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VIDEO BIOGRAPHY:
REGULAR BIOGRAPHY: My musical training had its modest beginnings at the age of thirteen. My grandfather had an electric guitar and a vintage Univox amp from the early ‘60s. He showed me a few chords and a scale or two before he put down the instrument for good a year or two later. I had always loved rock music and from early on, I used to play along with records by the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. When I lost my sight at the age of fourteen, music became a central part of my life. A couple of years down the line, I developed an interest in hard rock and really got into groups ranging from Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath to bands like Metallica and Iron Maiden etc. I formed my first group at the age of sixteen. I was the lead guitarist and lead vocalist. We played a range of music from The Stones to Aerosmith and Pink Floyd just to name a few… A while later, during my first year of college, Carl, a good mate of mine and I formed a group which would be an important part of my life for the next four years. At the time, we called ourselves “Blind Drunk”. We played a range of music and got to perform at various venues to different crowds of people. We were also involved in a number of shows to raise money for Charities in the south east of England. Our bass player unexpectedly passed away in the summer of 2000. It was a tragic event and we decided to take some time off and plan for the future of the group. For the next year or so we went through various changes from the lineup to set lists etc. We later changed our name to “Driven”. This was one turning point in my four-year involvement with the group… Due to some unfortunate circumstances, the future of the band was questioned for a certain length of time. But a bit later on, with some much needed changes, and with our new lineup intact, we went into the studio to record our first album. This was a very rewarding experience. Playing with this group gave me the chance to work with some fine musicians, play lots of shows, and develop a good-sized fan base in the south east of England. On the 26th of August 2005, Carl, the other original member of the group, and a great mate of mine, passed away. He is missed by many, including myself. The band has now changed their lineup and is now called Quadraplain. Check out their site http://www.quadraplain.com. Previously that year, I produced and did some writing/session playing for EPs by two talented female vocalists; Alison Hill, (from St. Helens, Mersey side), and, Lucy Tiffin, (from Swanley, Kent.) The rerelease of Lucy’s first full-length studio album is available at http://www.cdbaby.com/lucytiffin. I also finished my first solo album, “Expressions”, around this time. I also had the opportunity to record a performance by the cellist Julian Lloyd Webber. (I strongly recommend attending any performance that he is playing in. He is without a doubt, the best cellist I have ever heard.) Also around this time, I recorded a concert featuring the Royal Artillery Band. (This orchestra performs at various functions including those which take place at Buckingham Palace.) Rock and blues had always been my thing but I started to get into a range of music from dance, to classical, and new age etc. My composing/songwriting took on more of an experimental and progressive feel during this period. Throughout this time, I was also performing as a solo artist and sitting in with various groups. This, along with my full time employment as a sound engineer/teacher assistant, and my private teaching, made me quite a busy individual. Rush and Dream Theater are my two favorite bands, hands down. I also like Frank Zappa, Rage Against the Machine, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Hendrix, Avenged Sevenfold, Andrea Bocheli, Arrien, The Doors, Django, Duran Duran, Earth Wind and Fire, Billy Joel, The Eagles, Killswitch Engage, Elton John, Smashing Pumpkins, Dennis Wilson, Bad Company, Queen, Rainbow, Return to Forever, Robert Johnson, Robert Cray, Ray Charles, Deo, Diamond Head, CCR, Godsmack, Yanni, Jethro Tull, ELP, Evanesence, Snoop, Fate’s Warning, Foo Fighters, Frameshift, all the G3 albums, Larry Carlton, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Green Day, Grand Funk Railroad, Gwen Stefani, No Doubt, Saxxon, Seal, Sinata Arctica, Sonic Pulsar, Stereophonics, Styx, Tears for Fears, Testament, The 69 Eyes, The Animals, The B52s, The Clash, The Gin Blossoms, The Gypsie Kings, The Goo Goo Dolls, The Killers, The Ramones, The Scorpions, The Lounge Brigade, The Police, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Steve Miller Band, The Talking Heads, The Who, Thin Lizzie, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Heart, Helloween, Trapped, UFO, Van Halen, Van Morrison, William Orbit, Vinnie Moore, Weather Report, X-Japan, Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Al DeMeola, Alice Cooper, Amadeus Guitar Duo, America, Anthrax, Asia, Iced Earth, John McLoughlin, Victor Wuten, Lotus, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Judas Priest, Journey, Kamelot, Keen, Kings X, King Crimson, Kiss, Kraftwork, Lacuna Coil, Lisa Loeb, Living Colour, Mike Oldfield, Motorhead, Ozzy, Muse, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, Nora Jones, Oasis, OSI, Outcast, Paul Weller, Pearl Jam, Bela Flek, Phil Collins, Porcupine Tree, Primus, Eminem, D12, Alice in Chains, ICP, The Beastie Boys, Avril Lavigne, Soullive, Blue Oyster Cult, Squarepusher, Boston, Toto, Stone Temple Pilots, GnR, Velvet Revolver, Jordan Rudis, Blind Guardian, Sting, Don Henley, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Venessa Carlton, Pantera, Kansas, A.C.T, Cosmosis, Hybrid, Chicago, Cheap Trick, Coldplay, Dido, BT, Danny Gatten, Yes, Dave Grusin, Genesis, Way Out West, David Bowie, Foreigner, Deep Forest, Def Lepard, Deep Purple, System of a Down, Symphony X, In Flames, Skid Row, Cinderella, Queensryche, Bumblefoot, Stevie Ray, etc. I also love a lot of classical, jazz, and world music but it’s too much to list… I have a digital project studio and my main guitar amp is a Line 6 Vetta combo. It’s great for stage and/or miked/direct recording! (A line 6 endorsement would be nice. Ahem.) When I’m not performing or working in the studio, I enjoy various things from reading and writing to skiing and boating. I also dive into the world of pottery from time to time. Sam Adams is good and I love Thai, Japanese, Indian, and Mexican food. After completing my BA degree in music with a concentration in studio production at SUNY Purchase in 2006, I began to work part time for the Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School in Manhattan, which is part of the lighthouse international. I am currently doing private teaching as well as working on various projects, including my next solo album. While at purchase, I played with many great musicians including Brandon Vitrano and Luke Stocker. We still play from time to time and they may be featured on future albums I’m involved with. Luke’s current band is called Digital Frontier and their my space address is http://www.myspace.com/digitalfrontier2006 Be sure to sign up for the free e mail newsletter so you can keep up to date on everything! Thanks for checking my bio out and keep rock’in! Cheers, Cameron Strife Thank you for reading, and
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