playing 6-strings again, took on a drummer & keyboards, went back to playing the clubs, big time, that came with the usual trappings of lighting rigs, big P.A.s, bass bins to hump, late nights. After a few years we got sick & folded.
I always had a soft spot for the blues & R'n'B, so formed Delta Connection, a rosk'n'blues outfit with Kasher, Brian & Pat, plus drummer Styxx (of Whisky Priests fame). We built quite a following round the pub circuit, met some great folks on the way, sure was heaven doing all the songs I liked from way back - Cream, Free, Gallagher, Lee, Green, Canned Heat.......! We even wrote a couple.
Alas, work & family came 1st & we parted, adrift on the musicless ship for years. Until now, that is! The Sidevalves were formed with a couple of mates from Durham Classic Motorcycle Club after a 10 year break in 2002. Back on the road again, hurray, I love it, good ol' rock'n'roll!
ALTERNATIVE FACTS
Known as: Slasher
Favourite sayings: 'there's another cap missing', 'let's do 2-4-6-8 motorway'
Favourite food: cigarettes, beer & whisky
Things don't like: singers being late, having his walking stick hidden, impatient people
Most embarrassing moment in the band: being pissed in the 2nd set of a gig at The Glen (Dec'05) & singing/playing like a twat! The evils of drink! Alice gave him hell!
Favourite Guitarist joke: What's the difference between a blues guitar player & large pizza? A large pizza can feed a family of four!
Things he's not allowed to do before gigs: chop/prepare vegetables due to slicing off various bits of his fingers in the days leading up to gigs (Alice is under orders to remove all the sharp kitchen knives)
BRIAN ALDERSON
Lead guitarist
GEAR
Guitar1: Gibson Les Paul Standard Honeyburst Tigerstripe
Guitar2: There is only one guitar!
Amp: Marshall TSL 122 100w 2 x 12 Valve combo amp
Effects: Boss GT6 effects board/Nasa Control Centre
BANDOGRAPHY
I have been in & out of a few bands over the years but not in anything big. I've known Davey & Pat for a long time now. Got together with them in 80's in band No Limits, but after a lot of late nights & curries, we called it a day.
After a few months I was back, in a band called Delta Connection..that was fun 'cos we were doing the songs we all liked. Sadly that all ended after a year or so...now after 10 years or so I'm back with The Sidevalves & loving every minute of it....Keep on rocking!!
ALTERNATIVE FACTS
Known as: 'The Mover'
Favourite sayings: Haven't they got any bigger plates?; Sharon, get me another pint!
Favourite food: Anything he can stuff in his mouth
Things don't like: moving about the stage, in fact, moving at all (except to the bar)
Most embarrassing moment with the band: Spilling my pint of lager all over my Les Paul guitar as I went on stage for the start of the 1st set at Steels Club - bollocks & more bollocks! Also, knocking over my pint of lager at The Daisy Hill & creating a 'lager lake' special effect on the stage! Went down well with Mr Bloody Perfect! Who threw that wet beer towel?
Guitarist joke: What do a guitar solo & premature ejaculation have in common? You know it's coming & there's nothing you can do about it!
PETE ROBSON
Lead vocalist
GEAR
P.A. Speakers: 2 x RCF Art 322-A Active/Powered speakers 400w (12" woofer, 2" HF compression driver); 2 x Mackie SWA 1501 15" Active/Powered sub bass bins (these babies sure kick ass & as for those little blue lights...!); Warwick Rock bags (protective covers)
Mixing Desk: Behringer Eurodesk SL2444FX-Pro mixer (16-channel) with built-in digital effects, custom flightcase
Mics: Sure Beta SM58 with Sure SM58 as back-up/spare
Monitors: Carlsbro 150w powered 1 x 12" monitor, 1 x 100w 15" passive monitor, 1 x 100w 12" passive monitor
Lighting rig: Par 56 500w cans & stands, Pin spots, floor Par 56 500w cans, Transcension CT4010 light controller; Pro Sound Fogger; Gator & Custom flightcases
BANDOGRAPHY
First band....Rampage...mid-70's, I was the drummer, did some lead vocals...least said! Then decided I would try vocals & gave up drums (much to parents & neighbours relief!).
Next band..can't rightly remember the name but was Morpeth based, made debut at Queens Head, Morpeth. Used to practice at Kirkhill school - drummer was rather large!
Practiced with a few bands/musicians for a while before forming (1980'ish)...wait for it...Lazy Bitch...Ashington based band...heavy rock...loved it...great lads...Brian, Bran, Mark (now lead singer with Stcky Fingers...he was our drummer in those days!) Tim, Alan et al. Those were the days, playing at Ashington Central Club, The Plough at Mitford, a rock club in Whitley Bay, was it the Esplanade? the DJ was Little Jeff (now passd away, sadly).
Moved to Durham about this time ('83) & practiced with a few local musos (Jeff from Langley Park...loved your guitar playing). Moved to Sheffield 1986 but came back after a year. Moved into playing the clubs (sad, but you've gotta do it!). Also played occasionally with The Wildon Brothers, with Neil 'The Mayor', making some good muso friends (Neil, Finn, Paul).
Whilst playing the clubs I encountered throat & voice problems, had scans & cameras, had a bit of a scare, but eventually diagnosed as severe wear'n'tear...phew! Gave up playing totally at that time & did nowt for a few years, got my life back, P.A. gathered dust in the garage, got into politics, became a councillor, got more into bikes. Years passed, bit of jamming/sessions with a few bands, but nothing serious - never got to play regularly, though had many offers, family took priority. Thought I was never going to return to playing live again (kept most of my P.A. gear, mind!) until a few drunken nights at the bike club, daft talk about forming a band, and.....well, you've guessed it...The Sidevalves were formed late 2002, not too seriously at 1st, I took a bit of persauding, even a few threats made to get me to turn up at practice/on time/at all! Now back into it, the buzz is back, still rockin', love it!!
ALTERNATIVE FACTS
Known as: Mr Bloody Perfect; Pain in the arse
Favourite sayings: Don't touch my hair; Get that pint off the stage; Don't put that there; Start it!
Favourite food: kebabs, Alice's pies, chocolate, coke...liquid stuff in cans (addicted)
Favourite bands/influences: Thin Lizzy, Free, Gary Moore, Journey, Pink Floyd, Kaiser Chiefs, Snow Patrol, Santana, Wishbone Ash, Paul Rodgers
Things don't like: smoking, whistling, untidy gear set-up, not learning new songs
Most embarrassing moment in the band: failing to get the right key for Joe Cocker's Unchain My Heart at Sacriston CC - it took me until the 2nd verse to crack it! Nobody but the band noticed, though! Think I did it again next gig also!
Singer joke: What's black & blue & lies in a ditch? A singer who's made too many drummer & guitarist jokes!
Louis Bell
Drummer
Louis joined the band late December '07 when our original drummer, Dave, retired.
More info on Louis will appear very soon.
DAVE KAY
Original/Previous Drummer (left December 31 2007) - Dave has retired from playing and we wish him well.
Drummer joke: What's the difference between a drummer & a drum machine? With a drum machine you only have to punch the information in once!
Another drummer joke: Two cowboys were waiting in the fort for the Indians to attack, listening to the distant pounding of the war drums. One cowboy muttered to the other "I don't like the sound of them drums" Just then, a distant voice came over the hill "It's not our usual drummer!"
