Alan Castles (Bass Guitar and Backing Vocals)
Born Dundee, Scotland 25th February 1948. Started out on drums in a Boys' Brigade band. Played stroke and actually had a fully fledged drummer's badge and thought I was Brian Bennett of the Shadows!! Started my first real band at age 16 in Greenock with guys I was friends with and decided that I would become a lead guitarist like Hank Marvin. Probably also influenced with the fact that I could not afford a proper drum kit, but one of my friends in this group who was in the same Boys' Brigade band as me already had one. Incidentally he failed the drummer's badge! Band was called the Silhouettes with the nickname the silly gets! And I played lead guitar and backing vocals. Started with a left hand Watkins rapier and ended up with a left handed faded red (salmon pink) Fender Stratocaster (1962 vintage) that cost me £'s too much, as I was ripped off trying to pay it on the never never. Like Charlie I wish I had it now. Band History on lead guitar: Silhouettes (1962 - 1966) : Band Members: Alan Castles (Lead Guitar/Vocals); Tommy Cameron (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals); David Docherty (Bass Guitar/Vocals); Jim Robertson (Drums) First Lead vocalist: Ross Ritchie; Second Lead vocalist: Tony Holton; Last and Final Lead vocalist: Alex McKinney. Played at most of the dance halls around Greenock, Gourock, Paisley, and Glasgow and played at Basingstoke festival in 1966 (the Troggs were top billing). Claim to fame in Glasgow -Played on same bill at Dennistoun Palais with Lulu and the Lovers! Motion "A" (1967 - 1969) : Band Members: Alan Castles (Lead Guitar/Vocals); Tommy Cameron (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals) then Tommy Lynch; David Docherty (Bass Guitar/Vocals); Jim Robertson (Drums) Lead vocalist: Alex McKinney. Once again played most of the major dance halls and toured around Scotland on the same bills as the Marmalade, Beatstalkers, Tear Gas, Salvation (Pre Ure), Dream Police and once with the Who (they lasted 10 minutes on stage with Pete Townsend pissed as a fart) 1969 - 1970: Left Motion A (early 1969) to get married but (needing the bread) started up a two piece with the ex- rhythm guitarist of the Sillygets playing locally and made four times the money as I did in Motion A. 1970 - 1971: Joined a local four piece group - (Can't remember the name but probably "The Tom Bell Band") with the ex drummer of the Silhouettes. The guitarist singer would not get a bass player in to the line up (his wife was singing in the band and when it came to money or a bass guitarist - no contest) I decided to buy a 24 fret Framus Bass Guitar and fill in on bass for some of the numbers that I thought needed a bass guitar sound. - Start thereafter of love for bass guitar. Band History on Bass guitar: A Four (Dec 1971 - March 1973): Band Members: Alan Castles (Bass Guitar/Vocals); Alex Mustard (Keyboards); Alistair Fraser (Drums) Alex McKinney (Lead vocals). Played most of the local club venues. Aquarius (July 73 - Jan 1974): Band Members: Alan Castles (Bass Guitar/Vocals); Tommy Lynch (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals) Bill Thomson (Lead Guitar); Billy Milliken (Drums) Janet Bailey (Lead vocals). Played all of the local club venues. Edge -1 (Feb 1974 - Sep 1975) Band Members: Alan Castles (Bass Guitar/Vocals); David Cleary (Lead Guitar/Vocals); Alistair Fraser (Drums) Alex McKinney (Lead vocals). Played most of the rock type venues locally and toured northern England a few times. Edge -2 (Jan 1976 - May 1976) Band Members: Alan Castles (Bass Guitar/Vocals); David Cleary (Lead Guitar/Vocals); George Leggat (Lead Guitar/Keyboards/Vocals) Alistair Fraser (Drums) Jim Paul (Lead vocals). Played most of the rock type venues locally. Aquarius (June 1976 - August 1976) Band Members: Alan Castles (Bass Guitar/Vocals); Tommy Lynch (Rhythm Guitar/Vocals) Bill Thomson (Lead Guitar); Billy Milliken (Drums) Janet Milliken (Lead vocals). Played all of the local club venues. Listen (August 1976 - September 1980) Band Members: Alan Castles (Bass Guitar/Vocals); Hugh Cushnagen (Lead Guitar / Vocals); Jimmy Johnston (Drums) Alex McKinney (Lead vocals). Played all of the local club venues. Page 5 (September 1980 - October 1992) Band Members: Alan Castles (Bass Guitar/Vocals); Jimmy Barr (Lead Guitar/Vocals); Jim McDade (Keyboards/Vocals) David Quayle (Drums) Jim Paul (Lead vocals). Played all of the major Scottish club venues. River Island (January 1993 - August 1998) Band Members: Alan Castles (Bass Guitar/Vocals); Bob Hendry (Lead Guitar/Vocals); Jimmy Barr (Lead Guitar/Vocals); Barry Kelly (Keyboards/Vocals) David Quayle (Drums) John Clark (Guitar/Lead vocals). Played all of the major Glasgow Area club venues. Retired 1998 - COMEBACK 2005 Dymensha (Jan 2005 to Present) Lead Guitar influences - early in careerChet Atkins
Hank Marvin
Zal Clements - Alex Harvey band Bass Guitar influences
James Jamerson - Mr Motown (the Funk Bros)
Andy Fraser -Free
Colin Hodgkinson - Back door
Jaques Pastorious - I wish
Mark King - Level 42
Billy Sheehan - Mr Big; David Lee Roth and Steve Vai bands Backing Vocal arrangements / harmony Influences
Beatles; Byrds; Eagles; Hollies
ABBA - believe it or not