Andy Scott (guitarist)
Encyclopedia
- For other men with the same name, see the list at Andrew Scott.
Andy Scott (born Andrew David Scott, 30 June 1949, Wrexham
Wrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
, Wales
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...
) is a British
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...
musician
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....
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
. He is best known for being the lead 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...
and a vocalist in the band Sweet
Sweet (band)
Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...
.
Early years
Scott started out playing bass guitar. His first gig was at St Peters Hall, WrexhamWrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
with The Rasjaks in November 1963 and then with other bands in Wales such as Guitars Incorporated and 3D's.
He then progressed to guitar and played with other bands including The Saints, The Four Winds and The Missing Links. In 1966 he joined The Silverstone Set (later shortened to The Silverstones) who won the TV show Opportunity Knocks five weeks running and appeared in the all winners show for Christmas 1966 losing to Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr
Freddie Starr is an English comedian who became famous in the early 1970s. He is also an impressionist and singer, with a chart album After the Laughter and UK Top 10 single, "It's You", in March 1974 to his credit.-Early career:Under his real name, he appeared as a teenager in the film Violent...
. One of their further highlights was to support Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
in Manchester in January 1967.
When The Silverstones split, Scott went on to join The Elastic Band who recorded an album called Expansions of Life but the lead singer left before its release and the band folded. During this time they also recorded and album Pop Sounds under the name The Cool.
Andy then played in the backing band for The Scaffold for a while,which also included his brother Mike on bass and saxophone.
He then went on to join Mayfield's Mule who recorded three singles, "Drinking My Moonshine", "I See a River" and "We Go Rollin'". An album was also released in Uruguay called Mayfields Mule.
Auditioning for Sweet
Andy replaced Mick Stewart in The Sweet after an audition in front of Brian Connolly,Steve Priest and Mick Tucker as well as group managers Nicky ChinnNicky Chinn
Nicky Chinn born Nicholas Barry Chinn, 16 May 1945, London, UK) is a British songwriter and record producer. Together with Mike Chapman he had a long string of hit singles in the UK and US in the 1970s and early 1980s, including several number-one records...
and Mike Chapman. He was one of the last guitarists to audition. According to Steve Priest
Steve Priest
Steve Priest is a founding member and bass player/backing vocalist of the glam rock band Sweet.-Biography:...
's Autobiography "Are You Ready Steve", Scott turned up looking very untidy, with long hair and scruffy clothes. He plugged his guitar in and immediately blew the fuse on the amp. He eventually performed his piece and the members of the band thought he should join The Sweet, much to Chinn and Chapman's disgust. They eventually gave in and Scott was allowed to join the band.
Solo career
Scott's first single release in 1975 was a reworked version of the Desolation Boulevard track "Lady Starlight" backed by "Where D'Ya Go?". Both songs, recorded during the "Give Us A Wink!" album sessions, were written and produced by Scott and featured him playing all instruments except appearances by Sweet drummer Mick TuckerMick Tucker
Michael Thomas "Mick" Tucker was the drummer and backing vocalist of the English glam rock band, Sweet.-Bands:...
. Scott made a promotional video for the track and also appeared on the British music show "Supersonic".
Scott released his second solo single, "Gotta See Jane", in 1983 under the name Ladders. It was a cover of the R. Dean Taylor
R. Dean Taylor
R. Dean Taylor is a Canadian singer, most famous as a recording artist, songwriter and record producer for Motown Records company during the 1960s and 1970s...
Motown hit and was produced by himself and Louis Austin who had worked with Sweet as their engineer on past ventures. The B-side "Krugerrands" was subsequently released as the follow-up single (as Andy Scott this time) but like its predecessor failed to chart, except in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where it was a top 10 hit. In 1984, Scott released two more solo singles, "Let Her Dance" and "Invisible". The album 30 Years was released in 1993 (Repertoire Records) which was a compilation of all his solo projects, including demos.
Paddy Goes to Holyhead
In the early 1980s, Scott went into production and produced records for bands including Iron MaidenIron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
. He also produced a couple of demos for Weapon, which was then fronted by Danny Hynes who went on to form Paddy Goes to Holyhead and Scott played with them now and again. Scott then produced, played on and appeared in the video for their single "Green Green Grass of Home" and then joined the band on a regular basis until reforming Sweet
Sweet (band)
Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...
.
