WANDERING JOHN
One of Coventry's most dynamic rock / blues bands have reformed after 40 years and reports from the rehearsals say they are even better than before.
Wandering John bassist Ade Taylor initiated the idea as a tribute to their former manager Dave Sullivan, who died of cancer recently. His wife - Julie Sullivan is organising the gig which takes place on September 4th 2010 at the Sphinx Club in Stoke, Coventry. Doors open 6.30 and is free but there will be a collection for Macmillan Cancer Care.
There will be a disco until 9pm when Trev Teasdel will open for the band with a few performance poems followed by Wandering John. Their country blues off shoot - Last Fair Deal - will also be on the bill followed by more Wandering
John featuring guest lead guitarist Neol Davis (of The Selecter).
The band's line up is
John Alderson - lead & Slide guitar
John Gravenor - Vocals
Ade Taylor - Bass
Paul Hayes - Drums
Paul Hayes also from Coventry is new to the band but has been playing in a band with Ade Taylor in Devon. Both of Wandering John's original drummers - Al Walder and Jim Pryal were not available.
Last Fair Deal was a country blues offshoot comprising of
John Alderson - Dobro
John Gravenor - Vocals
John Westacott - Violin and harmonica
That was the original line up but more recently John Alderson and Tim James (formerly of Ra Ho Tep) have been carrying on the Last Fair Deal tradition and Tim will also be guesting on the night.
The band first formed in 1969 and disbanded in 1970, their last gig being at the Lanchester Poly Tech in Coventry from which a recording was made of the gig. This was earmarked to be their first album on Pig Mother Label - an alternative label proposed by the Broadgate Gnome.The project never came to
fruition and Wandering John spilt up. The tapes of the last gig have resurfaced and it was proposed to remaster the tapes and issue them on CD, however the sound quality and balance is not satisfactory so it's planned to record the new concert and hopefully get that issued.
Wandering John were one of the most popular bands in Coventry in there time. By way of background the band have put out some of their memories of the band -
Here is what Bassist Ade Taylor had to say -
ADE TAYLOR'S STORY
I got into music at a very early age, when I first discovered Rock'N'Roll and Skiffle, in the fifties. My earliest influence was Lonny Donnegan and Tommy Steele. Then Elvis and Bill Haley.
I was a teenager in the sixties, a great time to be a teenager. I was influenced by such
bands as: Rolling Stones (whom I still Love!), The Who, The Kinks, The Animals. The Small Faces and, all the good groups America had to offer.
By the time I started playing myself, in the late Sixties,among my influences were bands like; Cream, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Free, John Mayall's Blues Breakers and Peter Green's
Fleetwood Mac.
My great friend, John Alderson, has also, been an influence, encouraging me to keep
playing all these years.
I took up playing the bass guitar after a chance remark from my brother, who said the bass would suit me.
My first real band was briefly with "Interior War", Where I met John Alderson (Rhythmn Guitar and Slide Guitar). After 2 gigs, we were both unceremoniously dumped!
Johnny took it harder than I did, but, I said we will form our own band. "Who's going to play lead guitar ? " He asked. "Why you are". I replied, you're a great guitarist.
"Do you think I can pull it off?" "Definately", I replied, and we searched for a drummer
and singer.
After trying out a few drummers without success, the pair of us were in the Dive (Lady Godiva Pub), one night when Mr. Alderson called me over to meet these 2 lads.
Johnny said that this is our new drummer, Al Walder and Singer, John Gravenor. And the
name of the band is "Wandering John". This was the singer's nick-name.
I looked at these 2, 17 year old,hippies, one a Red Indian sort, and, the other with this
massive ginger afro, and thinking; well if they can play and sing as good as they look, no problem!
When we got together to practise, although we didn't have much material, we sounded very good together, and I knew we had a good combination.
We soon gelled, as our playlist came together.
Our first gig was on a Sunday night, at the Newlands Pub, Tile Hill, round about mid to
late 1969.
After about 25 gigs, our last gig was Saturday, 21st. November,,1970 at the Lanchester Polytechnic( now called Coventry University). This was the last time that we played together, as John Gravenor quit the band, and later moved to Brighton. And, Al Walder, shortly after, packed in playing drums.
Myself and John Alderson did get back together in a band in 1981, with musician, Tim James, from the band "Ra-Ho-Tep". But, alas, we didn't get past the rehearsing stage.
Johnnny went on to "Travelling Riverside Blues Band".
I gave up playing for a while, when I married my girl-friend, Angie, and set up home.
I came back to playing in the early 1990's, at first on bass, then lead round 1997.
I have played with a few bands in the area where I live, in the West Country, even
playing at Festivals in Germany, and a party in Denmark, and even in our holiday hotel,
in Austria.
Today, I am back on the bass guitar, and am playing with a Yeovil based, blues band,
called "The Bad Apples" and a Country/Rock band, in Lyme Regis.
Ade Taylor.
