BOB BEESON

(Drummer/Backing Vocals)

Bob first started to play drum kit at the age of 14 (God, has it been that long?  You'd think he'd be a bit better than that by now!) and has been entirely self taught …(Ah, that would explain it then!).  His first drum kit was a little 4 piece Del Ray (?) kit in blue sparkle, a birthday present blackmailed from loving parents, well it was either the drums or a CB radio.  ("You're not putting one of those things in my car" said Father.  Bob has often wondered if he regretted that decision during those many hours of bedroom bound practice).

  Now suitably equipped, Bob and a bunch of schoolmates fulfilled that dream of all post-pubescent teenagers and formed a band. Going under the name of Jagged Edge (this was 1980 by the way, long before the succesfull band with the same name that is about at the moment) the five fistey lads more than made up for any lack of ability with boundless enthusiasm.  They mangled their way through all the classic rock covers gradually honing their skills until, out of the blue, the lead guitarist from a local college band came to practice, liked what he heard and never left.  Now armed with at least one member who could actually play his instrument, the lads had a change of name to Ivory Tower, and a change of direction which saw them writing and performing their own material.  An illustrious few years went by playing all over the North East, recording several future classics (?) and even radio sessions for Radio Tees and airplay on Radio 1 no less.  During this time the band had the pleasure of supporting local mega-rock band Hammer at their local 6th form college where Bob met a familiar guitarist and vocalist for the first time.  ("Here Kenny, who's the spotty kid on drums?" "Dunno Doggy, but he's f***ing loud and look at all those sodding cymbals!").

  Well time moved on and the real world was beckoning (and he was broke!) so Bob and the original bassist finally left the band to get "proper jobs" leaving the way open for a dynamic new rhythm section, one half of which was bassist extrodinare Mr Paul Simpson.  (Chance meeting No.2).

There now followed a period of frantic inactivity, punctuated by several writing/recording projects with old Ivory members, and a few unsuccessful bands, a couple of which included Ken and Paul.  (Is fate trying to tell our hero something or what?)  After four years wandering the musical wilderness Bob finally found sanctuary in a Billingham based rock band named Framed.  Good times were rolling again, but before long the inevitable "other commitments" forced the rhythm guitarist and bassist to leave.  These posts were eventually filled by Mal and Outrageous original bassist, Alan Stephenson.  The first gig loomed large, and with a week to go disaster struck and the lead guitarist left the band!  A mate temporarily stepped into the breach and we managed to bluff the gig (Cheers Steve!) but the search was on for a permanent replacement.  Sitting 'round Mal's house one night, trying to make sense of that wallpaper, the doorbell rang and there, at the door stood an unmistakable silhouette. "Blimey, look lads, a real rock star" was Mals' comment as, resplendent in tight jeans, cowboy boots, leather jacket and THAT hair stood the one and only Mr Kenny Nicholson.  The nucleus of Outrageous Wallpaper was now formed.

Not being content with one band Bob also played for a while in Crazy Gang with Kenny and for over two years with Doggy and the Puppies, an OW splinter group until its demise in 2005.

Around the middle of 2007 Ken got in touch with Bob and Paul, who were trying to get another band together with mixed fortune, and asked if they were interested in joining with him and a cracking singer from Darlington and form a Paul Rodgers tribute band. That your reading this on the web site should give you a clue as the the outcome of that audition and a new chapter begins.............

 Bobs Top 5 Albums

 Any early to mid Rush (not to keen on the last five albums, dunno why.)