User:MalcolmBliss

James Allan is an American award winning Rock/Fusion guitarist by but has worked in the pop, rock, power metal, funk, country and jazz genres. Best known as the lead guitarist and contributing writer for the 80's pop rock band The NINE on DRESSER records. He studied at the Crane School of Music and Berkeley College of Music. Currently the lead guitarist and principle song writer for the power metal band Children of the New Sun (www.childrenofthenewsun.com) based in upstate New York and also working as lead guitarist for the Nashville country band Wells Hollow. Born sometime in the 1960's in San Francisco California and raised in New York and San Diego California. From an early age James has been active playing the guitar. At about age 13 James began working with a rock trio that played at school dances. By age 16 James was working in clubs in the upstate New York area at such notable clubs as the Orange Monkey, Penny Arcade, Fantasy Swings, Riverboat, Red Creek, TC Rockers, Lost Horizon, and many others. At this time James, age 17, joined a rock band, Olias, headed by lead singer Phil Naro noted for his work with Canada's Coney Hatch, Billy Sheehan's Talas, Kiss's Peter Criss, Tango Down, Toyz and Chain Reaction. While with Olias James began studying jazz theory and technique with the notable jazz guitarist Todd Vullo. After several years with Olias, James left and joined a fusion group, Yesterdays News headed by keyboardist Joe Santoro of Cabo Frio. After one album with YN James left and attended college for a bit until moving to Rochester New York where he began working as a session guitarist working at Music America where Metallica recorded "Kill'm All" and met Kurt Hammet which began a friendship. While working as a session guitarist, james worked with a number of musicians such as Lee Roxx of Cyndi Lauper's band, Benji King of Derringer, Guss Miller of Gino Vinelli, James Taylor, Kenny Loggins, MTM, Disney, Paramont Pictures, and a host of others. At that time James was picked up by The NINE, Dresser Records, headed by Jimmy Fox (drums) who had been with TORONTO (A&M). This band had a significant amount of success working live but record sales were meager at best and after 3 years the band split. In the 1990's James worked in the power metal band MONOLITH. Monolith performed only original material but did not get signed. James then moved to Europe where he lived in Florence Italy for some time writing and performing film scores with Italian electronic composer Carlo Sarafini. James then moved back to America where he put together the power metal band Children of the New Sun (Metal Force Records). The band consists of ex-Monolith members Peter Andrews on vocals and Steven Wright on bass and new member Mychal Parus on drums. Currently the band is performing on the eastern US and writing for another release.