Guy Barnes
GUY BARNES - THE TIMES OF OUR LIVES
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01/01/00 @ 12:00 AM
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-01:60
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Music
description
song taken from the album SUICIDE IN FRACTIONS out now on iTunes and Amazon
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NEW ALBUM SUICIDE IN FRACTIONS NOW OUT ON ITUNES AND AMAZON!!
Hailing very much from the Springsteen, Bon Jovi style of radio friendly adult contemporary pop/rock with a hint of country/folk Guy`s music is memorable for its hooky top lines and emotive lyrics.
This album Suicide in Fractions is his first in 7 years and took 2 years to make, it’s an emotional rollercoaster of a record , a journey through happiness to sadness, positive to negative as all his thoughts about life, love and loss have been put together in 14 great songs.
Hailing very much from the Springsteen, Bon Jovi style of radio friendly adult contemporary pop/rock with a hint of country/folk Guy`s music is memorable for its hooky top lines and emotive lyrics.
This album Suicide in Fractions is his first in 7 years and took 2 years to make, it’s an emotional rollercoaster of a record , a journey through happiness to sadness, positive to negative as all his thoughts about life, love and loss have been put together in 14 great songs.
Why this name?
Its just my name!
Do you play live?
Yes, anywhere I can, its reat to get feedback from an audience
I`ve had many special moments, from playing with 2 of my idols in front of a crowd of 20,000 to just having a great show, its all good
I`ve had many special moments, from playing with 2 of my idols in front of a crowd of 20,000 to just having a great show, its all good
How, do you think, does the internet (or mp3) change the music industry?
it certainly takes record companies out of the picture as far as selling music is concerned, however i still believe that in order to direct as much traffic as possible to your website/music that takes money and great marketing skills, its up to the band ,if they are happy with a smaller fanbase and sell 2000 copies then thats great, at the end of the day these days a band selling 2000 copies unsigned can make just as much money as a band who is signed that sell 10,000 snce they obviousely keep the lions share of the loot!
Would you sign a record contract with a major label?
yes..I`m lucky to have my own recording studio so i dont need advances for recording and production, however I would love to work with a named producer and wouls still strile a good marketing and distribution deal with the right company...the majors have the monopoly on the radio and tv industry which is pretty much a closed shop if you want to create a large buzz unless you are part of the machine, so you gotta play the game.
Band History:
GB`s vocal dexterity has been likened to the soal of George Michael, the grit and charisma of Jon Bon Jovi, the swagger of Elvis Presley and the Range of David Coverdale...quite a combination!
His on stage charisma makes him stand out from todays look at ya shoes and play merchants and he can go from love to hate at the flick of a switch and venues from hotels to bars and clubs, halls and theatres have seen him rock their roofs off.
GB had been writing songs since he was 13 years old but never took it seriously until he joined his first band then the young singer began a self apprentiship in writing and performing.
"The 1st time I heard people singing my songs back to me was in my 1st real band, in 1987, though my songwriting skills were still very basic I`d found real teachers in Lennon and McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Dianne Warren, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, all the great songwriters and I have devoted my career trying to emulate the ideal that simple is best, less is more, top lines are what people hum so make them count, and if it dont work in its organic form, it wont work during production which is why there isnt a song I`v written I cant perform on just a guitar or piano, I wont rely on a studio to make the song work I`d just be kidding myself!"
His brightest moments included being onstage fronting a band with legendary guitarist Uli John Roth and Keyboard genius Don Airey for a Jimmi Hendrix tribute show in front of the late Monica Danneman, (Jimmi`s fiance) performing a rendition of Little Wing, and he has also produced and developed hundreds of bands and artists including Girl Band Beau-t who he helped get signed to Mercury Records. GB along with lead singer Tamara Lea Garrett wrote 30 songs and produced two albums, he also set up and directed their backing band and this caught the attention of Andros Georgiou and then Richard Park who signed them to his Park Label.
GB says
"This is a fickle industry to be a performer in especially right now, 100..s of pubs and clubs are closing every day due to the financial climate, the smoking ban and price of alcohol has devastated the pub and club scene and people are choosing to stay at home more., I used to have 3 residencies in great venues that have all closed down and if the goverment and all their pen pushing little minions have their way with this ridiculouse legislation then the live music scene wont just be going, it will be gone. so its important to have a back up plan, for me that will always be songwriting, you can still earn money from publishing when your down on your luck as a singer and in this industry its the song thats the key, you can have a great singer or band, if the song sucks..then its over, I still want to write my Imagine, something that will go down in history as an all time great..but which songwriter doesnt!"
After years travelling the world and singing in some of the best venues from the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, to the Green point Bowl in South Africa, Wembley Arena in The UK, and bars and clubs all over Europe, GB lives on a farm in West Sussex were he spends his time writing when he isnt recording with his band, Drummer Gavin Smith, Bassist Brad Rice, and His 2nd Engineer/Guitarist ,Al Hutton.
