“If you go and see any band with Laney74 on bass you know you are going to see a Rock show - top value for money and well worth going to see.” BulletBoys Live Review
I was born in Nottingham on 17th September 1974, to a pretty much, non musical, family. Other than my Mum being a big fan of 80s Pop Music I don't think anyone played an instrument. I think I have a lot to thank my Mum for though - all those 7" singles I used to stack up on the old record player carved a template in my head which gave me a love of three and half minute pop songs!
Being a teenager and really discovering music around 1990 was a cool but somewhat confusing time. There was a climate shift and I was dropped right into the middle of it. I'd just started to really immerse myself into a never ending love for anything that was associated with the LA Hard Rock Scene. You know, bands like Poison, Warrant, Danger Danger - all those bands that oozed fun and excitement which many would say had their day a few years earlier. But me, I was on board big style. I'd found new heroes to run alongside all my current movie idols and they were wearing skin tight jeans and cowboy boots! The Record Industry and pretty much the rest of the world though had other ideas. You had two choices - either be stubborn and pretend it never happened or have an open mind, and more importantly open ears, and see what other cool stuff you could find.
What on earth am I talking about? Well, as much as I wanted to shout about how great the new Trixter album was in 1992 (and I still do), pretty much the rest of the world didn't give a shit. Hard Rock was no longer wearing a bandana, it came out kicking and screaming wearing a flannel shirt! I vividly remember seeing a Nirvana interview on RAW Power late one Thursday night. They were interviewed in a bath (!!!) and then they showed THAT video. I didn't really understand it.... but, I knew there was something kinda cool about it. I didn't wanna like the horrid dirty look of the band and the video itself. It was angry, I didn't do angry - but yeah, it worked. Things were changing!
I got my first guitar around this time. I had no idea what to do with it. I wish I still had it, the thing looked ridiculous. I think I paid £10 for it... it was pretty much brand new and had pickups which looked like harmonicas. After about two weeks I'd figured out the 'G' Chord and realised I could play the breakdown section of 'Every Rose Has It's Thorn'. Ask anyone about the first time they could play along to one of their favourite songs. It's kind of a special moment no matter how simple it is.
A chance meeting with Todd Jensen from the band HARDLINE (as well as David Lee Roth / Alice Cooper / Steve Perry) in 1992 led to me moving to bass guitar. After bouncing around a few local bands and jamming with friends in the mid 1990s I eventually joined the band COURTESAN and then DIP, both bands gigging as often as possible and really fuelling my love of performing live. Then in 2001 I auditioned for AntiProduct, a brief two hour rehearsal which would change my approach to playing live forever. If a band like this gave 110% in rehearsal, how must it be to play live in that environment? I've tried to approach any live show as if it's my last since that day.... I didn't get the gig though... I'm thinking that if I had that mindset previously I just might have!
Since then I've considered myself incredibly lucky to play and perform alongside a bunch of incredibly talented people including many of my heroes. Since 2004, TEENAGE CASKET COMPANY have combined the fun and energy of Poison and Bon Jovi but bolted it to a raw punk rock backbone! Think 'Cheap Trick on Speed!'. We've released three hugely popular CD’s - 2005’s debut ‘Dial It Up’ voted ‘Independent Album Of The Year’ by POWERPLAY MAGAZINE and 2006’s ‘Eat Your Heart Out’. Most recently we put out what we consider our best album to date, 'Still Standing' and continue to gig all over the country.
During the summer of 2007 I got the opportunity to perform with THE BULLETBOYS, when the multi-million selling American Hard Rock band headed out on their first European live shows in seventeen years. I was the only UK musician on a line up also featuring legendary US rock acts Faster Pussycat and Enuff Z'Nuff. The American Glam Slam Tour performed throughout the UK before flying to Norway, Switzerland, Spain and Italy. I've been lucky enough to be their touring bassist each time they return to Europe along with a 3 week trek across the US in 2009.
More recently I played with 90's pop sensations LET LOOSE whose 1994 hit 'Crazy For You' sold over 400,000 copies. I'd originally hooked up with singer Richie Wermerling in 2007 to work on his Feetgazer project and would later lend a hand to the Let Loose 'Paint It in Gold' album recording sessions. I was excited to be invited back to be part of the reformation of the band which included original drummer Lee Murray.
In recent years you may have caught me out on the road with the likes of Johnny Monaco & The Traitors, Richard Bacchus & The Luckiest Girls, The Black Mollys, Drugdealer Cheerleader, The Dave Kerr Band or The Peckham Cowboys. Hopefully I pinched a hug or two from you? Since November 2013 I've very proudly held the UK bassist position for one of my favourite bands PEOPLE ON VACATION, completing 3 UK tours to amazing crowds and fans.
I have an unashamed love for Pop Culture (particularly the 80s and 90s), hence my STRAIGHT TO VIDEO Movie Soundtrack Project, alongside an ever growing fascination with original Beatles bassist Stuart Sutcliffe. Oh, I also like Donuts. If we can agree on any of these then we'll be friends!
I'll see you out there real soon, I flippin' well guarantee it!
“On their current tour The Bulletboys feature possibly the UK's most in demand Rock bassist Laney74 - so a good show is assured”
BulletBoys Live Review