Alcatrazz

I’m very happy to announce that I have joined Alcatrazz, the band formed in 1983 by Jimmy Waldo, Gary Shea (who named the band) and Graham Bonnet. Over the years Alcatrazz has included people like Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Jan Uvena and Mark Benquechea, the latter who has drummed since 2017. Now, since Bonnet stepped away, vocals are handled by Doogie White who previously graced the ranks of Rainbow, Tank and Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock to name but a few. On guitar is Joe Stump; world renowned six-string demon who, when not on the road or playing live with his solo projects, spends his time being a Professor and teaching at Berklee College of Music.

Alcatrazz has just released its latest album ‘V’ and we will be hitting several tracks off it. It is an absolute pleasure to be playing the parts written by Mark on the drums as he is a superb drummer. Icing on that cake has been learning a track off the album played by Nige from Saxon, which was one of the three with which I auditioned.

We will be hitting the road with a vengeance as soon as this Covid fog starts to lift, but for now, these dates will get the ball rolling:

Thurs. 11 Nov, HRH Fwestival, Great Yarmouth
Wed.17 Nov, Crauford Arms, Milton Keynes
Thurs.18 Nov, Eleven, Stoke-on-Trent
Fri.19 Nov, Waterloo, Blackpool
Sat. 20 Nov, Hangar 18, Swansea
Sun. 21Nov, Yardbirds, Grimsby
Wed. 24 Nov, Real Time Live, Chesterfield
Thurs. 25 Nov, Bannerman’s, Edinburgh
Fri. 26 Nov, Nightrain, Bradford
Sat. 27 Nov, Winterstorm Festival, Troon
Sun. 28 Nov, Trillians, Newcastle
Wed. 01 Dec, Underworld, London
Thurs. 02 Dec, KK’s Steelmill, Wolverhampton

Next year we should be hitting high gear and bringing the noise as far and wide as we can. It’s a new beginning for this band, and I’m stoked to be part of it.

See you on the road.