Soft Touch Blues Band
Soft Touch are an Essex based Rock and Blues covers band, the core of which has been around since 1992. We play 30+ gigs a year and are regulars on the South East gig circuit.
We are also available for private hire - parties, weddings, functions, etc.
We have one motto "No egos, no bad songs, no dress sense".
We will do any song as long as we think it's a good one and will (or has) withstood the test of time, so anything from the 50's classic 'Rock 'n' Roll' up to recent chart stuff.
Please feel free to browse the site... look at our set list and gig pix, download a few songs, watch the video clips, or for all the anoraks out there, why not check out our bio's and gear list.
If you like what you see, click on the gig list, and come and see us! Alternatively, go to the contacts page and drop us an e mail if you'd like to make a booking.
Hope to see ya soon!
‘Twas the summer of 1965, I was 9 years old, and my elder brother, two friends, and I decided to raise some money for Oxfam. It was agreed that we should organise a garden fete, with all the sideshows, and home cooking stalls. The finale was to be a musical performance, albeit mimed!, by the earliest, and youngest Beatles tribute band ever!! We mimed to “I feel fine”, and their latest number one hit “Ticket to ride”. My “kit” comprised of a washing–up bowl with cellophane stretched across it, saucepan lids for cymbals, and knitting needles for sticks! My first gig!! At the age of 14, I got involved with some guys, and we formed a band. I bought my first ‘proper kit’ for the princely sum of £10. It was an Olympic / Premier, held together by string and elastic bands (hi-tech in those days!), and we jammed together, but never gigged. Soon after that all fell apart, I discovered girls, and beer, and football……here endeth the drumming career for the foreseeable future!, until I was introduced to a pro musician at a party, Laurie, at the age of 20. We got chatting, and he invited me to a jam session with some other members of his band. I hired a kit, and we had a great time. Continued doing this for a few years, he built a studio in his house, and we’d lay down tracks, but he didn’t want to gig any more. He was more interested in the technical side of things. Met and married my wife, and Laurie was my best man. Met Martyn (our current bass player), and discovered that he too was a cupboard muso. Invited him along to jam with us, met some more guys (who were also cupboard musos), invited them along, and recorded our 1st album (in the loosest possible terms!). Sadly, Laurie contracted cancer and died in October 1992. His last weeks had been spent in a hospice, who anyone who has experienced them will know, do a truly magnificent job caring for the terminally ill. We decided to commemorate Laurie’s short life, and raise some much needed funds for the hospice at the same time, by performing a one – off benefit gig. This we did, and people who were there were asking why they hadn’t seen us before, and when and where was our next gig. This was the ‘kick up the arse’ that we needed, and we started gigging. After a few personnel changes, and a name change, that sort of brings us up to date, with Martyn and me being the remaining original members of the band. Steve Godden All my own words!! |
Having a sister 5 years older than me, my first musical experience was Tamla Motown, followed by the Beatles and Rolling Stones. However, when I was 14 (in 1967!), I went to see the original Fleetwood Mac at the Manor House in north London, and was totally blown away by their music. That memory has lasted to this day. My other heroes from that era were: The Who, Cream, Taste, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash, Uriah Heep, ZZ Top, ACDC and of course, Status Quo! In the last 15 years or so, a band who I've come to greatly admire are Nine Below Zero. So much so that our band is named after one of their songs. I've seen them dozens of times and they never disappoint. While at school, I started to learn the trumpet, then the clarinet, but hankered after the guitar. Then one day, my mum (bless her) bought me a £5 Spanish guitar. That was the end of the clarinet! I had a couple of lessons to learn some chords, then splashed out £10 on a knackered electric guitar, a Futurama. It was my pride and joy! I soon discovered that I wasn’t going to be the next Eric Clapton, and changed over to the bass guitar. At the age of 18, some schoolmates and I formed our first band, ‘Heavy Blue’, which became ‘Claxton Smash’ after some personnel changes. We were awful! After a year or so, we folded, and I had to sell all my gear to repay my dad, who had financed it for me. Jump forward 20 years or so. Steve (our drummer) had a mate Laurie, who had been a pro musician, and had a wonderful collection of guitars. Tragically, he became very ill, and passed away at the age of 41. Steve, myself, and three others (Pete, Stan and Don) got together, rehearsed 5 times and did a benefit gig for the hospice that looked after Laurie in his final weeks. The ‘Painful Truth’ were born! We stayed together for about 5 years, then after some personnel changes became ‘Soft Touch’. Trevor joined us in March 2004, and he brought with him his influences. He left for pastures new at the end of July 2007, and Andy Haines has become our new front man.He completes present the line up of Steve Godden (drums), Richard Monk (lead guitar), Terry Rance (rhythm guitar), and myself on bass. We're having a whale of a time, and often people say to us how much we seem to be enjoying ourselves when we play. There's no 'seem' about it - we love what we do. I've always said that a good gig is better than s#x, but don't tell the wife! |
My name is Terry Rance, rhythm guitarist of Soft Touch Rock & Blues Band. I've been around the block a few times, playing in rock bands since the age of 12.
