Below the Border - ex pro recording artists playing 60s & 70s Rock Hits

Description

B E L O W the B O R D E R - ex-pro recording artists from the 70s.
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Some of us appear on albums released on original vinyl - yes, we really are that old! But we’ll give your guests a night to remember! We’ve done the miles to be outstanding players.
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We no longer play for the money, hence our modest fee - we left the music business professionally decades ago,
We put this band together in 2019, purely for the joy of being back out on the road again, expertly playing the soundtrack of our youth at folk’s parties and at rock venues around London and the Home Cou ... nties.
We have over 250 years Jeannie experience between us, playing every type of venue over the years. From town halls to village halls, from tiny music pubs to iconic rock venues, from rock clubs on the continent from to big stage festivals during English summers.
We love seeing party audiences leap to their feet and dancing their socks off when they hear those iconic guitar intro’s: Alright Now, Born to Be Wild, Honky Tonk Women, Radar Love, Mustang Sally, Rebel Rebel, Get Back, Can’t Get Enough, etc.
We pride ourselves on playing our individual parts note for note exactly like the original records and the band sounding like all the different artists we cover.
We’ve recently added an excellent Harmony singer also from the 1970s. Gail has a very famous cousin - Dave Stewart (the Eurythmics) - but her biggest claim to fame was Dave’s mum once asking her to “take a cup of tea into the young man in the front room” in her little house in Newcastle. It took Gail a couple of minutes to realise it was Bob Dylan!
Artists we cover include:
Cream, Free, David Bowie, T-Rex, The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, The Sweet, Thin Lizzy, Badfinger, Golden Earring, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Faces, Steppenwolf, Steve Miller, ZZ Top, Deep Purple, Wilson Picket, Fleetwood Mac, Status Quo, The Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Steely Dan, Credence Clearwater Revival, Canned Heat, The Who, Dire Straits, The Spencer Davis Group, The Doors, Ike & Tina Turner . . . and many more we cherish.
Check out our studio videos and the live party phone clips. If you want to discover who we used to be hear more, we will come up first if you look for - below the border rock
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We’re very friendly, educated, down to earth and easy going. Just ask for what you need for your event and we will accommodate if we can.
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STOP PRESS:
We’ve just added a wonderful new harmony backing singer. Gail is also from the 70s and is from a famous musical family. Her cousin is Dave Stewart, who you may remember had a few hits with his band The Eurythmics in the 80s.
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Gail’s claim to fame is making a cup of tea for Bob Dylan in Dave’s mum’s little house in Newcastle. (She actually thought Bob was a tramp her auntie had brought in for some food, . . . until he spoke!)
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Noel
Below-the-Border
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Set-List

Free:
Alright Now & Wishing Well
David Bowie:
Heroes, Ziggy Stardust & Rebel Rebel
T. Rex:
Get It On & Jeepster
Cream:
White Room, Crossroads & Badge
The Rolling Stones:
Jumpin’ Jack Flash & Honky Tonk Women
The Beatles:
Get Back, Back in the U.S.S.R. & I Saw Her Standing There
Jimi Hendrix:
Hey Joe, Foxy Lady & Little Wing
The Kinks:
Sunny Afternoon & You Really Got Me
Status Quo:
Caroline & Rockin’ All Over the World
The Spencer Davis Group:
Gimmie Some Lovin & Keep on Running
The Who:
Can’t Explain & My Generati ... on
Fleetwood Mac:
Black Magic Woman & Oh Well
Wilson Picket:
Mustang Sally & Midnight Hour
Golden Earring:
Radar Love
Badfinger:
No Matter What You Want
The Steve Miller Band:
Jet Airliner & Rock n Me
The Faces:
Stay with Me
Credence Clearwater Revival
Up Around the Bend & Proud Marry
The Sweet:
Fox on the Run
Steppenwolf:
Born to be Wild
Bad Company:
Can’t Get Enough of your Love
ZZ Top
Gimmie all your Lovin
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sweet Home Alabama
Dire Straits
Sultans of Swing
Stevie Wonder
Superstition
Led Zeppelin:
Whole Lotta Love
Deep Purple
Black Night
Ike & Tina Turner
Proud Mary
The Doors:
Light My Fire
Eric Clapton:
Sweet Home Chicago & Further on up the Road
Canned Heat:
Work Together & Amphetamine Annie
if you book us for a private party feel free to ask us to learn your favourite song if there’s something special for you from our time, the psychedelic era - we can play anything,
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Biography

