Biographies: Keith | Paul | Clive

Keith Howe - Guitar & Vocals

Born in south-east London, Keith started his love affair with Blues/Rock Guitar from an early age, having a sister in Arts College during the sixties helped a lot.

From early exposure to Clapton during his heyday with Cream, Keith's taste quickly blossomed to include a huge variety of guitar styles but mainly it followed the mastery shown by artists like Johnny Winter, Jimi Hendrix, Pat Travers, Rory Gallagher, Paul Kossof and Jeff Healey -naming but a few.

Attracted to the raw and passionate energy of these players he found himself interpreting their influences within his own playing and fascinated with the way that England was selling the Blues back to America with a distinctive, rocky edge.

He served the usual musical apprenticeship in a variety of London based Bands playing a mixture of styles but he always guided his playing with flavour of the Blues.

During the seventies, he fronted a rock trio called 'Cuba' (performing mainly original Blues/Rock material) who worked regularly on the London Pub and Club circuit. The Band started to attract some interest but burnt itself out before it could realise its true potential.

Following a family move to Cornwall in 1980 he spent a short time without playing before joining the Red Lester Band (one of the Southwest's premier R&B outfits) and it was there that he had the good fortune to meet Danny Tarling (Drums) and Steve Jones (Bass Guitar).

It was only a matter of time before they recognised their potential and together they formed Blue on Black (a blues based rock trio) in June 2001.

The Bands popularity began to grow and so did their workload, this pressure took its toll in the form of Danny leaving the Band by the end of June 2002.

Fortunately a great replacement in Alan Ibbotson (who had played with Steve in a previous life) had just become available and after one short, awesome practice, the Band rushed to unleash itself on the world with excitement and enthusiasm.

Sadly Alan's health cause him to retire from playing in May 2007.

The Band were once again very fortunate to find a fantatsic replacement in the form of Tont "Toms" Thomas, with his own style and sense of humour Tony is a natural fit with Steve's rock solid Bass work and they both continue to inspire the Band to greater heights.

Keith's first love (after Alison and the Girls that is) has always been the Guitar, which he feels, should be played with passion and honesty.

"It should be able to talk, shout, whisper or cry its way through any middle eight and hold its audience spellbound in spine tingling conversations."

Equipment:

Keith's main guitar is his beloved Fender 'Bonnie Rait' signature Stratocaster with a Standard Sunburst Strat set up for slide work.

He also uses a PRS Single Cut (10 Top Gray/Black with Birds), an Owens Crossroads Electric Resonator Guitar a Mighty Mite Strat (No 039 of 100) a Mexican 70's reissue Strat and a Martin D18.

He uses Elite Strings Lite gauge (09 to 43) even though everyone tells him to use a heavier gauge.

Playing through a Mesa Boogie 35w 2x12 Maverick Combo linked to a Mesa Boogie 2x12 Closed Back extension cabinet.

He also owns a 1969 Marshall 50w Head and 4x12 bottom cabinet plus a Budda Superdrive 18 Head.

Effects are minimal but are his trusty 'Cry Baby' Wah Wah, a Boss Chorus for some of the rhythm work and an occasion repeat from a DD3.

Influences:

Keith cites Walter Trout as his favourite Guitarist and a great spiritual influence.

Other players high on his "to die for list" include David Grissom, Jeff Healey, Gary Moore, Freddy King, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Mike Bloomfield, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Phil Brown and Peter Haycock; However the list is virtually endless as long as the instrument is played with passion.

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