TUSH
We are:
Paul Callow - vocals
Paul started his music career playing the Folk Clubs, Pubs and Hotels of Surrey and Sussex singing with his distinctive accoustic "Zemaitis" guitar in the late sixties.He also sang during this period for "String Blitz" a very popular Surrey Rock/Blues band.
At the same time he was singing in various Opera societies as a budding tenor. He has sung many Verdi and Puccini roles along with Neopolitan songs and sacred music at weddings and other functions.
He has performed with many Blues and Rock bands in the Surrey area before moving to Cornwall in 1998. He was one of the founder members of Tush in Summer 2004 when he retired from his "day job" as Jumbo Jet Captain for BA
Paul Corner - drums
As with many young boys who wanted to become rock drummers, the best way to have started bashing the drums was to join the Boys Brigade, which is exactly what I did. They gave me a smart new Premier snare drum and a few lessons before going out onto the high street for the first public appearance. What a thrill I had when people even started clapping and cheering!! Of course I forgot about the 20 or so 'proper' musicians who were marching along behind me playing the melody! Still, it gave me a great intro into public appearances and drum basics and I will always be grateful for this great organisation for giving me the chance and motivation for learning my instrument.
It wasn’t long before I bought my first full kit at the age of 14 and proudly took it home, set it up in the bedroom of our terrace home and started bashing away for all I was worth, but I think that this lasted for about 10 minutes before I was told "you can take that back to the shop!!" End of dream for another 25 years!!!
After leaving the Boys Brigade, I didn't touch another drumstick until I reached the grand old age of 39 when I found an old kit in a customers loft while doing some work. A bit of haggling and I took it home, dusted it off and started thumping in my own home with no mother to shout at me!
A friend who gigged on his own with a keyboard suggested that I jammed with him for a laugh, (at my expense!) and eventually we started a group which debuted at my 40th birthday bash where people actually danced AND clapped! So the old thrill was rekindled, and I was on such a high after that first gig that I didn’t sleep. A bit different now, as I can't wait to get home for cocoa and bed.
I have since been in several bands including an all originals band, '‘Back to the Wood' which had some success in Devon and North Cornwall, appeared on local radio and also supported Geno Washington. Nigel and I also played with local band 'Last Chance'. I’m now having a great time with 'TUSH' as I'm playing with a great bunch of talented guys and the energy of the band seems to be passed onto the audience who generally keep us playing as long as they can, (keeping me from that mug of cocoa!)
As with many young boys who wanted to become rock drummers, the best way to have started bashing the drums was to join the Boys Brigade, which is exactly what I did. They gave me a smart new Premier snare drum and a few lessons before going out onto the high street for the first public appearance. What a thrill I had when people even started clapping and cheering!! Of course I forgot about the 20 or so 'proper' musicians who were marching along behind me playing the melody! Still, it gave me a great intro into public appearances and drum basics and I will always be grateful for this great organisation for giving me the chance and motivation for learning my instrument.
It wasn’t long before I bought my first full kit at the age of 14 and proudly took it home, set it up in the bedroom of our terrace home and started bashing away for all I was worth, but I think that this lasted for about 10 minutes before I was told "you can take that back to the shop!!" End of dream for another 25 years!!!
After leaving the Boys Brigade, I didn't touch another drumstick until I reached the grand old age of 39 when I found an old kit in a customers loft while doing some work. A bit of haggling and I took it home, dusted it off and started thumping in my own home with no mother to shout at me!
A friend who gigged on his own with a keyboard suggested that I jammed with him for a laugh, (at my expense!) and eventually we started a group which debuted at my 40th birthday bash where people actually danced AND clapped! So the old thrill was rekindled, and I was on such a high after that first gig that I didn’t sleep. A bit different now, as I can't wait to get home for cocoa and bed.
I have since been in several bands including an all originals band, '‘Back to the Wood' which had some success in Devon and North Cornwall, appeared on local radio and also supported Geno Washington. Nigel and I also played with local band 'Last Chance'. I’m now having a great time with 'TUSH' as I'm playing with a great bunch of talented guys and the energy of the band seems to be passed onto the audience who generally keep us playing as long as they can, (keeping me from that mug of cocoa!)
