Andy Harrison – Guitar and Vocals

I was first introduced to Pink Floyd at the age of 10 by my cousin Matthew, who played me several Floyd albums he’d pinched from one of his older relatives. The first album he played was ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ which, he told me with much delight, was written by a ‘lunatic’ called Syd Barrett. ‘Astronomy’ started playing and, as perhaps it would most 10 year olds, scared the crap out of me! But as the album went on it started to strike a chord with me which has been twanging ever since. The hip ships cats, gnomes and eiderdowns in the blue clouds certainly appealed!!

During my teenage years I began getting into rock and metal and so, spurred on by these big haired widdly diddlers, at the age of 14 had my first guitar! Somewhere inside the metal incrustation that was Kerrang magazine they had the ultimate deal with the devil! It was called an Axe, and for the princely sum of 60 new pounds you would get said Axe, an amp the size of pineapple, a strap and a transparent gigbag so you could show off this shiny red beast. It played like crap but looked the part, and so it began. I also started developing my vocal vibrato at this stage thanks to all the great metal singers but believe certain parts of my anatomy had dropped further than most of theirs as I couldn’t get that metal SCREEAAAMM!!

As I got older I naturally broadened my musical tastes and have performed, written and recorded with various bands over the years to varying levels of success, winning a couple of battle of the band titles in the 90’s with a band called ‘The Pulse’ where we eventually landed a gig in Birmingham supporting Midge Ure.

In 2004 I started attending an open mic night at a fabulous long lost venue called ‘The Vine’ which at the time was run by ‘Dan Cooper’ lights operator extraordinaire. It was there I met, amongst other fine musicians, the ledge bassist that is ‘Jim Cooper’ where I would join the rest of the house band (much love Brynda & Guyus!) and play classics by groups such as Love, The Cure… anything really! We would eventually form a covers band and to this day play as ‘Divine Brothers’ adding brother Pierre on Keyboards. It was also here that I first met and saw Andy Baker play with the legendary ‘Suck It and See’ and ‘Contraband’ bands. And so Floyd chats, friendships and mutual admirations were formed!

I was totally thrilled in June 2011 to be asked by Andy Baker if I would like to join the ‘Darkside’ lads and naturally snapped at the chance. Its such a great feeling being immersed (like one of them immersion box set heater thingies!) in that stage setting and playing with such fantastic musicians and people. As Andy and Sam Dyehouse told me,
it is also a great feeling receiving the end of gig wet sponge bear hug from the legendary Stevie G!

Equipment

• Fender Stratocaster – Los Lobos Edition
• Fender Telecaster – Asian babe Edition
• Fender Electro acoustic 6 string
• Fender Electro acoustic 12 string
• Digitech GNX3000 Multi FX Pedal
• Laney 100w Pro Tube Valve Combo
• Lap Steel tuned to heebeejeebee
• Built in voicebox with precision wine coated vocal chords