Biographical Details

Colin has been playing bass for more years than he cares to remember and his current guitar replaced his much loved (albeit slightly battered) 1974 Fender Jazz Bass, which some kind person stole a few years ago! He joined the Hatters when he moved from Essex to Sussex.

Colin originally comes from East London and first played his father's tennis racquet at the age of 4. Coming from a large East End family where family parties occurred almost weekly, he was introduced to the music of Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Ray Charles and Roy Orbison from a very early age. Initially, he had aspirations to be a drummer but, much to his parents' and neighbours' relief, decided to buy a bass guitar instead with his first month's wages as an engineering apprentice.

He first formed a band, with fellow apprentices, who's influences included Rush, Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden. Their play list at the time, he admits now, was probably a bit ambitious but what they lacked in skill they certainly made up for in enthusiasm! Other bands followed until he settled with a well known gigging East London rock band, playing support to the likes of Midnight Oil, Billy Bragg, It Bites and Motorhead, and appearing at the Hackney Rock Festival. During those nine years the bang changed guises a few times, releasing a couple of singles along the way, and playing such venues as The Marquee (both old and new), Ronnie Scotts, The Mean Fiddler, Dingwalls and The Rock Garden.

Colin's influences and tastes in music have always been quite wide ranging, from BB King to Steve Vai, Marcus Miller to Segovia. It is hard to say whether there is a blues man or a rocker at the core of him! He feels he has been very fortunate in doing a considerable amount of live gig work while his session and studio work afforded him the opportunity to compose and record his own instrumental cd on which he plays bass, acoustic and electric guitar.

Colin was immediately attracted to the Hatters because of the band's musical diversity and the pure fun of a Hatters gig. When not playing with the Hatters, he devotes his time to increasing his already quite considerable collection of cds and vinyl. Other interests include motor racing, reading autobiographies, food and real ale. Gardening and DIY are undertaken only under protest!