Alan Lever Guitar

Started playing in 1972 aged 11 with an old Harmony cowboy acoustic my dad gave me from which you could have fired arrows. I was already interested in rock music, Deep Purple Zeppelin etc. later got into Rory Gallagher, Yes, Genesis, UFO, Sabbath, Rush, all the classics. I played in the school orchestra, brass band and choir. Started gigging when I was 15 in a dance band initially formed at school. Played my first gig in Coventry and got £10 which was a huge amount to me in 1976. This band was fantastic, I played with a couple of brothers Pete and Eddy Misovic both fantastic musicians and it was here that I learned a massive amount about music and especially rhythm playing which was unusual in that most people were interested in lead playing.

When I was 17played in my first rock band called Gomwrath with some great guys, including the older brother of Vinnie Burns a great and very tasty player whom I have known since school and has gone on to play with Dare, Asia, Ultravox and many others. Got my first Strat at 17 or 18 (thanks Mum) and I joined another rock band, Idol fret, a really good local band who did the circuit in the 70’s and 80’s with players whom I have had a lifetime of friendship with, great band and some truly precious mates. Had a bit of a gap then until I joined a soul band of all things, not my musical cup of tea, but some superb players, this was the band “Souled as Seen”. We did some great gigs and tours. We played support to bands like Jools Hollands rhythm and blues band, Edwin Starr , The Real thing and a few others. During the 80’s I got a taste for jazz in particular Pat Metheny.

Souled as Seen had some really good Jazz players so it furthered my love of Jazz. The blues machines drummer Gavin also played with the soul band and this is were we met. After this band folded I started playing with a great mate Richie Duddle doing an acoustic set all original and we supported Gordon Giltrap and John Renbourn.

At present I also play in a kind of experimental jazz group called “Elbo room” with a great Friend and very good trumpet/flugal player John Hulme with whom I played alongside in the soul band. I listen to a lot of jazz these days as well as still listening to Zeppelin, YES and many others . As far as gear is concerned I have always had a strat and at present have a Gibson 335 as well which I only bought because it will do both the Jazz and blues things and not being rich enough or have the storage space you have to try to have one guitar that will do as much as possible for you which the Gibbo seems to be able to do. I play through a Fender hot rod deluxe which I have personally “modded” to death".