Dave Sharp
Encyclopedia
Dave Sharp is an English
guitarist
who co-founded, along with Mike Peters
, the Welsh
punk rock band The Alarm
.
. After Seventeen disbanded in 1980, the band reformed as The Alarm, eventually recording hit record
s such as "68 Guns
" and "The Spirit of '76".
, Hard Travellin' with record producer
, Bob Johnston
. After tours in the UK and North America, he moved to the United States, touring and recording
with artists
, such as Johnny Cash
, Larry Crane
, Dave Grissolm (The John Cougar Mellencamp
band), Willie Nelson
, George Porter
(The Neville Brothers), Chris Solberg (Santana
), and Stiff Little Fingers
.
In 1996, he recorded the album Downtown America. Sharp moved to New Orleans
and made regular appearances at the Kerry Irish pub
on Decatur Street.
In 2002, Sharp returned to the United Kingdom where he played at The Cavern Club
, The Underworld and King Tut's. While there he formed The Soul Company band with bass
player, Keith Ashcroft (Chris Farlowe
), 10cc
drummer Paul Burgess, Dr. Feelgood
guitarist Mo Witham and guitar player Jim Holmes.
and, after a few days together in Ireland, the nucleus of The Hard Travelers
was formed. The concept of the band's music was the intention to bring the songs of Woody Guthrie
to a new public. To complete the lineup, Sharp and McCullough brought in Zoot Money
on keyboards
; Gary Fletcher
on bass; and Colin Allen
on drums.
Their debut gig, following a recording session, was on 22 January 2008 in Portsmouth
at The Cellars. The following booked gigs had to be postponed for a while due to various difficulties and their next performance was at The Black Horse Festival, Hastings
where they headlined on 24 May 2008.
, to showcase the band's American setlists from the late 1980s. Together with North West
musicians Wayne Parry, Dave Black, Tom Szakaly and Si Smith, AOR played their debut gig at Glasgow Rockers on 18 April, later supporting The Damned at Heywood Civic Centre in support of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation on 26 November 2008.
Dave Sharp currently tours the United Kingdom with regular visits to Scotland and Wales.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
who co-founded, along with Mike Peters
Mike Peters (musician)
Mike Peters is a Welsh musician, best known as the lead singer of The Alarm. He currently lives in Dyserth, North Wales with his family. After The Alarm split up in 1991, Peters wrote and released solo work, which he has been releasing under the name "The Alarm" since 2000...
, the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
punk rock band The Alarm
The Alarm
The Alarm are an alternative rock band that emerged from North Wales in the late 1970s. They started as a mod band and stayed together for over ten years. As a rock band, they displayed marked influences from Welsh language and culture...
.
Early career
Sharp began playing with the band Seventeen in the 1970s and made his recording debut on their "Don't Let Go" / "Bank Holiday Weekend" singleSingle (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
. After Seventeen disbanded in 1980, the band reformed as The Alarm, eventually recording hit record
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
s such as "68 Guns
68 Guns
"68 Guns" is a song written by Mike Peters and Eddie MacDonald.It is the most famous song from Welsh band The Alarm.Released in September 1983, the single was the fourth released by the band.The track was recorded at Good Earth and mixed at Abbey Road....
" and "The Spirit of '76".
Solo career
In 1991, Sharp recorded his first solo albumAlbum
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Hard Travellin' with record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, Bob Johnston
Bob Johnston
Donald William Robert 'Bob' Johnston is a noted American record producer, best known for his work with Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, Willie Nelson and many Nashville recording artists, as well as Simon and Garfunkel.-Early days:Johnston was born into a professional musical family...
. After tours in the UK and North America, he moved to the United States, touring and recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
with artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, such as Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Larry Crane
Larry Crane
Larry Crane is an American editor, recording engineer and archivist based in Portland, Oregon. Crane is the editor and founder of Tape Op Magazine, the owner of Portland's Jackpot! Recording Studio, a freelance engineer, and the archivist for musician Elliott Smith.-Career:Tape Op was started in...
, Dave Grissolm (The John Cougar Mellencamp
John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp, previously known by the stage names Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock that eschews synthesizers and other artificial sounds...
band), Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
, George Porter
George Porter
George Hornidge Porter, Baron Porter of Luddenham, OM, FRS was a British chemist.- Life :Porter was born in Stainforth, near Thorne, South Yorkshire. He was educated at Thorne Grammar School, then won a scholarship to the University of Leeds and gained his first degree in chemistry...
