NE Guitars - Pilot Edition

BRIAN SETZER 

And His Gretsch 6120 Stray Cat 

+ 

MICHELLE TAYLOR 

Blues Guitar Star Talks From Sweden 

NEGUITARS 

May 2024 

Issue No:1 

In Association With 

& Sponsored By 

MARK ABRAHAMS 

Wishbone Ash & Rock Blues Session 

Guitarist Under The Spotlight 

East Durham Guitars 

Introducing Our Sponsors & The 

North East Guitar Building School 

PILOT EDITION 

www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk

Once in 

Unit 6 , Front Street , Industrial Estate 

Shotton Colliery. DH6 2ND 

07546 656143 

E. sales@eastdurhamguitars.com 

W. www.eastdurhamguitars.com 

a while... 

...Perfection 

Happens

NE GUITARS 

Editorial 

Paul George - Editor 

Jane Shields - Assistant Editor 

& Social Media Manager 


Martin Dixon - Director / 

Luthier 

Dave Olsen - Director / 

Luthier 

Mark Taylor - Marketing 

Manager 

Ricky Hutchinson - Luthier / 

Technician 

Unit 6 , Front Street 

Industrial Estate 

Shotton Colliery 

DH6 2ND 

07546 656143 

E. sales@eastdurhamguitars.com 

W. www.eastdurhamguitars.com 

NE Guitars and East Durham 

Guitars would like to thank 

all contributors, authors, 

photographers, advertisers 

and all of our readers and 

subscribers. Without you 

this publication would not be 

possible. 

All intellectual property rights, 

including copyrights, trademarks 

rights and database rights with 

respect to the information, texts, 

images, logos, photographs and 

illustrations NE Guitars and with 

respect to the layout and design 

of the website are protected by 

intellectual property rights and 

belong to NE Guitars or entitled 

third parties. The reproduction 

or making available in any way or 

form of the contents of the website 

without prior written consent from 

NE Guitars is not allowed. 

WELCOME... 

Hello all and welcome to the 

very first edition of NE Guitar. 

A monthly online magazine specifically 

for the guitarists and guitars in the 

North East of England.. 

Every month we will bring you a packed 

edition of the very best in guitar related 

articles, information, news, tips, features 

and all of the local action from our very vibrant music scene. 

So let me introduce you to the NE Guitars team. My name is 

Paul and I am the magazines chief editor with a long history of 

professional magazine construction as well as quite a colourful music 

background. I’m a bit of a rockabilly nut and blues guitarist, not to 

mention a bit of an instrumentalist, you know, The Shadows, The 

Ventures, that type stuff. I know, I’m an old fart! 

Our social media guru is Jane, my long suffering partner who is also 

the mag’s assistant editor. She’s also the one you will speak to if you 

contact us on facebook. She’s very nice and doesn’t bite...normally. 

Our guitar experts and associates/sponsors are the very brilliant 

East Durham Guitars based at Shotton Colliery (much more about 

them in this edition). When I say “very brilliant”, I mean it whole 

heartedly. These guys have a great shop for all of your guitar needs 

such as strings, straps, amps and of course a fine selection of guitars 

on sale including their own branded instruments. They have a 

full service and repair facility with top luthiers and the very best 

equipment and tools. If that wasn’t enough, they have a purpose 

built workshop where they run a variety of courses from basic set-ups 

and maintenance to building your own guitar from scratch and much 

more besides. You seriously couldn’t find a better guitar enterprise 

anywhere else in the North East, maybe even the UK. 

Anyway, here we are, at your service from this moment onwards. 

Please do subscribe to us and follow us on social media. 

Thanks all, Paul. 

Issue No:1 May 2024 

www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk 03

Contents 

May/June 2024 Issue No:1 

P12 

NORTH EAST GUITAR 

BUILDING SCHOOL 

The North East’s unique school at East 

Durham Guitars, just a few steps off the 

A19 ready for you to build your very own 

high quality instrument. 

P26 

LOCAL HEROES: 

BLUES MOJO BAND 

The amazing Delta & Progressive 

Blues band live and in session from the 

Headlands Premier live music venue. 

P32 

AXE IN FOCUS: 

GRETSCH 6210 STRAY CAT 

The story behind Brian Setzer’s prized 

Gretsch and the turbulent journey it has 

travelled through the years 

04 www.neguitarsmagazine.co.uk

In Focus 

18 Mark Abrahams 

Wishbone Ash & Session Blues Guitarist under the 

Spotlight and in conversation with NEG. 

32 Brian Setzer 

The Stray Cat guitarist and vocalist talks about his 

original Gretsch 6120 ‘Stray Cat’. 

40 Michelle Taylor 

Blues Guitarist and award winning artist in focus 

on her amazing career 

Reviews 

12 North East Guitar Building School 

An in-depth look at the North East’s Premier 

Guitar Building Enterprise. 

16 Southside Harbour Guitar Straps 

The unique Guitar Straps manufacturer with an 

environment friendly twist. 

30 Mark Knopfler - Going Home 

The Legendary Dire Straits front man’s re-release 

of the ‘Local Hero’ anthem for charity. 

36 Flattley Guitar Pedals 

Incredible hand built guitar pedals created in our 

own back yard. 

56 Tygers of Pan Tang 

North East top Heavy Metal band gives an 

exclusive on their brand new album ‘Live Blood. 

Features 

06 NE Guitars News 

All the latest international, national and local 

guitar news. 

26 Local Heroes - Blues Mojo 

Hartlepool Blues band under the spotlight while in 

performance. 

50 Local Heroes -Bluesburn @ The Fish 

Celebrating the iconic Blues evening at the 

legendary Headland live music pub. 

56 White Wolf Recording Studio 

Professional recording studio in the heart of the 

North East providing top quality services. 

60 North East Gigs Board 

The best of gigs around the North East over the 

coming month. 

ON THE COVER 

Wishbone Ash 

& Blues Session 

Guitarist 

Mark Abrahams 


NE GUITARS NEWS 

STOP PRESS The Latest Guitar News From Around The North East STOP PRESS 

Tributes To Allman Brothers Legend 

As Dickey Betts Passes Away, 80 

Co-Founder, Guitarist and Vocalist of the iconic Blues & Rock 

Band Dies Following Battle with Cancer and COPD in Florida 

Rock Legend Dickie Betts passed 

away peacefully at his home in 

Florida following a long battle 

with Cancer and COPD, aged 80, 

on 18th April 2024. 

Betts, who co-foundeed the 

Allman Brothers with Duanne 

Allman will be fondly remembered 

for composing the legendary rock 

instrumental hit “Jessica” which 

became the theme tune to the BBC 

motoring programme ‘Top Gear’. 

Former Presenter Jeremy Clarkson 

paid tribute to the guitarist on X/ 

Twitter by saying “Dicky Betts 

has died. You probably haven’t 

heard of him. But he wrote a 

song called ‘Jessica’. And you will 

DEFINITELY have heard that,” 

Betts shared lead guitar duties 

with Duane Allman in the original 

Allman Brothers Band to help give 

the group its distinctive sound 

and create a new genre – Southern 

rock. Founded in 1969, the 

Allmans were a pioneering jam 

band, trampling the traditional 

notion of three-minute pop 

songs by performing lengthy 

compositions in concert and on 

record. The band was also notable 

as a biracial group from the Deep 

South. He was inducted into the 

Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame with the 

band in 1995. 

RIP Dickey Betts - Allman Brothers 


NEWS 

Mark Knopfler to auction 

collection for charity 

Mark Knopfler is set to auction more 

than 120 guitars and amplifiers from 

his own personal collection early next 

year, with a portion of the proceeds 

going to a number of charities - 

including one in the North East. The 

guitar legend is giving 25 per cent of 

the profits from the auction to The 

British Red Cross, Tusk and Brave 

Hearts of the North East. 

North East Guitar Show: 

A Rocking Success 


Launch Brand New 

‘Pilgrim’ Guitar Range 

The North East Guitar show 

saw the launch of East Durham 

Guitars latest creation ‘The 

Pilgrim’ . 

The new range comes in an 

assortment of colours and finishes 

ranging from £900 to £1650. 

The next edition of NE Guitars 

Magazine will feature the range 

in detail but readers can visit 

East Durham Guitars at Shotton 

Colliery and take a detailed look 

at the new guitars in the comfort 

of the shop or go to their website 

and check them out at 

www.eastdurhamguitars.com 

For 2024, THE NORTH EAST 

GUITAR SHOW returned to 

the superb, purpose-built event 

complex at Rainton Arena, 

Mercantile Rd, Houghton-le- 

Spring DH4 5PH and was held 

on Sunday 12th March from 

10am to 4.00pm. 

This prestige and spacious 

location is close to all the North 

East major routes, provides 

first-class facilities and has the 

advantage of easy load-in for 

exhibitors, excellent catering, 

licensed bar and free parking for 

all. 

Based on the style of USA tabletop 

exhibitions, the North East 

Guitar Show is first and foremost 

a retail event. New, vintage 

and pre-owned guitars, amps 

and pedals made be available 

to buy, trade and sell from a 

host of retailers, distributors, 

manufacturers, luthiers, boutique 

makers and private collectors - 

not to mention a full range of 

strings and accessories. 


Guitar played by John Lennon on Help!, lost for 50 

years, going up for auction 

A guitar played by John 

Lennon and George 

Harrison in sessions for 

the albums Help! and 

Rubber Soul, which has 

spent the last 50 years 

lying in an attic, is to go 

up for auction alongside 

other memorabilia items 

such as a handwritten 

concert setlist by Kurt 

Cobain, a book of 

handwritten lyrics by 

Tupac Shakur and a 

Fendi dress worn by Amy 

Winehouse. 

The 12-string acoustic 

guitar, a Hootenanny 

model made by Bavarian 

firm Framus in the early 

1960s, was primarily 

played by Lennon and 

also appears in the movie 

Help!, used to perform 

You’ve Got to Hide Your 

Love Away. The studio 

version of that song 

also features the guitar, 

as well as Help!’s title 

track, It’s Only Love and 

I’ve Just Seen a Face. 

Harrison, meanwhile, 

used it to play the 

rhythm guitar part on 

Norwegian Wood, and 

it appears on another 

Rubber Soul song, Girl 

Dave Gilmour Releases First Album in 9 Years 

David Gilmour has unveiled 

his first album in nine years, 

‘Luck and Strange’. 

