Phil Bates
| Phil Bates | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Philip Bates |
| Born |
30 March 1953 Tamworth, Staffordshire |
| Genres | Rock, Pop, Blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Notable instruments | |
| Guitar, drums, piano, mandolin, bass guitar | |
Philip Bates (born 30 March 1953) is an English musician who has been a member of many notable bands, including Trickster and Quill, and was the lead guitarist, songwriter and joint lead vocalist for ELO Part II from 1993 through to 1999.
Bates was born in Tamworth, Staffordshire. At the age of twelve he formed his first band, The Wild Four, which was soon renamed The Teenbeats. Bates moved away from his home town of Tamworth at age 17 in 1970, living in Handsworth, Birmingham, and working in Birmingham music store, Ringway Music (which was owned by jazz musicians Ken Ingarfield, Lionel Rubin, and George Watts).
In 1970, Bates joined Wolverhampton heavy-rock band, JUG, playing several stints at Glasgow's infamous Electric Garden on Sauchiehall Street. Next was a complete musical reversal when Bates joined cabaret/folk band, Enigma, which was being groomed to challenge the New Seekers, by Morgan Music/Studios in London. Enigma became Quill in 1972, releasing a single 'Spent The Rent' on the EMI's Parlophone label. Next was a stint as a solo artist, with a publishing deal with Southern Music, and a single. 'Mr Hand Me Down' released under the name Billy Bates on Spark Records followed in 1974. In 1976, Bates put out 'Take to the Mountains' under the name, Billy Bates Company. During the 1970s, Bates established himself as a session musician on the London recording scene, doing sessions for Billy Ocean, Alvin Stardust ... and for producers like Steve Lillywhite, Colin Thurston and Tony Visconti, plus many TV and radio jingles.
During a spell as a resident musician in London's Piccadilly at the Piazza restaurant, Bates formed Trickster. Trickster released one single, 'Flyaway', on the United Artists label before signing with ELO's record label, Jet Records, and being managed by the infamous Don Arden. Several singles and two albums were released by Jet, 'Find the Lady' and 'Back to Zero'. Trickster enjoyed minor chart successes with the singles 'If That's The Way The Feeling Takes You' in the USA, and 'I'm Satisfied' in the UK, and featured as support band on ELO's ground-breaking and spectacular 1978 Spaceship world tour. Trickster also appeared as Boston's "Special Guest" during their 1979 tour for "Don't Look Back".
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