Get in touch
(+44) 7768 996255
barry.newby@t-rex.co.uk
Meet the Band
Paul Fenton
Drums
Paul was born in Dewsbury and had an interest in music from day one. His late father, Bernard, who managed Sammy King and The Voltairs, probably influenced this foray into music.
Paul’s initial big break was with his brother Christopher when they joined the local St. John’s Ambulance Brigade’s bugle and drums band. The band achieved success by winning the England Open Championships in Blackpool, no mean feat for your first band!
This first success in the music industry spurred Paul on to become part of the Bill Forbes and The Contrasts band when he was 18 years old. The band was connected to the Brian Epstein agency and they performed their single “Call Me” on Granada TV’s 5 “O” Clock Club. Unfortunately, due to Epstein’s interest being taken up with a band called The Beatles, they were unable to progress further through the Epstein management.
In 1971 Paul joined forces with Jeff Christie’s band, which was the start of a highly successful and enjoyable career, where they travelled the world with their international, number one in the pop charts single, “Yellow River”. The single went on to sell an amazing 15 million copies worldwide, getting to number 6 in the USA. Jimmy Saville and Tony Blackburn presented them with a UK Gold Disc live on BBC’s Top of the Pops for their achievements. The follow up to Yellow River, "San Bernadino", reached number 1 in Germany and across Europe, whilst Christie’s debut album remained in the US charts for 22 weeks. The way that the band was received was beyond anything that they had previously known before; they were driven around in limousines with police outriders when touring abroad.
The Tremeloes had passed up the opportunity to record Yellow River due to the success they were achieving with their own songs at the time.
Kensington Market was a magnet for musicians, and after meeting David Allen who was the Anglo/Spanish-American vocalist/multi instrumentalist for the band Carmen, Paul then decided to join the band due to his meeting with David Allen. Paul felt bad for letting Jeff down by leaving his band, which Jeff took in his stride, as he understood the need for Paul to move forward and develop in his career as a drummer. Jeff and Paul were, and have remained, good friends through the test of time.
Carmen’s music was entirely different to anything that Paul had previously known, he was excited by the potential to explore the mixing rhythms and the unique, avant-garde fusion of roots, flamenco and rock. Carmen’s search for a drummer who apparently had to like wearing snakeskin boots, had cemented their relationship as a band. Paul’s manager had found them a house to live in and introduced them to Tony Visconti, who was at that point having success with T.Rex, whose music was already in charts worldwide. After taping a rehearsal tape at the house, Visconti then signed Carmen. Carmen’s first album “Fandangos in Space” – released on Regal/Zonophone/Emi was recorded at Visconti’s home studio. Appearing on David Bowie’s “Midnight Special” NBC TV show and on Good Earth, led to greater recognition within the music industry. David Bowie was a big fan of the band and a Bowie book entitled “Moonage Daydream” mentions Carmen and appears to support his love of their music. Paul remembers being in Bowie’s company, both prior to, and during his time with Marc Bolan and T.Rex.
Carmen then completed a six-week tour of the UK and recorded their second album “Dancing on a Cold Wind”. In autumn 1974 Carmen headed back to USA for their first American tour, Carmen performed over eight months in over 44 cities, opening for such bands as Santana, ELO, Blue Oyster Cult, Black Oak Arkansas and Golden Earring.
Towards the end of their tour of the US, the band were heard by Jethro Tull who wanted them to open for them on their “Comeback” tour of the US where they were promoting their “Warchild” album. Relationships were forged on this tour between Carmen and the Tull’s bassist, the late John Glascock, no doubt due in no small part to the hedonistic lifestyle on tour!
A close and lasting friendship also developed between Paul and the Tull drummer, Barrie Barlow, to the extent that Paul, a talented wood craftsman, built a recording studio in Barrie’s home by the Thames in London!
Due to this exposure, many other musicians such as Queen, Bryan Ferry amongst others, knew of Carmen.
Visconti had previously introduced Paul to Marc Bolan in 1973, which had allowed Paul to work with Carmen and Bolan when time between bands allowed. A close friendship developed between Bolan and Paul, due to their shared music interests and Bolan’s interest in Carmen’s music.
Paul, who features in Visconti’s book “Bowie, Bolan and The Brooklyn Boy” fondly recalls some of his memories of the times he spent in Bolan’s company. Bolan valued people who had become trusted friends and included Paul in that category, to the extent that Paul had stayed over at Bolan’s house one night as he was unable to get back to his own place and be back in time for his appearance on Bowie’s Midnight Special the following day. As Paul had been unable to go home and get a change of clothes, Bolan had opened the doors to his wardrobe to him and asked him to pick one of his shirts to wear on the TV show. Paul had seen a red top which had a cape attached to it which he really liked the look of, Bolan being the generous person he was, told Paul to take the top despite it being his favourite. Paul’s clothes on the TV show, including the trousers all belonged to Bolan.
