John 'Rhino' Edwards
Encyclopedia
John Victor Edwards - usually known by his nickname, Rhino (born 9 May 1953, Chiswick
, London
), is the English
bass guitar
ist, in rock group, Status Quo. He was educated at Chiswick Grammar School.
and won a scholarship
to the London College of Music at the age of eleven.
Around 1973-4 John was to be found playing simultaneously in two pub bands in The White Bear in Hounslow
(a venue renowned at that time as a music venue, where Rick Wakeman
had been a regular player). The two bands were The Sunday Band (playing on that day of the week), playing covers of rock standards, and Rococo, with a regular Friday slot, and sharing the same singer as well as bass player. Rococo released a single "Ultrastar / Wildfire" on Decca Deram in 1973.
Edwards' bass playing first appeared on a hit
record
in the UK
in 1977, when "Magic Fly" by the French
group, Space reached the Top Ten
of the UK singles chart
. Later on he joined Judie Tzuke
's backing band whereupon he was given the nickname 'Rhino' for being so clumsy.
'Rhino' has played with Peter Green
, from Fleetwood Mac
fame, Climax Blues Band
, and also Dexys Midnight Runners
.
Edwards was working with drummer
Jeff Rich
, when Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt
approached them both to work on his solo album Recorded Delivery. When Status Quo reformed with a new lineup in 1986, Edwards and Rich were called in to replace founding member Alan Lancaster
and drummer Pete Kircher
.
He released the album Rhino's Revenge in 2000, on which some tracks featured other members of Status Quo. Recently he has played a small number of gigs in the UK and Europe with Woodedz, playing alongside his children.
As a fan of Brentford F.C.
, Edwards wrote a song in early 2006 about striker
Lloyd Owusu
's return to the club for the start of that football season.
B5 multi-effect system into two Marshall
Dynamic Bass System heads with a 2x15 cabinet and a 4x10 cabinets. During the song 'Gerdundula
' Edwards plays a Tanglewood guitar through a Marshall JCM800 head and a 4x12 cabinet.
Chiswick
Chiswick is a large suburb of west London, England and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located on a meander of the River Thames, west of Charing Cross and is one of 35 major centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, with...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
), is the English
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...
bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist, in rock group, Status Quo. He was educated at Chiswick Grammar School.
Career
As a child he learnt classical violinViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and won a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to the London College of Music at the age of eleven.
Around 1973-4 John was to be found playing simultaneously in two pub bands in The White Bear in Hounslow
Hounslow
Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It forms a post town in the TW postcode area.-Etymology:...
(a venue renowned at that time as a music venue, where Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman
Richard Christopher Wakeman is an English keyboard player, composer and songwriter best known for being the former keyboardist in the progressive rock band Yes...
had been a regular player). The two bands were The Sunday Band (playing on that day of the week), playing covers of rock standards, and Rococo, with a regular Friday slot, and sharing the same singer as well as bass player. Rococo released a single "Ultrastar / Wildfire" on Decca Deram in 1973.
Edwards' bass playing first appeared on a hit
Hit parade
A hit parade is a ranked list of the most popular recordings at a given point in time, usually determined by sales and/or airplay. The term originated in the 1930s; Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade on January 4, 1936...
record
Single (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...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1977, when "Magic Fly" by the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
group, Space reached the Top Ten
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
of the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. Later on he joined Judie Tzuke
Judie Tzuke
Judie Tzuke is an English singer/songwriter. She is most well known for her 1979 hit "Stay With Me Till Dawn", which reached no.16 on the UK Singles Chart.-Early life:...
's backing band whereupon he was given the nickname 'Rhino' for being so clumsy.
'Rhino' has played with Peter Green
Peter Green (musician)
Peter Green is a British blues-rock guitarist and the founder of the band Fleetwood Mac...
, from Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
fame, Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band
Climax Blues Band was formed in Stafford, England in 1968. The original members were guitarists Peter Haycock and Derek Holt; keyboardist Arthur Wood; bassist Richard Jones; drummer George Newsome; and vocalist and harmonica player, Colin Cooper.In 1970, the group shortened its name to the Climax...
, and also Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners
Dexys Midnight Runners are a British pop group with soul influences, who achieved their major success in the early to mid 1980s. They are best known for their songs "Come On Eileen" and "Geno", both of which went No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart....
.
Edwards was working with drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Jeff Rich
Jeff Rich
Jeff Rich also known as "Worzel" is an English rock drummer, best known as a former drummer for the English rock band, Status Quo...
, when Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt
Rick Parfitt
Richard John Parfitt, OBE is best known for being a singer and the rhythm guitarist in the English rock band Status Quo.-Career:...
approached them both to work on his solo album Recorded Delivery. When Status Quo reformed with a new lineup in 1986, Edwards and Rich were called in to replace founding member Alan Lancaster
Alan Lancaster
Alan Lancaster is a bassist and a founding ex-member of the English rock band, Status Quo...
and drummer Pete Kircher
Pete Kircher
Peter Derek Kircher , is a retired English rock/pop drummer.He played between 1982 to 1985 in the rock band Status Quo...
.
He released the album Rhino's Revenge in 2000, on which some tracks featured other members of Status Quo. Recently he has played a small number of gigs in the UK and Europe with Woodedz, playing alongside his children.
As a fan of Brentford F.C.
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
, Edwards wrote a song in early 2006 about striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
Lloyd Owusu
Lloyd Owusu
Lloyd Magnus Owusu is a professional footballer who plays for Hayes & Yeading United on loan from Barnet.After a move from non-League Slough Town, his career took off at Brentford, where he scored 64 goals in 163 league games between 1998 and 2002. He then moved to Sheffield Wednesday, and two...
's return to the club for the start of that football season.
Equipment
Edwards owns several different basses from different manufacturers. However while playing live with Status Quo he uses Status basses, mainly two headless four stringed and a five stringed model. His signal is run through a RolandRoland
Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
B5 multi-effect system into two Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
Dynamic Bass System heads with a 2x15 cabinet and a 4x10 cabinets. During the song 'Gerdundula
Gerdundula
"Gerdundula" is a single by the British Rock band Status Quo from their fourth studio album Dog of Two Head. Like previous single "Mean Girl", It was released by the band's previous label Pye to capitalise on their current success on a new label....
' Edwards plays a Tanglewood guitar through a Marshall JCM800 head and a 4x12 cabinet.