Something Real - Bio

Lead Vocals - Gary "Gash" Doyle

Well, we've finally got to the point where I can talk about myself on our very own website.

I've never actually been in a band before, unlike the other lads. However, I'm used to performing - I used to do a lot of acting in my younger days, which included a fair bit of singing now and again. In one of my earliest pro acting jobs I took the lead role in a play that toured our nation's prisons. I'm used to a tough crowd!!!

I got into this by watching bands like 'FM', and 'The Force'. Those type of great local bands made me wanna get in on this thriving rock scene. I hope we can be part of it for a long time to come.

Lead & Rhythm Guitar - Rich "Lefty" Lees

I’ve been playing the guitar for around 19 years and have gigged in various bands, performing original stuff when I was looking for fame and fortune on Top Of The Pops (which didn’t happen) and playing in cover bands when I had decided that travelling half the length of the country to play my own stuff in front of 10 people was not for me!

My main electric guitar influences are Albert King, Peter Green and Eric Clapton - I hope this is reflected in my playing!  Other big influences are Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, BB King, Billy Gibbons, Jimmy Page and Hendrix.

At the minute I’m usually playing something with humbuckers in (Les Paul, SG, ES335, Firebird, etc) through either a Hayden Mofo amplifier head into a Marshall 2 x 12” cab or a Blackstar 15 Artisan 1 x 12” combo.  Check out my MySpace page for details of my many guitars!

Lead & Rhythm Guitar - Dave "Roddy" Barnes

Ok – I’m not one for blowing my own trumpet, so I’ll keep it brief.

Firstly, I just want to say how very proud I am to be part of the worlds greatest rock ‘n’ roll band - Something Real. I have the honour of playing the guitar for them, mostly in a rhythmic, riffy sort of way with the odd bit of lead twiddlage thrown in here and there.

I previously played with a band called Wishblowin’ Ash who peaked in 2006 when we appeared at the Wishbone Ash convention – supporting the very band we were a tribute to. Afterwards we had some chips.

Prior to this I had been an acoustic player. I love guitar music and people who can play them properly, real musicians, whatever their particular style may be. Long live rock ‘n’ roll – keep music live and thank you to all our readers.

Bass Guitar - Paul "Guitar George" Cowgill

I've been playing guitar and bass for over 25 years now.  You'd think I'd have learned by now!  I've played in many bands over the years including the successful club band River, The Jimi Savage Band, Drax, Tommy Gunn and Big Life.  Of course I also have to mention the 14 years or so that I have been in the now legendary (in their own lunchtime) Incredible Skank Brothers.  A recent off shoot from that band is the new and exciting ReinSKAnation, soon to seen throughout the North East.  You can also see me playing quite regularly with The Whole Hog when their bass player is unavailable.

Along with "Stix", I was also in the first incarnation of Something Real back in the early 90's and had some success around the North East of England.

One highlight of my career was playing live at the Bath International Guitar Festival with The Jimi Savage Band.  Another was having the pleasure of recording equipment demos for Total Guitar magazine with Jimi at Savage Guitar Studio where I also taught guitar and bass for a while.

My nickname came about 'cos of the Dire Straights song "Sultan's of Swing" when I was at college.

I play Yamaha 5 & 6 string basses along with a US Fender Jazz 5 string and use Ampeg amps and cabs.

Drums - Stephen "Stix" Dewar

As Paul mentioned, I was in the first incarnation of Something Real in the early 90’s. After that I spent time with a few small local bands and took some time out to focus on my family and setting up my own successful carpentry & joinery business.

After a chance meeting with Paul a few years later we both decided we needed to start making loud noises again and the idea for re-starting Something Real was born.

We now have a great line-up in the band and everything is falling into place, I’m looking forward to some gigs and making those loud noises.

I play an early 90’s 6 piece Premier drum kit with Zildjian cymbals together with the ultimate snare drum, the legendary Premier Heavy Rock Nine V1.