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Well..... who the hell are we????
Freebird are a four-piece 'Classic Rock' covers band playing songs from the 60s, 70s & 80s including artists such as Queen, Bowie, Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Black Sabbath and many more. If it's classic, and it rocks, we play it!
Formed nine years ago, the band has built up a solid reputation around Essex, Suffolk and Kent, as one of the most hard-working and entertaining bands on the pub & club circuit, with outstanding musicianship, a great-sounding PA and a stunning light show.
We can guarantee you a fun night out, hearing songs you will know and love - "you just played through my favourite record collection" is a comment we often hear!
Check out the gig list, which is always being updated. The band is available for private party bookings too.
We have a loyal and regular following, and to everyone who turns out to see us wherever we play, a big thank you; it means a lot to us. To those of you who haven't seen us yet - what are you waiting for?
We always appreciate feedback and make time to talk to people after our shows, but you can also leave a message any time you like on our Facebook site - just follow the link here
Dave- Guitar
Stunning guitarist, definitely one of the best on the circuit , picked up the guitar at a very early age after seeing a band on telly and loving the sound, put down the drumsticks that he had and started to emulate the likes of Hendrix, and then later Van Halen. When Dave went to senior school he once again started playing drums and a bit of DJ'ing, but realised his love of guitar was too strong and started gigging with bands since he was 18.
Dave has been lucky enough to teach and play guitar for a living for the last nine years, and finds it very rewarding to actually do something you love for work . Dave has been having lessons himself from No 1 UK guitarist, Phil Hilborne, who has a never ending knowledge of all things guitar, and that has reflected on Daves playing ability,
   
Dave loves anything from Rock to Jazz, and is influenced by Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Stevie ray Vaughan, Satch and Vai, and many many more. Dave is very happy in Freebird, and says " The Musics great, we get on really well, it's by far the best band I've been in".
When Daves not playing, (which isn't often), he loves to go surfing in and outside of the UK.
Tony - Bass and Backing Vocals
Driving basslines and a vast musical background, founder member Tony delivers great harmonies to Stuarts vocals,does the "tech" bits, and is a trained chef, so can cook up a storm at any performance.
Tony first picked up the bass guitar in 1980 at the height of the new wave of british heavy metal explosion, taking his influences from, amongst others, iron Maidens' Steve Harris, Geddy Lee of Rush and (old punk rocker that he is) Jean Jacques Burnel of The Stranglers. Played his first gig in 1982, and spent most of the 80's and early 90's in a variety of cover bands. In 1994 he formed "Sgt Phallics Under Nourished Kids", a popular Punk band around Essex who released 2 studio albums and toured with the likes of The UK Subs, The Dickies and 999. The Band went thier seperate ways and by 2003, Tony had co-founded the Band you know and love as "Freebird"
Tonys 3 career highlights
1. Being told by the Dickies guitarist Stan " Tight rhythm, Boy!" (they are American, and one of Tonys favourite Bands.)
2. Delivering a washine machine to Steve Harris' house in 1987
3. Playing with Freebird
Stuart - Vocals
Old school rocker, with a background in stage performance, Stuarts powerful voice can belt it out and make your knees tremble, also a keen biker and a 2nd degree black belt in kung fu.
Starting out as a choirboy for his weekend job, Stuart has been singing for an audience since the age of eight, even performing at St Pauls Cathederal on a televised Choral competition. Early years were spent performing shows such as Joseph, and Jesus Christ Superstar, At 15 Stuart and a few friends started busking around London, and from that was offered the role of Frontman for a Black Sabbath Tribute Band, Sadly this came to nothing but it had given Stuart the bug, and he played with several covers and original bands including Silver Roach, Tombstone and guest vocals with popular local band Liaison all around the london area, but the inevitable toll of three children, and moving to Essex meant hanging up his microphone, for a while at least.
Stuart started performing again with a local operatic society, and appeared in many shows such as Me and my girl, Carousel and Hello Dolly, also performing solo work with a piano accompianment in many venues around Essex.
Stuart joined Freebird in March 2005, and has been at the front for well over 500 gigs now, and looking forward to the next 500
Nidge - Drums
Nidge
Nidge has been playing drums for over 28 years and is a professional freelance musician. Nidge has performed with many groups anywhere from festivals in front of audiences of over 10,000 to venues and pubs on the pro function circuit. Nidge has supported and / or depped for a great many bands including Union Gap, Marmalade, The Dreamers and the Tremeloes and has been the resident drummer for award-winning, London-based musical theatre company Stage One having played in the hit rock opera, 'Tommy' and 'Smokey Joes Cafe'. Nidge has also played with Damien Butcher from Beautiful South, Black Spring Rising, Redwood, Tuxedo Groove, members of Angelwitch, Blondee (tribute to Blondie), Mad Habits, So Wot and composes music for his own project nss58. He was also the original drummer of Freebird and has been their dep drummer for many years.
In addition to this he has been a teacher for 19 years and now teaches drums set performance privately. He studied drums and percussion at Colchester Institute and music at The Open University. He has been taught by Marc Cecil, Rob Farrer, Pete Riley and Geoff Cooper. He is currently studying an MA Music at Middlesex University. He also teaches drums and works with the performance lecturers at Middlesex on their BA Music Degree.
He is extremely pleased to back with the guys in Freebird.
   
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So now you know who we are, come along to a gig and say hi.
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