When and how did you develop an interest in playing the Guitar?

My earliest recollection is as a toddler scavenging in cupboards, looking for my mother's egg slicer which was, rather ironically, equipped with six cutting wires, pitched somewhat discordantly, yet still capable of producing a sort of avant-garde melody. Well, from tiny acorns…

I had to wait until I was thirteen before I managed to get my hands on a real guitar; my father's old Hofner, equipped with only two strings - four less than I had been used to! "This should be easy," I thought.

I began where all budding guitarist do, with the riff to Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the water,' played entirely on one string. It was at that moment that I realized what I wanted to do with the rest of my life - to master this 'pestilence' and front the Greatest Heavy Rock outfit of all time. The hair grew long, the acne followed - yes, I was on my way to becoming a Rock Star!

After several teenage years of banging both my head and my guitar along to every heavy riff then known to man, disturbing the peace of the family household and that of the neighbours, I felt it was time to mellow and to learn something more socially acceptable. The classical guitar seemed the logical answer. No more lugging around a huge 4 X 12 cabinet along with my army of battle-scarred effects pedals. No, this was it, just me, my 3/4 size nylon and some cheap ninety-nine pence classical guitar tapes purchased from Woolies. I suppose this was really where it all began.

On one of the tapes was a piece called Romanza, a veritable anthem to Spanish guitar lovers and the student's favourite. I stayed up most of the night determined to learn it. The following week I played my new tune at a talent contest in front of several hundred students at the Falmouth College of Art & Design (from where I was soon to be ousted). To my astonishment I won the contest! I then began an intense study of the instrument, trying to read music and to get to grips with the likes of Asturias and Bach's Lute suites. I wrestled and sparred with the instrument until I became semi-competent. However, I knew I would never become the next John Williams, and could not see the virtue of being second-best at playing other peoples tunes. The repertoire and my rather limited ability with the classical playing style had led me to become somewhat jaded.

It was after playing a slightly lame support slot to acoustic guitar maestro Gordon Giltrap that I was to change direction again. This time I headed towards the steel strung acoustic guitar. I remember being totally amazed at the fullness of sound that could be achieved using open tunings. That realized, I immediately purchased an acoustic guitar and set about experimenting with the DADGAD altered tuning.

Within a couple of weeks or so I'd written about a dozen pieces with my new instrument. But how would my humble following respond to my change of musical direction and what would they think of the compositions. Well, I jumped at the opportunity to once again play as supporting act for Mr. Giltrap. This time, however, things were different. The crowd was behind me and they seemed to really like the music - I don't mind admitting that I think Gordon was just a little bit surprised (and possibly intimidated) by the audience reaction. That was to be my last gig with Gordon, he never came back!

Even with the encouragement I received from the audience that night, the once intriguing open-tunings began to lose their appeal. I missed the subtle nuances and expressiveness of the nylon strung guitar. The winds of change were blowing again…

I switched back to the classical guitar, playing as support to John Zarradin. Supporting me were a couple of local guys playing spanish guitar. A few of the tunes they played really caught my attention. On learning that these tunes were originally by the Gipsy Kings I went out the following day and, somewhat impetuously, purchased everything I could find by them. I struggled to get to grips with some of it (if you are familiar with their music, you may agree with me that some of it is an acquired taste), but what I liked I really loved.

At last, this was it, the sound I had been craving for: the passion and energy of flamenco, the aggression and technique of rock, combined with the finesse, beauty and melancholy of the classical guitar. This was Nuevo Flamenco - and I loved it! It was the perfect vehicle for me to create my own style, incorporating my strengths and abilities. So, I was finally ready to try and carve a niche for myself in the global music scene.

Well, you did ask!