I'm trying to keep this brief and devoid of waffle but here goes:

1975-1977   

Keyboard Player in Perth Bands "Arnon" (60s RnR) and "Savage" (mainly Status Quo)

1977 - 1978           

Became professional muso as keyboard man for  Symphonic Rock band "Visitor".  Played 5-6 gigs per week around Perth doing covers of Pink Floyd, Genesis and our own material including epics such as "The Long Red legged Scissor Man" and "Basis for Analogy".  Left Visitor to get away from
the 'dinosaur' situation and try for more to go to the then "New Wave" style.

1978 - 1979

Geoff Brownrigg Band.  A Perth cover band playing mostly new wave and revamps of sixties songs.
Met Guy Slingerland, later to become drummer in The Expression and long term friend.

1979 - 1980

Spliff reggae band.  Toured up north of WA and had gigs mainly around the Freo scene.  Much fun to be had. A spliffing good time.

1980-1981

Scored national tour with the Dave Warner band via Dave Martin.  Spent most of the time in Sydney and played on the DW album "This is My Planet" which had the very silly but funny semi hit "Kookaburra Girl".

1981 - 1982

Back to Perth and a brief stint with tavern trio "Shy Cats" Cathy Hole & Stephen Manassah.  Stephen and I attempted to play in a Ska/Reggae band called the Zeros (Russell and Shirley Smith) but this didn't quite get there so it was off east again in the Ford Escort van across the big plain to hook up with Tom and Andy to form "The Expression", my most successful endeavour.

1982 - 1985

The Expression, after rehearsing in Tom's Maroubra garage for three months started scoring gigs in and around Paddington Sydney.  Before long we were sought after by 5 record companies and countless publishers as well.  We were being wined and dined on a daily basis for about three weeks.  After settling on Mushroom/Festival we had a hit with the release of "With Closed Eyes" (recorded at Trafalgar Studios with Charles Fisher producing).  After this we quickly settled into recording the self titled album which was mixed in New York at the Power Plant. 

The outcome for the album was mediocre but it did get airplay worldwide and there were 4 videos made.  Unfortunately the second release "Total Eclipse" was 'eclipsed' by a song of the same name by Bonnie Tyler.  This is even though we had recorded ours first and there are many suspicions about the name being ripped off by way of the demo tape being viewed at the London office of CBS some time ago. I guess we will never know the truth of that one.

The band settled into extended touring and in the Sydney Inner suburbs, crowds remained plentiful and loyal.  When the time came for a second album in 1985 however, for whatever reasons (I can't remember why) it ended up only Tom and myself going to the UK to record with producer Wally Brill at several studios around London.  It was also recorded with many session players including Vinnie Zummo and Gary Bourke from the Joe Jackson band.  Despite the good budget and high aspirations, the resulting album "Conscience" was a disappointment and for whatever reason was delayed from release by A&M for many months.  I think they didn't like it.  During this limbo period, I went to Spain for 4 months, rode mopeds and drank lots of San Miguel beer.  The chosen single release was "Small Brave Land" which ended up on the film soundtrack of "Dead End Drive In" but never really connected with the music public.

Back to Sydney again in disarray and poverty and after Tom and I did some duo gigs at the Piccadilly and King Arthur's Court in Kings Cross, the band regrouped and began touring again getting some solid support from Mushroom Publishing and Harbour Agency.  The highlight of this period was scoring the support act for the Howard Jones national tour.  Unfortunately however, excellent bassist and main organised person Stephen Manassah was no longer there and our finances were shot through.  New drummer Billy Heckenberg and bassist Tim had joined the ranks but this version of the band, although loyal and committed, was short lived with Tom eventually going to the UK to pursue a solo career.  Although I was asked to go, I declined.  The remnants of the band (Andy, Billy, Tim and myself) tried briefly to find a replacement singer but for some reason we soon lost interest and pretty much went separate ways.

After I hung onto Sydney for a while doing duo gigs at Kings Cross taverns with Troy Newman (soon to be a recording artist and going to the US) and Drew but after a while of close to poverty and no good horizons looming the easier life style of hometown Perth began to look appealing.  After doing a soundtrack to a film called "Wadjina Myth" in early 2006 I headed home to reunite with former soul fellows Stephen Manassah and Guy Slingerland and form the band "Seven Days".

1986

The year of "Seven Days" with Guy, Stephen and Grant Withers.  Playing 'bottom forty' covers at some nifty little venues in Perth - such as the Sail and Anchor and the Brewery.  Also some South West trips.  The band was a hard working nifty little unit tackling some pretty demanding stuff for a four peice.  Much to thank Grant for in being the singer, frontman, rhythm guitarist and lead guitarist all at once.  The end of 1986 saw me getting involved with the Dave Warner driven three girl group "The Pleasure Principle" - doing their backing and production.  They continued on to go east and play over there for another year or so with Stephen taking over as production/sound man.

1987-88

Some time apart from music then back into full time again with the enigmatic & crazy "Midget and The Farrellys" fronted by Attila, who performance wise was probably as different and unpredictable as you could get.  The Farrellys was actually made up of four bands at the time - Midget, Gidget, Hills and Redwing.  It was a good ploy to keep the backing musos in regular pay as Midget and Gidget (Linda Nutter) also had acting careers and Hills and Kim the Redwing singer had day jobs.


1988 - 1990

Odd reunion tours with Warner.  Trip off to Busselton.  Begin writing material for "The Leeuwin Way".

1991 - 1998

Mainly played and recorded with Tom Haran, Guy Slingerland, sometimes Haydn Pickersgill and Phil Bailey  in the "Gallow Glass" band (see discography).  "The Leeuwin Way" an instrumental CD released in 1995 and sold well in 40 outlets in WA and a number of outlets on the east coast. 

1999 - 2003

Had self anointed break from music while enjoying the space in the south west.  Played with Wasted Sunday in a lounge room on Sundays and some gigs around Bunbury now and then.  Best venue "Henty View" wines.  Did some documentary film sound track work with Awb Lewis on films he had made around WA.

2003 - 2009

Numerous gigs and recordings (3 LPs and one CD single) with Ian Cocker and Guy Slingerland (see discography) throughout this period.  The CD single written by Ian ended up on a US feature film titled "Faded Memories" being also the title of the song.  The movie had success throughout the US.  Played at "The Old Day" out festival with Midget and the Farrelly's in March 2004 plus other Perth 'reunion' gigs at the Leopold, East Freo Footy club etc.  Did the Bridgtown Blues Festival with Tom Haran and band in November 2004 or thereabouts.

Writing for "So Many Miles" began in 2004 after inspirational trips to the south coast area around Northcliffe.  Also produced Gethsemane's 4 song Mini CD "No One" at WIIG studios, Lesmurdie in 2006.   The original Expression (minus Andrew Wong Yen) did a few songs for a mini CD in 2008 and a very limited edition was compiled in late 2009 entitled "Three Tangent Dream". 

2010

I'm really enjoying white wine chilli mussels with chorizo sausage and being with my wife Cath, our wonderful place and dog Bindi - life's simple pleasures are definitely the best. 

If you want more music let me know - I know there is a lot out there - but does that mean I should just stop? Apologies for omissions and toes that might have been stepped on but I sincerely thank all the musical adventurers that I have had the pleasure of being with.

Cheese

ND