User:Phillip-Fox/sandbox

The Moody Booze are a group of friends who got together to play a one off gig on November 18th 2017 for the 60th birthday of Pam, the wife of group founder and drummer, Phil Fox. For her birthday party (in the Village Hall in South Petherwin), Phil originally invited lifelong friend Terry Sharp, (rhythm guitar and saxophone), to come to Cornwall to play in a makeshift group to play four songs. Local South Petherwin musician Abbi Cain was also involved, and was able to add musicians Martin Cansdale (lead guitar) and Graham Mansbridge (bass guitar) to the temporary ensemble. The gig went down well with all who attended, and so Phil decided that for the party that was being organised in Buckinghamshire the following April for friends and family who couldn't attend the party in South Petherwin, he would create a band for the occasion. He chose the band name "The Moody Booze" as a parody on "The Moody Blues".

To cover the loss of Abi Cain, Martin Cansdale, and Graham Mansbridge, he called on other friends - Tony Wheatley for vocals (lifelong school friend), and Alan Coughlan for bass guitar (longtime friend from Buckinghamshire) to add to Terry and himself. As the gig date in April neared, Phil was still in need of a lead guitarist. A flash of inspiration lead him to contact an ex work colleague from EMI, and an accomplished guitarist, Dennis Palmer, and he agreed to help out.

The April gig played an expanded set list to the previous November gig, and yet again it went down well with all who attended. Phil then decided that he would get "The Moody Booze" to play a set at the Townmead School reunion he was organising in September 2018.

It was at that point that the events occured that caused "The Moody Booze" to focus on fund raising for charity. Phil had a relative who was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and then a member of the band was also diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The school reunion gig went well, and afterwards there was a consensus within the band that they wanted to play more gigs, and so it was that Phil realised that, although limited in talent, "The Moody Booze" could help raise needy funds for charity through playing several gigs a year.

At present the group comprises of Phil Fox (drums), Tony Wheatley (vocals), Terry Sharp (rhythm guitar and saxophone), Alan Coughlan (bass guitar), and Bradley Crisp (lead guitar). From time to time various guests appear with the band. To date those guests have been Abi Cain, Martin Cansdale, Graham Mansbridge, and Dennis Palmer.

"The Moody Booze" are aiming to raise as much money this year for the charity Prostate Cancer UK during 2019, and to date have raised nearly £500 from a combination of donations and a pub quiz.