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Innes Sibun
east monroe

Innes began playing the guitar at the age of twelve, & by the age of fifteen was regularly gigging with any band that would have him, playing blues, punk, jazz, folk & rock music. Although never formally trained in music, blagging gigs with jazz players old enough to be his father gave him a solid background in the basics of music. His other early teacher was a well worn copy of B.B. King Live at the Regal, that was pinched from a second hand shop in Bath. This formed the basics of his playing style.

In 1990, He formed the Innes Sibun Blues Explosion & recorded an album " That's what the Blues can Do" which was produced by Mike Vernon, the man responsible for Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac & Eric Clapton. The album which was released on the bands own label, MMF. Records, was voted UK's best blues album of 1991 by RTE. In Ireland the band toured six times & played live on the legendary " Nighthawks" T.V. show. The Blues Explosion toured constantly opening for for Joe Walker, Ronnie Earl, the fabulous Thunderbirds & Walter Trout. They also shared festival stages with such bands as the Levellers & Boy George. By 1992, the band disbanded for a rest from touring, but where then asked to tour with the New Orleans singer Johnny Adams, who happened to be one of the bands favorite singers, so off they went out on the road again. Innes was also asked to tour with singer Jimmy Witherspoon but was unable to, due to touring commitments in Germany.

In 1993, Innes was asked if he would be interested in joining Robert Plants Band to tour the " Fate of Nations" record, so not expecting to get the gig, Innes went of to Birmingham to a small rehearsal studio & played blues with Robert, Charlie Jones, Michael Lee * Oliver Woods. A week later he got a phone call to say that he had the gig & a list of songs to learn for rehearsals before the tour began Miami. The tour played through the US for four months including a spot on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno & on MTV. This was followed by the European leg of the tour, then back to the US to play the Hollywood Rocks Festivals in Sao Paulo & Rio, then onto Venezuela, Chile, Argentina & Mexico.

On Returning from the tour Innes was approached by Victory Records in New York with a view to recording an album for them. This turned out to be " Superstitious" which was recorded at the Roadhouse in London & the Show Place in New Jersey. The line up for this recording became the basis of the Innes Sibun Band with Steve Robinson, a brilliant singer who Innes had wanted to work with for a long time, John Baggott the only member of the Blues Explosion provided Hammond & piano ( John is now a member of Portishead ), bass player Jerry Soffe & Drummer Eddie John made up the rock tight rhythm section.

The band made several tours of Europe to promote this CD, then toured Germany again supporting Roger Chapman & Chris Farlowe. In 1995 the band recorded their second album " Honey Pot" & again toured relentlessly, mainly in Germany where they became a firm favorite on the festival circuit which included playing the Leverkusen Blues Festival which was filmed for German TV.

The third album " Stardust" was recorded for Provogue & featured Nick Holland on vocals as a tempory repalcement for Steve, & Rich Causon in Hammond. Charlie Jones, bass player with Page & Plant was in the producers chair. Several tours later Steve returned to vocal duties with the band which had now slimed down to a four piece. ( Which meant an end to all the organ jokes ). Andy Maggs replaced Jerry on bass guitar. In August of 1998 the band played the " After Dark " festival in Germany which was recorded for release as " After Dark " on Provogue to be released around October 1999. If you want to get a preview there is going to be a track released on the July's copy of Guitarist magazine which also contains an interview.

In December1998 the band went to New York & played with Peter Green, one of Innes's biggest influences. The band had previously recorded a track for a tribute album for Peter called " Rattlesnake Guitar " which also featured guitar greats like Rory Gallagher, Snowy White & Harvey Mandel. In January 1999, Innes played acoustic with Robert Plant on a tribute album to Skip Spence of the band Moby Grape, the result of this session can be heard on " More Oar " which also contains tracks by Beck, Tom Waits & P.J. Harvey. This is set for release in July 1999 on Birdman Records.

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