Just too much to say here. We are old, we were ‘there at the time’ when we were just bits of kids: and we’ve all done so much since. We are easily found on line if you want to find out who we used to be! Just look for - Below the Border rock.
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But to give you a flavour; and not wishing to bore the pants off you . . . .
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We all got started in music when we were about 12 . . .
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The bass player Noel and the drummer Steve were both in a famous band gigging around the Birmingham circuit called Spellbound when they were 16, 17 and 18 years old. You can hear Spellbo ... und’s music by looking them up on the Birmingham music archive. The second ever gig Spellbound did was was supporting Georgie Fame in the Blue Flames at Birmingham‘s largest club, Barbarellas; when they were 16 and very much underage!
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Three of Spellbound were in the same class school at school in the early 70s. Lordswood Grammar in Birmingham and their a songwriter and leader, Jim Lane, attended the school a few years previously. Spellbound soon won a residency at Birmingham’s famous Railway Tavern in Digbeth, which officially made them one of the six best bands in Birmingham.
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For us all, there have been so many gigs in many different bands (at times on different continents) over the years . . .
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Some of us appear on albums released on the vinyl which were played more years ago than we’d like to admit on BBC’s John Peel show; some of us have appeared live on National BBC Radio and done TV.
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In the early 90s Noel sold his London Recruitment Consultancy and went back on the road with musician for two years before downshifting into education as a lecturer. He joined a Cajun band called The Lizards and helped the, get a record contract with Festival Records.. They toured their album ‘Promised Land’ in town halls, at festivals and at universities up and down the country. (The album can still be purchased on eBay from vinyl record shops!). They played with some interesting people along the road - Lindysfarne, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Cajun stars Eddie Le Jurne and DL Maynard from Louisiana. They were also commissioned to provide the soundtrack for the TV advert’, ‘Primula - the cheese you can squeeze’ in the 90s!
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Frank was in a well-known Birmingham band called the MGB’s in the 70s and early 80s and supported touring acts such as The Pretenders, Cheap Trick and UB40
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Rob was lead guitar in the 70s band All in the Mind and Rob has also played with Gary Brooker from Procol Harum. Rob met know when they are both lectures at the London College in the late 90s. There was instant musical chemistry and they formed The Bullfrog Blues Band playing around London for 20 years!
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We’ve only just added Gail to Below the Border, as a wonderful harmony backing singer. Gail is also from the 70s and is from a famous musical family. Her cousin is Dave Stewart, whom you may remember had a few hits with his band The Eurythmics in the 80s. She’s sung with Annie Lennox and also with an amazing open-throat folk band in Bulgaria.
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Gail’s claim to fame is making a cup of tea for Bob Dylan in Dave’s mum’s little house in Newcastle. Dave Stewart’s mum, Gail’s auntie Sadie, had a habit of bringing waifs and strays off the street into her little council house, giving them a good meal and sending them on their way. One day Gail was visiting and her auntie said, “ . . ‘ere our Gail, take this cup of tea into that young man in the front room”.
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Gail saw this bedraggled figure with hair everywhere and assumed he was a tramp. When he spoke she realised straight away it was Dave‘s friend Bob Dylan.
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Reviews     (5 Reviews)

Experience

We left the music business professionally decades ago. We no longer play for the money, hence our ridiculously modest fee - we no longer have any interest in the money!
But we’ve always gigged, playing every type of venue over the years. From town halls to village halls, from tiny music pubs to iconic rock venues, from rock clubs on the continent from to big stage festivals during English summers. We’ve done the miles to be exceptional players.

Previous Clients

Recent Gig list:
Gig Calendar
2022
Sep 3 Beer Festival The Rising Sun, Kemsing, Kent
Aug 27 Festival Romsey Hampshire
Jul 16 HEADLINE Locomotive & Chequers Motor Cycle Festival, Camb’s
Jun 4 Wedding, Surbiton
Mar 5 The Excelsior, Aldershot
2021
Nov 27 Private Party for Vivien, Horsham
Nov 13 Private Party for Jocelyn, Hampshire
Nov 6 Annual Banquet The Sealed Knot, Buckinghamshire
Aug 21 Private Party for Abi, Salisbury
Aug 14 Private Party for Ellenor, Kent
July 31 Cheam Royal Bri ... tish Legion, Surrey - (Tickets £7)
July 17 Private Party, Surrey
Cancelled C19
June 26 Private Party, Dartford
Cancelled C19
Jan 30 Streatham Theatre, London
Cancelled C19
2020
Dec 5 The Flower Pot, Walthamstow, London - (free)
Cancelled C19
Oct 3 The Flower Pot, Walthamstow, London - (free)
Cancelled C19
Aug 22 Old Tavern - Chingford, London - (free)
Cancelled C19
Jul 18 Asif’s Party - Isleworth - (private function)
Cancelled C19
Jul 4 The Flower Pot, Walthamstow, London - (free)
Cancelled C19
Jun 20 Private Birthday Party, Dartford (private party)
Cancelled C19
Jun 6 Guildford Football Stadium Rock & Blues Festival
Playing the coveted 'sundown spot'
Cancelled C19
May 9 Brooklands Race Track & Motor Museum
Cancelled C19
Apr 25 Cheam Royal British Legion, Surrey - (free)
Cancelled C19
Apr 11 Sandown Park Race Track
Cancelled C19
Mar 21 Hare & Hounds, Claygate, Surrey - (free)
Cancelled C19
Feb 29 Margaret’s Wedding - Surbiton, - (private)
Feb 22 The Flower Pot, Walthamstow, London - (free)
Last Gig Before Mock-down
2019
Dec 21 Chingford Cricket Club (£5)
Dec 7 Abigail & Alex’s Wedding - Dulwich, London
Nov 30 Michael’s 60th Birthday, Marlow Rugby Club
Nov 8 Chamber of Commerce Fund Raiser, Orsett Hotel, Essex
Oct 26 Tracy's Dad's 60th Birthday Party - Walthamstow,
Sep 28 Three Kings Music Pub - Twickenham (free)
Aug 31 Private Garden Party - Surrey (cancelled)
Apr 13 The Old Tavern - Music pub - Chingford
(OUR FIRST GIG - without a rehearsal !) Read More

