Debut Solo CD 15 track Album - featuring the many musicians he has played with over the years
CD Title - About Time I & II
Andy Fraser (Free) Jaco Pastorius (Weather Report)
At the tender age of 14 sneaking off from homework, Russ played gigs in his hometown area of Southend-on-Sea, only to be found asleep in class the next day, consequently being ‘grilled’ by his teachers! During these early days (1973-75), his debut groups were a 5-piece modern jazz outfit ‘The Off Limits Quintet’, and a rock covers band from Basildon called ‘Streamer’. [click] for Russes music biog.
1976 - 79 In 1976 barely out of school, Russ was involved in the formation of a band called ‘Tonight’, this Southend group of youngsters scored a record deal, and then had a no.14 chart single ‘Drummerman’ (Feb 78), a new-wave power-pop gem of its time! A second single charted at no.34 ‘Money (That’s Your Problem)’ (April 78), followed by ‘Wheels’ (Aug 78), and finally ‘Jealousy Kills’ (Nov 78). An unreleased album in the can followed, sadly they were unceremoniously dropped by their record company (Jan 79), a harsh lesson for Russ, in the volatile world of the music business.
1979 - 85 Back in the frame, Russ joined ‘Wilko Johnson’ (April 79), the legendary guitarist, fresh out of ‘Dr. Feelgood’, Canvey Island’s famous sons! He then received a rhythm and blues apprenticeship of grand proportions! Lots of touring followed in Europe, and Scandinavia with the ‘Wilko Johnson Band’
He featured on the album ‘Ice On The Motorway’ (80), and the E.P ‘Bottle up and go’ (83), with harmonica player ‘Lew Lewis’, in the ‘Wilko Johnson & Lew Lewis Band’ (83). Also ‘Pull The Cover’ (84), a 6-track mini album, with the ‘Wilko Johnson Band’ (84). A brief run of gigs with ‘Beverly Martyn’, folk singer ex- wife of ‘John Martyn’ in 1981, added another musical string to his bow (bass!).
1985 - 87 The re-formed Southend band ‘Eddie and the Hot Rods’, featuring original members Barry Masters (vocals), and Steve Nichols (Drums), called for Russ in January 85, he was back touring in Europe, playing thier unique brand of fast manic rock/rhythm and blues.
Russ’s bass contributed to the live in France 6-track mini album, ‘One StoryTown’ (85).
1987 - 91 87 was the year Russ joined those 60’s pop pickers ‘Love Affair’, playing the nostalgia circuit (hi-di-hi), sometimes a musician has to do these things!
Bass playing duties around this time, included Canvey band ‘C.I.A.’ with guitarist Roman Jug of ‘The Dammed’, and Southend’s very own ‘Keef’ Richards! ‘Steve Hooker’.
1991 - 93 As disillusionment crept into Russ’s conscience around this time, something most musicians go through with thoughts such as ; I’m too old, I’ve never made a proper living, The music business is shit! Talent means nothing e.t.c. So, with twin 6 year-old sons, Glen and Aaron in tow, Russ took a break from music activities, to do the family & fatherly thing, reflect on life and plan his next move.
1993 - 98 He’s back! forming a local pop-indie band called ‘Mrs. Huggins’ with ‘Tonight’ ex- drummer Gary Thompson, performing original material in the style of melodic indie/pop/rock.
Russ joined the top pub - rock covers band ‘Panik’ (Nov 94), and found himself back on the road again. He played on the stonking 4-track cassette ‘By Appointment’. The Panik line-up (Russ bass, Telecaster Ted vocals/gtr, from Basildon, Adam Ridealch lead gtr, from Brentwood & John Skelton drums, from Benfleet), backed singer ‘Chip Hawkes’ of the ‘Tremolos’ touring in Germany, also re-forming 70’s rock/blues/funk band ‘Snafu’, with original vocalist Bob ‘saw the light’ Harrison, back from a solo career in Iceland.
1998 Still gigging with Panik, he somehow found the time to hook up with local composer Rob Pierce (the dark one), and join in a dream with ‘Chalice’, a superb prog-rock band playing original material (Jan 98). At last, a chance to play those Chris Squire type riffs, back to his rock roots!
Also depping with ‘Wilko Johnson’ and ‘Love Affair’, Russ formed a blues/rock trio with old mate Gary Thompson again, called ‘The Brew’, this featured Ian Mcloud (ex - ‘Radio Stars’) on guitar and vocals. 5 Bands in one year, phew! Happy days!
