foreword...
Inspired by the Blues, infused with a hard hitting “in-yer-face” rock approach and topped-off by virtuoso musicianship, Ben Poole is being talked of as “the” new up-and-coming UK Blues guitarist; one of the finest to have emerged in Europe for years. His latest recordings reinforce this and make it blatantly clear that this 21 year old is destined for a great future on the European Blues/Rock scene.
Biography...
Born in Coventry, Ben’s family moved to a small village in Bedfordshire, called Barton Le-Clay when he was a youngster. He first started playing guitar seriously at the age of 12…
“I think I was about nine years old when my mum and dad bought me a little classical nylon-strung acoustic guitar. My parents insisted that I took lessons and so I had a teacher who would come around each week and teach me to play such boring classics as ‘She’ll be Coming Round The Mountain’ and ‘Old MacDonald Had A Farm’ and other boring stuff like that! The exact moment that I decided I wanted to get serious with the electric guitar was when I got a new teacher who, in our first lesson together, taught me the intro riff to ‘Voodoo Child’ by Jimi Hendrix. The sheer energy and excitement that shone through Jimi’s music, and in particular his guitar playing, was breathtaking and soon after I was immersing myself in the blues, eager to trace the roots of this raw and emotionally robust style of music.”
It has always been the artists who bridged the gap between blues and rock music that have captured Ben’s imagination the most, such as Rory Gallagher, the aforementioned Jimi Hendrix and the late Jeff Healey. After watching, open mouthed and amazed, the Stevie Ray Vaughan DVD ‘Live at the el-Mocambo,’ Ben decided from that moment on that he would dedicate himself to following the same path as these musicians with the intent of becoming a leading figure in the worldwide blues/rock industry.
Ben’s commitment to this goal was strong. As soon as he finished school he ventured south to the musically vibrant city of Brighton to check out the music scene and to undertake a degree in professional musicianship, specialising in guitar, at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music.
“At Bimm I met loads of like minded, talented musicians and completing the course has made me even more focused on what I want to achieve in my life.”
Ben recruited a killer rhythm section whilst down in Brighton and most recently the three-piece, playing under the name The Ben Poole Band, have been playing to hundreds upon hundreds of people at sold out gigs across the country, supporting artists such as US blues/rock guitarist Carvin Jones (“one of the best blues guitarists in the world” London Surrey News), guitar virtuoso Guthrie Govan, Bernie Torme (ex Ozzy Osbourne, Gillan guitarist) and The Hamsters (“one of Britain’s very best live bands” Bob Harris, Radio 2).
Whilst in Brighton Ben also met ‘Reef’ keys player Jason Knight who immediately hooked Ben up with another young blues sensation Dani Wilde (who recently signed to German based record label ‘Ruf Records’) and 2007 saw Ben playing lead guitar in her band, backing artists such as Gary Moore (at the Vibes in the Vines Festival) and Jools Holland (at The Royal Albert Hall). Ben and Dani remain good friends and have continued to gig together across the country.
From the original Mississippi delta blues music of the likes of Robert Johnson, Charley Patton and Son House to the early, raw electric blues sounds created by Muddy Water, John Lee Hooker and the three Kings (BB, Albert and Freddie), Ben Poole’s own style incorporates dozens of blues roots influences but with a modern eclectic touch reminiscent of some of today’s virtuosic guitar heroes such as Eric Johnson, Richie Kotzen, Greg Howe and Guthrie Govan (Guthrie has taught Ben the guitar for the past three years).
Ben did not begin singing until he was 15 years old, encouraged by his dad (who was once a professional musician himself) and inspired mainly by the voices of the artists who were also his favourite guitar players such as Jeff Healey and Stevie Ray Vaughan. However, it was only after hearing the ‘Truth’ album by Jeff Beck, which features a young Rod Stewart on vocals, that Ben began to take as much interest in the singing side of things as the guitar playing.
Ben’s style could be described as combining blues and rock, with a country technique and a pop sensibility, but we leave you to check out how others have summed up his music (see Ben's press, reviews etc)...although it is ultimately up to you to make your own judgements! Enjoy!!!
Press Release :
BEN POOLE
Press Release…
"Great tracks, great guitar and vocal live...one great special player!" - Bernie Torme (Ozzy Osbourne, Gillan)
"Ben Poole...talented little bugger-I should cut his f***in' hands off!" - 'Slim' (The Hamsters)
"Blues Extravaganza! The guitar sounds were impeccable, the timing was beyond reproach and there was evidence of dynamic awareness throughout…This was no “lazy” blues offering – Ben managed to sneak in everything from country licks to Satriani-style legato widdling, yet this was never to the detriment of the overall musicality of the performance. Nice." - Guthrie Govan (Asia, Erotic Cakes, The Young Punx)
“He got the blues…yeah he got it!” - Carvin Jones
“A stunningly original and talented guitarist” - ‘The Times & Citizen’ Newspaper
"Phenomenal fret work and passionate playing… destined for a great future with the Blues" - The Horn (UK music pub of the year 2008)
“Ben Poole plays modern blues rock to a phenomenally high standard. Quite honestly I have never seen a better guitarist in the flesh…the kid is going to be a major star.” - ‘The Argus’ Newspaper
"A F***in' wicked guitarist!" - Donny Tourette (The Towers of London)
"Bedford’s favourite young blues artist...ultra cool, stylish blues-rock." ‘Bedford Today’ Newspaper.
For more information please contact Kathryn Craddock or Bruce Dickinson @ South Coast Sounds on 01273 201950
kathryncraddock@south-coast-sounds.co.uk
brucedickinson@south-coast-sounds.co.uk
benpooleband@gmail.com