Suitable for

Anniversary Party Awards Ceremony Birthday Party (Adult) Casinos Charity / Fundraising Event Christmas Party Club Party Cocktail Party / Drinks Reception Community Event Concerts / Tours Conference / Meeting Corporate Event Cruise Ships Engagement Party Festival / Outdoor Event Funeral/Memorial Service Graduation Party Grand Opening Party Halloween Party Hanukkah Celebration High School Reunion HM Forces/Army/Navy/Military Event Holiday / Theme Parks Hotel Event Jewish Wedding New Year's Eve Party Nightclub Event Nursing / Care Home Event Private Party Product Launch / Promotion Restaurant / Bar / Pub Event Retirement Party Session Work Social Club Theaters / Stage Trade Show / Exhibitions University / College Event Wedding Cocktail/Drinks Reception Wedding Reception

Acting Experience

George Harrison once said,
“There are only two types of people in the music business, priests and pirates. The trouble is they often come to you wearing each other’s clothes”
So back in the day we learnt all about acting!

Modelling Experience

As amazingly attractive and stunningly good-looking as we all are, we’ve actually never done any modelling. That ship has probably now sailed!

Meet the Act

The agency ask us to wax lyrical in this section so readers gets an idea of our personality . . .
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Well individually we all got started in music when we were about 12.
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The bass player Noel and the drummer Steve were both in quite a famous band gigging around the Birmingham circuit when they were 16, 17 and 18 years old. You can hear Spellbound’s music by looking them up on the Birmingham music archive. The second ever gig Spellbound did was was supporting Georgie Fame in the Blue Flames at Birmingham‘s largest club, Barbarellas; when they were 16 and very much underage. ...
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So . . . .
Fast forward about 150 years . . . . When Noel retired from his head of faculty job he put a psychedelic function band together In London called Tangerine Scene with his long time friend and musical partner in crime Rob Taylor (lead vocal in Below the Border). They recruited various mature ex-pro musicians from scratch. An amazing guitarist called Frank walked into a London audition who had Birmingham accent and it turns out he also went to Lordswood Grammar School in Birmingham like Noel and Steve some 40 years earlier! Something in the stars maybe? Certainly a sign.
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Then last summer Noel was having a drink in Woodstock with his old school friend Steve. They chose to meet in the Black Bear where Ian Gillan had joined Black Sabbath but was so drunk he didn’t know he had done so until he read in the newspapers the next day. A few months after Noel and Steve’s reunion drink, Below the Border’s drummer decided to leave and we jumped at inviting Steve to join up like a shot. He’s an amazing drummer.
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Since we left the music business professionally, we’ve all had successful careers in normal life:
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Noel (bass) was a University Head of Faculty. Previously a successful but very unhappy filthy capitalist.
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Frank (lead guitar) was the head of European business for the international Japanese software company who do all the government’s stuff (most recently he was seconded to the Cabinet to try to help them make the impossible mess into a possible mess - Brexit!).
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Steve (drums) is the Chief scientific officer of high-tech organisation in Oxfordshire who have been pioneering devices now put into ambulances to prevent the spread of Covid.
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Rob (lead vocals and lead guitar) was a college art lecturer and since retiring has had exhibitions on the Kings Road and has been featured on television . . .
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. . . and Gail (Backing Vocals) is a leading acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist now teaching Chinese herbal medicine throughout the country.
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We’ve only just added Gail as a wonderful new harmony backing singer. Gail is also from the 70s and is from a famous musical family. Her cousin is Dave Stewart, whom you may remember had a few hits with his band The Eurythmics in the 80s.
.
There was also an old re-connection here for a Noel because she used to be his acupuncturist in the early 80s.
.
Gail’s claim to fame is making a cup of tea for Bob Dylan in Dave’s mum’s little house in Newcastle. Dave Stewart’s mum, Gail’s auntie Sadie, had a habit of bringing waifs and strays off the street into her little council house, giving them a good meal and sending them on their way. One day Gail was visiting and her auntie said, “ . . ‘ere our Gail, take this cup of tea into that young man in the front room”.
.
Gail saw this bedraggled figure with hair everywhere and assumed he was a tramp. When he spoke she realised straight away it was Dave‘s friend Bob Dylan.
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When Gail told Noel this story he said, “Good God, what did you say to him? Did you say, ‘some are mathematicians, some are carpenters’ wives’, what does it mean Bob?”
Gail replied, “No I just said , “Here’s your tea”
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Additional Information

We have £1M public liability insurance
Equipment is pat checked.
We have a modern state of the art 1,000 wattYamaha PA but our instruments and backline amps are vintage and are worth more than our cars - we like the authentic sound of the 70s on stage. Our set up is very much old school.