Perfect Strangers - Cumbrian Deep Purple Show are:
Mike Ames (Keys - Hammond)
Born in London, Mike has a broad musical background initially learning classical piano and clarinet as a child. He is comfortable on or off stage, often to be found as rehearsal and pit band pianist for shows as well as having played in a series of blues, soul and vintage line ups - including 'The Lowdown' at various blues festivals and in Cindy and the Bullets in support of Big Country at Silloth Beer Festival. Mike plays jazz as part of quintet Suzy & The Jazz Cats,, MJazz2, and with the Cliff Eland Big Band, but when it comes to hard rock the colour has to be Deep Purple.
Born in London, Mike has a broad musical background initially learning classical piano and clarinet as a child. He is comfortable on or off stage, often to be found as rehearsal and pit band pianist for shows as well as having played in a series of blues, soul and vintage line ups - including 'The Lowdown' at various blues festivals and in Cindy and the Bullets in support of Big Country at Silloth Beer Festival. Mike plays jazz as part of quintet Suzy & The Jazz Cats,, MJazz2, and with the Cliff Eland Big Band, but when it comes to hard rock the colour has to be Deep Purple.
Jimmy Bell (Bass)
A multi talented professional musician of 30 years, Jimmy plays a wide range of instruments, ranging from bass, piano, six string, guitar and banjo. Jimmy’s passion for playing started at a young age, forming his first band when he was 18. Jimmy has gone on to do musicals such as War of the Worlds, Wedding Singer and Bugsy Malone. Jimmy’s last band, Salvador, gained quite a following and proved to be very successful touring around the country.
A multi talented professional musician of 30 years, Jimmy plays a wide range of instruments, ranging from bass, piano, six string, guitar and banjo. Jimmy’s passion for playing started at a young age, forming his first band when he was 18. Jimmy has gone on to do musicals such as War of the Worlds, Wedding Singer and Bugsy Malone. Jimmy’s last band, Salvador, gained quite a following and proved to be very successful touring around the country.
Dave Brough (Vocals - Harmonica, Congas)
Born in Workington, founder member of the band, Dave, has lived in both Northern Ireland and Maryport, listing his musical influences as: The Beatles, his Dad, Paul Rodgers, Robert Plant and of course Ian Gillan - Deep Purple MkII, and with Steve Morse Mk VII and the current MKVIII.
Dave sang in West Cumbrian Band Raw Deal from 1986-1991, the band having reasonable success (including a re-form briefly between 2009 -2012) performing regularly in Dumfries (White Hart), Workington (Munroes Bar), Lancaster University, Furness College, Sugar House (Lancaster), Sandpiper (Redcar), Sands Centre (Carlisle) and Brewery Arts Centre (Kendal); Radio Play on the Tommy Vance Show and supporting The Mission, Quire boys, Demon and Excalibur also formed part of the scene. Between 2007 and 2010 Dave sang with Blues/Rock band the Moonlighters who performed regularly at Maryport Blues Festival.
Despite being the only remaining original member of Perfect Strangers, (formed originally with mainly members of Raw Deal), when pushed Dave does quietly confess to having once been fired himself. Dave was however instrumental in re-forming the band and is enthusiastic about the latest line up, and looks foward to developing further, to embrace more of MKVII and MKVIII material as well as MKII.
Born in Workington, founder member of the band, Dave, has lived in both Northern Ireland and Maryport, listing his musical influences as: The Beatles, his Dad, Paul Rodgers, Robert Plant and of course Ian Gillan - Deep Purple MkII, and with Steve Morse Mk VII and the current MKVIII.
Dave sang in West Cumbrian Band Raw Deal from 1986-1991, the band having reasonable success (including a re-form briefly between 2009 -2012) performing regularly in Dumfries (White Hart), Workington (Munroes Bar), Lancaster University, Furness College, Sugar House (Lancaster), Sandpiper (Redcar), Sands Centre (Carlisle) and Brewery Arts Centre (Kendal); Radio Play on the Tommy Vance Show and supporting The Mission, Quire boys, Demon and Excalibur also formed part of the scene. Between 2007 and 2010 Dave sang with Blues/Rock band the Moonlighters who performed regularly at Maryport Blues Festival.
Despite being the only remaining original member of Perfect Strangers, (formed originally with mainly members of Raw Deal), when pushed Dave does quietly confess to having once been fired himself. Dave was however instrumental in re-forming the band and is enthusiastic about the latest line up, and looks foward to developing further, to embrace more of MKVII and MKVIII material as well as MKII.
Ben Draper (Guitar)
Our new guitarist is Carlisle's own Ben Draper. Ben has been teaching guitar and piano in the Carlisle area for over twenty years and is heavily inspired by his love of deep Purple, which started at an early age. Having played in many musicals in Cumbria such as Sister Act, Hairspray, Grease, Les Miserables (and many more!), as well as his own solo guitar music on stage at Music On The Mar, Cockermouth Rock Festival and others, Ben is comfortable on stage and is usually wearing a big smile! "There's nothing quite like playing the music of Deep Purple, and it's alot of fun on stage delivering it".
In Perfect Strangers, Ben is , in true Deep Purple tradition, afforded the freedom of improvised solos and enjoys it to the full, taking the audience on a nostalgic journey of Steve Morse quotes mixed with his own interpretations; soloing ferociously on some songs, gently and melodically on others... often improvising musically answering Dave Brough's vocal lines and occasionally duelling with Mike Ames Hammond organ.
Which is of course, just as it should be.
Our new guitarist is Carlisle's own Ben Draper. Ben has been teaching guitar and piano in the Carlisle area for over twenty years and is heavily inspired by his love of deep Purple, which started at an early age. Having played in many musicals in Cumbria such as Sister Act, Hairspray, Grease, Les Miserables (and many more!), as well as his own solo guitar music on stage at Music On The Mar, Cockermouth Rock Festival and others, Ben is comfortable on stage and is usually wearing a big smile! "There's nothing quite like playing the music of Deep Purple, and it's alot of fun on stage delivering it".
In Perfect Strangers, Ben is , in true Deep Purple tradition, afforded the freedom of improvised solos and enjoys it to the full, taking the audience on a nostalgic journey of Steve Morse quotes mixed with his own interpretations; soloing ferociously on some songs, gently and melodically on others... often improvising musically answering Dave Brough's vocal lines and occasionally duelling with Mike Ames Hammond organ.
Which is of course, just as it should be.
Nev Holmes (Drums)
Nev has been playing drums since the age of 10. That's a long time ago! He is equally at home playing Jazz, Funk, Latin,Blues, Reggae, Rock and of course Deep Purple.
Nev went to music college in the 1990's and his first paid gig was with a jaxx trio. To Nev there are two sorts of music: music that's done well and music that isn't.
Nev has been playing drums since the age of 10. That's a long time ago! He is equally at home playing Jazz, Funk, Latin,Blues, Reggae, Rock and of course Deep Purple.
Nev went to music college in the 1990's and his first paid gig was with a jaxx trio. To Nev there are two sorts of music: music that's done well and music that isn't.