JOHNNY ALDERSON'S STORY
Born in Coventry, I started to play guitar at the age of 13/14 whilst at Binley Park School. I started work at Rolls Royce at 16 in 1966 as a trainee apprentice and met John Westacott there. I joined my first band Interior War as slide second guitar with Rod Grant, during which time I met Ade Taylor. Through the 'Dive Bar' (Lady Godiva pub), a regular haunt for musos, I met John Gravenor and Al Walder – and we formed Wandering John.
We practised at Binley Junior School- other folks practising there too and included John and Ted Duggan and Pete Waterman! Also as an off shoot, came Last Fair Deal- an acoustic blues trio – with John Gravenor, John Westacott (violin and harp) and myself. We used to play regularly at the Umbrella Club in Cov.
After a couple of years, the band split and I met Martin Barter (keyboard player/vocals and formed Just Jake. In 1973, I left to live in Pembrokeshire where I played slide blues around folk clubs. I moved back in 1976 and met up with Martin Barter again and joined Ottoman- but we didn't conquer the world!
I retrained as a carpenter/joiner and taught woodwork to YTS students before going self-employed as a carpenter/joiner. Then formed Travelling Riverside Blues Band with Tony Morgan (bass), George Stevens (drums) and Trevor Jones (vocals). The band has had various line-ups but 'Johnny Slide' (John Alderson's other persona) now being the only original member.
My old friend Tim James (vocals/harp/sax) – previously in Ra Ho Tep - has been around all this time too!
I have made guitars on and off for 35 years now, but only full time for the last 10 years concentrating on my 'Delta resonator' guitars – but also electric guitars,
My main influences are old country bottleneck blues, John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Free, Jeff beck and Jimi Hendrix.
PAUL HAYES STORY
Paul G. Hayes grew up in Eastern Green Coventry. Coming from a musical background with both parents having vast stage and concert experience, my musical experience started at junior school playing Violin and Trumpet finally achieving Grade 8 at the Coventry School of Music and a member of the Coventry School of Music Brass Ensamble. Also during this time i became a member of the Boys Brigade based in Tile Hill Initially playing Trumpet then took up the marching Side Drum.
In Sept 1981 at the age of 16 i joined Her Majesty`s Forces Army ROYAL CORPS OF TRANSPORT. During my time in the training Regiments as
well as basic and trade training i became the Lead Drummer in the Corps of Drums, with many Military Band demonstrations, Parades and shows including Marching through London on the Lord Mayor`s Parade in 1982 and also the Military Tattoo at Earls Court London.
After this i joined my permanent Regiment in Germany as a HGV driver duties including the supply and movement of stores, vehicles, and live ammunition and explosives to front line troops mainly attached to the Royal Artillery.
I left the forces at the end of 1988 and have mainly owned and driven HGV class1 trucks both UK and European Haulage. I changed careers four and a half years ago to work and operate Heavy Mobile Cranes, working in the Heavy Lifting industry with Cranes ranging from 25 to 1000tons.
My two previous bands were the Roadhogs Rock and Blues Band and Third Alert both from Coventry. I have played Drums Live at Pubs, Clubs,
Parties, Weddings and Charity Events and recording in two studios over the last Eight years since i started playing Drums again building up my Acoustic Kit to as it is today.
I play a Yamaha Stage Custom Kit, Zildjian Cymbals, Roland TD8 electronic Drums with AKG microphones and Wharfdale sound monitoring.
My musical influences are predominantly Heavy and Classic Rock and up tempo Blues. Artists admired are Iron Maiden, Metallica, Muse, Deep Purple, Whitesnake, Rainbow, Black Sabbeth, Pink Floyd, Cream, Gary Moore.
I was only 5 or 6 years old when Wandering John were playing the music scene in the early 70`s in Coventry!
JOHN GRAVENOR'S STORY
I started singing in a church choir in St Michaels when I was 9 until I was 12 - then bought a guitar and started writing my own songs. Played
with a couple of guys at school (Caludon Castle) including Al Walder. Al and I auditioned for John and Ade in Wandering John when we were 17 and joined the band. I think at the time we believed that we were going to be huge, but unfortunately I was still very young and things weren't moving fast enough for me so quit the band to try other things. I left Cov in 1971 for Brighton. Then went round Europe in 1972 with Neil O'Connor and Alex Murphy - mostly busking.
Looking back, we should have continued with Wandering John as the guys were and still are brilliant musicians. One of things I remember about WJ is the amount of times that we were paid off after one number for being too loud! I also well remember the Diggers Feast in the Old Cathedral.
I now live in Hastings, E Sussex - currently wholesaling beers, previously having owned and run clubs in Brighton.
Previous bands include Midnight Circus, Alicats and Downturn and pursued a solo caree
My main influences are various old blues mussos, John Mayall, Pretty Things, Who
WANDERING JOHN IN REHEARSAL - PHOTOGALLERY ( From photos by Peter Clemons and Cliff Wagstaff (I think)
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