Visconti’s book also recalls Paul McCartney visiting his house in Melrose Terrace when Paul was staying there. McCartney had been impressed with the strings arrangement for T.Rex and wanted Visconti to listen to some of his tracks that would need arrangements, the album once produced became his best post Beatles release “Band on the Run”. Whilst there McCartney listened to the Carmen album, which he was impressed with. Paul and McCartney soon found themselves together at the Air Studios recording, Paul with Carmen and McCartney with his band. Due to McCartney being short of both a drummer and guitarist, he asked Paul if he was interested in filling drummer Denny Siewell’s post. Unfortunately, due to Paul’s loyalty to Carmen he was unable to drum on the “Band on the Run” album. Who knows what could of happened if things were different?
Paul continued working with both Carmen and T.Rex, until the members of Carmen decided to go their own ways after the release of their third album “The Gypsies” Around this time Paul had an accident with a horse which resulted in him suffering from a seriously damaged leg.
Paul then devoted all his time to recording and touring with T.Rex, both live and for TV performances in the UK and the USA from 1973. The band’s line up was bassist Steve Currie, Bolan’s long-term musical partner Mickey Finn and Gloria Jones. Paul featured on each of Marc Bolan’s and T.Rex’s albums and singles starting from “Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow” in 1974 until Bolan’s tragic death.
Following on from Bolan’s untimely death, Paul was shattered and still suffering the after effects of both Bolan’s death and the accident with the horse, he was completely exhausted and spent most of 1976 and 1977 at Long View in the USA which was owned by Professor Gill Markle. The time spent at Long View gave Paul a personal and remarkable insight into the potential of psychology and philosophy from someone who knew what they were talking about.
Currently, 2011, Paul is still touring Europe and promoting the music of Marc Bolan through Mickey Finn’s T.Rex.
Jay Spargo
Lead Vocal
Jay's first real taste of performing came at the age of 17 years old when he fronted fundraising gigs in his native West Yorkshire, playing energetic punk and 60s rock sets on lead guitar and vocals.
Jay had started piano lessons very young and would continually pick up his Dad's guitar. It was clear from the start that he would never want to make his living doing anything other than music. At 18 years old Jay moved to Lanzarote to take up a resident DJ post. His comic comparing in a karaoke bar, plus live music sessions, kept the holiday makers in hysterics. This led to various live performances including a show at the island's number one live venue - Charlie's Bar.
On returning to the UK in 2002, Jay joined the highly regarded indie outfit Dirty Vinyls. Here Jay played Hammond organ, guitar, sang and co-wrote various tracks. At their height, The Vinyls played at several top clubs in London, including Soho's Borderline Club as they were being closely monitored by ex-Oasis manager, Alan McGee.
In more recent years, Jay has spent his time fronting his covers band, The Britrocks on lead guitar, lead vocals and keyboard in venues all over the north of England. Jay's influences include The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, The Kinks, Stone Roses, Oasis and always included T-Rex's 20th Century Boy in his playlist. Jay will only cover those he truly respects. This led him to become Dirty Dylan in a critically acclaimed 5-piece Dylan act. Press reviews cited his "uncanny vocal resemblance" to the great man himself. As they say, imitation is the highest form of flattery.
All of this made Jay an obvious choice when, in May 2010, he was asked to consider becoming the new front man for the band. Jay feels it is a privilege and an honour to be performing Marc Bolan’s great songs worldwide. .
Graham Oliver
Guitar
Graham was a founder member of British rock band 'Saxon'.
As one of the leaders of the new wave of British heavy metal, they had eight UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including four UK Top 10 albums and two Top 5 albums. The band also had numerous singles in the UK Singles Chart and chart success all over Europe and Japan, as well as success in the United States.
During the 1980s, Saxon established themselves as one of Europe's greatest metal acts. The band toured regularly and sold more than 23 million albums worldwide. They are considered one of the classic metal acts, and have influenced a number of bands such as Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Testament, Mötley Crüe, Pantera, Running Wild, Dream Theater, Dokken, Skid Row, Sodom, Celtic Frost, Bathory and King Diamond. and enjoyed many hit records throughout the 80's and 90's.
His association with T-Rex came by a meeting of the two bands on a ferry between Stockholm and Helsinki when both bands were booked to play.
Mickey Finn invited Graham to jam along with the band and in 2002 was asked to replace Alan Silson ex 'Smokie' who was leaving to go solo.
Graham also plays in his own band along with original Saxon bassist Steve Dawson. 'Oliver/Dawson Saxon'
Dave Major
Keyboards
Born in Leeds, Dave started playing piano aged four and achieved grade eight by the time he was thirteen.