1999 - 2001 The year 1999 brought a tribute band for Russ! ‘Blonde and Beyond’, a tribute to ‘Blondie’, The band included ‘Maddy Maxwell’, local keyboard session musician on vocals, and looking very much the part! Of course Russ was well equipped, delving into his power-pop roots.
A fine promotional video called on him to look the part as well, and he did – cool!
In 2000 Russ was netted by ‘Roy Mette', a blues/folk/rock singer with original material. The band stripped itself down to a power-Trio (summer 2001), augmented by drummer Rob Sommerville (ex - Bad Manners). In addition to their set the band incorporated a Rory Gallagher tribute, Russ’s old Wilko rhythm and blues roots suiting him well for this task.
‘The Texas Mountain Square Pegs’ an offshoot of the Southend country rock band ‘Against The Grain’, featuring Vic Collins (ex – Kursaal Flyers) on guitar, involved Russ playing 6-string acoustic guitar for the first time, plus he had a chance to show off his high harmony backing vocals, a fun band.
2001 saw Russ playing bass on two albums, ‘A Right Performance’ (Oct- 01) live at the Belvedere with ‘The Roy Mette Band’ (hot stuff!), and ‘Back to Back’ (Nov 01) a wonderful haunting prog-rock album from ‘Chalice’, the finest example of his bass playing so far.
2002 - 2004 In January 2002 Russ was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1, after feeling ill for some months. He adjusted his lifestyle and eating habits accordingly, getting used to the idea of two daily insulin injections, and monitoring his blood sugar levels. So, after that little ‘hiccup’ on with the show!
A local music venue called ‘The Riga Music Bar’ owned by ‘Steve Cattermole’ (Radio Caroline DJ), had a slot for a sound engineer, Russ took the position up and with a little help from Steve, learned the craft on the spot, so when he’s not gigging you can quite often see him down the Riga, on the desk twiddling his knobs!
September 03 Russ joined, ‘The Magnets’, a group fronted by ‘Vic Collins’ a fun band playing classic 60’s material, making use of his high harmonies once again!
Surfing musician sites on the net, somewhere around July 2003, Russ stumbled upon a local 25-year-old singer songwriter, by the name of ‘James Russell’ looking for a bassist/drummer.
After exchanging e-mails, Russ visited James to listen to his highly original, and dramatic material, they began sorting out songs for a live set, and agreed to form a band. Russ brought in Rob Sommerville on drums, and Rob in turn suggested ‘Kev Ming’, a guitarist from his earlier reggae band ‘Smartie’.
After months of intensive rehearsals in Jan - May 04, James, Russ, Rob & Kev, had a powerful original sound shaped around James, and named themselves ‘Scoot’. ‘Kirk Duncan’ a 70’s session man, who played keyboards on albums for ‘Justin Haywood', & ‘Glen Hughes’, has expressed interest, and agreed to take ‘Scoot’ down to Wiltshire, to a ‘state of the art’ studio to record an album.
Feeling the best he’s felt in years, Russ decided that it’s about time for a solo album, so in the summer of 2003 he gathered all his songs together, compiled from 12 years of writing, and started to make plans for a 15 – track CD. As the songs were written over a 12- year period, with many diverse influences, he decided to call up his musician friends past and present, to tackle the different musical directions on the album. The result being a debut CD, with 32 guest artists! from the South – East Essex music scene.
A daunting task, but well worth the effort, original demo’s were recorded at ‘Making tracks’ studios in October 2003, owned by local session guitarist Ian Pearce, brother of Chalice keys man Rob Pearce. The album entitled ‘About Time I & II’, was recorded and mixed in the spring/summer of 2004 by 'Mark Elliott', another local musician who runs a small music promotion company ‘Zingg Records’. All the songs are original, apart from 3 tunes co-written, Russ plays bass throughout, sings and plays acoustic/electric guitar on some of the songs as well. Key Musicians involved in are ; Wilko Johnson, Vic Collins, Maddie Maxwell, Roy Mette, Steve ‘Wes’ Weston, Graham Turner, Dave Dulake, Rob Sommerville, Ian Gibbons Barry Masters, Tim Vogt, Jeff Green plus many more of the finest players in the area. Release date Nov 2004.
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