Jack Watson

(Guitar/Keyboards

/Backing Vocals)

Jack Daniel Watson – Born 30^th of November 1983

I’ve always been interested in music ever since I was in the womb. Apparently i used to kick my mother like mad whenever she put AC/DC on the sound system. I went to my first live concert at the tender age of 6 months, it was AC/DC at Donnington. Somehow I slept most of the way through.

I was born into a very musical family so it was hard to get away from it. My mother plays violin, my father plays guitar and harmonica, my grandma sings in choirs, my sister is also a singer, my cousin is a drummer, my grandfather could play anything I think and my uncle used to be a sound guy for a few big bands including Pink Floyd, The Rolling stones and Oasis.

I first started to play the piano when I was 9 years old. It was just after my grandfather died. A piano turned up on our doorstep, nobody expected it, not even my grandmother. It was from my grandfather. So my mother booked me up for some lessons. I didn’t really enjoy the lessons at first, but I stuck it out till I was 16. I still can’t read music too well though. I started playing guitar when I went to do the performing arts course at the Darlington College of technology.

I formed my first band at the age of 16 with some of my college mates. We were called Selikah (don’t ask me what that means.) At the time we thought we were great, but I don’t think I’d like to hear any recordings now though. I also joined a pub band called the Barley Adequates. My first professional band was called The Fantastic Shirts, playing at hotels round the country. I’ll never forget my first gig with them. It was at St. James’ Park in Newcastle. On the day I was on my way back from France where I was playing with my college band. I just made it to Newcastle on time, didn’t even have time for a cigarette, I had to get straight on stage, it was a bit nerve racking. I think it went ok though as I ended up staying with them for two years until the band split up. I’ve pretty much been doing music ever since. I’ve played in a few club bands, some original bands; I also had a gig in Austin, Texas when I was 21. That was a good experience for me. My most recent adventure was when I lived in Tenerife for a year playing bass and piano in a 3-piece rock band with the ex-drummer of The Skids.

I have a wide range of musical influences. Blues, Rock, Boogie woogie, Jazz. My favourite bands/artists are: - Dire Straits, The Eagles, Peter Green, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Peter Gabriel, Paul Rodgers (of course,) Cat Stevens, The Beatles, and Jerry Lee Lewis etc. I could go on forever.