Del Bromham
Del Bromham began playing guitar at the age of eleven and while still at
school in West London he formed the band "STRAY" in 1966.
School was soon left behind as STRAY took their dynamic brand of rock on the
road and soon secured a recording contract with Transatlantic releasing their
first album STRAY in 1970 featuring the song ALL IN YOUR MIND which soon
became the group's anthem and was later recorded by IRON MAIDEN.
Following the release of their second album SUICIDE, the band finally tasted
chart success with their third release SATURDAY MORNING PICTURES for which the
legendary Rainbow Theatre in London's Finsbury Park was hired to premier the
album at a Saturday Morning Picture show - those were the days!
Constant gigging around Europe built a huge following for the band and
elevated Del Bromham amongst the all-time great guitarists.
UK tours supporting American band KISS and Canadian rockers RUSH reflected
the immense popularity of the band.
Although a highly respected group, led by Del’s playing and writing, the band
just failed to become the superstars they deserved despite a number of
successful album and single releases. MUDANZAS, MOVE IT, STAND UP AND BE COUNTED,
HOUDINI, HEARTS OF FIRE and a compilation album TRACKS were all released before
the advent of Punk Rock took it's toll on the band in 1977.
Del Bromham continued touring with his self named Blues Band whilst working
as a session musician, engineer and producer until 1983 when he was persuaded
to reform STRAY and go back on the road.
This period saw the release of the excellent LIVE AT THE MARQUEE album that
reflected the excitement, power and energy generated at any STRAY concert.
Sadly the reformed band was only to last two years before Del was tempted into
other projects once more.
Early in 1997, with the STRAY back catalogue released in Germany, and soon to
be released in England, with a batch of new songs, Del Bromham teamed up with
drummer PHIL McKEE and bassist DUSTY MILLER to reform STRAY.
The band picked up where they left off. A live album was released in April
1997 entitled ALIVE AND GIGGIN on Mystic Records (MYS CD 108). This reintroduced
STRAY to the European public. In January '98 the first new studio album from
the band in twenty years was released entitled NEW DAWN (Mystic Records MYS CD
120).
In March 2001 Del and the band toured with rock legends URIAH HEEP and
NAZARETH to promote their new CD entitled, quite simply, “10” - this time with PAUL
WATSON on drums and JOHN BOOTLE on bass - followed in February 2002 by a
hugely successful tour with Leslie West’s MOUNTAIN which they repeated again later
in the year including shows and festivals in Germany and Scandinavia. 2003
saw STRAY off to Spain with Y+T and then across Europe as special guests on the
sold out IRON MAIDEN tour. Their new album LIVE: IN YER FACE (Mystic Records)
was released together with the double CD ANTHOLOGY (Sanctuary Records) in time
for the tour.
Del Bromham has now completed his first blues based solo album DEVILS'
HIGHWAY which will be released in March 2004 to coincide with his European Tour with
LESLIE WEST.
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