The Pink Floyd legend, 78, 

will return with the follow-up 

to 2015’s ‘Rattle That Lock’ 

on September 6, and the lead 

single, ‘The Piper’s Call’, is out 

now. Gilmour has once again 

teamed up with his wife Polly 

Samson on some of the lyrics 

after she contributed to his last 

LP. As for the lyrical content, the 

pair tackle the heavy subject of 

mortality. Samson, 61, said: “It’s 

written from the point of view of 

being older – mortality is the constant.” 

Gilmour said: “We spent a 

load of time during and after lockdown 

talking about and thinking 

about those kind of things.” The 

musician joined forces with Alt-J’s 

producer Charlie Andrew and 

loved how “direct” he was with 

him. 

Article by Bang Showbiz UK. 

Read more by clicking this link 


Hartlepool music fans were 

given a rare treat in March as 

local Blues performers took to the 

stage at the Fishermans Arms on 

the town’s Headland. 

NEWS 

Famous North East Music Pub Gives The Blues A New Lease of Life 

The once-a-month Bluesburn 

evening is open to all standards 

of Blues artists whether solo 

artists, duo’s, trios or bands. 

Regular local artists can also 

be seen performing such as the 

fantastic Blues Mojo band, blues 

guitar legend Daniel D’Arcy, local 

solo Delta Blues slide 

guitarist Paul George to name 

just a few. 

Landlady of ‘The Fish’, Hazel 

Whitlock told NE Guitars 

“Live music has always been 

at the heart of the pub but the 

Bluesburn evening has always 

been something a little extra 

special. We have always loved 

the blues here and the Thursday 

evening blues night is definately a 

celebration of the great blues 

talent we have here in Hartlepool 

and the North East.” 

The Bluesburn is run on the 

first Thursday of every month 

between 8:30pm and 11:00pm. 

A full PA system is supplied for 

artist use and the house band is 

always willing to provide a back 

line if needed. 

For more information, check out 

the Fishermans Arms 

facebook page. 

Guitar Legend, Eric Clapton Returns To Newcastle 

Eric Clapton has 

announced several new 

tour dates for 2024, and 

this time, fans outside of 

London will get a chance 

to catch the guitarist live 

on stage. 

Clapton’s limited run of 

UK and Ireland shows will 

see him playing a total of 

six dates, kicking off first 

at Newcastle’s Utilita 

Arena on 9 May next year. 

The musician will also be 

making stops in Liverpool, 

Birmingham, and 

Dublin, before wrapping 

up the tour with a twonight 

show at London’s 

Royal Albert Hall. The 

upcoming tour also 

marks the first time the 

former Yardbirds rocker is 

playing a solo gig outside 

of London since 2015, so 

grab your tickets early. 

Tickets go on sale are 

on sale online and 

bookingsdirect.com. There 

will be no counter sales. 

He will be playing at 

Newcastle Utilita Arena on 

9th May 2024. 

Last year, Clapton released 

a cover of Moon River, 

featuring the late guitar 

legend Jeff Beck. The track 

– originally performed by 

Audrey Hepburn in the 

iconic 1961 film Breakfast 

at Tiffany’s — was 

recorded not long before 

Beck passed away. 


The Guitarist’s Choice 

At Southside Harbour Guitar 

Straps, we pride ourselves 

in quality, style and comfort 

at affordable prices. All 

of our guitar straps are 

handmade using top quality 

components 

Find us on 

e. southsideharbourguitarstraps@gmail.com 

w. www.southsideharbourguitarstraps.com 

w. t. (+44) 07703663261

THE NORTH EAST 

GUITAR BUILDING 

SCHOOL 

REVIEW

GUITAR SCHOOL 

“BUILDING A 

GUITAR IS LIKE 

CREATING AN 

EXTENTION OF 

YOURSELF AND A 

NEW FRIEND ALL AT 

THE SAME TIME” 

East Durham Guitars prides itself on 

it’s ability to not only build guitars 

for it’s customers but also allows 

them to build one for themselves in 

it’s very own purpose built school. 

Talk about a no-brainer... So let me ask 

you a serious question here. Bearing 

in mind that money for our precious 

guitars is not easy to come by these 

days and also bearing in mind that we 

want quality and value for our bucks, what would 

you rather have? An off-the-shelf, mass produced, 

over priced guitar built in a sausage factory style 

warehouse in some far off land, transported to your 

door by a container ship that has been chucked 

around the sea like an egg in a barrel for a week or 

have the pleasure of building your own top quality 

instrument with your own love and dedication in a 

school for the same price? As I said, no brainer! 

13

Our courses are located in 

County Durham at East Durham 

Guitars and take place at various 

times throughout the year in our 

purpose built workshop. All tools 

are provided. Tea and coffee is 

provided too, but bring your own 

lunch. Accommodation details 

can be supplied if you live too far 

away to commute. If the course 

or skill you want to learn isn’t in 

the list below please message or 

ring us as we’re always happy to 

accommodate you. 

1 Day Set Up Course - £180 

These courses are run on various 

Saturdays throughout the year. 

The day runs from 9am to 5pm 

with a short lunch break. The 

course covers how to set up 

various types of guitars including 

fixed bridge and trem guitars, 

basses and acoustic guitars. You 

can bring your own guitars to 

work on but there will also be 

instruments at the workshop to 

use. This course will give the you 

the ability to keep your guitar/s 

in prime condition and save on 

costly regular set-ups. 

3 Day Assembly Course 

£480 course fee, parts and 

materials from £350 

This course utilises high quality 

bodies and necks made at East 

Durham Guitars. You can choose 

to build a Strat, Tele or P-Bass 

style guitar. Hardware and 

pickups are provided but you can 

choose to upgrade these for an 

additional cost or bring your own. 

• Day 1 - Sanding, fret finishing 

and initial assembly to check 

neck alignment, and fit of 

hardware and parts 

• Day 2 - Staining and oil 

finishing processes as well as 

initial harness wiring prior to 

final assembly 

• Day 3 - Final assembly and 

wiring, setting up the guitar, 

testing it and possibly even a 

bit of jamming 

• 

You will leave with a fully 

functional quality instrument 

and will have had a thoroughly 

enjoyable experience! 

5 Day Build Course 

£800 course fee, parts and 


materials cost dependent on 

specification 

This course is for those who 

want to experience building an 

electric guitar from scratch. You 

can recreate an existing design or 

create your own. These will be 

solid bodied guitars and basses 

with bolt-on necks and will 

usually be fixed bridge versions, 

though some trem options are 

possible within the timescale. The 

instrument will have an oiled, 

and possibly stained, finish, and 

there are some very attractive 

timbers available at East Durham 

Guitars to choose from. If you 

want a paint or lacquered finish, 

additional tuition can be supplied, 

or we can apply the finish for you. 

• Day 1 - Design layout, 

template manufacture and 

body routing 

• Day 2 - Cavity routing, 

neck routing, truss rod slot, 

fretboard manufacture and 

fretboard glued on 

• Day 3 - Neck shaping, radius 

fretboard, fretting 

• Day 4 - Sanding and oil 

finishing 

• Day 5 - Assembly, set-up and 

play! 

You will leave with a high quality 

instrument and probably an 

appetite to build more! 

10 Day Build Course 

£1,600 course fee, parts and 

materials cost dependent on 

specification 

This course is for more complex 

builds such as carved tops, semis 

and thru-necks. It is split into 

two weekly blocks and is for those 

who want to experience building 

an electric guitar from scratch. 

You can recreate an existing 

design or create your own. You 

can choose your hardware and 

pickups, which we can supply, 

or you can bring your own. The 

instrument will have an oiled, 

and possibly stained, finish, and 

there are some very attractive 

timbers available at East Durham 

Guitars to choose from. If you 

want a paint or lacquered finish, 

additional tuition can be supplied, 

or we can apply the finish for you. 

• Day 1 - Design layout, 

template manufacture and 

basic machining of timber 

• Day 2 - Body or neck routing, 

dependent on design 

• Day 3 - Body or neck routing, 


• Day 4 - Fitting of cap/wings, 


• Day 5 - Cavity routing, hole 

drilling and top carving if 

required 

• Day 6 - Body sanding, 

fretboard manufacture and 

glueing 

• Day 7 - Neck shaping, inlays, 

radius fretboard, fretting 

• Day 8 - Dry assembly and any 

adjustments 

• Day 9 - Final sanding and oil 

finishing 

• Day 10 - Assembly, set-up and 

play! 

You will leave with a high quality 

instrument and probably an 

appetite to build more! 

Custom Courses 

Prices & Details on Application 

These courses are available for 

those wishing to learn a variety of 

construction methods and luthier 

techniques and can be configured 

to your specific requirements. 

They are usually carried out in 

weekly blocks and would suit 

someone wanting more in depth 

tuition. Contact us for more 

details. 

So what are you waiting for? Get 

over and see the team at East 

Durham Guitars or contact them 

on the following details: 

Unit 6 , Front Street 

Industrial Estate 

Shotton Colliery 

DH6 2ND 

07546 656143 

E. sales@eastdurhamguitars.co.uk 

W. www.eastdurhamguitars.co.uk 

Or find them on facebook and 

Instagram. You wont be sorry! 


REVIEW 

www.southsideharbourguitarstraps.com 

e. southsideharbourguitarstraps@gmail.com t. 07703663261 

Authors 

Paul George & 

Paul Dobson 

In this day and age of looking after our planet, it’s 

not unusual for us consider buying enviroment friendly 

products. But let’s ask ourselves an honest question. How 

many of you have actually considered this while buying 

the humble guitar strap? I put my hands up to this one, 

I have never considered the planet when buying my 

straps. I look for the shiny objects that are going to look 

good around my neck. But, no more! 

Southside Harbour Guitar Straps in Bridlington have done 

just this. They boast a whole range of enviroment friendly 

straps at great prices that look simply stunning. Business 

owner Paul Dobson tells us more. 

My passion for all things guitar began when I was a teenager and led 

to a hobby making bespoke, high quality guitar accessories later in life. 

I initially started making acoustic guitar stands, something I still do today. 

