Andy Scott

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For other men with the same name, see the list at Andrew Scott.

Andy Scott
Andy Scott, December 2006
Background information
Birth name	Andrew David Scott
Born	(1949--6-30) 30 June 1949 (age 63)
Origin	Wrexham, Wales
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal
Occupations	Musician, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar, keyboards, vocals
Years active	1963–present
Associated acts	The Silverstones, The Elastic Band, Mayfield's Mule, Sweet
Website	andyscott.info

Andy Scott (born Andrew David Scott, 30 June 1949, Wrexham, Wales) is a British musician and songwriter. He is best known for being the lead guitarist and a vocalist in the band Sweet.^[1]

Early years

Scott started out playing bass guitar. His first gig was at St Peters Hall, Wrexham with The Rasjaks in November 1963 and then with other bands in Wales such as Guitars Incorporated and 3D's.

He then progressed to guitar and played with other bands including The Saints, The Four Winds and The Missing Links. In 1966 he joined The Silverstone Set (later shortened to The Silverstones) who won the TV show Opportunity Knocks five weeks running and appeared in the all winners show for Christmas 1966 losing to Freddie Starr. One of their further highlights was to support Jimi Hendrix in Manchester in January 1967.

When The Silverstones split, Scott went on to form The Elastic Band who recorded an album called Expansions of Life but the lead singer, Ted Yeadon, left to join Love Affair before its release and the band folded. During this time they also recorded and album Pop Sounds under the name The Cool.

Andy then played in the backing band for The Scaffold for a while,which also included his brother Mike on bass and saxophone.

He then went on to join Mayfield's Mule who recorded three singles, "Drinking My Moonshine", "I See a River" and "We Go Rollin'". An album was also released in Uruguay called Mayfields Mule.

Auditioning for Sweet

In the late summer of 1970 Andy replaced Mick Stewart in The Sweet after an audition in front of Brian Connolly,Steve Priest and Mick Tucker as well as group managers Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. He was one of the last guitarists to audition. According to Steve Priest's Autobiography "Are You Ready Steve", Scott turned up looking pretty untidy, with very long hair and scruffy clothes. He plugged his guitar in and immediately blew the fuse on the amp. He eventually performed his piece and the members of the band thought he should join The Sweet, much to Nicky Chinn's disgust but eventually he gave in and Scott joined the band. The rest as they say is history.

Solo career

Scott's first single release in 1975 was a reworked version of the Desolation Boulevard track "Lady Starlight" backed by "Where D'Ya Go?". Both songs, recorded during the "Give Us A Wink!" album sessions, were written and produced by Scott and featured him playing all instruments except appearances by Sweet drummer Mick Tucker. Scott made a promotional video for the track and also appeared on Mike Mansfield's British TV Show "Supersonic".

Scott released his second solo single, "Gotta See Jane", in 1983 under the name Ladders. It was a cover of the R. Dean Taylor Motown hit and was produced by himself and Louis Austin who had worked with Sweet as their engineer on past ventures. The B-side "Krugerrands" was subsequently released as the follow-up single (as Andy Scott this time) but like its predecessor failed to chart, except in Australia and South Africa where it was a top 10 hit.^[2] In 1984, Scott released two more solo singles, "Let Her Dance" and "Invisible". The album 30 Years was released in 1993 (Repertoire Records) which was a compilation of all his solo projects, including demos.

Paddy Goes to Holyhead

In the early 1980s, Scott went into production and produced records for bands including Iron Maiden. He also produced a couple of demos for Weapon, which was then fronted by Danny Hynes who went on to form Paddy Goes to Holyhead^[3] and Scott played with them now and again. Scott then produced, played on and appeared in the video for their single "Green Green Grass of Home" and then joined the band on a regular basis until reforming Sweet.

