Steve

 

Steve started playing in bands in the 70's; inspired to pick up the guitar after seeing the Sensational Alex Harvey Band featuring the one known as Zal.

Steve debuted at a local youth club with his mate Steve Scott - latterly bass player with power-pop Manchester band ‘The Trend' and played in garage heavy metal bands like Warlord. His first serious gigs took place in the late ‘70's  in his native Manchester with founder members of the Manchester Musicians Collective, No Change. Other Collective luminaries were A Certain Ratio, The Passage, The Hoax, Durutti Column, Frantic Elevators (featuring a young Mick Hucknall) and Joy Division - later to become New Order.

The Collective held court at Manchester's famous Band on the Wall, where Steve would play gigs with No Change and legendary blues pioneer Victor Brox - himself in the original stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar and allegedly playing and recording with Hendrix, Alexis Korner, Aynsley Dunbar's Retaliation and a whole host of others. The lead guitarist in No Change - 'Nick Clarke' - went on to form the hard gigging Yes Sir, while Steve was asked to join the Frantic Elevators - "I didn't because they were crap". Amongst the high spots playing with Victor and No Change were playing Deeply Vale - the Glastonbury of the North - and extensive gigging throughout the North West of England.

Steve packed in playing for what seemed an eternity, such is domesticity and the reality of having to sell your guitars for a ‘better life' of home ownership and drudgery. Moving to York, Steve saw Zal play in the Sensational Party Boys - guitar time again!! This time around, with guitar worn very low in an East Village stance, saw the formation and leadership of a series of punk/pop bands including Ask Alice, Gunner Graham, Monodrone and HoneyTrap - the latter enjoying great reviews and a following through the North East - and supporting touring bands like the UK Subs, 999, The Lurkers, Crazyhead and The Godfathers. HoneyTrap's 'On the Town' CD is now sought after and rare to find - and the name was so good that a female duo stole it to use for some ill-fated attack on the Eurovision Song Contest - yes, they were that good!

The Amplifires have been a long time coming but  Steve has, with Sharon, David and Ruth, formed a band to be proud of - a band formed to play original material, fast and loud together with an eclectic mix of covers which both excite and stimulate the band

Someone asked Steve recently why and how he managed to play the guitar so low and in his best Mancunian accent, often exaggerated to near Shameless proportions announced "Because I can!

 STEVE'S GEAR

Steve is a confirmed Gibson, Yamaha, Heritage and Marshall user. He thinks that effects are gay. Here's the current line up:

  GUITARS

  • 1981 Gibson Les Paul Heritage Standard 80 Elite (main guitar)
  • 1978Yamaha SG 1000S (second guitar)
  • 1977 Yamaha SG500 - black
  • 1978 Yamaha SG500 - red
  • 1980 Yamaha SG1000NW-24 - birds eye maple top
  • 1993 Hamer USA Special loaded with Seymour Duncan P90's
  • 2001 Heritage H535 (joint second guitar)
  • Taylor 110E - the cheap one but sounds and plays great
  • Rickenbacker330/12 ;
  • Yamaha 12 string electro

AMPLIFICATION 

  • Marshall 6101 'Anniversary' 100 watt valve combo (blue 1992 issue), flightcased;
  • Marshall 1912 extension cabinet - re-loaded with Fane Studio or EV driver (depending on mood and usually in one!);
  • Marshall 'Anniversary' 6101 valve head (blue 1992 issue), flightcased;
  • Marshall 'Anniversary' 6900A 4 x 12 cab (blue 1992 issue)

 

OTHER

  • AKG rack ‘guitar bug' wireless system - 3 bugs;
  • Various Leatherman tools and Maglite torches;
  • Cables everywhere - including spares;
  • Bits of string, brown paper and endless rolls of gaffer tape;
  • Purple ‘Lennon' sunglasses;
  • Auf De Maur wristband;
  • An answer for everything;
  • Attitude;
  • K&M Newcastle Brown Holder (chrome plated);
  • Korg STR 1000 rack tuner;
  • Peterson Stroborack tuner.

HOPES FOR THE FUTURE

The re-establishment of sustainable manufacturing capacity in the UK providing meaningful skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled 'real work' for people. The development of green industries and technologies in the UK so that we can lead the world by technical innovation rather than killing people. An end to the politically motivated destructive selfishness in our society that started in 1979 and persists to this day. Margaret Thatcher popping her clogs - if it means having to suffer bugger all on TV except snivelling psychophants - BRING IT ON!!!! And then Tebbitt. Oh, and "love in a peaceful world" as Paul Rodgers so wonderfully sang back in the 1970's