I produced my first guitar strap for one of my granddaughters when she 

began guitar lessons a few years ago. And so Southside Harbour Guitar 

Straps was born, allowing me to turn my passion and hobby into a small 

business! 

At Southside Harbour Guitar Straps, we pride ourselves in quality, style 

and comfort at affordable prices. All of our guitar straps are handmade 

using top quality components at our home workshop situated in 

Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire. Our backing, for example, uses 

recycled car seat belts which we salvage before they hit the landfill sites. 

Our vegan straps are also based on our seatbelt backing, we use natural 

cork inners and a hand stitched vinyl outer. Our polyester backing 

comes in two colours alongside our cotton/hemp webbing. 

Unique, eye-catching and long lasting, Southside Harbour Guitar Straps 

are already the strap of choice for many high profile musicians. We 


Southside Harbour Guitar Straps 

George W E - Yonaka 

Ryan Breslin - The K’s 

Kiaran Crook - The Sherlocks 

are also able to accommodate 

bespoke commissions upon 

request! 

Southside Harbour Guitar 

Straps are proud to support 

The Sick Childrens Trust. 

The Sick Children’s Trust is 

something my family hold 

close to our hearts. After my 

daughter and son-in-law were 

lucky enough to get a room in 

Eckersley House back in 2012 

when our grandson Harry was 

admitted to Leeds General 

Infirmary. Following this I did 

a charity trek to Everest Base 

Camp in 2013 and donated the 

proceeds to Eckersley House. 

We really do understand the 

importance of the service they 

offer to families facing such 

difficult times. 

As such, £1.50 from each strap 

sold will be donated directly 

to the trust. If you’d like to find 

out more about the trust and 

their mission you can find 

their website by visiting www. 

sickchildrenstrust.org 

So by buying a strap or two from 

Southside Harbour Guitar Straps 

you’re not only doing a little bit 

for the planet but you will also 

be supporting a very worthwhile 

charity. Not really much more to 

say really, 

You can find out more about 

Southside Harbour Guitars by 

visiting their website on: 

https://www. 

southsideharbourguitarstraps. 

com/ 

There is also so much more to 

check out on the Instagram page 

https://www.instagram.com/ 

southsideharbourguitarstraps/ 

or vist their facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/ 

PaulDobbo12 

Or you can contact Paul by 

email. 

southsideharbourguitarstraps@ 

gmail.com 

Recycled Recycled Vegan Polyester 


IN FOCUS

Mark 

Abrahams 

Wishbone Ash & Blues 

Session Guitarist talks 

to about his life, 

guitars and career.

IN FOCUS 

Mark 

Abrahams 

Yorkshire born, Wishbone Ash 

and Session Guitarist Mark 

Abrahams tells NE Guitars about 

his incredible journey to become 

a major name in the world of 

Rock & Blues. 

By Paul George, 

Mark Abrahams & 

mark-abrahams.com 

PROFILE 

Mark Abrahams is a name that 

resonates throughout the music 

industry, a virtuoso of the guitar 

whose skill and passion have left 

an indelible mark on the world of 

rock and blues. With an assertive 

tone that captivates audiences, 

he has created a musical legacy 

that spans decades. Mark is best 

known for his association with the 

iconic rock band Wishbone Ash. 

Born and raised in the heart 

of Yorkshire, England, Mark’s 

journey as a musician began at a 

young age. Inspired by the likes 

of Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton 

and Wishbone Ash he developed 

a deep passion for the guitar and 

embarked on a lifelong mission 

to master this instrument. With a 

natural flair for melodic phrasing 

and intricate solos, Mark quickly 

gained recognition as a virtuoso 

guitarist. 

Influenced by various music 

genres such as blues, rock, 

and folk, Mark’s unique style 

seamlessly blends these elements, 

creating a captivating fusion of 

sounds. His ability to evoke strong 

emotions through the strings of 

his guitar is truly something to 

behold. Each note and riff he plays 

carries a depth and sophistication 

that sets him apart from his 

contemporaries. 

Mark’s musical journey took a 

significant turn when he joined 

the iconic British rock band, 

Wishbone Ash in 2017 as their 

lead guitarist. Carrying on the 

legacy of the band’s founding 

members, he brought fresh 

energy and remarkable skill to 

their sound. His contributions 


In Focus: Mark Abrahams 

helped maintain the band’s 

distinctive fusion of blues, folk, 

and progressive rock as well 

as the bands signature twin 

guitar harmonies, earning him 

a dedicated fan base around the 

world. 

Beyond his contributions to 

Wishbone Ash, Mark remains 

an active musician in his own 

right. He has collaborated with 

numerous renowned artists 

both on stage and as a session 

guitarist, collaborating with a 

wide range of artists and infusing 

their music with his unique 

style. His versatility and ability 

to adapt to various genres have 

made him a highly sought-after 

musician, earning him respect and 

admiration from his peers. 

Mark Abrahams is a true icon in 

the realm of rock music, whose 

technical prowess, melodic 

sensibility, and unyielding 

dedication have left an indelible 

mark. His contributions to 

Wishbone Ash and his solo 

ventures continue to captivate 

audiences worldwide, solidifying 

his status as one of the greatest 

rock blues guitarists of our time. 

In Focus 

NEG - So reading your profile, 

you started playing guitar at a 

young age. How did it all get 

started? 

MA - Well I was obsessed with 

guitars from being really young, 

I remember as a small kid being 

fascinated watching people on 

television playing guitar. I think 

I was 8 years old when one day 

at school it was announced that 

there would be an opportunity for 

folk acoustic guitar lessons once a 

week and I knew I had to do it. 

A lady called Norah would come 

in to school and teach a group of 

us during our lunch break, I’m 

still good friends with Norah, we 

regularly catch up and sometimes 

still play some of the songs she 

taught me together at local open 

mic nights, she also came to a 

Wishbone show and hung out 

with the band afterwards which 


was just amazing. 

NEG - What was your first 

guitar? 

MA - My first guitar was an old 

sunburst steel strung guitar which 

came from a family friend, an 

Orpheus guitar which I now know 

was a Bulgarian guitar company 

in the 1960’s. We had the guitar 

in the house as my dad was trying 

to learn to play it – actually the 

family friend was and still is a big 

Wishbone Ash fan and showed 

me how to play the intro to the 

Wishbone song ‘Blowin Free’ on 

that guitar when I was about 8 

years old, later we would go to 

watch Wishbone gigs together. 

I still have this old guitar, 

nowadays its set up for slide with 

a humbucker installed over the 

sound hole, it sounds pretty good 

for slide too. 

NEG - Do you have any favourite 

memories of your early gigs? 

MA - I do! We started a band 

while at high school and we would 

put gigs on in the local social club 

that let us use their concert room 

to rehearse in – we would sell 

tickets to everyone at school and 

also stick a poster on every lamp 

post in the village and really pack 

out the club, we had lots of fun 

doing that. Eventually this lead 

to us going out and playing the 

pub circuit while still at school, 

actually I remember going out 

for my 18th birthday to a place 

we had been playing at for a few 

years, the landlord wasn’t too 

impressed as he had also been 

serving me beer for a few years 

too . A few years later a very 

memorable rock n roll moment 

was when I thought it would be a 

good idea to step from the stage 

onto someone’s table to play a 

guitar solo – the table leg broke, I 

fell backwards, the heasdstock of 

my Les Paul broke off and I broke 

my left wrist! Luckily we only had 

one more song to play which we 

managed to finish before I was 

taken straight to A&E for the 

night! 

NEG - You’re now a guitarist for 

Wishbone Ash. How did this 

start? 

MA – I had been a big fan of 

Wishbone since I was a kid and 

learned to play a lot of the songs.. 

I got to know the band around 


25 years ago and would hang out 

after their shows, it was about the 

same time that I briefly joined a 

Wishbone Ash tribute band to play 

at one of the annual Wishbone Ash 

fan conventions playing before 

Wishbone. 

The guys in the band found out I 

worked in a guitar store so anytime 

they were local I would get a phone 

call with a shopping list for strings, 

picks, valves etc which again would 

often result in hanging out after 

shows and just becoming friends. 

In early 2017 Andy Powell 

messaged me asking if I would be 

coming to a show in Sheffield and 

offered me some tickets, which 

I already had bought.. After the 

show we hung out in the hotel bar 

(for what I would now class as an 

interview) and literally drank 2 

bottles of very good Scotch whisky, 

towards the end of the evening 

Andy said to me “so if I asked 

you to join the band. .?” Which I 

replied something along the lines of 

“just ask me!”. 

A couple of days later I was sat in 

my local pub when my phone rang 

and it was Andy calling to offer 

me the gig! A few weeks later we 

met up in London to play together 

for the first time, we got through 

around 25 songs that day and then 

flew from London to Sweden to 

play my first show which was the 

In Focus: Mark Abrahams 

Sweden Rock Festival, with bands 

like Aerosmith, The Scorpions and 

Gothard.. I was still also playing 

with a covers band at the time and 

the following night I played a gig 

with them at Heaton Buffs Club in 

Newcastle. 

NEG - During your career as a 

guitarist, you’ve had quite a few 

guitars. Any favourites amongst 

them? 

MA - I’ve been really lucky, due to 

working in guitar stores for over 

20 years I’ve had so many amazing 

guitars almost find me. I’ve had 

James Tyler guitars, a Pensa, loads 

of Gibsons and Fenders and PRS. 

My Long time favourite has been a 

Gibson Custom Shop ’57 Gold Top 

Les Paul, an amazing guitar with 

the Peter Green out of phase pickup 

mod, these days literally only the 

wood is original on that guitar. 

I have a beautiful Gibson ES335 

which I used on the last Wishbone 

Ash studio album ‘Coat Of Arms 

01 OCT 2024 

02 OCT 2024 


ut for the last 5 years I’ve been 

lucky to own several vintage 1950s 

Gibson Les Paul Juniors, most 

recently a 1956 and I also have 2 

1959s, which I love taking out on 

the road and using. 

NEG - East Durham Guitars tells 

me they have made a guitar for 

you. What made you turn from 

a standard production guitar to a 

hand made custom instrument? 

MA - The idea for a custom Les 

Paul Junior guitar first started 2 

years ago when airlines would 

regularly either lose or leave 

behind my vintage Gibsons – 

scary! 