Andy Scott's Sweet
In 1985, Scott and Tucker re-formed Sweet with new players. Tucker departed in May 1991 in acrimonious circumstances linked to his health. Two drummers, Andy Holger and Bobby Andersen, provided short-term relief before German Bodo Schopf (ex-McAuley Schenker GroupMcAuley Schenker Group
McAuley Schenker Group was a band featuring core members Robin McAuley and Michael Schenker , a successor to Schenker's earlier band Michael Schenker Group. McAuley was initially contacted to replace singer Gary Barden in MSG...
) took over the drum throne until 1993 when Bruce Bisland (ex-Weapon, Wildfire, Praying Mantis
Praying Mantis (band)
Praying Mantis are an English rock band. Although a part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, they pursued a musical direction more melodic and AOR-sounding than their contemporaries.-Career:...
) came to stay. After Tucker's departure, Scott changed the band's name to 'Andy Scott's Sweet' (after Tucker's death in 2002, Scott truncated the band name to simply 'The Sweet' once again).
Mal McNulty departed in 1994, though he would return briefly that year to fill in for Jeff Brown on bass (as he would again in 1995 as lead singer for a few dates while Rocky Newton subbed on bass). Sweet's former keyboard men Gary Moberley and Ian Gibbons also did fill-in jaunts with the group that year, as did Chris Goulstone. Chad Brown (ex-Lionheart
Lionheart (band)
-History:Lionheart was a British hard rock band formed in late 1980, originally featuring singer Jess Cox , guitarist Dennis Stratton , guitarist Steve Mann , bassist/vocalist Rocky Newton , and drummer Frank Noon .They made their debut one Saturday night at the Marquee Club in...
; no relation to Jeff) was the new front man.
In 1996 Mann left and Gibbons came back for a short time before Steve Grant
Steve Grant
Stephen Mitchell "Steve" Grant is a former American football linebacker for the West Virginia Mountaineers and Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League. Grant is currently the chaplin for the Texas Tech University football program in Lubbock , Texas.-Freshman season:Steve Grant enrolled...
(ex-The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
) became the permanent keyboardist. When Chad Brown quit in 1998, Jeff Brown
Jeff Brown
Jeff Randall Brown is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the NHL from the mid 1980s to late 1990s....
assumed the lead vocals as well as his bass duties and the band was once again a quartet. After this, the band was stable again for the next five years.
The mid 2000s would bring further shake-ups and rotations. Tony O'Hora (ex-Onslaught
Onslaught (band)
Onslaught are an English thrash metal band from Bristol, England. Initially active from 1983 to 1991, they reformed in 2004. The band initially drew influence from the second wave punk rock bands such as Discharge and The Exploited, and then adopted a straight forward thrash metal...
, Praying Mantis
Praying Mantis (band)
Praying Mantis are an English rock band. Although a part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene, they pursued a musical direction more melodic and AOR-sounding than their contemporaries.-Career:...
) replaced Brown as lead vocalist. Ian Gibbons
Ian Gibbons
Ian Gibbons is an English keyboardist, most notable for playing with The Kinks.Gibbons began playing the accordion at the age 9, playing in the school band, and solo at music festivals, competitions and charity events. At the age of 14, he started a school rock band, playing guitar and singing...
came back for a third stint as fill-in keyboardist in June 2005 for a gig in the Faroe Islands. O'Hora decided to split in late 2005. Singers Mark Thompson Smith (ex-Praying Mantis) in November 2005 and Tony Mills
Tony Mills
Tony Mills, M.D., is an American physician who specializes in treatment of HIV and AIDS.In May of 1998, he won the title of International Mister Leather, publicly coming out as HIV-positive one day later.-Education and medical career:Dr...
(ex-Shy
Shy (band)
Shy are a British metal band formed in 1980 under the name 'Trojan', hailing from Birmingham, England.-Biography:Formerly known as Trojan, Shy featured vocalist Tony Mills, Steve Harris , Paddy McKenna , Mark Badrick and drummer Alan Kelly...
, Siam; now with TNT
TNT (band)
TNT is a Norwegian hard rock/glam metal band from Trondheim, formed in 1982. The band has released twelve studio albums, three EPs and two live albums while going through numerous line-up changes since its formation...
) in early 2006 came and went. Grant jumped from keyboards to lead vocals, and even bass as needed, on dates when the group had no singer (Phil Lanzon, then Steve Mann, temporarily returned on keys when Grant was the frontman). Jo Burt
Jo Burt
Jo Burt is an English Rock and heavy metal bassist, guitar player, songwriter and vocalist.Burt is known for being the bassist for Black Sabbath during their 1987 tour in support of the album The Eternal Idol...
(ex-Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
) was temporary bass player in October and November 2005.
