Text Box: Text Box: Now, let me tell you a much longer story!!! Many years ago a fresh faced, clean shaven youngster of 23 started playing regularly in public around the Midlands in a band called Jumpin’ Mutha Earth... Now, some 20 years later this slightly older looking bearded and wrinkly person is still plying his trade after more than 1100 gigs. Those early days were not the start of Oliver’s gigging though. Who can forget (or remember) the Rawson 2 Blues Band (Surrey University), Public Eye or Albert Hall. So for anyone that missed it here is a full check through a chequered career. Rawson 2 Blues Band - 1982-3 (4 gigs) R2BB was formed by the 14 people and 2 girl friends that lived on Oliver’s floor (Rawson 2) at Surrey University to get into the Manor House Beer Festivals free. Two beer festivals, a BBQ for 900 people and a support slot for Larry Miller at the University main bar later (Larry Miller’s still going as well you know) the band sensibly retired. Highlights were many and various but the sight of serious sound engineers trying to mic up a drum kit made of cardboard boxes, and Upin Dattani being pushed by Bob Rye in a shopping trolley with a box on his head pretending to be a TV camera both stay in the memory. Public Eye - 1984 (2 gigs) Oliver’s first attempt at writing and performing - the band spent months rehearsing and weeks gigging to nobody. There is a studio recording! Albert Hall - 1985 (9 gigs) Oliver’s last attempt at writing and performing – he got it into his head that with three keyboards and self recorded backing tapes he would be able to perform. Never much of a keyboard player and with an untrained voice he did about as well as can be expected! Highlights were a series of support slots at the Coach & Horses in West Bromwich (now there’s a venue from the past!) There is a studio recording! So Oliver, who then believed he could sing in tune – but sounded a bit crap – went off for singing lessons with a man of the cloth in Halesowen. Two years later, with the voice transformed into something that his teacher saw as a ‘bit of a monster’ and not at all what he has in mind - Oliver had learned to be gravel!y! Jumpin’ Mutha Earth – 1985-6 (53 gigs) Oliver’s first experience of regular gigging, Jumpin’ Mutha Earth consisted of Ernie Chataway on guitar, Ian Wilson on drums, and Pete Woodward, later replaced by Chris Lomas, on bass. Lots of local pubs got the JME experience including some great New Years Eve’s at the Bull & Bladder, back when Mick was in charge. At this point Oliver was still playing keyboards, a bit of trumpet and doing half the singing. Colonel Mustard’s Red Hot Boogie Band - 1986-88 (188 gigs) With the demise of that line up of JME Oliver got together with Mark Brookes, Mick O’Toole and Tony Brown to form Colonel Mustard’s Red Hot Boogie Band – many gigs followed, including Oliver’s first experience of working men’s clubs! Highlights included being supported by the Big Town Playboys at their height (the agent insisted) at a Christmas Do In Kidderminster. Oliver’s still playing keyboards at this point but has discovered the benefits of a radio microphone which he carried round in a rather condom-like pouch (made by his mum) as the radio pack was hooked on his belt. Leading ‘the Mustard’s’, no gig was left untried and there is a video recorded by Chris Lomas which included Oliver playing the trumpet on a pool table with his legs behind his head! By this point, Oliver had realised that he was never going to be a keyboard player and, having tried to introduce a fifth person to the Mustard’s the rest of the gang weren’t up for it so he called it a day - and met Tony Cole. Sneakin’ Suspicion - !988 - 1989 (25 gigs) Tony and Pete ‘Massive Kit’ Chatfield were looking for a singer with a bit of brass for their band Sneakin Suspicion - or Squeakin Suspension as it became known. With, Rob Nicholson - or Nick Robson, Robins or various other alias’s, George the Sax playing tax inspector ex-Little Acre, Squeakin Suspension learned lots of George Thorogood etc with five part harmonies - but all it ever really played was unrehearsed Rock ‘n Roll - its a funny old world. Tony Bayliss joined as keyboard player and then Oliver and the two Tony’s decided to form a new band and Pig in Shades was formed. Pig in Shades - 1989 - 1993(285 Gigs)) We loved the Pigs, five piece, a bit rocky, big lights, pyro’s an big rig and a van. Joined by Rob Macintosh on guitar and Steve ‘Stetch’ Hastilow on drums we sold T-shirt, chocolate pigs and generally became famous in Tamworth. Highlights were Swansea University, the many Agricultural College gigs and fun times too numerous to mention, but it all finished one snowy Christmas night in Blaengwynfi, South Wales. Roadies Simon, Farley and Russ (and Shaggy before him) were a key part of what was a really well organised and efficient unit . We still fondly remember the roadie voting system that ensured we just got rockier and rockier. Other highlights were the two minibuses of Tamworthians we took on a South Wales tour weekend, blood on the stage in Bournemouth and only driving in fourth … anywhere. Pig in Shades sold over 500 t-shirts in five designs and Thorntons chocolate pigs by the hundred (after we'd opened them and glued shades onto them). Expresso Bongo Orchestra 1992 (2 gigs) Oliver also got involved in the early days of the Expresso Bongo Orchestra led by Paul Spiers, as the trumpeter. Then a Tamworth-based outfit it played very odd arrangements of some very silly music ..... we all had a ball! The band's gone from strength to strength since and is well worth checking out if you get the chance. Back to Miami 1994 (35 gigs) With the Pigs gone Oliver wanted to join an existing band and quickly found 12 piece soul band Back to Miami based in Telford. Playing all the old soul classics and wearing matching suits, Back to Miami bought the Pigs van and Oliver lent them the light show to give extra sparkle. Highlights were some amazing sell-out gigs at Oakengates Town Hall when around 800 people paid to see the band. Soul was not for Oliver however and vans, PA’s, very late nights travelling long distances for pitiful money was taking its toll. How about something that we could go to in cars, didn’t travel more than an hour, and took minutes to set up. So Oliver, the two Tony’s, Neil Worrall and Mike Ferguson set up the Backdoor Blues Corporation, then 3 Man Jam! and then CockerMouth. Other Occasional Incarnations From time to time ‘the Bearded One’ can be seen helping other bands, depping or making guest appearances. He REALLY enjoys this and would welcome the opportunity to do more. Occasional spells with top Midlands soul band The Commandments, short notice dep’s with Back to Miami (one at 90 minutes notice) and short guest appearances with the very wonderful Svengali a 25ish piece modern jazz outfit which gigs occasionally under the watchful eye of Chris Corcoran, have all been much enjoyed - may there be many more.

