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and early nineties with an array of
visiting American artists – Shalimar, George
McCrae, The Real Thing, Junior Walker and the
All-Stars, The Crystals, Jimmy Ruffin, Jean Carne,
Ben E King, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Limmee
and the Family Cookin’, Rose Royce, Edwin Starr,
Boney M, Precious Wilson, Sister Sledge and as
tour manager with Tony Bennett.
Following this period as sideman for others,
Phil decided it was now time to row his own boat and
launched the Tribute to the Carpenters in 1989. This
was the very first show to coin the label “Tribute”
and was right at the very beginning of what was
later to become a genre in its own right.
In the Summer of ’96, wanting a change of direction,
Phil called upon all his previous experience to
create his most demanding endeavour to date, The
Illegal Eagles. For full details please visit
www.illegaleagles.com.
The Illegal Eagles would prove to be life changing
for Phil…
Around this time, Phil became unhappy with
freelancing and decided to concentrate entirely on
the Illegal Eagles. This would inevitably lead to
periods of inertia between tours, so the time was
right for the realisation of another long-term
ambition, a recording studio.
While the Illegal Eagles were recording the
first promo CD at Trackside Studios in Southend, the
owner asked Phil if he knew anyone who might care to
take over from him. Within a year Nightfly
Studios (after his lifetime favourite album by
Donald Fagen) was up and running – a complex of some
5500sq ft comprising several rehearsal rooms, a
dance studio and two recording studios. (Check out
the website –
www.nightflystudios.co.uk). All future Illegal
Eagles recordings and rehearsals would now have a
regular home.
Previously, studying at Berklee had pointed out the
deficiencies in the British music education system
as far as rock music was concerned, so now Phil and
Nightfly were in a position to join forces with
Access to Music an amazing, comprehensive rock
education system, funded totally by the government. Access has 24 courses nationwide,
which are of two years duration, 5 days a week and
is aimed at talented musicians of school leaving
age. Many students have graduated from the course to
become successful professionals.
More IE related happenings were on the way..
While Phil was busy on stage drumming with the
Illegal Eagles each year in the Midlands, a certain
fan was making the same annual pilgrimage to see the
show. In September 2005, Phil and Janey were married
in Canewdon Church in Essex on a fabulous summer’s
day, with Illegal Eagles past and present in
attendance and Jeff “Wildman” Green as best man. Our
trusty photographer Les Linyard was there to
record the event.
This year, Phil and Janey relocated to Lincoln and
have just opened a second recording studio –
Tabby Road Studios.
Rehearsals have been held there for this year’s
festivals and tour. Tabby Road is a residential
studio, so the whole band, with our new singer
Danny, have been enjoying round-the-clock rehearsals
and hospitality up in the Midlands and are looking
forward, with much relish, to getting back on the
road for this years Illegal Eagles festivities! |