The group finally landed a new permanent frontman when Peter Lincoln (ex-Sailor
Sailor (band)
Sailor are a British pop group, best known in the 1970s for their hit singles "Glass of Champagne" and "Girls Girls Girls", written by the group's lead singer and 12-string guitar player, Georg Kajanus.-In the 1970s:...
) arrived in July 2006. The line-up consisted of Scott, Bisland, Grant, and Lincoln.
Scott produced the Suzi Quatro
Suzi Quatro
Susan Kay "Suzi" Quatro is an American singer-songwriter, bass player, and actor.She scored a string of hit singles in the 1970s that found greater success in Europe and Australia than in her homeland, and had a recurring role on the popular American sitcom Happy Days.-Music:Quatro began her...
album, Back to the Drive
Back to the Drive
Back to the Drive is an album by Suzi Quatro. Released in 2006, it was the comeback album for Suzi Quatro, her first album since 1990's "Oh Suzi Q" and her eleventh studio album...
, released in February 2006. March 2006 saw the U.S. release of his band's album, Sweetlife.
In 2007 the group played in Germany, Belgium, Austria and Italy and on this tour played songs from Sweet Fanny Adams, including some of their other hits. In May that, the band played in Porto Alegre and Curitiba, Brazil, their first and only South American shows. The tour was called 'Sweet Fanny Adams Tour'.
The band toured again in March 2008 under the name 'Sweet Fanny Adams Revisited Tour'.
In May and June 2008, Scott's Sweet were part of the "Glitz Blitz & 70s Hitz" tour of the UK alongside The Rubettes
The Rubettes
The Rubettes were an English pop band assembled in 1973 by the songwriting team of Wayne Bickerton, then the head of A&R at Polydor Records, and his co-songwriter, Tony Waddington, after their doo-wop and 1950s American pop-influenced songs had been rejected by a number of existing acts...
and Showaddywaddy
Showaddywaddy
Showaddywaddy are a 1970s pop group from Leicester, England. They specialised in revivals of hit songs from the 1950s and early 1960s, and dressed as Teddy Boys.-History:...
.
On 19 June 2009 fans from all over the world celebrated Scott's 60th birthday at The Robin 2, Bilston. At the same time, Scott's website was launched.
In March and April 2010, Scott did not appear at a couple of gigs due to ill health, and Martin Mickels stood in. Scott revealed later that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
, and was treated at the Bristol Royal Infirmary
Bristol Royal Infirmary
The Bristol Royal Infirmary, also known as the BRI, is a large teaching hospital situated in the centre of Bristol, England. It has links with the medical faculty of the nearby University of Bristol, and the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of the West of England, also in...
. After a course of treatment and rest, he was back to full touring fitness.
In 2010 the band played at venues in Europe, and back at Bilston in October 2010.
In March 2011 there was a short tour of Australia, Regal Theatre - Perth, Bunbury Entertainment Centre and Clipsal 500, Adelaide with the Doobie Brothers.
There were 3 UK gigs in 2011: AFC Sudbury 28 August,Bilston 17 September and Lowestoft 18 September.
Andy Scott's Sweet members
{| class="toccolours" border=1 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 style="width: 500px; margin: 0 0 1em 1em; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px solid #E2E2E2;"|+ Andy Scott's Sweet
|-
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Sweet
(1985–1988)
|
- Paul Mario Day - lead vocals
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Mal McNulty - vocals, bass
- Mick Tucker - drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Phil Lanzon - keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals (1985–1986)
- Malcolm Pearson - keyboards, synthesizers (1988)
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Sweet
(1989–1991)
|
- Mal McNulty - lead vocals
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Jeff Brown - vocals, bass
- Mick Tucker - drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Ian Gibbons/Steve Mann - keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals(Mann took over in December 1989)
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Andy Scott's Sweet
(1991–1992)
|
- Mal McNulty - lead vocals
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Jeff Brown - vocals, bass
- Steve Mann - keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
- Andy Holger/Bobby Andersen/Bodo Schopf(joined in 1991) - drums, percussion
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Andy Scott's Sweet
(1992–1994)
|
- Mal McNulty - lead vocals
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Jeff Brown - vocals, bass
- Steve Mann - keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
- Bruce Bisland - drums, percussion
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Andy Scott's Sweet
(1994)
|
- Chad Brown - lead vocals
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Jeff Brown/Mal McNulty(fill in) - vocals, bass
