Bobby - Lead Vocals

E-Mail - bob@macband.co.uk

Mike - Guitar

I began playing guitar at what i consider a late age of 16, growing up listening to mainly 80's/90's rock artists like van halen, journey, whitesnake guns 'n' roses etc. What really made me intrested in playing was guitarists joe satriani and steve vai. I adapted thier style very quickly and made the change from les pauls to my all time favourite guitars ibanez. I was a bedroom player for about two years before i dabbled in bands, collecting equipment and knowledge along the way i was then prepared to play infront of a live audience. As for the macband being the drummers son (adrian) i was always lurking around helping out with equipment and playing the odd song alongside them from time to time when the opportunity came along to play full shows, of course i gladly jumped onboard. since then i became a full time official part of the macband! ...mike

E-Mail - mike@macband.co.uk

Mark - Vocals & Bass

It all started for me in the 60s (yes, eons ago!) when, aged 6, I heard “Purple Haze” by the Jimi Hendrix Experience. I was lucky to have four older sisters who bought chart singles and LPs, so my childhood was drenched with the sounds of The Beatles, Stones, Who, Spencer Davis Group, Yardbirds and many, many more! I’ve been trying to play bass guitar now for 30 long years. My weird style is down to the fact that I’m basically a “Zep Head” who then taught himself to play the Average White Band’s double live album, note for note, while pretending to study at Oxford University. Result… funky basso! From 1980-83 I was front man for Kudos Points, described as “a cross between Roxy Music and The Clash”. We released a couple of vinyl singles on indie label DEB Records and posed around a lot (it was the New Romantic era, after all). After that, I was in moody Essex-based duo Cast Of Thousands with best friend Martin “Moot” Seager. Creative, with a touch of insanity… For many moons I then enjoyed playing parties with buddies in the Scratch Band, based mainly around the South East. Knocking out good old hits – this is where I learned to imitate my all-time hero: David Bowie. Today, I’m a proud member of Midlands-based party rockers The Goatees (which explains some occasional stubble on my chin). Here I met my rhythm section partner Ade Vickers, who is an outstanding drummer and a very good mate. I also support singer/songwriter Alan Whittaker (a most talented fellow) in London for acoustic duo gigs, billed as AcousticAl. Just two voices, guitar and bass – it feels like being naked on stage! But I get my biggest kicks (and fun!) out of gigging with MacBand. Having joined in 2007 I’ve found that, because the performing standard is so high, my bass playing has improved dramatically (well, it had to!). We’ve got a cool live sound, delivered by a top line-up of great guys (plus guest gals!)… Conclusion: I like to boogie with the “Maccies”!!!

E-Mail - mark@macband.co.uk

John - Keyboards

Music seemed to be all around me as a young lad. I came from a large family, that inc four boys and myself (who all played). I could add that my late father influenced us musically, but that would be a bit of a fib!!. At home in the parlour (sounds posh), I mean front room, we had an old upright piano, didn’t everyone? My dad used to knock out old pub tunes on it - very badly. I much preferred him playing the spoons myself. But I suppose my older brother Paul started the music thing, singing and playing Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly and Beatles tunes. The din that came wafting down the bloody street back in those days , It's a wonder my poor mother never got evicted - Anyway I latched on to the piano (self-taught) and got my first electronic Vox keyboard/piano at about 16-yrs, but I really didn’t do anything wonderful with it. Not wanting to inflict yet another McCarthy onto the music scene just yet! I did various sessions throughout the eighties/nineties. Spent most of my time in front of the stage watching bands and following and helping my brother’s band rather than on-stage playing. The original MacBand came about in 2002 when we put together a ‘family’ band inc some close friends to raise funds for Cancer Relief after sadly losing my brother Paul to lung cancer. The thing was such a success it inspired us to do more charity events & bookings over the years supported by various musicians - Myself, Bob (lead vocalist) and my brother Bren (percussion) are from the original band line-up. Anyway it is now a fine bunch of lads, who form the 6-piece outfit that is the currentMacBand line up. My musical influences are Pink Floyd, Supertramp, early Genesis, Stevie Winwood, Beatles, Edward Elgar and anything that sounds good!! My gear…. Roland Fantom X8 Workstation (88-key) inc Expansion Cards Roland E-50 Workstation. 2-Yamaha MSR100 Active(Wedge Monitor Speakers). Yamaha Stagepas 2-Speaker System - inc built-in powered mixer. Nuff said! Love & Peace..... John McC

E-Mail - john@macband.co.uk

Bren - Percussion & Vocals

'Bongo' Bren - It all started a bit late for me - I was always on the fringes of the live music scene since I was a kid, but being the youngest of a large family I normally just watched from a distance. I started getting more involved when I decided to learn to play the piano about fifteen years ago (a life-long ambition of mine) which I really enjoyed, and still do. I don’t wish to brag but I’ve played piano in some of the classiest hotel venues across Europe (mind you that was mainly when the piano lid was left un-locked and the staff weren’t looking). Things really got moving for me when the original MacBand was put together to do a big charity event in the name of my older brother Paul for the local hospice back in September 2002. Although the occasion was a very poignant one it turned out to be a fantastic night. So it was decided that we should continue getting together for further charitable events, which we did. I quickly switched to playing percussion and backing vocals to give the band that extra dimension, which certainly works well (not to mention that John can now sleep easy in his bed knowing that I’m not coming after his job on keyboards just yet, ha! ha!). The weird thing was working along side Bob (lead vocal) in the band. It was almost like gaining another brother after the loss of Paul. So I affectionately refer to Bob as ‘Bro’. Ade (drums) is a long-standing friend of the family who I’ve known for the best part of my life and is my ‘rhythm section’ mentor. Mark (the funky bass-man) and Mike (guitars), were introduced to the line up by Ade and have both added their unique personal touches to the set. And I’d better not forget to mention John (keyboards) cause he is my REAL brother! The current MacBand has evolved into a really easy going line-up bringing together quite an interesting set of musical genres who play for the love of music and not what they can financially gain from it – Which makes being part of it all worthwhile. Long may it continue………… Bren

E-Mail - bren@macband.co.uk

Adrian - Drums

After taking up drums at an early age and playing for a number of years, I decided to hang up my sticks and have a short break so that I could get married, settle down and have a family. Which I did, but it turned out to be an almost 20-year break. I got back into playing again after ‘threatening’ John our keyboard player that I was ready to make a comeback. Mind you I’d had a few beers and had overlooked the minor problem of not actually possessing a kit!! Anyway that aside I joined up with the MacBand about 4-years ago to assist with some charity gigs. The McCarthy family had been friends of mine for years and me and John have been buddies since we were 11years old. It was what I wanted, to play in a band with my friends. Over the last couple of years I have helped to re-structure the line-up by introducing my son mike (guitar) and Mark (bass) who I met whilst playing with another local covers band who we gig with in between the MacBand’s schedule, which keeps me more than busy. This is a great line up with all personalities fitting well together which is as important as the music itself to me. ....Ade

E-MAIL - adrian@macband.co.uk