Meet the band
Dave
Lead Guitar/Vocals
Dave Howman is a brilliant lead guitarist, fact! But he is also a writer and producer and has had hits with SHOWADDYWADDY, THE DRIFTERS and KELLY MARIE. (6 No1s in Europe) He also co-wrote most of the music for most of THE MONTY PYTHON MOVIES including MONTY PYTHON & THE HOLY GRAIL, MONTY PYTHON & THE MEANING OF LIFE, highlights being THE SPERM SONG from The Meaning of Life and BRIAN from THE LIFE OF BRIAN. Dave has written loads of music for Film and Television including ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE and RIPPING YARNS loads of kids stuff including Rubbish, King of the Jumble, Boo! and BB3B plus HIMALAYA and NEW EUROPE with MICHAEL PALIN. From the small screen to the BIG screen with WIND IN THE WILLOWS, and MUMBO JUMBO and new for 2008/9 JOURNEY TO THE MOON, HALO BOY, and CHEMICAL WEDDING and he has been BAFTA nominated twice! Dave has played guitar at every major venue in the UK and has toured extensively in Europe and the U.S. And is a founder member of THE BIZZARROS, where he was press ganged into the band by Lez our bass guitarist who toured and played with him when they were both lads!
Isaac
Lead Vocals/Keyboards
The youngest member of THE BIZZARROS, Isaac Rose has been in the music business since the age of 15, and started playing the piano at just 4, and singing at 11. He was a keen actor till the age of 14 and performed at the Her Majesty’s Theatre and The Palladium as well as appearing in JOSEPH AND HIS TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT the film starring Donny Osmond, Richard Attenborough and Joan Collins. He also appeared in HOLBY CITY and HOPE AND GLORY, as well as singing on the soundtrack to the film ‘THE THREE KINGS’. After receiving a scholarship to college for music he started writing and taking music more seriously. Not long after that he was playing at parties, and receptions gaining great experience, and it was in a burger joint in North London where he was spotted by the band, who were impressed by the fact the manager kept telling him to sing quieter, the rest is history, he joined the band, where he became the very animated vocalist and frontman of THE BIZZARROS, currently recording a solo album with Workhard Records and Zac Wayne producing, plus working on the new Bizzarros album !
Jim
Virtuoso Harmonica Player
Decades of live and studio work playing the harmonica have made JIM DARBY a master of his instrument in a way few can, to adapt the harmonica to any kind of popular music: Soul, Rock, Blues, Country, Folk, Bluegrass or pure-Pop takes a huge amount of talent as well as practise. The versatility of his playing ranges from complex stylistic fusions to beautiful, emotive ballads and from atmospheric Blues to fast-moving Country-Rock, you only have to listen to Jim’s playing to find proof that the harmonica is without limitations and is certain to become one of the virtuoso instruments of the 21st Century. His claims to fame are many and include winning the WORLD HARMONICA CHAMPIONSHIP, he has played and recorded with the late ALEXIS KORNER, FLEETWOOD MAC, JOOLS HOLLAND amongst many others and has released solo albums including the critically acclaimed ‘Southern Region Breakdown’ which featured Ray Fenwick on guitar, BJ Cole on pedal steel guitar and the late Cozy Powell on drums. He joined THE BIZZARROS 2 years ago and is to a large extent responsible for the bands signature sound.
Lez
Bass Guitar
A very experienced bass player, has toured extensively in both the UK and Europe, as well as supporting name bands he has also played with the late PAUL KOSSOFF (Free, Back Street Crawler) as well as CHAZ JANKEL(The Blockheads).
Luke
Soprano/Alto/Tenor/Baritone Saxes, Flute & Clarinet
Luke is a classically trained multi-instrumentalist and has played in all kinds of big bands and Orchestras but his main love is Jazz and has played with many well known Jazz stars inclusing Jon Surman amongst many other however it was as a record company house session musician that he developed a love for blues and soul, and now loves adding his sound to big band sound of THE BIZZARROS.
Paul
Hammond Organ/Electric Piano/Synths
Paul is a highly experienced keyboard player having learnt his craft listening to and being heavily influenced by people like Dr John, Professor Longhair, as well as Jimmy Smith and Booker T Jones (Booker T & the MGs). He has toured extensively and has played with THE ART WOOD BAND as well as supporting JEFF BECK and Rod Stewart, having been in THE MICKEY WALLER BAND before joining THE BIZZARROS. His amazing stage presence both in look and sound is almost worth buying a ticket on its own!
Rob
Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Rob, is a 21 year old musical prodigy, vastly experienced and travelled for his years. Rob has been playing trumpet since the age of 9 and started as a classically trained musician playing in area brass bands and orchestras.Many tours around France, Germany and Holland ensued. When he was 13 he was asked to play with the HYJO (Hampshire Youth Jazz Orchestra), which developed his interest in jazz. Along with a tour to Iceland Rob was invited by the British High Commissioner as part of a small band, taken from HYJO, to perform at the Queens Jubilee in the Gambia. This also involved giving workshops to local schools, a radio show and various gigs around the Gambia. By the end of college Rob was playing lead trumpet in he County Big Band and various college bands, when he decided that he fancied something a bit stranger and stronger and as he had always loved rock 'n' soul he joined THE BIZZARROS where he joins Paul,Steve and Tony in THE BIZZARROS horn section. He has also recently recorded trumpet for the sound track for the film ADULTHOOD.
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Sol
Drums/Percussion/Vocals
Sol provides the kickin backbone of the band, he’s had decades of experience both as a session musician and working live with name bands, he was the ISLAND RECORDS house drummer for years as well as being one of the formative members of chart topping band TALK TALK, he is a prolific and published songwriter as well as being an accomplished singer in his own right. He and Lez have worked together in bands for 15 years, and between them provide the powerhouse rhythm section of the band.
Tony
Soprano/Alto/Tenor/Baritone Saxes & Flute
Tony Ardin, loves Jazz yet started his musical career in heavy rock bands, where he toured all over the world, playing and recording with numerous name bands he then joined Buster Bloodvessel in BAD MANNERS where he became the musical arranger for the band, toured and recorded with them for years before joining THE BIZZARROS, where he arranges the bands horn section. Another wise cracking gag merchant he joins all the merry pranksters that make up THE BIZZARROS !
