MusicMight





In Association with Amazon.com
Musicians | Biography | Discography | Links
UK


Categories: AOR, Melodic Rock

Biography

Guitarist / vocalist / songwriter Robin George was previously with QUARTZ, the DAVID BYRON band and MAGNUM before opting for a solo career and George's first solo project was LIFE with keyboard player Mark Stanway (who later went on to join MAGNUM) and ex-TRAPEZE bassist Pete Wright and drummer Dave Holland. LIFE released one single in 1980,'Too Late'/'Castles', on the Media label.

Before launching his own project George worked as a producer working on such records as DIAMOND HEAD's 1981 single 'Sweet And Innocent' and releases from both QUARTZ and WITCHFINDER GENERAL.

The man's much hyped debut solo single was the 'History' 12" issued in September 1983 by Arista featuring George on vocals and guitar with old LIFE colleagues Dave Holland, by then a member of JUDAS PRIEST, on drums and the then MAGNUM keyboard player Mark Stanway.

The record was simultaneously released on 7" format under a different title and was to have also been the first guitar shaped picture disc but was pipped to the post by DEF LEPPARD's 'Photograph'. Nevertheless, it gained George massive press attention as a guitar hero in the making and songsmith, TED NUGENT later covered 'Go Down Fighting', including the front cover of 'Kerrang!' (a feat unheard of for an unknown artist at the time), prompting Bronze Records to sign him up for the following year

George's long awaited album 'Dangerous Music' eventually surfaced in 1985 and had been recorded with a long cast list of notables including Holland, bassists PHIL LYNOTT of THIN LIZZY and ace session man Pino Palidino together with the ever faithful Mark Stanway on keyboards.

In early 1985 George assembled a touring band comprising ex-WILDLIFE bassist PHIL SOUSSAN, former MAGNUM drummer Kex Gorin and ALLIANCE keyboardist Eddie George. The latter was soon to depart for MAGNUM, although his stay in that particular outfit was extremely brief to say the least! Eddie George was not only succeeded in Robin George's band by Mark Stanway but the latter also replaced him in MAGNUM as well, Mark opting to rejoin the group after a period spent away from the ranks. In addition, George added second guitarist Huw Lucas, ex-KOREA and TROUBLE, to the band now known as DANGEROUS MUSIC after the album title.

Following a series of low key British club gigs the band supported ULI JON ROTH across Europe in February. However, Stanway was taken ill midway through the tour and his place was temporarily filled by Alan Nelson.

In June 1985 bassist PHIL SOUSSAN chose to take up an offer from the OZZY OSBOURNE band, featuring on 1986's 'Ultimate Sin', and was replaced by former RENAISSANCE man Jon Camp. Robin George was to have been a member of the reformed THIN LIZZY together with PHIL LYNOTT and drummer Brian Downey, but sadly this project was curtailed by Lynott's tragic death and with 1986 underway George was performing selected club dates with former ASIA vocalist JOHN WETTON.

The demise of his solo career prompted George to hook up with former DIAMOND HEAD mainman and vocalist Sean Harris to form NOTORIOUS. As it turned out they had chosen an apt name and a catalogue of misfortune and large investments of both time and money led to an ill fated album release which was deleted within weeks of its American release, mainly due to a change in record company personnel.

In 1992 George produced the 'Powergame' album for brummie Metal outfit MARSHALL LAW and worked on production for GLENN HUGHES. but was back in action playing the British club circuit in 1993 billed as Robin George's WORLD. This band featured vocalist / bassist JOHN WETTON together with EMERSON LAKE & PALMER drummer Carl Palmer and journeyman ex-RAINBOW keyboard player DON AIREY.

George would also assist ex-LED ZEPPELIN vocalist ROBERT PLANT with demos for his 'Now And Zen' album. One of thos George / Plant compositions, 'Red For Danger', eventually turned up on Plant's 2003 'Twenty Six To Timbuktu' album.

Proving his prowess once more George also was auditioned for the vacant spot left in DEF LEPPARD following Steve Clark's death. George made it into the last two candidates position. Although Vivian Campbell secured the job DEF LEPPARD gave George a guitar as a token of their respect.

Opting to later resurrect LIFE, initially with with erstwhile MARSHALL LAW drummer Lee Morris. After six months, Morris left to join PARADISE LOST. George recorded an album using the handle for release in 1995. Musicians comprised vocalist Nick Tart, bassist Chris Cliff and ex-HOOTERS and SHADES OF GREY drummer Bill Rudolph. The band played a set of originals and covers at the Now And Then Records 'Gods '96' event at Maximes in Wigan prior to the independent label releasing an album's worth of material entitled 'Cocoon' almost a year later.

Not content to sit back and rest on any laurels, Robin George actually had another solo album 'Rock Of Ageists' awaiting a deal and further material recorded with LIFE in the can. In August of 2004 singer Nick Tart joined DIAMOND HEAD.

George struck up another new band project in mid 2005 dubbed DAMAGE CONTROL, this an alliance with the infamous UFO and WAYSTED bassist PETE WAY and the veteran figure of AC/DC, URIAH HEEP, ASIA, MANFRED MANN, 100 PROOF and THE FIRM drummer Chris Slade. Former Robin George band member PHIL SOUSSAN issued a solo album in December 2005 entitled 'Vibrate'.

Copyright Musicdetector Websites 2009