G.B (Guitar)

Harry Douglas – vocals // Mike Tremethick – drums // Angus Mitchell - bass

G.B

GUITAR/VOCALS

GB is the one who’s most likely to say something inappropriate during a gig.

He loves to have a bit of interaction with the audience and often ends up out front or on the dancefloor, often with his partner in crime, Angus. Together they’re trouble and are often up to no good behind Harry while he’s singing.

The guitarist is allegedly the reason why Angus ended up stripping at a show for a dare.

His knees don’t thank him for jumps into the air for song finales these days, which mean he relishes moments where he steps up to take lead vocals for tunes like the classic Walking In Memphis, which has somehow become something of a signature song.

GB isn’t a fan of perfectly recreating cover songs, instead preferring each band or artist to leave their own mark. So, with that excuse – sorry, justification – he likes to improvise most guitar solos, except the ones that deserve rehashing for their melodic brilliance!

Part of that comes from his musical upbringing. A self-taught late-starter, aged 16, he was told by his family he would never manage to play a guitar. Some still think they were right! Haha!
After starting out with his soft-rock group Undivided, he moved on to form the raw Blue Murder Blues Band which played hi-octane gigs playing electrified blues. His friendship with the band Jonestown saw him guest with them on numerous occasions, ultimately leading to the departure of singer/guitarist Harry Douglas, with whom he would form Area 51.

After starting the band in 2006, the band have gone on to become “one of Cornwall’s best loved bands” – and GB is always looking for ways to have more fun onstage with his bandmates.

In 2011 he also took to the drum stool for garagepunk band The Raidiators, who are currently on hiatus.

In December 2011 he entered the studio to record a version of his song Change Everything, which will be available as part of a forthcoming solo EP in 2012, supported by a small acoustic tour.

Equipment:

Guitars
FENDER 60s Strat,
BURNY Les Paul Super Grade,
SAMBORA SA-2 customised w/DiMarzio Super Distortion and PAF Pro humbuckers,
Custom Frankensteined Telecaster with Hot Rails,
TANGLEWOOD Rosewood Reserve acoustic,
Custom-built G.B silver strat

Amp & Effects
FENDER Hot Rod Deville III,
ROGER LINN Adrenalinn III,
T-REX Mudhoney II,
T-REX Fuel Tank Junior,
LINE 6 DL4 delay,
MXR Micro Amp solo boost,
BOSS V-Wah,
TC ELECTRONIC PolyTune,
EHX Holy Grail,
EHX Small Clone,
BIYANG Fuzz Star,
HUGHES & KETTNER Edition Blue.

Misc
SE ELECTRONICS 2200a Mic,
SHURE SM58 beta microphone,
SHURE SM57 microphone,
DUNLOP Greens 0.88 plectrums,
SENNHEISER Freeport wireless system,
APPLE iPhone, iRig & Amplitube (backup),
LINE 6 Pocket POD (backup),
PLANET WAVES guitar cables,
COWBOY hat.

Most likely to say:

“This song needs more pentatonics and pinched harmonics…”
“If something’s worth doing…it’s worth overdoing!”
or just something ridiculously inappropriate

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Other A51 members:
Harry Douglas – vocals // Mike Tremethick – drums // Angus Mitchell – bass