I’ve had quite a few custom 

guitars, it’s a great experience to 

see your guitar begin to take shape 

from just pieces of wood. 

One great reason to choose a 

custom instrument is that you can 

take everything you love about 

a guitar design and make your 

own improvements, for example 

with the guitar made by East 

Durham Guitars they were able 

to make a very classic looking 

Les Paul Junior and actually took 

measurements from the neck of 

my 1956 to base their neck on but 

with the improvement of better 

high fret access, which is great. 

After all these years there is still 

nothing more exciting to me than 

getting a new guitar, getting a new 

custom made guitar just takes that 

to another level! 

NEG - Have you any plans to tour 

the UK with Wishbone Ash in the 

near future? 

MA - Yes, we tour the UK every 

year in the Autumn. This year we 

will start around the middle of 

September on a tour lasting for 

5 weeks, so we’ll be all over the 

place, including a couple of shows 

in the North East. The Playhouse 

at Whitley bay on October 1st and 

The Arc at Stockton on October 

2nd. 

NEG - Mark, thank you very 

much for your time and good 

luck with your future career. 

North East Guitars Magazine is 

extremely grateful to Mark for the 

interview and taking time out of 

his very busy schedule to talk to 

us. In next month’s issue we will 

be revealing Marks brand new Les 

Paul Junior built by East Durham 

Guitars and its journey from the 

basic wood to the finished shape. 

To find out more about Mark 

Abrahams check out his website: 

https://www.mark-abrahams.com 


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LOCAL HEROES 

The Blue scene in the North East is 

definately a thriving and expanding world. 

So many great players have originated 

in our beloved corner of England such as 

Chris Rea, our own Mark Abrahams and 

even Mark Knopfler, not to mention local 

heroes such as Daniel D’Arcy. But sat 

modestly in the background and gracing 

the music scene here in Hartlepool are the 

amazing Delta & Progressive Blues band 

we feature today. 

By Paul George & Kenny Relton 

So, to get the best out of this 

article, we have travelled 

to the Fisherman’s Arms 

on Hartlepool’s historic 

Headland to interview the 

very underrated ‘Blues Mojo 

Band’ in their native setting 

of a local pub stage. The 

date is 13th April 2024, its 

currently 8:00pm as I start to 

write this, the pub is filling 

up well in preperation for 

tonights entertainment and 

I listen in to the mumblings 

and excitement buzzing 

around the stage area with 

eager anticipation. Kenny 

Relton, the lead guitarist and 

lead vocalist has completed 

his final tune-ups, 

Harmonica player Tommy 

‘Blind Boy’ Wilson has 

sounded up, Drums - check, 

Bass - check, all ready to go 

at 8:30pm. So while we are 

waiting for the first soulful 

tones, let’s find out a little 

about the band. Tonights 

line up consists of four 

musician, Kenny on guitar 

and lead vocals, Tommy on 

harmonica, Bryn Randall 

on Bass and finally, slapping 

the drumskins is Kenny 

Ward who is standing in for 

the regular drummer, Tony 


Blues Mojo Band 

Weller. But I hear the question on 

your lips, what guitars will Kenny 

be using tonight considering he 

has about 30 odd in his arsenal, 

well I’ve just had a quick look at 

them with Kenny giving me a little 

history of each and his weapons 

of choice are a 1958 Gibson 

225, single pickup hollow body. 

National Steel Tricone (pictured 

above), a Fender telecaster and 

a 1966 Gibson Les Paul ‘Clapton’ 

Serial No:99. By the standard of 

guitars, you can well imagine the 

skill set about to be used. 

So I’ve nicked Kenny for a few 

minutes before he starts to find 

out a little about the origins of 

‘Blues Mojo’ and a little of his own 

history with the Blues. 

NEG: So Kenny, where did it all 

start? 

KR: The Blue Mojo Started about 

2 years ago. Just before, Tommy 


and I were playing around the 

local pubs, quite a few of them in 

fact when we just decided to form 

a band. We had some open mics 

in my house when Bryn (Bass) 

came over and we asked him ‘Do 

you fancy joining a band?’ So he 

joined and then said that he knew 

a drummer and that was basically 

it. 

NEG: So when did you start 

playing the guitar? 

KR: I started playing when I was 

13. I actually stopped playing 

for 18 years after my wife died. 

But I started playing again at the 

Nursery Inn in Hartlepool, then 

the Causeway Inn. While there 

we formed the Dirty Water Band 

but that band ended up splitting 

so I left and went to China and 

Khazikstan, America and all over 

the place. Everywhere I go, I play. 

In 2019, Tommy and I won the 

Great British Rythym and Blues 

Festival. We were busking on a 

street in a tent that the council had 

put up for three hours solid and at 

the end of the three hours, I was 

so dry, I passed out. But I drank a 

bottle of water and I was right as 

rain again. 

NEG: I’ve noticed that you and 

Tommy (Harmonica) blend very 

well together. How did this come 

about? 

KR: Me and Tommy? Well we 

just work together. Tommy was 

playing around the pubs getting 

in with quite a few bands and 

musicians at open mics and all 

odds and sorts but, no we play 

great together. He’s a great player. 

He goes over to Spain twice a year 

for a month at a time and plays 

in all the bars over there. (As we 

were talking an elderly gentleman 

reminised about Tommy) “I 

remember when he used to play 

in the boathouse on the Marina, 

He would stand at the end of the 

Piano and wouldn’t move. He was 

very shy. 

NEG: So tonight you’re playing 

with 4 members of the band. 

KR: Yes, we got Me, Tommy, Bryn 

on Bass and a stand-in drummer 

Kenny Ward who is standing in 

for our regular drummer Tony 

Weller. We also have a great 

keyboard player but he can’t play 

on Saturday nights due to other 

band commitments. So yes just 

four of us. Tommy and I are 

starting of the night with three 

Delta Blues numbers, then the full 

band will play the rest of the night. 

NEG: Thank you for your time 

Kenny, we’ll let you get back to it. 

So we wait patiently for the start of 

the show. We didn’t have to wait 

too long as Kenny and Tommy, sat 

on chairs, very casually with some 

early Sunhouse and Little Walter 

numbers. It’s a great opportunity 

to hear the National being played 

as it should do. For a few minutes 

we were treated to the wonderful 

sound of the Blues music of the 

30’s 40’s and 50’s. Very rarely have 

I heard blues music being played 

as it should do. The way it was 

played in the American South by 


Blues Mojo Band 

legends such as Robert Johnson, 

Little Walter, Elmore James, 

Muddy Waters and BB King. 

Well, the band has now taken 

the stage and I’ll let the boys 

do their stuff and leave them in 

peace to play. All I can say is 

we are all in for a great night of 

Blues music. The Fishermans 

Arms is absolutely heaving in 

appreciation and we are chilling 

out with a few beers to the Blues, 

Mojo style... 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

So, I’m now back at home 

finishing off the article after a 

really top class night. For our 

pilot edition of the magazine, 

I couldn’t have hoped to have 

visited a better bunch of lads 

from the North East. You can 

catch up with Kenny and the lads 

on their facebook page here. 

https://www.facebook.com/ 

bluesmojo2018 


‘GOING HOME 

(THEME FROM 

LOCAL HERO)’ BY 

MARK KNOPFLER’S 

GUITAR HEROES, 

FOR TEENAGE 

CANCER TRUST 

AND TEEN CANCER 

AMERICA. 

A 

landmark in rock music history, this new, very 

special recording of Mark Knopfler’s anthemic 

‘Going Home (Theme From Local Hero)’ has 

been recorded to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust 

and Teen Cancer America. 

Haino, Tony Iommi, Joan Jett, John Jorgenson, Mark 

Knopfler, Sonny Landreth, Albert Lee, Greg Leisz, 

Performed by Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes and 

produced by Knopfler’s longtime collaborator Guy 

Fletcher, the track features an unprecedented line-up 

of some of the greatest guitarists and musicians in 

history. The artwork has been designed by Sir Peter 

Blake (The Beatles, The Who, Band Aid). 

Full list of contributors: 

Joan Armatrading, Jeff Beck, Richard Bennett, Joe 

Bonamassa, Joe Brown, James Burton, Jonathan 

Cain, Paul Carrack, Eric Clapton, Ry Cooder, 

Jim Cox, Steve Cropper, Sheryl Crow, Danny 

Cummings, Roger Daltrey, Duane Eddy, Sam 

Fender, Guy Fletcher, Peter Frampton, Audley 

Freed, Vince Gill, David Gilmour, Buddy Guy, Keiji 


Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes - Going Home 

Alex Lifeson, Steve Lukather, Phil Manzanera, 

Dave Mason, Hank Marvin, Brian May, Robbie 

McIntosh, John McLaughlin, Tom Morello, Rick 

Nielsen, Orianthi, Brad Paisley, Nile Rodgers, Mike 

Rutherford, Joe Satriani, John Sebastian, Connor 

Selby, Slash, Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr and 

Zak Starkey, Sting, Andy Taylor, Susan Tedeschi 

and Derek Trucks, Ian Thomas, Pete Townshend, 

Keith Urban, Steve Vai, Waddy Wachtel, Joe Louis 

Walker, Joe Walsh, Ronnie Wood, Glenn Worf, 

Zucchero. 

Cancer is different when you are younger: it can be 

harder to get a diagnosis, cancer treatments can be 

less effective for young people, and accessing clinical 

trials can be harder. 

This project is raising funds for two charities that are 

dedicated to supporting this specific age group. 

Teenage Cancer Trust funds specialist nurses and 

youth workers to be there for a young person when 

cancer has turned their world upside down and to 

help make sure cancer doesn’t rob young people of 

the best years of their life. 

Teen Cancer America partners with hospitals 

throughout the United States to develop specialized 

facilities and services for teens and young adults with 

cancer. 

A minimum of 50% of net proceeds received by BMG 

Rights Management (UK) Limited from the sale of 

this recording (with a minimum of £1 per CD single 

solely embodying the recording sold in the UK and 

a minimum of 25p per download of the recording 

sold in the UK) will be given to Teenage Cancer 

Trust (registered charity in England and Wales under 

charity no. 1062559) which shall be shared equally 

with Teen Cancer America (501(c)(3) tax-exempt 

organization tax id 46-0825676). Teenage Cancer 

Trust is a registered charity: 1062559 (England & 

Wales), SC039757 (Scotland). 


