Music: The great love of my life. I started at the age of 9 playing violin at school. I was never more than average and after a fight with my music teacher, quit playing at the ripe old age of 13. The descant recorder was next from 13 to 16. Myself, my dad, brother and brother in law used to have a little quartet in the kitchen once or twice a week. My dad was the real musician. He was a fabulous singer (tenor) and tremendous euphonium player. He also taught brass instruments at high schools in the area after he retired at the age of 65, and continued until he was 77.

The story so far would lead you to think that I was a classical buff. Not so! I used to tune in to Radio Luxembourg in the early 60's and it was during this time that my real passion for music began. On hearing The Rolling Stones single 'Not Fade Away' I was hooked. This was what I wanted to hear. I followed the Stones through the 60's, at the same time picking up on The Animals, The Who, Hendrix, Cream, Jethro Tull, Yes et al.

At 17, I bought my first bass guitar and was soon belting out Cream's 'Sunshine of your love' and Jimi Hendrix' 'Fire' etc. A few of us around that time used to meet in each others homes to practice. God! What a bloody din!! Looking back, I see just how tolerant our parents were, although I didn't think so at the time. We moved on to practice in various town halls and pavilions in the area, but we never were much good, nor did we ever play any gigs.

I joined my first gigging band, 'Before the Dawn', in late '69, and the first gig we played was as support for Tear Gas, who went on to join Alex Harvey and become the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. One of our roadies at the time left us to join SAHB. If you ever read this Tam ('Wee Tam' Fairgrieve) I hope you are still enjoying your life in music. I left this band in late '70, and didn't gig again until '84.

By '84 my musical taste had become firmly entrenched in rhythm and blues. Myself and the drummer from Before The Dawn, Tam Dalgliesh, started a band in '83, eventually calling ourselves 'The Heaters'.

We only ever gigged around Edinburgh, but it was good fun. We went through a few personnel changes before ending up as a 4 piece comprising drummer, bass guitar, guitar and vocals. Our last gig was in Feb '89. I've not played since, but still love listening to the blues, blues rock, and any other good music that catches the ear.

Currently amongst my favourite acts are Bill Perry, The Fabulous Thunderbirds circa '79 to '85, Kim Wilson, Gov't Mule, Bernard Allison, Kenny Neal, Anthony Gomes, BB Chung King and The Buddaheads, Billy Branch, Bryan Lee, Joe Bonamassa, Jimmy Thackery, Julian Sas, Omar and The Howlers, Rob Tognoni, Robben Ford, the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tab Benoit and Tommy Castro to name but a few. Check them out.

That's it for today. Remember, always show patience and understanding to those around you, particularly the ones you love.

Cheers.

Dave.