Simon Lees

Simon Lees – Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, Producer

Born 1970 in Wolverhampton.

Formed Wombourne rock band Osprey in 1986. Recorded “Scene of the Action” 6 song demo at Far Heath Studios in January 1989. Engineered and produced by Angus Wallace. http://www.urbanstreet.co.uk/engineer_angus_wallace.htm Simon quit Osprey in August that year.

In 1988 Simon began giving private guitar lessons. His first student was John Woodberry from Wombourne.

Formed Wolverhampton rock band Nitebreed in April 1990 and supported The Mock Turtles at Wolverhampton’s Wulfrun Hall in May that year. After a bad review the band broke up.

Simon did session work with nephew of ELO’s Kelly Grocutt; Gary Grocutt’s band The Red House Snakes in August 1990. Recorded a four song demo at RPK studio in Stourbridge – produced by Diamond Head’s Brian Tatler. In January 1991 Simon played guitar, bass and backing vocals on the Red House Snakes second demo at White Rabbit Studio in Bridgnorth. – produced by Ten keyboardist Paul Hodson.

In September 1991 Simon recorded his first solo demo “Buggy – When Will I Learn” at Eagleton Studio, Bilston. Produced by Mark “$had” White. On this demo Simon played all the instruments and vocals himself.

In May 1992 Simon re-formed Nitebreed and recorded their first demo at The Attic in Wolverhampton. Produced by Tom Smyth.

In October 1992 Simon formed Plain Jain with singer Adrian Marx. In April 1993 the band recorded “Better Late Than Never” demo at Magic Garden Studio in Wolverhampton. Produced by Gavin Monaghan.

In 1993, Simon co-produced demos by Wolverhampton bands; Almost Human and Graveyard Shift at Manley Studio, Wolverhampton.

In September 1993, Simon won a place in the finals of Guitarist Magazine’s Guitarist of the Year competition. The winner that year was Guthrie Govan.

In January 1994 Simon recorded and produced Plain Jain’s second Demo at Manley Studio. After playing 50 gigs in the West Midlands with Plain Jain, Simon was offered a gig with another band.

In April 1994 Simon joined Shropshire based rock band, Tantrum. He was interviewed with the band on The Reaper Rock Show on Chester FM and did several gigs in Wales and the South East.

In September 1994 Simon won a place in the finals of Guitarist Magazine’s Guitarist of the Year competition. The final took place at Wembley Exhibition Centre and Simon was accompanied by Charlie Morgan (drums), Hugh Burns (guitar) and Felix Krish (bass). The winner that year was Dave Colquhoun. The live performances from each contestant were recorded and released on the album “Guitarist of the Year 1994” on Music Maker Records. Catalogue No. CMMR951. Simon had two tracks on the CD; the self-penned Playing Truant and Playing Truant Underscore.

In October 1994 Simon left Tantrum to begin work producing backing tracks for his one man rock show.

In March 1995 Simon began performing his One Man Rock Show mainly in the West Midlands area with a notable performance at Full Sutton Prison Officer’s Club in Yorkshire.

In September 1995 Simon won a place in the finals of Guitarist Magazine’s Guitarist of the Year competition. The final took place at Wembley Exhibition Centre and Simon came in 2nd place. The winner was Paul Rose.

Between 1995 and 1997 Simon produced demos for Wombourne rock band Bliss which led to them getting signed by German label, Massacre Records. Simon played keyboards on their first album “Sin to Skin” which was released in 1998. Catalogue Number MAS CD0152.

In November 1998 Simon released his first solo CD – “My World” in which he played all the instruments. The album featured his own material and was a mixture of songs and instrumentals including his competition entries. Label: Bugjam Music. Catalogue No. BUGCD001.

Also in November 1998 Simon won a place in the finals of Guitarist Magazine’s Guitarist of the Year competition. The final took place at Wembley Exhibition Centre and this time Simon won. An interview on ITV’s Central News followed along with several newspaper articles and a feature in Guitarist magazine which included a track on the cover CD.

In January 1999 Simon performed an acoustic version of his song "Hunted" on the Jenny Wilkes afternoon show on BBC Radio WM. Jenny interviewed him about winning Guitarist of the Year, his new album My World and his One Man Rock Show.

In April 2000 Simon formed rock band Lost Souls with singer Lee Small. A four song demo was recorded at Mad Hat Studio in Walsall, produced by Mark Stuart. Having played their debut gig at JBs Dudley, Simon left the band in August 2000.

In September 2000 Simon joined Ozzy Osbourne tribute band Ozzmosis.

In November 2000 Simon appeared on ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes. He sang Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing”. He was beaten by Nicola Kirsch who went on to win the series.

In December 2000 Simon won a sponsorship deal with Black Dog Distribution, Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, and worked as a demonstrator for Palm Bay Guitars and Snarling Dogs effects pedals.

