Steve Rawlinson - Guitar

Steve1 Steve has been playing in bands since the late 70's having been inspired to pick up the guitar by one Alistair Cleminson otherwise known as Zal, the harlequin suited guitar god from The Sensational Alex Harvey Band. Although debuting at a local youth club and playing in garage heavy metal bands like Warlord, the first serious gigs took place in his native Manchester with founder members of the Manchester Musicians Collective, No Change. Other Collective luminaries were A Certain Ratio, The Passage, The Hoax, Durutti Column, Frantic Elevators (featuring a young Mick Hucknall) and Joy Division. The Collective held court at Manchester's famous Band on the Wall, where Steve would play gigs with No Change and legendary blues pioneer Victor Brox - himself in the original stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar and playing and recording with Hendrix, Alexis Korner, Aynsley Dunbar's Retaliation and a whole host of others. The lead guitarist in No Change - 'Nick Clarke' - went on to form the hard gigging Yes Sir, while Steve was asked to join the Frantic Elevators - "I didn't because they were crap". Amongst the high spots playing with Victor and No Change were playing Deeply Vale - the Glastonbury of the North - and extensive gigging throughout the North West of England.


Steve2 Steve3 The 1980's represented a musically low profile for Steve until 1992, after moving to York, Steve saw Zal play in the Sensational Party Boys - guitar time again!! Once again striding into action, this time with guitar worn very low, saw the formation and leadership of a series of punk/pop bands including Ask Alice, Gunner Graham, Monodrone and HoneyTrap - the latter enjoying great reviews and a following through the North East - and supporting touring bands like the UK Subs, 999, The Lurkers, Crazyhead and The Godfathers. Their 'On the Town' CD is now sought after and rare to find.
After ten years of mayhem Steve has, with Sharon, David and Ruth, formed The Amplifires, playing an eclectic mix of new, old and original material.



Still wearing the guitar low and mean Steve strives to create the perfect wall of sound and embodies the bands ethos of 'turning it up to 11'.

Steve's Gear

Steve uses guitars he has grown to depend on and is a confirmed Gibson and Gibson type player. His current arsenal includes:

Gibson

1981 Gibson Les Paul Heritage Standard 80 Elite
1980 Gibson Les Paul Heritage Standard 80 Elite
1980 Gibson Les Paul Standard Gold Top
1969 Gibson J45

Yamaha

Late 1970's Yamaha SG 1000S
Early 1980's Yamaha SG 1000S
1996 Yamaha SG 1000S - Limited Edition Anniversary

Heritage

2001 Heritage H535

Marshall

2 x Marshall 6101 'Anniversary' 100 watt combos
2 x Marshall 1912 extension cabinets
Marshall 'Anniversary' 100W head
Marshall 'Anniversary' 1960A 4 x 12 cab

Other

AKG rack wireless system
Korg rack DTR 1000 tuner