Andy Scott's Sweet

Andy Scott's Sweet
Andy Scott's Sweet at a concert in Mainburg, Germany in September 2006. Andy Scott is first from left.
Background information
Also known as	The Sweet (2002 - 2008)
Origin	United Kingdom
Genres	Hard rock, heavy metal
Years active	1985–present
Website	http://thesweet.com/
Members
Andy Scott Bruce Bisland Tony O'Hora Peter Lincoln
Past members
Mick Tucker Paul Mario Day Mal McNulty Phil Lanzon Malcolm Pearson Jeff Brown Ian Gibbons Steve Mann Andy Holger Bobby Andersen Bodo Schopf Chad Brown Gary Moberley Chris Goulstone Rocky Newton Steve Grant Mark Thompson Smith Jo Burt Tony Mills Martin Mickels

In 1985, Scott and Tucker re-formed Sweet with new players. Paul Mario Day [ex Iron Maiden] on lead vocals, Phil Lanzon [ex Grand Prix now with Uriah Heep] on keyboards and Mal McNulty [ex Weapon] on bass. Tucker departed in May 1991 in acrimonious circumstances linked to his failing health. He later was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukaemia. Two drummers, Andy Holger and Bobby Andersen, provided short-term relief before German Bodo Schopf (ex-McAuley Schenker Group) took over the drum throne. The "A" album was recorded during this period but before the band embarked on the "A" tour, Bodo left and the drum stool was now firmly with Bruce Bisland (ex-Weapon, Wildfire, Praying Mantis) who still remains as drummer today. After Tucker's departure, Scott changed the band's name to 'Andy Scott's Sweet' (after Tucker's death in 2002, Scott truncated the band name to simply 'The Sweet' once again).

Mal McNulty [now lead vocalist] departed in 1994, though he would return briefly that year to fill in for Jeff Brown on bass (as he would again in 1995 as lead singer for a few dates while Rocky Newton subbed on bass). Sweet's former keyboard men Gary Moberley and Ian Gibbons also did fill-in jaunts with the group that year, as did Chris Goulstone. Chad Brown (ex-Lionheart; no relation to Jeff) was the new front man. "Glitz Blitz and Hitz" a new studio album of faithfully re-recorded Sweet hits was released.

In 1996 Mann left and Gibbons came back for a short time before Steve Grant (ex-The Animals) became the permanent keyboardist. When Chad Brown quit in 1998, Jeff Brown assumed the lead vocals as well as his bass duties and the band was once again a quartet. After this, the band was stable again for the next five years.

The mid 2000s would bring further shake-ups and rotations. Tony O'Hora (ex-Onslaught, Praying Mantis) replaced Brown as lead vocalist. Ian Gibbons came back for a third stint as fill-in keyboardist in June 2005 for a gig in the Faroe Islands. O'Hora decided to split in late 2005. Singers Mark Thompson Smith (ex-Praying Mantis) in November 2005 and Tony Mills (ex-Shy, Siam; now with TNT) in early 2006 came and went. Grant jumped from keyboards to lead vocals, and even bass as needed, on dates when the group had no singer (Phil Lanzon, then Steve Mann, temporarily returned on keys when Grant was the frontman). Jo Burt (ex-Black Sabbath) was temporary bass player in October and November 2005.

The group finally landed a new permanent frontman when Peter Lincoln (ex-Sailor) arrived in July 2006. The line-up consisted of Scott, Bisland, Grant, and Lincoln.

Scott produced the Suzi Quatro album, Back to the Drive, released in February 2006. March 2006 saw the U.S. release of his band's album, Sweetlife.

In 2007 the group played in Germany, Belgium, Austria and Italy and on this tour played songs from Sweet Fanny Adams, including some of their other hits. In May that, the band played in Porto Alegre and Curitiba, Brazil, their first and only South American shows. The tour was called 'Sweet Fanny Adams Tour'.

The band toured again in March 2008 under the name 'Sweet Fanny Adams Revisited Tour'.

In May and June 2008, Scott's Sweet were part of the "Glitz Blitz & 70s Hitz" tour of the UK alongside The Rubettes and Showaddywaddy.

On 19 June 2009 fans from all over the world celebrated Scott's 60th birthday at The Robin 2, Bilston. At the same time, Scott's website was launched.^[4]

In March and April 2010, Scott did not appear at a couple of gigs due to ill health, and Martin Mickels stood in. Scott revealed later that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and was treated at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. After a course of treatment and rest, he was back to full touring fitness.