AXE IN FOCUS 

AND HIS 

'STRAY 

CATS' 

GRETSCH 

G6120 

Article by Paul George 

Gretsch 6120 Stray Cat 

story told by Brian Setzer 

Reverb Youtube Channel 

Growing up 

in the late 

70’s, I found 

myself hooked to the 

Rockabilly Revival 

listening to music from 

bands like The Jets, 

The Polecats, Crazy 

Cavan and the Rhythm 

Rockers to name a 

couple. But right at 

the top of the list was a 

three piece band from 

the States that moved 

over to London to try 

their luck on a British 

audience. Lee Rocker, 

Slim Jim Phantom 

and, the guitarist and 

lead vocalist, a young 

Brian Setzer formed 

the Stray Cats. Almost 

immediately, they were 

a smash hit with their 

unique sound. As 

a young fresh-faced 

guitarist I loved the 

Setzer guitar sound so 

much I wanted to be 

like him (Yeah, that 

never happened!). 

But the big thing was 

the orange Gretsch 

around his body. It 

was so cool, really 

Rock ‘n’ Roll. That 

one guitar turned out 

to be a major piece of 

musical history with a 

story of success, woe, 

loss, theft and major 

damage but still, to this 

day it remains as one 

of the most treasured 

possession in Setzer’s 

music arsenal. 

“So what has this got 

to do with a North 

East Guitar magazine,” 

I hear you ask. Well, 

purely because for 

the pilot edition of 

our new magazine, I 

thought I would talk 

about my first real 

influence as a guitarist 


Axe in Focus - Gretsch 6120 ‘Stray Cat’ 

and the guitar which 

still eludes me. Simple 

really. I have loved the 

Gretsch 6120 forever 

and still live in hope 

that one day I will own 

one. Anyway enough 

about my dreams, let’s 

learn a little more about 

Brian Setzer’s Gretsch 

6120 ‘Stray Cat’. Brian 

Setzer tells the story. 

“I was about 17 when 

I first bought it. I 

bought it at the Bylines 

were in a shoebox on 

the other side of the 

store. so I bought it. 

So I asked the guy in the 

store ‘Is this like Ediie 

Cochran’s guitar’ and he 

said ‘What, who?’. 

So I put it back together. 

It’s 1959 Gretsch, 6120 

Chet Atkins model 

and I’ve owned it since 

I was 17 year old. It’s 

been stolen, left on 

aeroplanes, left at places 

because we’ve were 

features but with the 

thicker body which it 

shouldn’t have. It was 

some kind of crossover 

model which is really 

one of a kind. 

When I was putting it 

together, there was no 

knobs in the box so 

I went into the closet 

and got some dice from 

some games and drilled 

holes in them so they 

would fit and glued 

them on, so it then 

guitars, one of them, my 

Gretsch. The insurance 

company said to me 

‘I guess you want the 

money’ and I said no, 

I just want my guitar 

back. So I got it back 

and gave the insurance 

company their money 

back, which they said 

never happens. No one 

ever gives the money 

back. 

I’ve made a few 

modifications to it, 

when I first got it, I 

chiselled off the zero fret 

and set the nut back so 

it would play normally. 

I also raised the pickups 

by taking it all apart and 

put matchbook covers 

under the pickups 

to raise the height of 

them. It’s had decals on 

it, there was a cat on it 

and then I put the lucky 

lady decal on it which 

I got from Ed’s Lawn 

Mower repair shop and 

the lucky lady was their 

logo. But it looked cool. 

Press. When I saw the 

ad, it just said ‘Orange 

Guitar - Gretsch - 100 

bucks. A hundred 

bucks was a lot of 

monety for a 17 year 

old kid but I scraped 

together a hundred 

bucks and bought the 

guitar. When I went to 

the store to pick it up, 

the guitar body was on 

one side of the store and 

the electrics, the pickups 

and all the other bits 

drunk but it’s always 

found its way back to 

me. 

Here’s a wierd thing, 

This guitar was the 

thickest guitar they 

made and in 1960 

they came out with 

a new model which 

had a thinner body, a 

zero fret, enamel faced 

Bigsby and was lighter 

but the one I bought 

had all of the new 1960 

had dice as knobs and 

they’ve stayed there ever 

since. 

It got stolen once and I 

was without it for about 

17 years until they 

caught a guy who had 

been stealing stuff from 

shipping containers. 

So the cops said bring 

the stuff in that you’ve 

stolen or you’ll go to 

jail. So the guy turns 

up at court with two 

I recorded Stray Cat 

Strut, Runaway Boys 

and Rock this Town 

with it and used it for 

all the Stray Cat stuff 

but when I got ‘Smoke’, I 

kinda retired it although 

it comes out every now 

and then.” 

These days Brian goes 

on tour with around 7 

guitars, but his first one 

is never far away. Check 

out more on Brian 

Setzer on his website. 

www.briansetzer.com 


AXE IN FOCUS 

GRETSCH 6120T 

1959 ‘CHET ATKINS’ 

So we know from the previous article, Brian Setzer’s 6120 ‘Stray Cat’ was originally the 1959 Chet 

Atkins model. Originally developed by Gretsch as a signature guitar for Chet Atkins in 1954 the 

G6120 was more warmly embraced by rockabilly and rock ’n’ roll guitarists than the country and 

western players Gretsch initially targeted. We find out more about the model... 

The G6120T-59 

Vintage Select 

’59 Chet Atkins 

is a hollow body 

electric guitar featuring a 

laminated maple body with 

a beautiful arched top. The 

guitar’s unique shape, known 

as the “single cutaway,” 

allows for easy access to the 

higher frets and is one of the 

distinguishing characteristics 

of Gretsch guitars. The body 

is adorned with a stunning 

Western Orange Stain finish, 

complemented by aged white 

binding and gold hardware, 

which adds a touch of elegance 

and class to the overall 

appearance. 

The neck of this guitar is made 

from maple and features a 

comfortable standard U-shaped 

profile. It is capped with a 12- 

inch radius ebony fingerboard, 

which houses 22 medium 

jumbo frets and is adorned 

with eye-catching Neo-Classic 

thumbnail inlays. The scale 

length of the G6120T-59 is 

24.6 inches, providing a perfect 

balance between playability and 

tonal richness. 

One of the standout features 

of this guitar is the Bigsby 

B6G vibrato tailpiece, which 

not only adds to the vintage 

aesthetic but also provides 

players with the ability to 

add subtle pitch modulation 

and expressive vibrato to 

their playing. The guitar 

also comes equipped with a 

pinned rocking bar bridge, 

ensuring excellent intonation 

and stability. 

Electronics and Hardware 

The G6120T-59 Vintage 

Select ’59 Chet Atkins is 

fitted with two TV Jones 

Classic Filter’Tron pickups, 

which are renowned for their 

clarity, punch, and warmth. 

These pickups are a perfect 

match for the hollow body 

construction, delivering a 

well-balanced tone that can 

easily cover a wide range of 

genres, from jazz and country 

to rockabilly and blues. 

The guitar’s electronics 

consist of a three-way pickup 

selector switch, individual 

volume controls for each 

pickup, a master volume 


Axe in Focus - Gretsch 6120 ‘Stray Cat’ 

control, and a three-way tone 

switch. This setup allows players 

to fine-tune their sound, blending 

the characteristics of both pickups 

to achieve the desired tone. 

Furthermore, the master volume 

control is conveniently placed near 

the cutaway, making it easy to 

access during live performances. 

The G6120T-59 is equipped with 

Grover Sta-Tite die-cast tuners, 

providing excellent tuning stability 

and precision. Other notable 

hardware features include a gold 

plexi pickguard with a Chet Atkins 

signature logo, an adjustable truss 

rod, and a zero-fret nut, which 

contributes to better intonation and 

sustain. 

Playability and Sound 

As expected from a high-end 

Gretsch guitar, the G6120T-59 

Vintage Select ’59 Chet Atkins 

offers outstanding playability. The 

comfortable neck profile, combined 

with the smooth ebony fingerboard 

and medium jumbo frets, make it 

a joy to play for extended periods. 

The single cutaway design ensures 

easy access to the higher frets, 

allowing players to explore the full 

range of the instrument. 

When it comes to sound, the 

G6120T-59 truly shines. The TV 

Jones Classic Filter’Tron pickups 

provide a rich, well-rounded tone 

with plenty of clarity and definition. 

The hollow body construction adds 

warmth and resonance, while the 

Bigsby tailpiece allows for smooth 

vibrato and pitch modulation. With 

its versatile electronics, this guitar 

can easily accommodate various 

playing styles and genres, making 

it an ideal choice for players who 

value flexibility and adaptability. 

Conclusion 

The Gretsch G6120T-59 Vintage 

Select ’59 Chet Atkins is a testament 

to the company’s commitment 

to quality and craftsmanship. 

This guitar features a stunning 

design, top-notch hardware, and 

exceptional playability, making it 

a worthy addition to any guitarist’s 

collection. The combination of 

vintage aesthetics and modern 

performance makes this instrument 

a true work of art, one that pays 

homage to the legendary Chet 

Atkins while providing players with 

a versatile and inspiring tool for 

their musical journey. 

Whether you’re a fan of Chet 

Atkins, a Gretsch enthusiast, or 

simply a guitarist in search of a 

high-quality instrument with a 

distinctive sound, the G6120T-59 

Vintage Select ’59 Chet Atkins is 

sure to impress. Its unique blend 

of vintage charm and modern 

functionality make it an excellent 

choice for players of all levels and 

styles. 


REVIEW 


Flattley Guitar Pedals 

www.flattleyguitarpedals.com 

Intro: Paul George 

Main Article: Paul Flattley 

So, it’s only fitting for North 

East Guitars Magazine to bring 

on board a pedal manufacturer, 

retailer and expert. I am so happy 

to say we have that all rolled into 

one. We bumped into Paul;s stand 

at this years North East Guitar 

Show and we were amazed by the 

range and quality of these hand 

built pedals, But please, do not 

take my word for it. Just let Paul 

give you a written tour of Flattley’s 

Guitar Pedals. 

