DAVE ALBONE

DAVE ALBONE – DRUMS AND PERCUSSheON

Biography: updated 2 December 2008

Dave began playing percussion at the age of 15 in his school orchestra after studying piano from the age of 7. By the time he was 16 he was a regular percussionist with Grimethorpe Colliery Brass Band and the Sheffield Wind Band. He also attended Wath Music Centre becoming principle percussionist in the Music Centre Orchestra and the South Yorkshire Youth Orchestra. At the same time, he established his first band - Creation - which, after wining the local working men's club talent night, spent the next year touring Yorkshire’s working men's club circuit playing the latest chart hits. The band also led a second life as a rock covers band playing the songs of Pink Floyd, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rory Gallagher, Free and Focus to name but a few. He also played most of the hit musicals of the day, including West Side Story, at Sheffield's entertainment venues as well as numerous drumming deputy jobs in Yorkshire's working men's clubs.

At the age of 17 Dave left home to study at Huddersfield Polytechnic School of Music (now University) gaining distinction in the performer’s element of the diploma. During the 4 years he was at Huddersfield, he became the principal timpanist for the School of Music Orchestra, played kit drums in the Northern Jazz Orchestra and contributed to the promotion of new/avant garde music working alongside Richard Steinitz. Dave studied with the principle percussionist of the Halle Orchestra during this period and became a regular performer with the orchestra at venues such as Sheffield City Hall and Manchester Free Trade Hall. Dave also continued his brass band work, playing with both Brighouse and Rastrick and Black Dyke Mills in championship winning performances at The Albert Hall in London, as well as undertaking European tours.

Towards the end of his 4 years at Huddersfield, Dave was approached by Andy Tillison (now of European progressive rock band The Tangent), a recently recruited member of new wave band The Vye, who were looking for a drummer. After a quick audition, he joined and moved to Leeds where he was based for the next 20 years. While in The Vye, he toured Holland, all of the UK and released two records with the band: a single "5 Hours Till Tonight" and a track - "The Kings New Clothes" - on a compilation album (499 2139) on Elton John's Rocket Records Label. The number of the album title referred to a telephone number that bands rang up to get an audition to be on the album.

In the early 1980's Andy and Dave left The Vye to form A New Opera - a band Dave views as his most satisfying musical venture to date. Following the obligatory lack of success Dave left to try a variety of other bands - the last one of these being BUiLD - a lively 4 piece in the brit-pop style of the day playing regularly at the long gone Duchess of York in Leeds. In 1997, he took a break from playing to concentrate on family, work and studies and sold his beloved Pearl kit.

After an 8 year break the drumming itch became too much and he jumped back into the saddle and after a couple of false starts joined respected Leeds based rock covers band - Splinter. The result was a very solid and musically professional outfit that quickly won audiences over at a wide variety of venues and events.

In 2006, he worked with Fin Keating of Splinter to form a Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music tribute band - Roxyrama with the band gradually building up a strong loyal following into 2007, with Dave leaving the band in April 2008 to concentrate on Splinter.

In September 2008 Dave took another break from regular live gigging leaving Splinter to consider what his next steps would be.

After considering complete retirement for a while, Dave was approached by an old musical acquaintance, Guy Manning, with an offer to join MANNING, a 7 piece band bringing to life Guy’s substantial back catalogue of music (10 albums at the time of writing). So 2009 will see yet another chapter in the varied musical activities of Dave Albone.

DAVID ALBONE – CURRENT EQUIPMENT

Mapex custom Pro M/M Birch drum kit comprising:

Drums
? Pro M 10”, 12" and 14" tobacco fade hanging tom-toms
? Pro M 16" tobacco fade floor tom-tom
? M Birch 22" x 18” honey amber bass drum
? M Birch 14" x 5” honey amber snare drum

Cymbals

? Hi-Hats: Sabian XS20 14"
? Crash: Paiste Brass Tones 18" power; Paiste PS3 14”; Sabian XS20 18" medium thin; Sabian XS20 16" medium thin
? Ride: Paiste PS3 18” crash ride; Sabian XS20 20” medium ride
? Effects: Paiste Alpha 14” China; Sabian 10” splash

Percussion

? 8", 10" Tama chrome mini-timps
? Generic cowbell
? Stand mounted tambourine

Hardware and accessories

? Premier Tri-lock, DW and Mapex stands and equipment
? Pearl P120-P bass drum pedal