driveblind
Welcome to Drive Blind... the
semi-acoustic
six piece from Scotland receiving international acclaim with their
fearless melodies and untouchable West coast American guitar sound. Think
Crosby. Think Small Faces. Think The Who playing live.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
Terry McDermott (24) and Nick Tyler (23) dissolved their band of six years
(Verge) and begin writing acoustic tracks. The idea is simple: Strip a song
to its core and it should still be as pure and equipped to evoke feeling and
emotion. After being well received as an acoustic duo the pair set out to
handpick musicians to form a fuller sound and complete the line up. With
temperament as vital as ability, recruitment was a careful process.
Jack Morrice (26) was chosen for bass. He regularly tours the UK and Europe
with one of Britain's best cover bands Fools Gold. Having performed for the
majority of the nineties, he was an experienced choice. Jack is a total
dictator in the practice studio, getting every last ounce of commitment from
the others.
J-60, formerly of Detour Records, had toured France and England and stuck
out consistently as one of the North-East's top acts, so the recruitment of
keyboardist Dave Nicholson (23) after the groups implosion was a logical
step.
Nearly six months had passed between Cameron Taylor (19) first meeting Terry
and Nick, but despite this, he was first choice for rhythm guitar. His
enthusiasm and
skill as a guitarist and writer were clear assets for the band.
'A natural talent' is the best way to describe the last addition to the
group. Dave McKay (24) former drummer of influential Scottish group The
Highsounds, rolls out
the beat with precision, bringing power and cohesion to the music.
The group secured its debut gig. Despite being a late admission, organisers
of the Northern Exposure Music Convention were impressed by the debut E.P
(written and recorded in a bedroom on an eight-track before the group was
completed) and gave DRIVEBLIND a lunchtime acoustic performance at The Lemon
Tree (October 6th 2000).
Not even a week had passed before the organisers of The Chameleons' made
DRIVEBLIND the support for their Aberdeen gig after seeing the band's debut.
These performances then led to the lad's television debut for Grampian TV,
recording two tracks (December 10th 2000).
This handful of shows led to the support slot for The Webb Brothers on
their UK tour which led to both siblings plugging Drive Blind's EP on stage
and asking them
to get in touch with their label's A&R men.
After that performance, the group now return to writing, promoting and
recording. With a live CD of the Webb Brothers support slot now mastered,
the group are in discussions for a mini-tour of Denmark.
Since the beginning of DRIVEBLIND, Terry and Nick have written and recorded
on their own eight-track in a bedroom. But with the songwriting becoming
more and more prolific and a manager now on board, the band want to develop
their sound by working with experienced producers in a studio set-up.
Thanks to Polydor Records, this is set to become reality after Paul Adam,
the Head of A&R, agreed to meet the financial costs to put together a four
track EP in August, 2001.
DRIVE BLIND will spend the summer writing material with more depth and a
rock edge, taking them away from the ballads and into new territory. Then
it's back on the road for gigs in London, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