In his younger years he did a little acting and appeared in many TV shows, including ‘Sam’ featuring Mark McManus and Windsor Davies in an Alan Bennett play. He was also featured in numerous adverts, such as 'Z Cars', 'The Extraordinary People Show' and a BBC play called 'Threads'.
As a keyboard player he has played in many bands. It was whilst playing in Anita Madigan’s band that he took to song writing, eventually co-writing ‘I Wish You Were Here’, a song that got to the last eight in the British Eurovision Song Contest. Dave also reached the finals of Jonathan Ross’s Big Talent TV Show with the self penned ballad ‘I Love Him Too’.
This was the start of his new passion.
A writer/producer whose work ranges from bubblegum pop through Westlife-type MOR to NERD-type R’n’B, Dave's recent work and collaborations with other artistes and writers include:
*Mike Terry [Steelworks, Blue and Toploader] and Dean Barton in the writing/production team Uplift Music. *Steve Chrisanthou [Corinne Bailey Rae, Charlotte Church, Nina Jayne and Gareth Gates]. *Welsh band Max-N. The boys have released an E.P. through S4C on the back of their successful Welsh T.V series. *Boy band FY8. The band toured with Westlife and performed on various summer shows with Sugababes and Blazin’ Squad. *Soraya [All around the World] currently showcasing her new venture. *Nigel Wilson’s forthcoming single-production only. *Kay Louise Watts just signed with Bite (English Avril Lavigne ) *The Funkleberry Moth just released a single in Germany production only*Stacey Gaunt currently shopping a deal.
Dave is also dad to Amy and Patrick. Amy is a talented hairdresser and Patrick is a competition Moto X rider. Dave spends a lot of time fixing motorbikes.
Linda Dawson
Backing Vocals
When I look at photos of myself from the early years I’m always the kid with my mouth full open and singing my heart out. I had a nice voice according to the other kids and was always asked in the playground to perform all the recent hits.
Never too shy to realise an advantage I was soon singing solos in the chapel choir so that I could carry the cross into church and look down on mere mortals from the seat that was mine at the altar, and I always auditioned and got parts in the various musical shows and theatre because it meant we rehearsed and performed at the Boys school, VERY important to a teenager at a Girls Only Boarding School, Ha!
When I left school and returned to the UK the trend continued and I began singing BVs for local heroes in Salisbury, ‘Never Bend Over’ in exchange for guitar lessons. I think my life pattern was then set. I had loads of fun and met lots of people I’ve never forgotten. To this day, these are the passions that drive me still to sing.
When I moved ‘oop north' and learned to say 'grass' and 'bath' instead of 'grarse' and 'barth', I also learned that music and its opportunities here abound! I sang in many and varied bands and venues and was eventually invited to sing on various studio sessions for local musicians, including the once famous Radio Trent’ 'CastleRock' sessions. I joined newly formed ‘Wrathchild' and sang heavy metal original songs for a year (not sure I was ever actually heard but I escaped without nodules) til another (glam rock) outfit registered the name before us and did well enough to make us rescind the name. Then joined pop/rock Band ‘Chants’ from Nottingham and sang/wrote/performed with my sister Julie. This quirky and original Band was ace!We were big fish in a little pond and had loads of fun with a ‘proper’ fan base and regular gigs at 'proper’ venues and festivals.I met my Partner Dave through joint ventures with his London based band.
Since beginning a family I’ve still ,managed to sing professionally, but balancing family commitments meant that I’ve only occasionally ventured to Germany with the help of our nanny Elise to whom I will always be indebted... It ain’t easy being a singer and a mother without that special trust. Thanks Elsie!
I’ve been singing with the band since 1998 and what an honour to grace the stage with one of my teen idols, Mickey Finn. He was absolutely lovely to me and would be proud to see his band now. The kids are almost grown and I’m there on that stage with this amazing Band whenever I can be. If you’re watching and I look happy? It’s because I am! Enjoy the Show!
Tony Allday
Bass
In the late sixties, at the young age of seventeen, Tony cut his teeth on the London club in landmark venues like The Greyhound in Fulham and the Ealing Jazz Club.
Playing good old Rock and Roll he stood side by side with such respected elite as Georgie Fame and Ronnie Wood and was soon getting prestigious live work with pro bands of the day such as Sceaming Lord Sutch and Long John Baldry.
Tony's introduction to Marc Bolan's music came through his meeting with ex T-rex guitarist Jack Green, They formed a band together on the Isle of Wight and in 1997 Jack, Mickey Finn, Paul Fenton and manager Barry Newby reformed the T-Rex band with Tony as the number one choice as bass player.
