Anthony Harty
My first proper gig was in 1983 at the age of 16. Just before I left school, Paul Weller had formed The Style Council and didn't have a bass player. I decided to write to him and enclosed a tape of me playing along with the first Style Council single. He replied to me in 2 weeks, I auditioned twice and was given the job. It lasted for 2 years, during which time I did 2 UK tours, 3 European tours, tours in Japan and America, TV work and appearances and radio work and appearances.
1985 - 1987 was spent working with my own band.
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In 1987 I joined The Truth playing bass & proceeded to do an American tour promoting their second album and hit single both entitled 'Weapons Of Love'. The promotional video was regularly on MTV. We supported Squeeze, Eddie Money, and headlined numerous club dates.
In 1988 I played on The Truth’s 3rd album, 'Jump', followed by tour supports in the UK and US with The Hooters & T’Pau.
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Late in 1988 I toured with The Duel supporting Five Star playing in the biggest arenas in the UK after 3 days rehearsal!
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In 1990 I played on The Primitives last RCA studio album with producer Tony Phillips.
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In 1991 I completed the line-up of the reformed Badfinger for Bob Jackson, an original member. The gig lasted for around 2 years, and as it ended I was asked by The Specials bass player, Horace Panter, to play guitar in SpecialBeat - an amalgam of The Specials & The Beat. We toured the US firstly with Steel Pulse, then with Sting on The Soul Cages tour. We also completed a lightening 6 date tour of Japan including some live TV, which was made into a live video.
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Between 1992 & 1994 I was writing and recording with singer songwriters Jim O'Neil, and Mike Roberts from King. I played guitar, bass and drums as well as singing lead & backing vocals on studio demos. We then formed a band to play the material live!
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Between 1994 & 1996 I played bass with Honeyboy Hickling & The DT’s, (Steve Marriots last band) touring the UK, Ireland & Europe.
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In 1996 I formed blues trio Box Of Blues with ex-Selecter guitarist Neol Davies & Specials bassman Horace Panter, this time filling in the drummers chair. We performed gigs, in-stores, & festivals in the UK & Ireland promoting own self-penned CD.
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In February 2000 I recorded 30 tracks in 6 days playing drums with Neol, Horace and other ex members of The Specials for two Trojan covers albums, commissioned by Trojan themselves.
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I played in The Subterraneans from 2001 to 2009; a Coventry band doing own material and covers gigs, playing to large audiences in big capacity pubs, colleges, corporate events, and private functions.
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Summer 2001, I recorded 28 tracks playing guitar with reggae legend Lee Scratch Perry, his first studio work in 15 years.
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Following worldwide success and a Grammy Award for best reggae album with the first release from the Lee Scratch Perry sessions, (the second album containing the 14 remaining songs from the original session having also received worldwide acclaim) the studio band recorded a DVD of a gig for Trojan Records featuring new & classic Lee Scratch Perry material for worldwide release, the first DVD to be released from this classic label.
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Played festivals & big gigs in the UK and Europe with 2Tone Collective, with ex-members of The Specials, Selecter, & The Beat.
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Early 2004, The Subterraneans were approached by Hazel O’Connor to be her band for a DVD of a gig in Brighton (Released Jan 2005), and to perform at Glastonbury. The marriage of the band and the legendary punk icon was quite successful; with 3 mini tours, live DVD, Glastonbury and other UK festivals. Also contributing to a track on Hazels album with legendary producer, Martin Rushent.
Did a session for Trojan to re-record an old Lee Scratch Perry classic called 'Return of Django' to be used on a Tax Credit commercial! I played everything including piano, except Sax!
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Late 2009 I joined cover band The Sheratones.
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I joined Pauline Black's band, The Selecter, early 2010 and did many gigs/festivals including Coachella and Riot Fest, in the US, UK, Europe, plus Australian and US tours, and a live & two studio albums.
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After 3 years of recording at a couple of friends home studios, I released my own album, with a video and single and a launch party, at which capacity was reached, and 250 people had to be turned away. I also appeared at The Godiva festival with my own band on the main stage in 2011.
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I left The Selecter in December 2014. Toured Australia with the Beat including Bluesfest. I joined The Neville Staple band for a short time in July 2015.
After playing guitar on an all star Pete Ham tribute in 2013 in his home town of Swansea October 2015, I was recruited to tour with Badfinger on bass in October 2015 featuring Bob Jackson on a 24 date UK tour.
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Joined Gerry & The Pacemakers in February 2016 & toured theatres and did cruises backing Steve Ellis, Wayne Fontana, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes, PJ Proby, Gary Puckett, & Barry Ryan, and ‘60’s tours with Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Tremeloes, Steve Ellis, Vanity Fair & The Searchers.
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Here's some of the artistes/bands I've played with and supported;
Wipeout The Jaguars The Style Council General Public Madness Bronski Beat A Craze The Questions Tracie Young Billy Bragg X Certs Beachmantango Out The Blue The Truth Squeeze Eddie Money T'Pau The Hooters The Duel 5Star The Mossbacks The Walnut Conspiracy Badfinger SpecialBeat No Doubt Steel Pulse Sting Voice Of The Beehive Was Not Was The D.T.'s Steve Gibbons Flying Tortellini's Fate Bob Brolly Roy Wood Dangerfield Dave Willets Mike Roberts The Primitives Mask Party Bon Jovi Joey Tempest The Beat Neville Staple Band The Specials Dangerfield Roy Wood Status Quo The Swains The 2tone Collective Dave Barker Lee Scratch Perry Box Of Blues Partners In Rhyme Boyce and Stanley Subterraneans The Selecter Human Cabbages Mr Ben Hazel O'Connor Pauline Black The Sheratones The Fortunes Gerry & The Pacemakers Steve Ellis Wayne Fontana, Brian Poole & The Tremeloes PJ Proby Gary Puckett Barry Ryan
I turned down Bros!