Flattley Guitar Pedals is a family 

run business established in 2016 

and based in England. We do 

all of our product processes and 

manufacturing assembly within 

small radius with the aim to keep 

our carbon footprint as small as 

possible ensuring Flattley pedals 

are all truly made in England. After 

repairing the electronics in guitars, 

bass guitars, effects pedals and 

amps for many years in my spare 

time, I decided that it was time 

to venture into something new, 

making effect pedals. I had been 

working in the Aviation Avionics 

Industry for over 30 years after 

starting my working career as an 

avionics technician in the Royal 

Navy Fleet Air Arm working on 

helicopters. I was very confident 

that I could produce a high-quality 

product based on my aviation 

quality assurance and standards 

which would live up to my very 

exacting requirements whilst 

producing the sound and tone that 

musicians are looking for. Each 

effects pedal is hand built, hand 

wired, and our enclosures are hand 

finished giving our pedals that 

personalized touch. 

Being a musician myself, I know 

what I like, and I know what 

sounds and tones I look for. This 

can be quite challenging when 

playing in a band covering many 

different genres of artists and 

requiring a variety of sounds; I 

make my effects pedals as versatile 

and functional as possible and I 

am constantly re-evaluating and 

assessing our pedals to ensure 

continuous improvement. 

Each Flattley pedal is a work of 

art as well as a tonal delight and 

to get that very high standard 

involves a great deal of hard work 

and processes. A Flattley pedal 

starts life as a concept schematic 

diagram which is then tested in 

basic prototyping formats, once 

we are satisfied that the sound and 

component values are right this 

then goes off to our Gloucestershire 

based PCB design and 

manufacturer. Once we have our 

un-populated PCB the hard work 

begins, and we populate this with 


REVIEW 

Violet 

Tremelo 

Poison Ivy 

Octave Harmonic 

Fuzz 

the highest quality components. 

We then assemble the PCB to 

the off-board components and 

then hand tested in the product’s 

build jig enclosure, once we are 

happy that the completed circuitry 

produces the tonal sounds that we 

are known for this is then installed 

into its hand finished enclosure. 

Each hand finished enclosure is 

prepared in exactly the same way 

in our Gloucestershire based paint 

facility whether it is a platinum or 

silver range product, this process 

usually takes five days from start to 

finished enclosure. 

They are hand abraded, then the 

etch primer is applied to seal the 

aluminium surface as an anticorrosive 

measure and to allow 

the base coat primer to bond to 

the enclosure. Once the base coat 

primer is dry it then has the base 

coat colour applied and repeated 

three times to ensure a deep lustre 

of colour. 

For our platinum range metallic 

holographic chrome flake is then 

applied using a clear inter coat 

which adds that all important 

Flattley sparkle. The pedal 

enclosure is now ready to be hydro 

dipped in its Flattley graphics. 

This is the process whereby the 

graphics are applied using water 

activated film and the enclosure 

is slowly dipped by hand through 

the activated hydro graphic film, 

the residual PVA film is then 

washed off and the enclosure is 

then allowed to dry naturally. Once 

dried the lacquer process begins, 

each enclosure has a minimum of 

three coats of lacquer which are all 

wet sanded between coats. Once 

the lacquer has hardened, it is then 

hand polished using three different 

grades of polishing compounds 

and it then has a final polish to 

achieve a high gloss finish using a 

wool finishing pad. This process 

gives the smooth deep lustre finish 

that is inherent in all Flattley effects 

pedals. 

Our silver range pedals then have 

a minimum of three coats of 

lacquer applied which are all wet 

sanded between coats. Once the 

lacquer has hardened, it is then 

hand polished using three different 

grades of polishing compounds 

and it then has a final polish to 

achieve a high gloss finish using a 

wool finishing pad. This process 

gives the smooth deep lustre finish 

that is inherent in all Flattley effects 

pedals. The graphics designed in 

house by our graphics designer 



Plexstar 

Plexi Drive 

Nirvana 

Analogue Delay 

Phoebe Flattley are then 

applied to silver range effects 

pedals by UV direct printing 

in our Gloucestershire based 

printing facility. 

The platinum range pedals 

are finished with aluminium 

control knobs which have 

laser etched descriptive text 

on them. Both the platinum 

and silver range products have 

LED halo ring lights installed 

which dissipates the light 

to avoid blinding musicians 

whilst performing and 

operating the pedal. We also 

add Flattley logo laser etched 

aluminium foot toppers 

on the pedal switches as 

standard across both ranges. 

Finally, the product name 

is attached to the enclosure, 

this is a sublimated brushed 

aluminium logo plaque as its 

unique identifier. 

All Flattley products 

are RoHS, CE & WEEE 

compliant, packaged in 

sustainable recycled materials 

and come with a 12-month 

guarantee. We welcome all 

feedback on Flattley products 

as this allows us to evolve and 

develop our pedals. 

I would like to take this 

opportunity to thank all 


customers, both new and old, 

for purchasing Flattley Guitar 

Pedals. I hope that you all 

enjoy your pedal as much as 

I did making it and that it is 

a fantastic addition to your 

pedal board. 

Contact 

Flattley GuitarPedals 

w. https://flattleyguitarpedals.com 

t. +44 (0)7802 455 127 

f. https://www.facebook.com/Flattley/ 

i. https://www.instagram.com/flattleyguitarpedals 

x. https://twitter.com/flattleypedals 


IN FOCUS

MICHELLE 

TAYLOR 

Award Winning Artist, 

Blues Guitarist 

& Session Player

IN FOCUS 

Michelle Taylor 

Award Winning Artist, 

Blues Guitarist 

& Session Player 

Michelle’s Website 

Facebook 

Instagram 

Youtube 

Writing this article I have the 

best of all worlds. Not only 

do we get to interview a genuine 

North East talent but also 

an International star who has 

thrived and thrust herself on 

to the big stage with grace, 

determination and amazing 

style. So let’s just get straight 

into the interview and let Michelle 

Tell her story... 

Written by 

Michelle Taylor 

& Paul George 


In Focus - Michelle Taylor 

NEG: So Michelle, Tell us how it 

all began. Oh yes, please include 

how you come to play a guitar 

upside down. 

MT: “I was born in the UK in the 

seaside town of Hartlepool and 

spent most of my younger years in 

the Durham and Newcastle area 

in the north east of England and 

of course in Trimdon Village and 

its surrounding areas where I grew 

up . It was here that I “paid my 

dues” playing in the vast amount 

of “Working mens clubs” and pubs 

in the area.” 

Growing up there were mainly 

artists such as Frank Sinatra, Tom 

Jones and Shirley Bassey being 

played on the turntable by her 

parents along with the usual pop 

and rock hits on the local radio 

stations. 

She said “it was great to practice 

to these artists as I learned a lot 

about dynamics, light and shade “ 

etc. 

“I actually started my career as 

a drummer, and so I would play 

along with my parents’ records on 

the drum kit that I had in the corner 

of the room in my bedroom. 

I was taught to read drum music 

by Adrian Tillbrooke, a very well 

known drummer at the time from 

Hartlepool, I would visit Adrian 

every Saturday “to read the notes”. 

Every evening for a couple of 

hours after school and usually 

all afternoon on Sundays, I was 

allowed to practice with full support 

of the closest neighbors. My 

parents had checked with all of 

them beforehand to be sure that I 

wasn’t going to annoy anyone with 

my noise! 

As well as my parents’ collection 

I’d play along with my own Elvis 

Presley albums too, this was quite 

a challenge as Elvis had the amazing 

Ronnie Tutt on the drums! 

I bought myself a beat up nylon 

strung guitar at some point too, 

together with a chord book of 

Elvis Greatest Hits and I started 

to teach myself to play guitar ( 

apart from anything else I thought 

it would improve my love life at 

parties ) Ha Ha. 

My main instrument was always 

going to be drums but I fancied 

learning a little guitar as a hobby. 

I’m left handed but I’d bought a 


normal right handed guitar, and 

so it just felt more natural to hold 

it upside down. I didn’t know at 

the time that being left handed I 

should have changed the nut and 

restrung the guitar, and it wasn’t 

until approx a year or so later that 

a “Real Guitarist” told me that I 

should restring the guitar as a lefty 

player. 

By this time I’d learned a load of 

chords and could already play a 

few songs, and so there was no 

way that I was going to restring 

and start from the very beginning 

all over again ! Screw that ! :) 

I think that this action actually did 

me a favour, as I don’t see myself 

as a particularly good guitarist, 

but being this gender and playing 

a left handed guitar with the 

strings upside down (right handed) 

and having a weird technique 

is a little unusual and so it has 

brought me a lot of attention :) 

We had a school rock band and 

from playing drums in that I was 

“discovered” by another pupil at 

the school who’s mother regularly 

performed with a charity band 

that played all kinds of covers ( 

including the hits of the artists I 

practiced to in my bedroom) so I 

already had an insight to what was 

expected at the audition and I got 

the job playing drums with them. 

The members of this band were 

all around 30 years old, and so at 

around 14 I was very much the 

baby of the band. We gigged at 

least once a week with that band 

and I practiced with friends during 

other times trying to put our 

own band together. 

The guitarist in the charity band 

also had a semi-professional band 

called “Frenchie” playing covers 

around the working mens clubs 

and pubs in the north east, and 

their drummer was leaving so they 

needed a replacement, I auditioned 

together with a few other 

drummers and got the job. 

For a while I even had the position 

of resident drummer in the local 

working men’s club which was an 

invaluable training and learning 

experience for me playing drums 

for a wide range of artists with 

varying styles. 

From there I ended up playing 

drums in other local bands including 

the Gibson’s country band 

( later I went onto playing guitar 

in this band instead of drums ). 

I even had a guitar duo with a 

friend and we did a number of 

working mens clubs together. Guitar 

was still my second instrument 

at this point but I always enjoyed 

playing it. 

NEG: Who were your biggest 

influences and what kind of music 

do you listen to ? 

MT: Today I listen a lot to people 

like Robben Ford, Kingfish and 

Matt Schofield, although listening 

to my playing you would never 

think so, as my style is a mix of 

both blues and country. 

I love the playing of guitarists such 

as Mark Knopfler and Vince Gill 

and often listen to them too. 

I still listen a lot to the guy that 

first made me want to move 


permanently over from drums to 

guitar and become “a guitarist” 

in the early 80´s.. His name is 

Ray Flacke. Ray was playing with 

Ricky Skaggs and Emmylou Harris 

at the time and often featured on 

their recordings. ( Listen to the 

guitars on the Ricky Skaggs album 

“Highways and Heartaches”). 

