Meet The Tone Sharks

The Tone Sharks are made up of three guys based on the Fylde coast who just like to enjoy making good music without making too much noise.

By the way, we don't usually look this gruesome, this photo on the left was taken whilst we were performing at a James Bond theme night, as you can see, we were three baddies.

ALAN JONES

Backing vocals and guitar


Alan

When Alan was 8 years old, he sold his first guitar to his older sister for a bar of chocolate, and has regretted it ever since. It took quite some time to get another one but eventually by 16 he was able to string a few chords together and play along with mates and a selection of local garage bands.

Alan also spent a few years being a sound engineer for Canaan, but is locally known more for being part of 'Gasp' a very busy working band around the North of England (see gallery), then latterly a brief spell with 'Sensible Shoes'.

Unfortunately his work took him away from the region and the guitar was put under the bed for a few years...until now :)

It was hearing the incredible talent of Joe Satriani that brought Alan back to the guitar, and this led to the admiration of other greats like Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, and Eltjo Haselhoff.

PAT MATHISON

Lead vocals and multi instrumentalist

Pat

Pat started his musical career in the late 1970s, singing and playing saxophone in a band called 'Vote for Burt' performing in local venues around the Fylde Coast, covering material from Steely Dan to Dire Straits.

His first instrument however is the flute, inspired as a school boy by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Pat is self taught, his hero in later life being James Galway.

In the last ten years he has played as part of the brass section in a band called 'Thud' along with fellow 'Tone Shark' Steve Totty.

Pat has been known to don a penguin suit for charity events, crooning with Ann Nolan.

STEVE TOTTY

Guitar and mandola

Steve

Steve started playing guitar at ten on a cheap acoustic. After a short while, his mother used to blindfold him to help him play without watching the fingerboard. Most times he couldn't even find the guitar and the headaches stopped.

He was hooked on first hearing the Shadows in the early sixties and loved going along to watch his local band (The Panthers) play in the school hall where he quite literally drooled all over their equipment. He still remembers all the big names: Fender, Gretsch, Premier & Bird - the firm of solicitors who subsequently acted for the band.

A long term member of a local soul band 'Thud' (discography - Merseythud Chartbusters #1 recorded at LIPA 1998), Steve's heart always lay in acoustic guitar of which he's now got four.

Back in the seventies, Steve wrote the yet to be famous potential chart-topper 'I ain't looking at the North end of a South-bound mule' and hopes the band will one day agree to perform it. The song utilises Steve's own personal adaptation of yodelling (he calls it 'yelling') which gives the sound a unique and astonishing quality.

Although his left ear is slightly sharp, his right one is equally flat and, provided he keeps his head at 30 degrees to horizontal, and faces directly away from the audience, things work just fine.

Major influences would have to include Bob Dylan, Syd Barrett and Michael Chapman.