User:Mundellmusic/Alan Thomson (musician)

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Alan Thomson
Alan playing live
Alan playing live
Background information
Birth nameAlan Thomson
OriginGlasgow
GenresRock, Folk, Jazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Bass guitar, Fretless bass guitar, Guitar, Keyboard, Mandolin

Alan Thomson (born in Glasgow, May 3rd, 1960) is a Bass Player and Vocalist with many acts including the late John Martyn


Biography[edit]

Starting out playing guitar for The Arthur Trout Band (1976 - 1980), he then switched to Fretless Bass and was invited to join The John Martyn Band with whom he toured for over 19 years until John Martyn's death in 2009.


Alan played keyboards with Scottish Band Strangeways (1984 - 1986). Other collaborations in the 80's included touring with Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler and recording with The Mighty Wah.

While working with Yahama, a meeting with Jerry Donaghue (Hellecasters, Fairport Convention) led to Alan joining the Backroom Boys along with Doug Morter and a subsequent invite to join the Hellecasters in 1987, and then to touring with John Jorgenson's Electric Band (1997 - present). In 1998, an offshoot from "The Backroom Boys" gave birth to "Then Came The Wheel" which continues to tour UK, Scandanavia and Ireland.

He has toured with Canadian guitarist Amos Garrett, backed US guitar player Brent Mason, guitar legend Hank Marvin and made several tours of Europe with Blues legend [[Long John Baldry]. He has recorded with Dick Gaughan, Sally Barker, Maggie Reilley, Nigel H Seymour, Shonu Das and Frank O' Hagan.

He has also worked with former Wings and Moody Blues star Denny Laine (2008-2009), toured and recorded with Rick Wakeman in both duo and band formats from 1989-2004, recorded and toured with Julia Fordham, Carol Decker, and guitarist Andy Summers, and has songwriting credits with Robert Palmer, John Martyn, Sally Barker, Rev Doc and The Congregation, The Backroom Boys and Then Came The Wheel.

He currently tours and records with Jacqui McShee's Pentangle (since 1997), John Jorgenson's Electric Band, Rev Doc and The Congregation and Then Came The Wheel.