The Blueskins
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 l-r: Tom Bailey, Paul Brown, Ryan Spendlove, Andrei Nosov. |
 Singer Ryan Spendlove |
The Blueskins are a four-piece band based in Gawthorpe, near Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
They are Ryan Spendlove (lead vocals and guitar) Andrei Nosov (guitar and backing vocals) Tom Bailey (bass and backing vocals) and Paul Brown (percussion). The band was formed after Ryan and Paul met at music college in 1999. After college they continued to play together and drafted in school friends Matthew Smith and Ritchie Townend. In 2003 considerable interest in the band resulted in an influx of A&R men to Gawthorpe and a signing to Domino Records. Three singles, an EP and an album followed, and the band embarked on a tour of Europe and America, recording in Mississippi with celebrated producer Dennis Herring. In 2005 a change of direction saw Matthew and Ritchie leave the band and later in the year Paul and Ryan brought in Russian ex-tennis pro Andrei Nosov on guitar and Welsh student Tom Bailey on five-string bass guitar to replace them. The new members brought with them a range of new influences including native Siberian music and dance-inspired indie. The band spent much of 2006 writing new material and showcasing it to fans across the country. In the summer their 2003** single ‘Change My Mind’ was featured on a TV advertisement for Lynx shower gel. It generated considerable interest in the single, leading it to be re-released. Despite the interest from fans, the band’s record label did not push the single and it received limited airplay. Finding themselves unable to market the band, and choosing to concentrate on their more commercial signings, Domino Records parted company with The Blueskins, leaving them on the lookout for a label with more diverse interests. The band spent the latter months of 2006 touring their new songs and writing new material. At the end of the year they played a small gig in their local pub in Gawthorpe, inviting friends to take to the stage and perform with them. The new year will see the band producing more material and touring it, and a new album.
Vocals and guitar: Ryan Spendlove, 28.
Ryan was born on New Year’s Day 1978 and grew up in Gawthorpe with four sisters and three brothers. He started playing guitar at 18 and counts his earliest influences as Bob Marley, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin. He said: “Blues has always been a massive influence for me and although I was brought up next to Dewsbury and not the Delta I have always felt a strong connection. “There is more honesty and belief in traditional and working class music in general and it seems to me that real belief and soul is getting harder to find in modern music.” Some of his major influences include 1920s and 30s blues artists like Blind Willie Johnson, Leadbelly and Lemon Jefferson. Modern influences are The Bees, the Souldad Brothers, Two Gallants and The Raconteurs. Outside interests are mountain walking, magic and drawing.
Guitar: Andrei Nosov, 25.
Andrei was born in Moscow, Russia in 1981. While he was growing up rock music was illegal and could only be bought on the black market. He got his first guitar at 11 after hearing Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath and by 13 he had joined a band He was a promising tennis player and spent time playing professionally in Germany, but his interest in music led to him giving up tennis when he was 20. He became interested in progressive rock and got into Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Cream. He moved to moved to Leeds in 2002 and in 2004 he joined a band called Freedom Drive, with which he released two singles and an album. His influences include drone music, Siberian native music and psychedelic music from 1966 to 1975. Favourite artists include the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, King Crimson, Bert Jansch, early Yes, John Lee Hooker, Steve Winwood and Frank Zappa. Other interests include reading, hill rambling, yoga, stargazing and echoes of caves.
Percussion: Paul Brown, 26.
Paul was born in Leeds in 1980 and grew up around the city. He bought his first drum kit at 15 and took lessons at school, forming a band with a group of friends. As well as playing drums Paul is a keen guitarist and played guitar for the first time in front of an audience at a gig in their local pub in Gawthorpe. He names his influences as Bob Dylan, RL Burnside, Captain Beefheart, Ralph McTell, Taj Mahal, The Incredible String Band and James Brown. Pastimes include films, comedy and reading. He is interested in spirituality and consciousness, open spaces, nature and the countryside.
Bass guitar: Tom Bailey, 20.
Tom was born in Chester in 1986, and grew up in Buckley, North Wales. He started playing bass guitar at 13 after getting into Nirvana, The Offspring and Green Day. He joined a band called Ithaca and played gigs locally with them. He found inspiration from Primus and Victor Wooten, learning new techniques such as slapping, strumming and tapping. Tom began a course in music technology in 2005, and met Andrei in a club in Leeds. Andrei told him the Blueskins were looking for a bassist. Tom said: “As soon as we started jamming something clicked and I really enjoyed playing with them. I had no idea they were signed, or even that they were called the Blueskins, I just knew I liked it.” Tom’s favourite artists include Jeff Buckley, Tool, Tricky, Pink Floyd, and Gomez.