In 2010 the band played at venues in Europe, and back at Bilston in October 2010.

In March 2011 there was a short tour of Australia, Regal Theatre - Perth, Bunbury Entertainment Centre and Clipsal 500, Adelaide with the Doobie Brothers.

There were three UK gigs in 2011: AFC Sudbury 28 August,Bilston 17 September and Lowestoft 18 September.

In March 2012 the band released a new album "New York Connection". Recorded in England, it comprised 11 cover versions, including the 2011 single "Join Together", and one revamped original recording; the 1972 B-side "New York Connection". On the eve of their March 2012 "Join Together" tour of Australia the band undertook an acoustic performance of three tracks, New York Groove-Empire State of Mind, Blockbuster and Peppermint Twist, in front of a live audience at ABC Radio Studios in East Perth. Shows in Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Geelong, Melbourne and Sydney featured tracks from the new album for the first time. The new CD was sold at those shows.

Andy Scott's Sweet members

Private life

Scott lives in a converted barn in Wiltshire with his son Damian, Damian's wife, and grandchild.

In July 2010, Scott appeared in UK television adverts for the insurance company VanCompare.com. Three adverts were in circulation featuring "Fox On The Run", "Love Is Like Oxygen" and "Action".^[5]

Discography

With Sweet

As Andy Scott

Singles

• "Lady Starlight" / "Where D'Ya Go" (1975) – RCA Records (RCA 102715)
• "Where D'Ya Go" / "Lady Starlight" (1975) – RCA Records (RCA 2929)
• "Krugerrands" / "Face" (1984) – Statik (TAK 10)
• "Let Her Dance" / "Suck It And See" (1984) – Statik (TAK 24)
• "Invisible" / "Never Too Young" (1984) – Statik (TAK 31)

12" Singles

• "Gotta See Jane" / "Gotta See Jane" (Radio Mix) (3:10) / "Krugerrands" (4:00)
• "Krugerrands" (Club Mix) (4:04) / "Face" (4:48) / "Krugerrands" (Single Edit) (3:40) / "Krugermental" (4:08)
• "Let Her Dance" (8:06) / "Let Her Dance" (Instrumental) (4:24) / "Suck It and See" (4:19)
• "Invisible" (7" Version) (3:54) / "Invisible" (Instrumental) (5:53) / "Invisible" (5:20) / "Never Too Young" (3:08)

Albums

• 30 Years (1993) – compilation of solo singles and demos – Repertoire Records

With Ladders

Singles

• "Gotta See Jane" / "Krugerrands" (1983) – Statik/Virgin (105547100)

With Andy Scott's Sweet

Singles

• "X-Ray Specs" (1991) – SPV Records
• "Stand Up" (1992) – SPV Records
• "Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again" (1992) (1970's Australian chart hit, written by Brewster-Neeson-Brewster and recorded by band The Angels) – SPV Records
• "Do It All Over Again" (2002) – Delicious Records
• "Join Together (a cover of The Who's 1972 chart single, written by Pete Townshend)" (2011) online digital release
• "Let It Snow" (US # 1 for Vaughan Monroe in 1946; recorded by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin et al, written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne) (2011) online digital release

Albums

• Live at the Marquee (1989) – double album which includes four new studio recordings – SPV Records (Maze in USA/Canada). NB- released as a recording by "Sweet"- as it also featured original member Mick Tucker.
• "A" (1992) – studio album of new material – SPV Records
• The Answer (1995)
• Alive and Giggin'! (1995) – live album – Pseudonym Records
• Glitz, Blitz & Hitz (1996)
• Dangerous Game (1997)
• Chronology (2002) – studio album with re-recordings of Sweet material – Delicious Records
• Sweetlife (2002) – studio album of new material – Delicious Records
• New York Connection (2012) - studio album

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Andy Scott (guitarist)

• Andy Scott's personal website
• The Sweet web – Andy Scott's Sweet
• Andy Scott's Sweet website