First Band:
The Tinted Aspex.
That was back in the early 1970s. Our first gig was at Marsh Street Church Hall; we got paid £3 and had to sweep the floor afterwards!
It got a bit better after that and we had a good following in the Waltham Forest area until the band finished in 1972.
Next band:
Iron Maiden.
Myself, Dave Sullivan and Steve Harris formed the band in 1972.
Our first gigs were at the Cart & Horses in Stratford, London, every other Saturday, then we went on to play at The Ruskin Arms and The Bridge House, Canning Town. We played mainly our own stuff. I co-wrote Innocents & Exile and Iron Maiden with Steve and Dave.
After two years in the band I decided to leave because I didn't like the direction it was going.... I know, Don't ask.
Next Band:
After a long break from the rock scene I joined the rock band Lizard, Mainly writing and playing our own stuff, we were gigging all over the place.
My best gig with this band was the legendary Marquee Club. I had always dreamed of playing there.
We released an album, I think it was in 1993. Unfortunately it didn't do as well as we hoped, so the band lost interest (as you do) and split up in 1995.
Current band:
Soft Touch.
I've been with the band about 4 years now, playing rhythm guitar and loving every minute of it. They're a great bunch of guys to work with.
Gear:
I mainly use a Gibson SG with a 50 watt Marshall rack system, with a bit of delay, chorus and plenty of wellie!
Musical Influences:
AC/DC, Wishbone Ash, Stray and Judas Priest
Ambition in life:
To be able to grow a fringe again
Started playing guitar at 15. Bought first guitar for £1 (10 shillings as 16th Birthday present from parents + my savings); a Hohner semi-acoustic with pickup. It's up in the loft and must be worth nearly two pounds by now. Played it for 2 years through a valve radio before buying a Watkins 15 watt amplifier (I'm still using the 'Power Bass' cabinet).
Early musical influences had been Russ Conway, Hank Marvin, Charles Penrose, Bo Vinberg, and later Django Reinhardt, Richard Thompson, Herbie Flowers, Jimi Hendrix, Tim Fleming, Jeff Beck, Bryn Haworth and Eric Clapton
Joined 'Bluitt', a group named after Dick Blewett (Sax player), formed by cousin Rob Marshall in early 70's. Played various parties / dinner dances and also the 1974 Lady Margaret Hall / Trinity May Ball in Oxford. The group disintegrated in the late 70's as various personnel moved away / married / their strings broke etc.
In the mid 90's met the blues band 'Painful Truth', and later joined them as rhythm guitarist becoming a founder member of the band; renamed 'Soft Touch'. Peter Rose, on lead guitar, left in 2002 to tour Greece, and I took his place; a sideways move, since I now stand next to the bass player!
What can I say? Sometimes a phenomenon falls to earth from the firmament, bestowing the common man with a taste of genius.
This is how I like to think the rest of the guys felt when they were fortunate enough to stumble across my undeniable virtuosity. I've been singing as long as I can remember, which, depending on the amount of alcohol I've consumed that day, can be as much as a few hours, and it gives me a warm feeling inside when they refer to me as "Our Soul" - at least I think that's what they are saying...
My equipment inventory is a microphone, coupled with some form of device to make it loud (stop me if i'm getting too technical), and some paper with words on.
Oh, and I also have a couple of very nice guitars - an Ovation 'Celebrity' electro-acoustic, and a home-made double humbuckered bling-matic (hand hewn by myself from the tree of rock!), put through a Laney GC50A amp, which I will sometimes pull out in a (usually very successful) attempt to ruin the good work of the other guys.
A potted musical history:
Haven't been doing this stuff for very long, joined my first band, a blues outfit called 'Not Dead Yet' about 5 years ago, and realised that there was only so much 12 bar you could do before becoming bored rigid, and subsequently suicidal (I still hear the voices...).
After a year or so, the guitarist and myself formed 'The Ultra Thin Sensation' (saw it on a condom machine), which, through members coming and going became 'Stone Cold', and finally we merged with a recently fragmented but well known band in the Essex and London area 'The Rusty Sheriffs'.