Nigel Ponsford - rhythm guitar
At a very young age I noticed that if you carried a guitar around and could string a couple of rhyming lines together it was a good way of attracting girls, (it didn't matter if you could play it or not, or even how good looking you were!)
Keith Richards became my mentor although practising with girls was more exciting than practising the guitar. I formed a few naff bands in my teens and when I moved to Oxford in 1975 not knowing anybody, I formed a punk band, 'Coffin and the Undertakers', culminating in a high point of my musical career by being asked to leave by the management of a pub because of the song lyrics, (well at least someone was listening!!)
I later settled down into a relationship and got married, so there was no need to be in a band anymore. However, we were divorced in 1996 so I formed the blues covers band 'Last Chance' which stayed in existence in various forms for 8 years until I found the woman of my dreams. I have since got together with some friends and formed 'TUSH' although I am now trying to write the ultimate love song!!!
At a very young age I noticed that if you carried a guitar around and could string a couple of rhyming lines together it was a good way of attracting girls, (it didn't matter if you could play it or not, or even how good looking you were!)
Keith Richards became my mentor although practising with girls was more exciting than practising the guitar. I formed a few naff bands in my teens and when I moved to Oxford in 1975 not knowing anybody, I formed a punk band, 'Coffin and the Undertakers', culminating in a high point of my musical career by being asked to leave by the management of a pub because of the song lyrics, (well at least someone was listening!!)
I later settled down into a relationship and got married, so there was no need to be in a band anymore. However, we were divorced in 1996 so I formed the blues covers band 'Last Chance' which stayed in existence in various forms for 8 years until I found the woman of my dreams. I have since got together with some friends and formed 'TUSH' although I am now trying to write the ultimate love song!!!
Andy Provis - lead guitar and vocals
Dave Smale - bass guitar
Dave Smale has been involved in the music scene in the area for some years. As well as being a musician he has been a sound engineer and a festival promoter, also running a PA and stage hire company for a while. During the last few years he has worked with some well known musicians and bands mixing sound for a diverse range of acts from the Glen Miller Orchestra to The Dammed and Fairport Convention, and many 80's punk bands such as UK subs and 999. During the 90's he co-promoted local festivals in the area with artists including Bob Geldof, Space and Catatonia. His own musical achievments are much more modest ! He has been a keyboard player since a child, only learning to play guitar and sax in recent years. He learned to play bass in a previous band when the original bass player left and no replacement could be found. Previous bands he has played with include, Blind Panic, Last Chance ( at the same time as Nigel ), The Fifth Element and Diesel Deluxe. He still supplies sound systems and mixes sound for other bands in the area, but only for bands he likes and on condition that they provide the labour to load and unload equipment !!! His favorite bass player is Nathan East ( bass player to Eric Clapton ) and his day job now consists of running a military museum and restoring tanks.
Dave Smale has been involved in the music scene in the area for some years. As well as being a musician he has been a sound engineer and a festival promoter, also running a PA and stage hire company for a while. During the last few years he has worked with some well known musicians and bands mixing sound for a diverse range of acts from the Glen Miller Orchestra to The Dammed and Fairport Convention, and many 80's punk bands such as UK subs and 999. During the 90's he co-promoted local festivals in the area with artists including Bob Geldof, Space and Catatonia. His own musical achievments are much more modest ! He has been a keyboard player since a child, only learning to play guitar and sax in recent years. He learned to play bass in a previous band when the original bass player left and no replacement could be found. Previous bands he has played with include, Blind Panic, Last Chance ( at the same time as Nigel ), The Fifth Element and Diesel Deluxe. He still supplies sound systems and mixes sound for other bands in the area, but only for bands he likes and on condition that they provide the labour to load and unload equipment !!! His favorite bass player is Nathan East ( bass player to Eric Clapton ) and his day job now consists of running a military museum and restoring tanks.