Actually it’s funny how life can 

be strange, as I’m now a friend of 

Rays and we have quite regular 

contact. So, these influences have 

kinda made my style a mix of 

Blues and Country depending on 

the song I’m doing, the song will 

determine which style I will lean 

more into, although even my blues 

style still does have a lot of elements 

of country in it. My band 

plays a Blues/Country/Rock style 

and can feature anything from 

traditional blues, modern blues, 

fast country picking and anything 

else that I feel fits with my style of 

playing. However I can still be 

found listening to things by Carlos 

Santana, Be bop Deluxe, JJ Cale, 

Johnny Hiland, Carl Verheyen, 

and many others. 

NEG: What guitars do you play? 

Any favourites you may have 

had? 

MT: I play Gordon Smith Guitars 

almost exclusively, but I do also 

have a guitar that I received quite 

recently which was handmade for 

me by a lovely guy and a brilliant 

luthier from just outside of Durham 

called Trevor Spooner. 

I use Trevor’s guitar a lot at the 

moment as it both feels and 

sounds great (and you know how 

it is, It’s always nice with a change 

no matter how great an instrument 

is). 

My main guitars have always been 

Gordon Smith guitars and upon 

getting my first one I simply didn’t 

want to play anything else. At 

the time I had a number of Gibson 

Les Pauls and a collection of 

custom shop Telecasters and other 

amazing custom made guitars 

( including one handmade for 

me by Tom Mates who was Eric 

Claptons guitar tech at the time 

and who worked for the Gibson 

custom shop ). Some of the Teles 

had B Benders on them which I 

always enjoyed using. I do also 

have a lovely Ibanez Artcore 

Expressionist 335 style guitar that 

I use from time to time. The first 

custom handmade guitar that I got 

when I began my official endorsement 

with Gordon Smith Guitars 

was a guitar with an Olive top. It 

was the first guitar that they had 

ever made with an Olive top… 

and so I called her “Olivia”. This 

became a much loved guitar with 

other guitarists all over the internet 

and many still use that name 

when referring to it, Olivia is my 

most played guitar, it’s my “old 

pair of shoes”…You know that 

comfortable secure cosy feeling 

you get when using them. :) 

The second guitar I got from Gordon 

Smith I promptly named “The 

Owl” as I could clearly see the face 

and shape of an owl in the Burled 

walnut top. “The Owl” is probably 

my most recognizable and well 

known guitar by people on the 

internet. 

When it comes to Gordon Smith 

Guitars. For those that don’t know, 

Gordon Smith are the UKs oldest 

running electric guitar manufacturer 

and are often said to be 

the “UK’s Gibson” (As Gibson 

used to be in the past in terms of 

top quality handmade premium 

instruments). 

I started gigging around age 

14 with the cover band that I 

mentioned earlier, they played 


everything from Thin Lizzy and 

Fleetwood Mac to Jim Capaldi and 

the Cars to a wide range of musical 

styles. I loved watching the 

guitarists in the band and loved 

the freedom they had onstage..( as 

I was always stuck behind a drum 

kit ). It was during this time that I 

joined my first country band and 

enjoyed watching the guitarists 

in those bands playing that totally 

different style of music. As a 

drummer I really disliked playing 

country music as it felt incredibly 

boring and unemotional. However 

things would change, and eventually 

grow to like the music and 

I would leave the drums and go 

over to guitar because of it. 

My name had apparently spread 

out of the area of the north east 

and somehow it had reached 

a booking agent further down 

south. I got a call one morning 

from this agency telling me that 

they had heard all about my playing 

abilities and would I be interested 

in going on an international 

tour as part of a session band 

playing for a number of American 

country artists coming over to 

Europe on tour, we would be playing 

a number of the big country 

festivals in a number of different 

countries! I actually thought it 

was a friend of mine winding me 

up first thing in the morning and 

so I promptly told him to F* off 

and I hung up on him. 

Luckily for me the guy called 

back and had found it amusing 

that I didn’t believe him and so he 

offered his phone number and told 

me to call him back. I did so and 

discovered that it was all true, I 

couldn’t believe it! and naturally I 

accepted the offer. 

NEG: Who are your sponsors? 

MT: I’m incredibly lucky to have 


a number of great music brands 

that apparently like my playing 

and have reached out to me and 

offered me official endorsements 

with them. Some of the brands I 

had already been using regularly 

for years in my gear arsenal ( 

which is maybe why they offered 

me the endorsement). 

Over the years as a session player 

on a number of tours I have used 

a lot of different brands of amp. 

From Marshall’s and Fenders to 

Peaveys and Mesas and a lot of 

things in between, however the 

most reliable of all were always the 

Blackstar amps that I used. I loved 

the sound, the look, the name, 

and the versatility of their amps, 

and so they were always my first 

choice. 

After a while I became known 

as “the Blackstar girl” in these 

groups etc and I would regularly 

be tagged in questions, comments 

and posts from people wanting 

to know something about these 

amps. In the end the amount of 

posts, private messages and mails 

that I was getting was becoming 

crazy, and so I started my own 

Blackstar Amp Appreciation 

group on Facebook for people 

wanting to swap tips, stories and 

information etc. I am usually there 

daily helping with comments and 

questions, and over the years the 

group has grown substantially. 

I think that it was at some point 

around this time that I was offered 

an official endorsement, and I’ve 

used their amps exclusively ever 

since. I was always a fan of their 

Artist series but over the past few 

years I started using their brilliant 

lightweight full tube St James 

amps. 

Around this time I was approached 

by Gordon Smith guitars 

and have used those ever since 

too. 

I have and use a number of pedalboards 

( approx 9 or 10 of them ). 

Some are placed out in studios or 

rehearsal rooms, some are in my 

own studio and practice rooms, 

and I also have boards set for 

particular amps. I love messing 

around with pedals and pedalboards 

and I even often build my 

own boards, I find it relaxing. 

I used pedals by both Mad Professor 

and Wampler long before 

being offered endorsements with 

these two brilliant brands, they 

both make great sounding pedals 

that are built to be thrown around. 

Another important thing for me 

is that the people behind these 

brands are really nice, friendly and 

helpful people! 

I regularly use the Deep Blue Delay, 

Royal Blue Overdrive, Amber 

Overdrive, Green Wonder Overdrive 

by Mad Professor. 

The Wampler pedals that I use at 

the moment are the Mini Tumnus 

( of which I have a few ) and 

love it as a drive or a crystal clean 

boost. The Triumph Overdrive 

( I have a couple of these too ) 

The Velvet Fuzz ( A great fuzz for 

both fuzz lovers and those that 

don’t like fuzz ) and the Tape Echo 

which has a few extra controls on 

it together with tap tempo should 

I ever need it. I contacted Free the 

Tone Pedals a number of years ago 

trying to get hold of a particular 

pedal that I was having trouble 

finding. After a few emails regarding 

my search for a pedal they apparently 

checked me out and I was 

offered to be one of their artists 

( and now I’m featured on their 

website alongside Matt Schofield) 

How cool is that! Free The Tone 

are really great pedals and if you 

haven’t tried any, then you should 

do so. At the moment I regularly 

use their SOV-2 Overdrive and 

the Red Jasper Overdrive. 

Other brands that I’m happy to 

use pedals by are Flattley Pedals 

(UK) . Paul Flattley ( another 

great guy ) makes some amazing 

handwired pedals. Paul made me a 

couple of custom dual pedals that 

I use from time to time. One is a 

Chorus/Tremolo and the other is 

an analog dual delay. 

Hardy Pedals in Sweden also make 

great handwired custom pedals, 

sometimes based on well known 

models. The KOT style pedal that 

I use from them is really nice and 

I often use that on my boards. 

Recently I was sent a box of 

approximately 9 pedals from a 

company called Tone City which 

is run by a lovely married couple 

in China. These very inexpensive 

pedals are often copies of well 

known models, but some of them 

are actually very good and definitely 

worth checking out. I have 

a “Tone City board” that Ive put 

together using only their pedals 

and has “The Mickey” a mini pedal 

that sounds like a RAT, a couple 

of their “Tape Machine” Delays 

which are also mini pedals, The 

Blues Man Overdrive mini pedal, 

and a Model B dual overdrive 

pedal ( based on a Mesa style amp 

sound). 

Another of the brands that I’m 

proud to use is Walsall, they make 

exclusive premium leather straps 

with comfortable memory foam. 

The straps and brand are by Richard 

Cholerton of Richard’s Guitars 

in Stratford upon Avon and I love 

them! Richard is a lovely helpful 

guy too ( and he often has a 

number of Gordon Smith Guitars 


in stock ). 

I have used strings by Ernie Ball 

from the start. I did try a few different 

brands a long time ago but 

I always came back to Ernie Ball, 

and Iv’e used them now for many 

years. Originally I used the Hybrid 

Slinky 009-46 but this past 

year I went over to their Turbo 

Slinky which are 9.5-46. I thought 

I’d try them for a while. 

When it comes to guitar parts I 

love the Black Graphtech parts. 

I use both the nuts and string 

saddles on a few of my guitars. 

Everything feels smoother, it looks 

cool, and there are less string 

breakages. What’s not to like! 

NEG: So you were inducted into 

the Swedish Rock & Roll Hall Of 

Fame. Tell us about that. 

MT: A number of years ago during 

a performance and in between 

songs, I saw someone get up onto 

the left side of the stage in the 

theatre we were performing in. I 

thought it surprising and concerning 

that security had not stopped 

this from happening as the guy 

headed my way. The gentleman 

was of later years and was holding 

a few items in his hands. My 

guitarist stepped forward and 

handed the guy his wireless mic. 

I thought to myself WTF is going 

on ? Apparently my manager 

and all the band knew this was 

going to happen that evening. I 

was handed a T Shirt, and some 

other merchandise together with 

a signed framed diploma inducting 

me into the Swedish Nostalgia 

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 

My shows at the time were breaking 

a few attendance records 

among other things. It was totally 

unexpected and a real honour for 


me…. Although I was mad at the 

band for not warning me beforehand 

as I hate surprises. 

NEG: What are you working on 

at the moment? 