GB is also a huge lover of motorcycles and rides an 1100 Custom Dragstar and his dream machine would be an old 45 knucklehead Harley, fully Bobbed with a Jockey shift and Suicide clutch!
" My time hasnt come yet but success has been a close on a couple of occaisions and I truly believe that if you persist, every dog has his day, so I just keep on keeping on."
His on stage charisma makes him stand out from todays look at ya shoes and play merchants and he can go from love to hate at the flick of a switch and venues from hotels to bars and clubs, halls and theatres have seen him rock their roofs off.
GB had been writing songs since he was 13 years old but never took it seriously until he joined his first band then the young singer began a self apprentiship in writing and performing.
"The 1st time I heard people singing my songs back to me was in my 1st real band, in 1987, though my songwriting skills were still very basic I`d found real teachers in Lennon and McCartney, Burt Bacharach, Dianne Warren, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, all the great songwriters and I have devoted my career trying to emulate the ideal that simple is best, less is more, top lines are what people hum so make them count, and if it dont work in its organic form, it wont work during production which is why there isnt a song I`v written I cant perform on just a guitar or piano, I wont rely on a studio to make the song work I`d just be kidding myself!"
His brightest moments included being onstage fronting a band with legendary guitarist Uli John Roth and Keyboard genius Don Airey for a Jimmi Hendrix tribute show in front of the late Monica Danneman, (Jimmi`s fiance) performing a rendition of Little Wing, and he has also produced and developed hundreds of bands and artists including Girl Band Beau-t who he helped get signed to Mercury Records. GB along with lead singer Tamara Lea Garrett wrote 30 songs and produced two albums, he also set up and directed their backing band and this caught the attention of Andros Georgiou and then Richard Park who signed them to his Park Label.
GB says
"This is a fickle industry to be a performer in especially right now, 100..s of pubs and clubs are closing every day due to the financial climate, the smoking ban and price of alcohol has devastated the pub and club scene and people are choosing to stay at home more., I used to have 3 residencies in great venues that have all closed down and if the goverment and all their pen pushing little minions have their way with this ridiculouse legislation then the live music scene wont just be going, it will be gone. so its important to have a back up plan, for me that will always be songwriting, you can still earn money from publishing when your down on your luck as a singer and in this industry its the song thats the key, you can have a great singer or band, if the song sucks..then its over, I still want to write my Imagine, something that will go down in history as an all time great..but which songwriter doesnt!"
After years travelling the world and singing in some of the best venues from the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville, to the Green point Bowl in South Africa, Wembley Arena in The UK, and bars and clubs all over Europe, GB lives on a farm in West Sussex were he spends his time writing when he isnt recording with his band, Drummer Gavin Smith, Bassist Brad Rice, and His 2nd Engineer/Guitarist ,Al Hutton.
GB is also a huge lover of motorcycles and rides an 1100 Custom Dragstar and his dream machine would be an old 45 knucklehead Harley, fully Bobbed with a Jockey shift and Suicide clutch!
" My time hasnt come yet but success has been a close on a couple of occaisions and I truly believe that if you persist, every dog has his day, so I just keep on keeping on."
Your influences?
I love anything with an organic edge and listen to everything from classical to folk to country, my roots are in rock esp Bon Jovi, Springsteen, the whole Asbury Park scene but i love new artists like Taylor Swift and bands like Five for Fighting
Favorite spot?
I have plenty
Cap Ferret - France
Robinson Crusoe bay - Tobago
The docks in Cape Town for a cool sunset
anywhere I park up my motrocycle after a cool ride
Cap Ferret - France
Robinson Crusoe bay - Tobago
The docks in Cape Town for a cool sunset
anywhere I park up my motrocycle after a cool ride
Equipment used:
I have too much to mention
STUDIO
console - Oram BEQ series 24 analogue desk
DAW - Cubase sx 3
compression - Oram sonicomp, Nomad factory and Alesis
FAV PLUG INS - nomad factory, PSP Vinatage warmer, Waves reverbs,
FAV VSTI`s - B4, Guitar Rig, Amplitube, gargoyle
MICS - Neuman u87, AKG 4000B, Sure sm57,58, Benson Audio
GUITARS - Gibson les paul, Fender, Squire, Scharvel, jackson, yamaha
Drums - Pearl signiture custom, Paiste Cymbols
AMPS - Marshal, 5150
this is just a little of it
STUDIO
console - Oram BEQ series 24 analogue desk
DAW - Cubase sx 3
compression - Oram sonicomp, Nomad factory and Alesis
FAV PLUG INS - nomad factory, PSP Vinatage warmer, Waves reverbs,
FAV VSTI`s - B4, Guitar Rig, Amplitube, gargoyle
MICS - Neuman u87, AKG 4000B, Sure sm57,58, Benson Audio
GUITARS - Gibson les paul, Fender, Squire, Scharvel, jackson, yamaha
Drums - Pearl signiture custom, Paiste Cymbols
AMPS - Marshal, 5150
this is just a little of it
Anything else...?
I spend alot of time when I can developing and helping other acts and singers, co writing and generally seeing what talent is out there