Based in Chesterfield, England, "The Idle Hands" are a high calibre, classic British Blues Rock band.

Click on a photo for more information

Profile Dave Robinson: Guitarist
Early days Started playing guitar at 16.
1981 "Scarabas" (Prog’ rock). No official releases.
1986 "Studio Tan" (Pop/Rock). Tape ‘Slap it on thick’.
1989 "The Idle Hands Blues Band". Rock Tape ‘Everybodys Blues’
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 Simon Evans: Drummer
1973 At school, formed a band "Second Coming" (Pop songs, covers) after a stint with the local Brass Band.
Club circuit whilst at school (Sheff, Notts, Stoke etc).
1977-78 Turned Pro carried on with Clubs, then night clubs and eventually a residency at Tudor Court Hotel Nottm. (Played Floyd, Yes and Queen).
1980 "Ariane" - Club circuit
1985 "Lyrix" - Club circuit
1990 "Some Like it Hot" - Irish Celidh band
1994 "Five go off "- Irish celidh band - stand-in drummer still playing occasionally.
1996 Played on Judy Dunlop album "Tea and Cakes" (2 tracks)
1996 "The Idle Hands"
Influences No real individual influences, from Cozy Powell to Nick Mason, Ginger Baker to Buddy Rich.
Musical tastes Eagles, Bonnie Raitte, Eric Clapton, Steeley Dan, Pink Floyd, Joe Walsh and James Taylor..
Blues I'm a late developer with blues I'm afraid, only since joining TIH have I appreciated Hendrix, Zeppelin (Bonham of course) and the likes of BB King and realise what I've missed for all these years. If only I was 16 again !
Gear Pearl Masters.
Profile Jamie Burns: Bass Guitarist
Early days Started playing bass at 16
1981 "Scarabas" (Prog' rock). No official releases.
1984 "Thunderchilde" (#2). Demo cassette 'First Strike' released in 1985.
1989 "The Idle Hands Blues Band". Demo cassette ‘Everybodys Blues’
First Blues Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Rory Gallagher.
Influences Jim Lea/Slade,Dennis Dunaway/Alice Cooper Band, Geezer Butler/Black Sabbath,Martin Turner/Wishbone Ash, John Deacon/Queen & Alan Lancaster/Status Quo
Bass Guitars 2 x Gibson Thunderbirds(Tobacco '91 & Tobacco '76 Bicentennial). 2 x Gibson RD Artists' (Sunburst '77 & Maple '78 )...
Amps 600w Peavey bass head & a 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: Vocalist
1980 "High Horse". No releases.
1982 "Thunderchilde". (#1). No releases.
1984 "Thunderchilde". (#2). Demo cassette 'First Strike' released in 1985.
1986 "Cloudburst". No releases.
1987 "Stateline"(#1). Tape: 'Dancing with Strangers'.
1988 "Stateline" (#2). Single: 'Emergency' released in 1989.
1990 "Stateline" (#3). 3 track Promo tape: 'Stateline' released in 1991.
1992 "Overload". No releases.
1994 "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, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Rory, Stacks of rock/blues bands from the late 70's etc etc
Live at the Winding Wheel
 
The Idle Hands
Vocals
Guitar
Phil Allen
Dave Robinson
Bass
Drums
Jamie Burns
Simon Evans
1989  Formed as “The Idle Hands Blues Band”
Dave, Jamie, Chris, Andy
(From the right) Dave Robinson (guitar), Jamie Burns (Bass), Chris Jerman (drums) and Andy Grasby (vocals).
1993 Released 17 track promo cassette “Everybody’s Blues”
1994 Vocalist Andy Grasby left and was replaced by Phil Allen.
1997 Drummer Chris Jerman left and was replaced by Simon Evans. The 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 studio CD “A Touch of the Blues”