| Tom is the lead vocalist with SLIDE and plays guitar, mandocello, whistles, harmonica, fiddle, and flute (and anything else if you let him). Formerly with The Friendly Visit, Behind the Wall, Pearl Divers, The Switch, Another Way, Agony Column, The Fireflies and many many others! Tom has a unique English voice, free of all obvious influence; soft enough for folk yet powerful enough for rock. Having started fronting acoustic rock bands in his teens his main claim to fame was a record deal with Pete "Pop Idol" Waterman in the early 80s. Now rediscovering his folk roots, his always melodic tune and song-writing is maturing nicely, while his instrumental skills come in handy for ringing the changes on tunes. |
| Derek plays fiddle, low whistle, uilleann pipes, guitar and various mando-type things when he can steal them from Neil. He learnt traditional music around the folk clubs and sessions of Cambridge playing regularly with members of Whiskey Before Breakfast and the Eliza Carthy band in earlier incarnations. Derek is called upon to play in several ceili bands from time to time including Under the Weather, The Stair Heid Band and the Tuppenny Ceili Band. |
| Neil plays the 5 string banjo and guitar and also sings. At the tender age of seventeen Neil first started singing and playing guitar with bands on the French rivera. Initially playing with musicians from across europe and america in the bars and restaurants of St Tropez playing and learning varied types and styles of music and progressing to play in villas and on the yachts of the rich and famous. Returning to England after several years he fronted leeds bands such as Frank Blanc and swamp rockers the Zimmer Brothers, endeavouring to incorporate his folk roots within a rock and roll format. Now playing with SLIDE the wheel has turned full circle and here he is playing the music that was his first inspiration. |
| The son of a Leeds-based jazz musician and music college lecturer, John has been playing the bass since the age of fourteen. John's musical career has seen him explore many contemporary music styles: musical theatre (various school and local amateur group productions), experimental jazz, jazz-funk fusion (Voyeur, Larry & the Tree Gang), jazz-blues (Hipshakers), progressive pop-rock (58 Piece Orchestra), beat/grunge/garage/thrash (Sludgebucket), roots-rock (Fireflies and the Pearl Divers - two of Tom's previous ensembles), and, of course, folk-rock (Behind the Wall, Belladonna and Slide!) John is indebted to Troy Donockley (of You Slosh and Iona fame) for exposing him to much of the splendour and glory of celtic music (and much fine wine and single malt!) over the last eight years or so, and to Tom and Steve Fairholme (the Otley-based melodeon supremo) for allowing him to experience the vitality of the (almost) unamplified musical performance. The future has to be acoustic (almost!)!!!! |
| Rod is a fine fiddle player who has played with us as a guest over the last couple of years. From 2003 Rod will be joining us more regularly. Rod is a member of the successful latin group Charanga Del Norte and has played with Tom and John in the group Belladonna in the past. Rod also plays mandolin, guitar and percussion as well as singing backing vocals. |