A HISTORY OF THE BAND

The Idle Hands Blues Band

A high calibre Blues Rock band based in Chesterfield, UK.

Roll over an image for information on each band member

 

Images courtesy Gary Clarke Photography

Profile

Dave Robinson

Guitar

Based in Chesterfield, UK

Early days Started playing guitar at 16.
1981 "Scarabas" (Prog’ rock). With Jamie Burns. No releases.
1986 "Studio Tan" (Pop/Rock). Tape ‘Slap it on thick’.
1989 Formed "The Idle Hands Blues Band" with Jamie Burns. Cassette ‘Everybodys Blues’ 1989.
First Blues Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Robert Cray, Led Zeppelin, B B King, Rory Gallagher
Influences Too many to mention including those of above, but there’s nothing like a bit of Frank Zappa !
Guitars Fender Stratocasters, occasionally Gibson Les Paul Custom, Gibson Firebird and Fender Telecaster Custom
Amps

Fender Blues Deville or old Marshall 45 watt head with a 2/12 cab

Other gear Rotosound strings of various gauges to suit guitar, Marshall Governor 2 pedal.
   

 




 

 


Roger Mayer Wah Wah pedal, Voodoo Vibe.

Profile

Jamie Burns

Bass

Based in Chesterfield, UK

Early days Started playing bass at 16
1981 "Scarabas" (Prog' rock) With Dave Robinson. No releases
1984 "Thunderchilde" (#2). With Phil Allen. Demo cassette 'First Strike' 1985.
1989 Formed "The Idle Hands Blues Band" with Dave Robinson. Demo cassette ‘Everybodys Blues’
First Blues Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Rory Gallagher, Robin Trower, Eric Clapton
Influences Jim Lea, Dennis Dunaway, Geezer Butler,  Martin Turner,John Deacon, Alan Lancaster, Glenn Hughes, Noel Redding, Billy Cox, Gerry McAvoy, JP Jones, The Ox and many more....
Bass Guitars 3 x Gibson Thunderbirds: Tobacco '91, Tobacco '76 Bicentennial, '08 Whitebird. '77 Gibson Blackbird & 1960 Double Bass.
Amps 600w Peavey bass head & 4 x 10 cab.
Other gear Jim Dunlop Cry baby bass Wha, Q-Tron envelope filter, Sadowsky pre-amp, Peavey chorus, Elite Stadium Roundwound Bass Strings, Extra Light Gauge ( 30, 50, 70, 90).
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Phil Allen

Vocals

Based in Chesterfield, UK

Early Days Started playing Bass guitar. Sang in back row of shool choir & vainly attempted cornet in school band !
1980 "High Horse". No releases.
1982 "Thunderchilde". (#1). No releases.
1984

"Thunderchilde". (#2).With Jamie Burns. Demo cassette 'First Strike' 1985.

1986 "Cloudburst". Sheffield.No releases.
1987 "Stateline"(#1). Cassette: 'Dancing with Strangers'. 1987
1988 "Stateline" (#2). Single: 'Emergency' 1989.
1990 "Stateline" (#3). 3 track Promo Cassette: 'Stateline' 1991.
1992 "Overload". No releases.
1994 Joined "The Idle Hands Blues Band"
Influences - vocalists Ian Gillan, Robert Plant, Paul Rogers, David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Rory Gallagher, JL Hooker, BB King...too many to mention really!
Influences - Bands T-Rex, Slade, Sweet, Quo, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Free, Pink Floyd, Rory   Gallagher, Stacks of rock/blues bands from the early 70's onward
Profile

Paul Heydon

Drums

Based in Derby, UK

Early Days Started learning guitar
1974 Formed local rock & roll band with school mates.
1975 Started playing drums
1977 - 89 "Backhand" 3 piece pub rock with my brother on guitar playing covers & original material in the Derby area.
1996-2008 "Roger the Dog" incorporating the acronymically named "Tall Willows And ToadStools" rock cover band based around the Derby area.
2008 Joined "The Idle Hands Blues Band"
Influences All the usual culprits from the rock fraternity.
Musical tastes Yet to be confirmed but likely to be lots of classic rock/blues from seventies onward....
Blues Awaiting some formal comment but zeppelin and hendrix will undoubtedly feature in there somewhere...
Gear Pearl BLX & Zildjan Cymbals
Band History A brief summary of The Idle Hands background
1989  Formed as The Idle Hands Blues Band” in Chesterfield, UK
Dave, Jamie, Chris, Andy
(right-left) Dave Robinson:Guitar, Jamie Burns:Bass, Chris Jerman: Drums, Andy Grasby:Vocals
1993 Released 17 track cassette “Everybody’s Blues”
1994 Vocalist Phil Allen took over from Andy Grasby
1997 Drummer Simon Evans took over from Chris Jerman. Band name was shortened to “The Idle Hands”
1998

Released 6 track cassette “Feels like Blues…”

2000 Released 13 track studio CD “ The Devil makes work”
2001 Released 16 track 'Live' CD “Blues and Booze”
2002 Re-issue of “ Feels like Blues” on CD.
2004 Released 14 track CD “A Touch of the Blues”
2009 Drummer Paul Heydon took over from Simon Evans
2009 Proposed release of CD "All Night Sinnin'..."

 

The Idle Hands - Rockin' the Blues
 
The Idle Hands
Phil Allen - Philvox of the idle hands
Dave Robinson - Guitar God of the idle hands
Phil Allen
Dave Robinson
Jamie Burns - Big Bass Man of the idle hands
Paul Heydon - The Drumdertaker of the idle hands
Jamie Burns
Paul Heydon