I left in March '07, because I didn't like the direction the music was going - I'm a classic rock man, and being told we were going to do more and more light and airy chart stuff just didn't blow my frock up.
What DOES blow my frock up is power rock from the 60's to 80's such as Floyd, Queen, Bon Jovi, ZZ Top, and the like (yeah, Grandad rock - well, I AM over 40!)
Mic: |
Shure SM58A beta uhf wireless microphone with PGX24 receiver. DB Technologies wireless in-ear monitoring system |
Guitar: |
Ovation 'Celebrity' Electro-acoustic |
Amp: |
Laney GC50A |
P.A: |
Soundlab 600+600 stereo powered mixer. |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Monk |
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Guitars: |
Cherry red Gibson 335. Sunburst Gibson Les Paul. Black Fender Stratocaster. Cherry red Gibson SG. |
Amp: |
Marshall DSL 50. Fender Vibrolux. Various effects pedals. |
Terry Rance |
|
Guitars: |
Cherry red Gibson SG Standard. Fender Stratocaster LAG electro-acoustic |
Amp: |
Marshall 80 x 80 rack system with Marshall 2x12 cab. |
Steve Godden |
|
Drums, Cymbals & Hardware: |
PDP by Drum Workshop MX series. Evans G1-G2 heads. Paiste 20" power ride. Sabian AA 19" rock crash. Sabian AA 18" medium thin crash. Sabian AA 16" medium thin crash. Sabian HH 12" splash. Sabian 16'' AAX stage crash. Sabian AAX 14" stage hats. DW 7000 series kick pedal. DW Pearl 'Gibraltar' stands. |
Accessories: |
Zyldjian 5B Dipped sticks. Protection Racket custom cases. Samson drum mics. Peavey 6 channel mixer. Stageline 100 watt powered foldback monitor. |
Guitars: |
Two Musicman Sterlings - 1 red, 1 gold. Mazeti TB-10 'Thunderbird'. |
Amps: |
Trace Elliot AH350 head with Trace Elliot 4 x 10'' and 1 x 15'' cabs. Ashdown MAG 300 C210T 2x10" 300 watt combo. Ashdown 1x15" extension cab. |
Other Gear: |
Samson 'Airline' UHF Wireless Guitar System. Shure SM58 microphone. |
Walking By Myself |
Gary Moore |
Tush |
ZZ Top |
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Close To You |
Stevie Ray Vaughn |
Keep On Rockin' |
Alvin Lee |
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Red House |
Jimi Hendrix |
Hear Me Calling |
Ten Years After |
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Soft Touch |
Nine Below Zero |
Feel Like Makin' Love |
Bad Company |
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She's a Loaded Gun |
Nine Below Zero |
Can't Get Enough of Your Love |
Bad Company |
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The Hunter |
Free |
Honkey Tonk Woman |
Rolling Stones |
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All Right Now |
Free |
Black Magic Woman |
Fleetwood Mac / Santana |
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Wishing Well |
Free |
Stop Messin' Around |
Fleetwood Mac |
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Born To Be Wild |
Steppenwolf |
Need Your Love So Bad |
Fleetwood Mac |
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Summertime Blues |
Eddie Cochran / Who |
Caroline |
Status Quo |
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Johnny B Goode |
Take Your Pick! |
Gimme Some Lovin' |
Spencer Davis |
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I Hear You Knocking |
Dave Edmunds / Alvin Lee |
Summer Of '69 |
Bryan Adams |
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All Or Nothing |
Small Faces |
Rocking In The Free World |
Neil Young |
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Get Over It |
Eagles |
Come Together |
The Beatles |
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Great Balls Of Fire |
Jerry Lee Lewis |
Bad Case Of Lovin' You |
Robert Palmer |
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20th Century Boy |
T-Rex |
Tie Your Mother Down |
Queen |
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You Really Got me |
Kinks |
I Believe |
Soft Touch |
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Mustang Sally |
Wilson Pickett |
You Shook Me All Night Long |
ACDC |
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Teenage Kicks |
Undertones |
You Give Love A Bad Name |
Bon Jovi |
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Boys Of Summer |
Don Henley / The Ataris |
Pride And Joy |
Stevie Ray Vaughn |
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Vertigo |
U2 |
Paranoid |
Black Sabbath |
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Hard to Handle |
Black Crowes |
Wanted Dead Or Alive |
Bon Jovi |
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Movin' On |
Gary Moore |
Rockstar |
Nickelback |
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Rebel Yell |
Billy Idol |
Whiskey In The Jar |
Metallica / Thin Lizzie |
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