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This is the archive of the combined Barking Spider and Andy Broad Portsmouth Blues Site mailing lists.
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This Thursday March 1st The Bullfrog Blues Club is proud to present The John Verity Band. John Verity began his music career in the early 1960's, playing guitar in the "Richard Kent Style". Gigging sometimes twice a night, 7 nights a week all across the UK and Europe, by 1970 they had morphed into "Tunnel", who moved to the USA, doing prestigious support slots with Jimi Hendrix, Mountain, Canned Heat, Savoy Brown, and Janis Joplin. Very soon, Tunnel would morph into the very first John Verity Band, formed in Miami later that year. On his return to England in 1971, John recorded his first solo album for ABC Dunhill/Probe records, 'John Verity Band'. Whilst on tour promoting the album, John was spotted by Rod Argent who was looking for new lead vocalist for his band following the departure of Russ Ballard. John eventually joined Argent late in 1973 and there followed a period of intense recording and touring until the band decided to come off the road late in 1976. First of all, along with Bob Henrit and Jim Rodford he formed Phoenix, which soon signed to CBS records. The original line-up recorded the first album and toured Europe before recruiting Ray Minhinnet to share the guitar-playing duties in time for the second album scheduled for release on Rocket Records. During this time Jim Rodford left to join the Kinks, and the line-up remained a 3 piece for the recording of "In Full View" for Charisma Records. John spent the next few years in recording studios throughout the world, producing, playing guitar, or doing backup vocals with various acts including Motorhead, Tank, Ringo Starr, Russ Ballard, Colin Blunstone, Brian Connolly, John Parr, BowWowWow and The Searchers amongst many others. In 1982 -under the name under the name Verity - John released "Interrupted Journey"., highly acclaimed in the UK, USA and Europe. John once again took to the road.. Mike Rutherford of Genesis wrote three songs for John's next recording sessions, and both Keith Emerson and Greg Lake used John on their current recording projects. The next two albums "Truth Of The Matter" and "Rock Solid" were also well received, and John soon had offers to join various name bands including Michael Schenker Group Ted Nugent, and Asia which he declined, deciding instead to come off the road to record an album with newly reformed Zombies. He then reformed his own band , after being on the road with ex Status Quo member John Coghlan's Diesel Band. At the 1994 Manchester Festival "Fender Stratocaster 40th Anniversary" concert, John guested, along with many rock legends past and present including Sonny Curtis, Frankie Miller and Rory Gallagher. 2000 saw a major gigging project with a 32 date UK tour, opening the show on the Jools Holland Sex Jazz and Rock'n'Roll tour at major venues including Manchester Opera House, Birmingham Symphony Hall, and the London Albert Hall. After this, it was back to his regular gigging routine, playing festivals across the UK and mainland Europe. After playing the Cambridge Rock Festival in 2009 the band went into the studio once more EUR? The resulting recordings were released April 2010: EURoeVERITY EUR? A Phoenix Still RisingEUR later repackaged with 3 new originals as'Verity - Rise Like The Phoenix' . 'It's a Mean Old Scene' was released in December 2011, and the following year was premiered live at GB Rock & Blues Festival, and was released on video. . In 2014 a new album "Tone Hound" EUR was released and taken on the road with the band across the UK. 2015 saw the release of the 'Boske' album, followed by 2016EUR?s 'My Religion', which was also released is released on vinyl - a double album with bonus tracks in a gatefold sleeve. 2017 was the band's busiest year to date with shows across the length and breadth of the UK. A new album is scheduled for spring 2018. The Bullfrog Blues Club is at The Dockyard Club, Onslow Rd, Southsea, PO5 2NH.EUREURDoors open 8 p.m. Tickets (just £8 in advance!) are available via our website -http://www.barkingspider.abelgratis.com via Paypal and also from Street Level Music, 139 Albert Rd, Southsea, Hampshire, PO5 2SQ or on the door, subject to availability