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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). |
| Profile |
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 |
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| (right-left)
Dave Robinson:Guitar, Jamie Burns:Bass, Chris Jerman: Drums, Andy
Grasby:Vocals |
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| 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'..." |
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| The
Idle Hands |
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| Phil
Allen |
Dave
Robinson |
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| Jamie
Burns |
Paul
Heydon |
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