MT: I’m in the process of putting 

a new band together right 

now, and so we are in the middle 

of rehearsals at the moment for 

upcoming shows and festivals in 

Sweden this summer. The line up 

is simple. 

Me …(Rhythm / Solo Guitar and 

Vocals). 

Drums *Ola Strandsjö 

Bass. *Björn Cruse 

Keyboards. *Martin Jönebäck 

*Rhythm & Solo guitar. *Thom 

Som Monsieurs 

NEG: Michelle, Thank you for 

your time and speaking to us. 

Good luck in the future. 


STRING Talk 

Award winning Flattley Boutique 

Effects Pedals are hand built in the UK . 

For more information, demo videos & stockists visit 

www.flattleyguitarpedals.com

LOCAL HEROES 

Bluesburn 

@ The Fish 

By Paul George & Hazel Whitelock 

So to write this article, I have to 

go along to the quiet little pub 

that has been the heart of my 

own social life for the past four 

years. The Fisherman’s Arm on 

Hartlepool’s historic Headland. 

Seriously folks, I dare you to find 

a friendlier spot in the North 

East, not to mention the beer is 

damn good, brewed in our local 

Camerons brewery producing top 

quality craft ales. 

But we’re not here to talk about 

the beers or how friendly the 

pub is, we are here to talk about 

a once-monthly ritual which is 

carried out on the first Thursday 

of every month called ‘Bluesburn’. 

Now, I have been known to dabble 

with a slide and a resonator and 

I foolishly call myself a blues 

player. What a load of old tosh! 

And I only say that because of 

the standards of Blues artists that 

gather to exercise their demons in 

front of the packed temple which 

we have fondly come to know 

as ‘The Fish’. To help me on my 

ramble down the historic road 

of the Bluesburn is pub landlady, 

Hazel Whitelock. Hazel has been 

barmaid and landlady of The 

Fish’ for the past 15 years and has 

witnessed the wonderful journey 

Bluesburn has taken. 

NEG: Hazel, when and how did 

the Bluesburn begin? 

HW: The landlord at the time, 

Steve used to come up with ideas 

for the pub. He decided along with 

Matt to try out a Blues evening. 

That was in 2015. 

NEG: So as a landlady you have 

inherited the Bluesburn, tell me 

of your early memories? 

HW: It started off as a tight-knit 

thing but quickly expanded and 


Local Heroes - Bluesburn @ The Fish 

don’t cheer at the end of a players 

session. But it does seem to work. 

Graham took over from another 

one of our legends, Tony Kramer 

who sadly had to give up his spot 

due to health conditions but he 

still shows his face from time to 

time albeit without a guitar. He 

recently recorded a fabulous 

instrumental album and donated 

all proceeds to the British Lung 

Foundation. If you pop in to the 

‘Fish’, you can grab a copy behind 

the bar. 

just grew and grew. In the early 

days there was ‘Smokin’ Matt 

Harrison, he was also responsible 

for teaching one of Hartlepool’s 

finest blues players, Daniel Darcy. 

Tommy ‘Blind Boy’ Wilson on 

harmonica, now part of Blues 

Mojo, Mick Spence on Bass, Tony 

Shilson also played harmonica 

and a guy called Dave who used 

to come over from Leeds just to 

sing. Phil Reay on Drums. Dave 

unfortunately passed away around 

2017 due to illness and we had 

a massive charity Bluesburn to 

celebrate his life. 

NEG: These days it seems to be 

thriving on a Thursday, has it 

always been like this. 

HW: It’s certainly had it’s ups and 

downs over the years. At times it 

has dropped off in popularity but 

we have always managed to pick it 

back up and push it back towards 

authentic Blues. It has drifted off 

at times where the Blues genre was 

expanded a little too far and we 

started to get a lot of rock, rock 

‘n’ roll, country, you know, very 

loosely based blues tunes. But 

saying that we have had some 

really great people who have taken 

the reigns and brought it back 

to life. Matt was the first of our 

hosts, I think he was the one who 

really established the evening. 

NEG: Looking at Bluesburn 

these days, it is very popular. 

Who is hosting it now? 

HW: We have a great host at the 

moment, Graham ‘Ozzy’ Watson 

who has a great sense of humour. 

He has this thing of threatening 

the audience with bad jokes if they 

NEG: So what is the secret 

ingredient of Bluesburn? What 

makes it so successful? 

HW: Now that is a question with 

many answers. Firstly I have to 

say the opportunities. Anyone 

can get up and play regardless of 

ability and experience. In fact, 

we pride ourselves on getting 

beginners up on to our stage. Our 

audience is amazing, I don’t want 

to say forgiving, more supportive 

to all. Absolutely everybody gets 

applauded. That settles a lot of 

nerves, especially with our first 

timers. You know, we also have 

a wonderful tradition in the pub 


that when any of our players, 

artists, bands leaves the pub to go 

home, they are clapped out of the 

door. It’s quite a humbling thing 

to see. 

Another reason for it’s success is 

the general friendly atmosphere 

of the ‘Fish’. We do not tolerate 

any form of trouble or unruly 

behaviour of any sort and it has 

a reputation for being so. It is a 

great, safe environment where 

everybody can relax. 

NEG: Any players of note that 

come along on a Thursday? 

HW: Oh yes, a lot of the 

established blues players around 

Hartlepool have cut their teeth 

at Bluesburn. One in particular, 

Daniel D’Arcy. He used to come 

up in his early days and Matt took 

him under his wing. These days, 

you have to say that he is probably 

the most talented Blues player in 

Hartlepool, maybe even the North 

East and that is no exaggeration. 

We have had so many great 

artists in on the Bluesburn I can’t 

begin to name them all but the 

best thing is simply to pop over 

and see for yourself. We always 

have something or someone who 

lets loose and becomes a star, even 

if it is just for the night. 

NEG: Hazel, thank you very 

much for your time and good 


luck for the Bluesburn and the 

‘Fish in the future. 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Local Heroes - Bluesburn @ The Fish 

The Thursday night Bluesburn, 

as I said at the start of the 

article, has become something 

of an institution and certainly a 

highlight in the monthly music 

calendar.. I, myself get there 

whenever I can and yes, I do 

like to try a few things out but 

I class myself in the beginners 

category when it comes to blues 

talent. But regardless and as 

Hazel mentioned, there is no fear 

of being booed off stage if I hit a 

bum note or two, in fact I do get 

a lot of good feedback which just 

encourages me to try more and 

more. Eventually I’ll get there but 

for now, I’m happy on the learning 

curve. 

Regular faces at the Bluesburn are, 

of course, Graham (Ozzy) with 

the house band who always open 

the evening, Kenny and Tommy 

from Blues Mojo can be regularly 

seen and heard dishing out 

unbelievable Delta blues, Barry 

and Derek aka The DekkaTones to 

name just a few of the great artists 

who grace the stage. 

Finally, I would like to thank 

Hazel and Glenn for the amazing 

images from Bluesburns early days 

and for giving us years of great 

memories. Check out more on the 

Fish and Bluesburn on Facebook 

or by going to their website: 

www.thefishhartlepool.co.uk 


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up, your masterpiece is ready 

to be laid down for posterity 

and hopefully an appreciating 

audience. 


What’s next? 

The first step is always the 

hardest. To help you make your 

choice of professional recording 

studio contact me to discuss 

your ambitions needs and 

requirements. Over the phone, by 

e-mail, You are always welcome 

to pop in for a consultation (by 

appointment) 

Contact Details 

Web: www.white-wolf.studio 

Tel: 07531536080 

Email: john@white-wolf.studio 

Address: 

White-Wolf Recording Studio 

Unit 6, Wheatley Hill Ind Est. 

Front Street 

Wheatley Hill 

Co. Durham 

DH6 3QZ 


Tygers of Pan Tang 

REVIEW 

TYGERS OF PAN TANG 

Live Blood (album) 

Mighty Music 

Radio Impact: 6 February 2024 

Release: 26 April 2024 


Album - Tygers of Pan Tang 

Mighty Music are proud to 

announce the release of a live 

album by the Tygers of Pan 

Tang, to be called “Live Blood”. 

Stalwarts of the NWOBHM, the 

Tygers are currently celebrating 

eight years with Mighty Music 

during which time they have 

released 

three well received new albums, 

the most recent of which 

“Bloodlines”, was met with 

universal critical acclaim in 2023. 

The band, with guitarist Robb 

Weir at the helm, along with 

long-serving members Jack Meille 

(vocals) and Craig Ellis (drums), 

includes their two new recruits for 

“Bloodlines”: guitarist Francesco 

Marras and bass player Huw 

Holding. “Live Blood” includes 

material from across the band’s 

career, including songs from 

their first four albums with MCA 

Records plus their last four albums 

of new material. 

Jack Meille comments: “Recording 

a live album after all this time 

with the Tygers? I never thought 

I would experience it but with the 

Tygers Of Pan Tang I have learnt 

that the “impossible” is possible. 

“Live Blood” captures all the 

energy we deliver while playing 

our favourite songs live and raw!”. 

The recording was made at The 

Patriot venue in Wales UK during 

the summer of 2023 and will 

arrive as a single CD and a double 

vinyl featuring additional tracks. 

The album will be preceded by 

the release of two singles: the live 

favourite “Gangland” from their 

legendary “Spellbound” album 

and the hidden gem “Keeping Me 

Alive” from “Ambush”. 

We will leave the final word with 

Robb Weir: “Every time we play 

a show we are asked when we 

are going to record a new live 

album. Our live show adds a new 

dimension to the old songs and 

allows us to stretch out a bit on the 

newer numbers”. 

“Live Blood” will be released on 

double LP (black vinyl, including 

three exclusive bonus tracks), CD 

and digital formats on April 26th, 

2024 via Mighty Music. 

Lineup: 

Robb Weir - guitar 

Francesco Marras - guitar 

Jack Meille - vocals 

Huw Holding - bass 

Craig Ellis - drums 

Webshop: 

https://bit.ly/tygers-shop 

Digital: 

https://tygerspantang.lnk.to/live 


NORTH EAST GIGS BOARD

Next Issue: 

Mark Abrahams Les Paul Junior By 

East Durham Guitars Revealed 

The Birth of the Pilgrim by EDG: 

An In-Depth Review 

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