- Steve Mann/Gary Moberley/Ian Gibbons/Chris Goulstone(latter three filling in for Mann) - keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals
- Bruce Bisland - drums, percussion
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Andy Scott's Sweet
(1995)
|
- Chad Brown/Mal McNulty(filling in) - lead vocals
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Jeff Brown/Rocky Newton(filling in) - vocals, bass
- Steve Mann - keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
- Bruce Bisland - drums, percussion
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Andy Scott's Sweet
(1996–1998)
|
- Chad Brown - lead vocals
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Jeff Brown - vocals, bass
- Ian Gibbons/Steve Grant(took over in 1996) - keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
- Bruce Bisland - drums, percussion
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Andy Scott's Sweet
(1998–2003)
|
- Jeff Brown - lead vocals, bass
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Steve Grant - keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
- Bruce Bisland - drums, percussion
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Andy Scott's Sweet
(2003–2005)
|
- Tony Ohora - lead vocals, bass
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Steve Grant/Ian Gibbons(brief fill in 6/05) - keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
- Bruce Bisland - drums, percussion
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Andy Scott's Sweet
(2005)
|
- Mark Thompson Smith(in 11/05)/Tony Ohora(in 11/05) - lead vocals
- Jo Burt - bass(in 10/05 - 11/05)
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Steve Grant/Phil Lanzon(brief fill in late 2005 when Grant was temp lead singer) - keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
- Bruce Bisland - drums, percussion
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Andy Scott's Sweet
(2006)
|
- Tony Mills(1/06)/Tony Ohora(1/06 - 2/06) - lead vocals, bass
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Steve Grant - keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
- Steve Mann(in early 2006 when Grant was temp lead singer & bassist) - keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
- Bruce Bisland - drums, percussion
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Andy Scott's Sweet
(2006–2011)
|
- Peter Lincoln - lead vocals, bass
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Steve Grant - keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
- Bruce Bisland - drums, percussion
- Martin Mickels - ( March 2010 when Andy was ill ) - Lead Guitar,Vocals
|-
! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | Andy Scott's Sweet
(2011-present)
|
- Peter Lincoln - lead vocals, bass
- Andy Scott - vocals, guitar, synthesizers
- Tony O'Hora - keyboards, synthesizers, guitar, backing vocals
- Bruce Bisland - drums, percussion
|-
Private life
Scott lives in a converted barn in Wiltshire with his son Damian, Damian's wife, and grandchild.In July 2010, Scott appeared in UK television adverts for the insurance company VanCompare.com. Three adverts were in circulation featuring "Fox On The Run", "Love Is Like Oxygen" and "Action".
Singles
- "Lady Starlight" / "Where D'Ya Go" (1975) – RCA RecordsRCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
(RCA 102715) - "Where D'Ya Go" / "Lady Starlight" (1975) – RCA Records (RCA 2929)
- "Krugerrands" / "Face" (1984) – Statik (TAK 10)
- "Let Her Dance" / "Suck It And See" (1984) – Statik (TAK 24)
- "Invisible" / "Never Too Young" (1984) – Statik (TAK 31)
12" Singles
- "Gotta See Jane" / "Gotta See Jane" (Radio Mix) (3:10) / "Krugerrands" (4:00)
- "Krugerrands" (Club Mix) (4:04) / "Face" (4:48) / "Krugerrands" (Single Edit) (3:40) / "Krugermental" (4:08)
- "Let Her Dance" (8:06) / "Let Her Dance" (Instrumental) (4:24) / "Suck It and See" (4:19)
- "Invisible" (7" Version) (3:54) / "Invisible" (Instrumental) (5:53) / "Invisible" (5:20) / "Never Too Young" (3:08)
Albums
- 30 Years (1993) – compilation of solo singles and demos – Repertoire RecordsRepertoire RecordsRepertoire Records is a German record label from Hamburg, Germany, specialising in reissues of classic pop and rock albums originally issued in the 60s and 70s. The chairman is Thomas Neelsen....
Singles
- "X-Ray Specs" (1991) – SPV Records
- "Stand Up" (1992) – SPV Records
- "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" (1992) – SPV Records
- "Do It All Over Again" (2002) – Delicious Records
- "Join Together (a who cover)" (2011) online digital releasea
Albums
- Live at the Marquee (1989) – double album which includes four new studio recordings – SPV Records (Maze in USA/Canada)
- "A" (1992) – studio album of new material – SPV Records
- The Answer (1995)
- Alive and Giggin'! (1995) – live album – Pseudonym Records
- Glitz, Blitz & Hitz (1996)
- Dangerous Game (1997)
- Chronology (2002) – studio album with re-recordings of Sweet material – Delicious Records
- Sweetlife (2002) – studio album of new material – Delicious Records