All began when...

I arrived in late 1974, just in time for the singer to pack his bag and the drummer to follow. The obvious was to call in Steve from Windlord, thereby simultaniously solving our problem and presenting them with one.

Luckily, the Wizzard leanings were curtailed and replaced by a sort of camp Renault 4, I should care, cat loving, realist approach.

The songs toughened up nicely ans when Scotsman Tommy Keer arrived with his drums we were ready for glory. It nearly came !

1976 came and it was obvious cahnges were needed. Mass sackings not being the done thing, the group divided into camps. The results being a slimmed down, super fit " Lef Hand Drive ", consisting of : Jakc Swann, guitar/vocals ; Martin Harney, vocals ; John Brassett, bass/vocals ; Tommy Kerr, drums. This was the real thing !

Two singles followed : " Jailbait – Motorway Crow " and " Who said Rock and Roll is Dead – I know Where I am ".
1979 came and " The Russians " were formed with John Brassett and Jack Swann from " Left hand Drive ", coupled with newcomers Julie Rebellowitsch on vocals and drummer John Luccibello.
A couple of John Peel folowed and a single " No title " was released on the Lazer Records Label.
Just before the recording, Jack Swann left to become an actor and was replaced by quiet spoken Dusty Miller on guitar.

Autumn 1982 saw John Brassett jobless and broke. A small ad was answered and the post of bass player secured in the backing groupe of legendary rock ‘n roller Freddie Finger Lee.
Several tours of France and Germany Followed. Freddie Fingers Lee’s group for most of this time consisted of Wild Bob Burgos on drums, John Brassett on bass guitar and Lain Terry doing the guitar.

Back to the first personn…

Welcome to the wonderful world of John Brassett. I was born in 1952 on the 29^th of August (What a month that was !).
I started palying the guitar when I was eleven, but I learnt how to tune it only four years later. The intervening time was spent perfecting the steps and correct height of guitar as opposed to my knees.

I found the idea slinging to be about two inches longer than the average guitar strap.

Old John.jpg (14418 octets)

Hence the shoe lace extension, developped and patented by me in 1966.
Chords being a problem, I decided the bass might be the best option – a red one. I bought a Burns Nu-Sonic, second hand, from Denis Laws music shop in Nothampton.
The years was 1969.
I joined my first group. It was called ‘Lealther Jerkins ", leatehr Jerkins being all the rage in Millet at the time. Line-up : Ben Rood on guitar/vocals, Algie Buckland on drums and John Brassett on bass/vocals.
Time moved on and i found myself in the company of Dick Bird on drums and Pete NcNally playing teh guitar. We called the group "Tarsus " for some reason I never did know. It must have been a statement of deep historical meaning, but the songs were all about girls just the same.
We recorded for the first time. What a fun that turned out to be. Until we got the tapes home at least.
I deceided ambition had to be satisfied, so I left Tarsus and joined a long haired group, " Windlord ", based in Nothampton.

The year was 1974. The songs were airy-fairy affairs about wizzards and sung pretty hight up the register by Steve Parish. They tried to get me into a wizzard’s robe but I’m glad to say I resisted.


They didn’t wera cloaks, have long hair, or sing about 15^th century babes.


We were probably made for each other...

Disruption...

Well, here I was in France, thinking : this touring in exotic places isn’t too bad.
So I stayed…

Eighteen years later, here I am. Still twanging and singing those catchy melodies.

I’ve spent a lot of times with " Johnnie’s Blues Bandits ", featuring various line-ups but always with wild guitar man Patrick Arvati (king of the table wangle).

I’ve made a few records as well. The latest is " True Belief ", made with Cyrill Amblard (another guitar owner).

In fact, he’s one of the best, and a pretty good poser too.
For the rest of the CDs, have a look at the list ! ! ! ! and who knows, we could meet one night during one of my concerts !...

Love You All.

John Brassett