My brother in law is a Country & Western fan and I started playing when
I was about 5/6. He had given me an old unplayable steel string with a
2" fretboard action. I learnt a one finger G chord and played it non-stop
for 12 months till my fingers bled and then learnt the next chord.
My first paying gig was as a 14 year old in a cover band "ASH". We once
played for an all girls school party (still a career highlight!) That
lasted about three years in various forms.
I then played in original bands "Jahoolie", "Juniors Farne", "Rouge" and
"Gypsy" mostly jamming exploring styles such as acid, surf, reggae and
Jazz-fusion. From 1978-82 I was with "Cornerstone" playing both covers and
originals. We had dozens of gigs at the famed Eureka, Waurn Ponds,
Collendina and Sundowner hotels as support acts to some of the greatest
bands of that era.
In 1983 I played with "Tycoons", a cover band that toured around most of
Victoria and New South Wales.
1985-89 saw a move to "Bluesmobile", a floating 9 to 13 piece blues show
band also with a touch of Soul and R&B stuff. We played lots of 'Blues Brothers'
songs.
After this I had a break to concentrate on the business and expand all areas
of operations. Specifically to build and renovate our current premises at 175
Malop St to the total concept of what A & B Music is today. Also at this stage
with the continuous help of partner in life Anne, (the A of A & B Music) settled
into parenthood and we now have four children.
I still dabbled in playing during the 90's doing various fill in work and
also did a 12 month stint with "Way T' Go", a pub cover band.
Always wanting to evolve a blues based trio leaning to the R&B Chicago style,
I formed the "Lounge Lizards" in the late 90's as a parttime/fun band playing
the music we love. We still manage to play up to 12 gigs a year, enough to enjoy
it, but not to take away gigs from the "real" muso's of Geelong.
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I started playing guitar at the age of 16 but not seriously and I only knew
about 12 chords. I was given a present of a Maton CW/80 acoustic electric guitar
for my 40th birthday and decided to take the instrument more seriously. I took
a few lessons and approached the instrument with far more enthusiasm.
My main musical influences were Carlos Montoya and Paco Pena for Flamenco.
Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Thin Lizzie and ZZ Top
for Blues, Rhythm and Blues and Rock to name just a few.
I joined a band in Apollo Bay named "The Slammers" performing mainly covers,
especially "Thin Lizzie" as well as some original material. Career highlights
included playing in a huge shearing shed in front of a crowd of 1600 people at
"Up the Petticoat" New Years Eve gig in 1987 at Petticoat Creek near Apollo Bay,
and at the Lorne Hotel "Bottom Bar" in front 120+ Solicitors staying at the
Cumberland Hotel for a convention who waved $100 notes in front of us not to
stop playing!!
I taught guitar at Apollo Bay and Lorne schools for a number of years and
used to teach here at A & B Music after I started in 1985.
My priority here is focused on customer service and satisfaction and the day
to day smooth running of the store.
Part of this focus is to go into the schools and demonstrate the differences
between guitars, amplifiers, and effects units in a language the kids can relate
to.
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I started playing at 9 years of age and formed my first band when I was 16
called "Animal Underground". We disbanded when I spent a year in the USA,
where I bought the pride of my equipment, my Gibson Les Paul together with
my Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier.
Upon returning to Australia, I joined a band called "Rogues and Scholars"
which lasted six years, primarily playing covers. Next was "Planet Sponge"
which went through numerous changes over the years, ('Purple' and 'Kendra Kleg').
The band released 3 CD's and played festivals such as the "Vans Warped Tour" and
"Rock Above The Falls".
Currently I am playing acoustic gigs as "Pocket Life" with the lead singer
from "Planet Sponge" and still writing original material.
I began teaching guitar for A & B Music in 1996 and currently I am employed
by A & B Music as the co-ordinator of the music school which has grown to over
200 students. I am also involved in retail sales and the day to day operation
of the store.
My passion for music is as strong as it was when I was 16, I'm just a little
older and wiser now.
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I am everybody's worst nightmare! As the person responsible for the majority of the
administration of A & B Music, I have to keep the boys on their toes (someone has to
do it!).
My musical instrument knowledge is basically 20 years of having been involved with the
shop. As a child, I played the piano and the recorder (who didn't) for quite a few years
and I still enjoy the occasional tinker when no one is around.
My formal training has been in bookkeeping with 8 years experience in a local real
estate office before A & B Music.
I am in the shop approximately 20 hours per week but also work from my home office.
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Hey I'm Lucia, or as I most commonly get called around A & B 'Bill's daughter'. After completing high school in 2005 I stepped straight into the family business, doing a one year Retail Operations Traineeship. I am the person commonly misconceived as the ‘receptionist’ of the shop; however my main tasks are coordinating the music school and assisting Bill and Conrad with the general upkeep of the place.
I picked up the bass after being at the first annual ROCKfest and deciding bass was heaps cooler than anything else. After a couple of lessons I picked up a book and self-taught myself to where I am today. I formed my first original band Gone Without at 16 with a couple of other girls, which went on to perform regularly around the local underage scene for a couple of years. I then had a short stint in a covers band Sonic Holocaust and now play regularly with the covers band Plum Crazy which keeps me busy most weekends.
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