(The Neville Brothers), Chris Solberg (Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
), and Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They formed in 1977, at the height of the Troubles. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star , doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. They split up after six years and four albums, although they...
.
In 1996, he recorded the album Downtown America. Sharp moved to New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and made regular appearances at the Kerry Irish pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
on Decatur Street.
In 2002, Sharp returned to the United Kingdom where he played at The Cavern Club
The Cavern Club
The Cavern Club is a rock and roll club in Liverpool, England. Opened on Wednesday 16 January 1957, the club had their first performance by The Beatles on 9 February 1961, and where Brian Epstein first saw The Beatles performing on 9 November 1961....
, The Underworld and King Tut's. While there he formed The Soul Company band with bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
player, Keith Ashcroft (Chris Farlowe
Chris Farlowe
Chris Farlowe is an English rock, blues and soul singer. He is best known for his hit single "Out of Time", which rose to #1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1966, and his association with Colosseum and the Thunderbirds.Outside his music career, Farlowe collects war memorabilia.-Career:Inspired by Lonnie...
), 10cc
10cc
10cc are an English art rock band who achieved their greatest commercial success in the 1970s. The band initially consisted of four musicians -- Graham Gouldman, Eric Stewart, Kevin Godley, and Lol Creme -- who had written and recorded together for some three years, before assuming the "10cc" name...
drummer Paul Burgess, Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood may refer to:In music:*Dr. Feelgood , an album by American band Mötley Crüe**"Dr. Feelgood" , a single and the title track from that album*"Dr. Feel Good", a song by Travie McCoy on the album Lazarus...
guitarist Mo Witham and guitar player Jim Holmes.
Hard Travelers
Towards the end of 2007 Sharp, having spent most of his recent time playing solo acoustic, was ready to form a new band again. He was put in touch with Henry McCulloughHenry McCullough
Henry McCullough Henry McCullough Henry McCullough (born Henry Campbell Liken McCullough, 21 July 1943, Portstewart, Northern Ireland is an Irish guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, who has played guitar in such bands as Sweeney's Men, Spooky Tooth, Paul McCartney & Wings, and The Grease Band. He...
and, after a few days together in Ireland, the nucleus of The Hard Travelers
The Hard Travelers
The Hard Travelers is a folk rock band formed to perform the music of Woody Guthrie, by Dave Sharpe from The Alarm and Henry McCullough. Their first lineup also included keyboardist Zoot Money, bassist Gary Fletcher and drummer Colin Allen. They performed only a few times before the band dissolved...
was formed. The concept of the band's music was the intention to bring the songs of Woody Guthrie
Woody Guthrie
Woodrow Wilson "Woody" Guthrie is best known as an American singer-songwriter and folk musician, whose musical legacy includes hundreds of political, traditional and children's songs, ballads and improvised works. He frequently performed with the slogan This Machine Kills Fascists displayed on his...
to a new public. To complete the lineup, Sharp and McCullough brought in Zoot Money
Zoot Money
George Bruno Money, known as Zoot Money is a British vocalist, keyboardist and bandleader best known for his playing of the Hammond organ and association with his Big Roll Band...
on keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
; Gary Fletcher
Gary Fletcher (musician)
Gary Fletcher is a British blues musician, best known for playing bass guitar with The Blues Band, he is also a guitarist and songwriter.-Early life:...
on bass; and Colin Allen
Colin Allen
Colin Allen is an English blues drummer and songwriter.-Career:Allen took up drums at the age of 18, playing initially with local jazz musician in Dorset...
on drums.
Their debut gig, following a recording session, was on 22 January 2008 in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
at The Cellars. The following booked gigs had to be postponed for a while due to various difficulties and their next performance was at The Black Horse Festival, Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
where they headlined on 24 May 2008.
AOR - The Spirit of The Alarm
In April 2008 Sharp launched his own version of The Alarm, AOR - Spirit of The AlarmAOR - Spirit of The Alarm
AOR is a band formed by The Alarm lead guitarist Dave Sharp in early 2008 to perform The Alarm's US setlist together with newly written material.The current lineup consists of:*Dave Sharp, lead guitar*Wayne Parry, vocals*Tom Szakaly, Hammond...
, to showcase the band's American setlists from the late 1980s. Together with North West
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
musicians Wayne Parry, Dave Black, Tom Szakaly and Si Smith, AOR played their debut gig at Glasgow Rockers on 18 April, later supporting The Damned at Heywood Civic Centre in support of the Sophie Lancaster Foundation on 26 November 2008.
Dave Sharp currently tours the United Kingdom with regular visits to Scotland and Wales.