TUCK

Tuck is an original singer, songwriter & guitarist from Bedfordshire in the UK who can best be described as, Jimi Hendrix goes acoustic. He is backed up in the studio and at most gigs by drummer, percussionist & producer Jay Purcell.

BIOG

Jimi Hendrix was where it all started. After borrowing a cassette from a friend, I just could not believe the power of one man and a guitar.

So I set out to try to learn the guitar. Immersing myself in the music of Jimi Hendrix, and then his influences, as well as the likes of 'Cream' and 'The Who'. Generally loads of Sixties music.

I befriended a kid at school who played. He taught me how to tune, play chords and a couple of scales. After a few months of a hard, strict, practise regime I started to surprise myself.

Within six months I was jammin' at lunchtime, with a lad at school. Tons of people, hearing screeching feedback coming from the theatre hall, would stop by to listen.

Becoming obsessed with playing, I quit school to play fulltime. My decision may also have been swayed by fighting in class, and breaking a computer. I just wasn't into it anymore.

I managed to save enough money to buy a Marshall stack, 4 x 12, and all the effect gadgets that Jimi had. I even tracked down Hendrix's original effects pedal guru to have an exact replica pedal built.

Then, like some possessed nut, I turned it up to all the right overtones and feedback. After a few days of playing at number 10, my ears just caved in from the sound pressure.

This was not good. I could no longer stand anything that was remotely loud. I had to give up playing guitar for a whole year.

The experience cost me dearly. After receiving specialist help for my ears I was able to start playing again. But I thought it best to trade in the Marshall stack for an acoustic guitar and a small combo amp.

Now, getting acoustic, was something different. I started to listen to folk music, Davey Graham and Bert Jansch, as well as the jazz of Miles Davies and John Coltrane.

Around this time I joined a band with a couple of friends. We began doing regular gigs.

It wasn't until about three years of playing acoustic that I started singing and writing my own songs. This was where I traded Hendrix for Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Terry Callier and Tim Buckley, among others. Still playing in various bands my own acoustic material was rarely heard, except for the odd occasion.

Just for myself really, I decided to record some of the songs.