Oliver has been singing blues, soul and rock, electric and acoustic, in fact all styles of music for the last 20 years. Having played pubs, clubs, venues and festivals across the UK with bands including

Backdoor Blues Corporation

3 Man Jam!

Pig in Shades

CockerMouth

Colonel Mustard’s Red Hot Boogie Band

Back to Miami … and many more

 

Oliver is currently playing regularly with his latest projects The Big Blues Tribe and Mumbo-Jumbo.
Text Box: Prior to his new venture The Big Blues Tribe, Oliver had spent the previous five years, Oliver gigging regularly with three bands, the Backdoor Blues Corporation, acoustic trio 3 Man Jam! and Joe Cocker tribute CockerMouth. The BBC, which had been on the road for ten years up to October 2005, has played over 500 gigs across the Midlands playing goodtime R&B with a sense of humour. Oliver, Tony Cole on Bass, Neil Worrall on guitar, Tony Bayliss on Keys and Mike Ferguson on drums - you know the guys! Acoustic trio 3 Man Jam! caused more of a stir in the blues world regularly playing the Great British R&B Festival, Blues on the Farm and a number of other major UK blues festivals as well as being the house band for Blues at the Yard! in Stratford. Oliver, Neil Worrall on acoustic guitar and Mike Nock on piano. Four years and lots of gigs later, 3 Man Jam! gave Oliver a real taste for playing acoustic music live. Then there was CockerMouth, which set about to make the most of Oliver’s tendency to sound quite like Joe Cocker. With the BBC, supplemented by the additional vocal power of Emma Carney and Claire Worboys this band was really strong, but Joe’s pulling power seems to have waned!