In 2001 Simon produced a three track demo for Ozzmosis and the band gigged in the West Midlands area.

In 2002 Simon was asked to test and review a revolutionary new guitar amplifier designed by Kidderminster based company Blue Tone.

In August 2002 Simon left Ozzmosis for financial reasons.

In 2003 Simon was asked to record two new songs for former Judas Priest singer Al Atkins’ remastered solo album “Heavy Thoughts”. These were Cradle to the Grave and Sentenced. The remastered version of the album was released in 2006 on the Market Square record label, catalogue number MSMCD120.

In February 2003 Simon was asked to join Welsh classic rock band Budgie. In September that year he recorded seven songs with the band which would later appear as bonus tracks on four of Budgie’s Remastered albums; Budgie, Sqwawk, Never Turn Your Back on a Friend and In For the Kill. These albums were released on the Noteworthy Productions label, catalogue numbers; NP2, NP3, NP4, NP5, NP6 respectively.

In August 2003 Simon released his second solo album “Freethinka”. Label: Bugjam Music. Catalogue No. BUGCD002. As with My World, the album features a mixture of songs and instrumentals in which Simon plays all the instruments himself. A tracks from the album entitled 2 B Frank was featured on Guitarist Magazine’s cover CD.

In 2004 Simon recorded guitar solos for an album by Neil Murray from The Hamptons. The album was called Krankschaft – Der Varterlands, described by Neil as a “piss take heavy metal album”. Released on The Longmede Label, Catalogue No. LLCD012. http://www.hamptons.org.uk/krankschaft_history.htm

In 2004 and 2005 Simon recorded guitar parts for Al Atkins’ solo album “Demon Deceiver” which also featured Diamond Head’s Brian Tatler and South African guitarist Mike de Jager. Simon also wrote the title track. The album was recorded at Mad Hat Studio near Wolverhampton and produced by Mark Stuart the album was released in 2007 on the Diesel and Glory label, catalogue number; DG003. Simon featured in the promo video for one of the album tracks “Victim of Changes” filmed by Mike de Jager at JB’s Dudley in 2005.

In 2005 Simon produced a guitar tuition DVD to demonstrate and teach his unique method of learning the guitar’s fretboard. The double disc DVD was called “Signpost to the Fretboard” and was filmed and edited by Mike de Jager.

In 2006 Simon wrote a series of tuition articles for internet magazine "All Out Guitar". The articles covered the subject of improvisation with pentatonic scales using the CAGED system.

In 2006 Simon was interviewed by John Ogden for Wolverhampton newspaper the Express and Star. The interview was largely biographical and was given a full page in the newspaper. As a result of this Simon was interviewed live on Jimmy Franks’ show on BBC Radio WM.

During 2005 and 2006 Simon co-wrote and recorded the Budgie album You're All Living in Cuckooland with bassist and singer Burke Shelley at his studio in Cardiff.

The album was produced by Burke Shelley and released in November 2006 on the Noteworthy Productions label, catalogue number NP15. Also in 2006 Simon played classical guitar on a track from the Remastered Budgie album "If I Were Brittania I'd Waive the Rules". The track was Black Velvet Stallion (2006 Version). Label: Noteworthy Productions, catalogue number NP7. Simon was not credited on the album.

Having played 115 gigs consisting of four UK tours and nineteen shows spread across five countries outside the UK, Simon left Budgie on 4 July 2007, three months before the band were due to play a three date Australian tour. Simon was later replaced by Dio guitarist Craig Goldy and in February 2008 Budgie completed a five date Australian tour.

In April 2007 Simon performed as the character Pop in the musical We Will Rock You at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton. Shout Productions produced the show and it managed three sold out performances during Easter weekend. This was the first time the show had ever been performed outside London’s West End.

Also in April 2007, Simon performed “Rockin' All Over the World” at Wolverhampton’s Molineux Stadium just before kick off between Wolves and Birmingham City.

In 2007 Simon formed rock band Anubis with bassist Pete Williamson, singer Sarah Co'Burn and former Budgie guitarist Andy Hart. Their self-produced debut album Sibuna was released in January 2008. Sibuna was mastered by Paul Cobbold.

Simon co-wrote, co-produced and mastered Anubis’ follow up EP Avatar which was released in November 2008.

In June 2009 Simon performed his first One Man Rock Show outside the UK at the Kulttuurikeskus Kaisain, Helsinki, Finland.

During the latter half of 2009 Simon produced Anubis’ second album Waking the Dead which was released in March 2010.

In February 2010 Simon recorded a three hour radio programme called The Pharaoh Rock Show which was broadcast at Easter on EKR internet radio. http://www.ekr.net/?p=&s=The%20EKR%20Team

In September 2010 Simon produced Anubis’ third album, Anubis Live which had been recorded at their gig at the Sonic Rock Solstice festival in June 2010.