One of the major acoustic artists on in the North West of England, The Master Bluesman's songs and unique vocal style have brought him a number of fans in the Manchester area.

Biography

Origins
In the 1930s a piece of parchment was found in a clay pot in Egypt, it prophesised the coming of a blues musician that would protect the spirit of the blues in the 21st century. Of course nobody really had a clue what it meant, and the writing was lost to time and the desert many decades ago.

The boy that would grow into the Bluesman was born in January of 1980. His conception, 8 months earlier was linked with the arrival of Margaret Thatcher at 10 Downing Street. Music Historians and Feng Shui experts point to the conception balancing the evil karma of Thatcher.

He grew up listening to the music of Bob Dylan, the Everly Brothers, the Shangri Las, the Beatles and the Kinks. His first dabblings with the guitar were best described as tuneless, and little improved for ten or so years.

It was only when waiting for a train at a deserted station did a ghost train arrived. A dark figure beckoned him in. Then all went black. When he awoke, he was in Manchester, his jeans and t-shirt had gone, replaced by a black suit, a black hat and a black shirt. At his side lay a skull on a stick and a guitar. He became the Master Bluesman.

Manchester Phase 1

As a member of the UMIST New Music Society he made his name on the student gig circuit. It came to an end on a dark night at the Star and Garter pub in 2001. He tried to make a statement about gun laws and Christianity with a song called Gun and a Mission. A day or two later there was a high school shooting. Believing he had prophesied the event, he retired from performing.

That didn't stop him from writing songs and he even produced The Homecoming EP before leaving Manchester for the Essex marshes.


Red Newt and the Return of the Master Bluesman
When working for the Thomson Corporation, he joined Red Newt, a colleague band as a guitarist. His stage antics in London venues like the Café De Paris and the Emporium made him remember just what he loved about playing guitar and so decided to make a comeback at the Star and Garter.

It was January 2003 when he returned, but he held off for another 6 months before trying again. Armed with new songs and a new style, he growled himself back to the top. At that gig he met Tarana, and was invited to the 77 Studios in Sheffield to record Rebel Without A Chord.

For the next 2 years he played venues in Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield promoting the album. Playing dozens of gigs a year, he was a regular sight on the open-mic and local band circuit, and became the figure head of the Manchester Blues revival.

From late 2003 through into 2005 he was the manager of local Heavy Pop glitter whores, Narcissus. However, the golden era was about to end with a bang.

A freak puncture put the Bluesmobile out of action. Sacked from his job, he played the Manchester circuit, but was unable to leave the city. Stuck at home in his cave he wrote, recorded and produced The Regeneration. In September, he was booted out of his flat, and was lured to The United States on the promise of work. That work never came and he spent 3 months writing in rural Virginia waiting to return.


The Master Bluesman, back at last
March 2006 sees the 2nd comeback of the Master Bluesman, starting out in Essex and working his way back north.

Bands

Blue Fuse

A Blues-rock band that had two line-ups and played 1 gig in total


Phase 1
The Master Bluesman - Vocals & Guitar, Andy Gilday - Bass & Sax, Nigel Doyle - Drums and Vocals, Mel Burke - Keyboards


Phase 2
The Master Bluesman - Vocals, Guitar & Bass, Carly - Guitar & Vocals, Nas - Drums & Vocals, Andy Gilday - Bass & Guitar.


Red Newt
Colleague band that played to around 1000 people in its 2 London shows. Included the Maser Bluesman on Guitar

Box of Delights

The Master Bluesman was part of the fluid line-up in the band's early days. Tim Brie - Vocals & Guitar, The Master Bluesman - Bass, Guitar, Harmonica & Vocals, David Novan - Drums & Vocals.


Lesbian Turtles / The Free Penguins
Punk Blues band featuring the Master Bluesman on vocals and guitar.


The National Pep
Sunshine pop band from Manchester that includes the Master Bluesman on guitar and vocals.

Songs

The Master Bluesman's best loved tracks include

Best Served Chilled
(Wednesday Morning) Corporate Marketter Blues
Days Of Prozac
Edgware Girl
Halleluiah
She's Got A Huge Arse Blues
Sinner
Where's The Heroes
What Did I See In You

Discography

The Homecoming EP

Rebel Without A Chord
World Don't Work
Cheese Burgers & Loneliness
Sinner
Fun
Freak Alley
Love In A Service Station
Vodka Bottle Blues
Where's The Heroes
Lost Angels
Talking Just One More Drink
She's Got A Huge Arse Blues
Lolita in a T-Shirt
Ballad Lyonais
Days of Prozac
Ten Pin Bowling Blues
Somewhere Down the Road
[edit]
The Re-Generation
72214 Blues
Monday Morning Refugees
Goodbye Jennifer Eccles
Dark Princess of Mancunia
Edgware Girl
Tennents Super Woman
Last Bus To Cheadle Hulme
Sad Eyed Girl
Thursday Girl
Halleluiah
From The Pulpit Live Blues
Escape
I Want To Be Gone
If You're Not Laughing Now