Malcolm McMaster

Top Scottish Steelie, and former full-time Casual, Malcolm recently retired from the hectic Country Casuals touring schedule.

Not that he's resting on his laurels, he is still busy providing his wonderful steel licks for a variety of bands including The City Sinners and The Rodneys.

Malcolm plays on John's first two albums and was also the steel player in John's former band Radio Sweethearts.

Malcolm recently recorded with another former Casual, Graham Shipcote.

Francis is one of Scotland's Top Drummers and has played on ALL of John's records, including Radio Sweethearts.

He has also provided drum action for a variety of top artists including Teenage Fanclub, BMX Bandits, John McCusker, Laura Cantrell, Alex Chilton, Kim Fowley, etc. etc. The list is endless.

He is also the head honcho at Shoeshine Records and manager of Attic Lights and Camera Obscura.

As if that didn't keep him busy enough, he is also Daddy to little Hugh - and the Stork is on his way with another wee Macdonald.

Thomas Marsden

Tom Marsden goes by the self-styled moniker of The Electric Sideboard, a name he affectionately give to his old lap-steel guitar.

Tom dragged that same lap-steel around Europe on 2 tours with The Country Casuals.

Tom can also be heard on The Primevals CD 'There Is No Other Life And This Is It'.

Trivia Fans please note: The Primevals drummer Paul Bridges was drummer in John's very first band 'Murder Story' many, many years ago.

Thought of as California's finest Mike is actually from 'The South' which explains why he's known as 'Misisipi' Mike Wolf.

Mike has toured 3 times with John. The first time in the company of another fine California Country Star Tom Armstrong.

Mike is in high demand as a guitarist and a poster artist.

As well as his solo work he is also a member of Misisipi Rider and The Mission 3 (among others).

Tom Armstrong

Ohio born Tom Armstrong is well known on the San Francisco Country Music scene having released 2 very fine albums; 'Sings Heart Songs' and 'Songs To Make The Jukebox Play'.

Tom and John first met as labelmates on Spit & Polish (a division of Shoeshine) and quickly became life-long friends.

They first shared the stage together at The Makeout Room in San Francisco.

Tom has toured twice with John and also played guitar and sang with The Country Casuals

Joe is probably best known as guitarist for Newcastle Rockabilly Kings The Sureshots but has played his hot rockabilly licks for literally dozens of artists.

His other bands include country band Root'n Toot'n and The Skiprats.

Joe has been a friend of John's for many years and has played guitar and steel with him throughout the UK and Ireland.

He is also a great producer and is currently working on the new album for their mutual friend Shipcote.

David Scott

David produced and played on John's first 2 albums 'Popping Pills' and 'One Excuse Too Many'.

As well as a producer (and now college lecturer) David is also a very fine musician.

David has made some beautiful music with The Pearlfishers and is currently also a member of BMX Bandits

Ace Country guitar player Harley Dave is a member of, probably, London's finest Honky-Tonk band Too Country.

He is also a member of The Doggone Country Band with whom he has toured Europe on several occasions.

Dave is also a great soundman and has worked with John on many occasions.

He has also played guitar and sang on stage with John at the What's Cookin' club in London.

Fraser Reid was a friend of John's. They first met when Fraser was a regular at the Radio Sweethearts' club in Glasgow.

Fraser played guitar on John's 'Popping Pills' album.

His beautiful Chet Atkins Gretsch guitar can be heard to great effect on 'I'm A Loser Again'.

Father of two Fraser sadly passed away recently after an extended period of illness. He will be missed.

Top Bloke, Top Promoter and Top Musician Graham 'Shipcote' Anderson has been a great supporter of John and his music from day one.

Graham has played bass and sang with The Country Casuals on many occasions.

Graham has recorded 2 of John's songs on his recent albums.

As head honcho of The Jumpin' Hot Club Graham is responsible for bringing the best Country, Soul and Reggae artists to the Newcastle area.

BJ Cole is, quite simply, a genius which is the reason why John invited him to take over the Pedal Steel stool on his latest album.

He is without doubt not only the best Pedal Steel player in Europe but very possibly the world.

BJ has played with top artists such as Sting, Elton John, The Verve and Scott Walker.

There is not enough space to list them all here but you should check out BJ's website for more info.

Multi instrumentalist Willie is one of the finest Pedal-Steel players you are ever likely to hear. He also plays guitar and mandolin and sings like an Angel.

Willie is the best friend of former Casual Malcolm McMaster and has taken over steel duties for him on many occasions.

Willie was with the Country Casuals during their short but memorable tour of Shetland where they met the late guitar legend Peerie Willie. He became a frequent visitor to the islands after that tour.

Willie sings and plays on John's second album 'One Excuse Too Many'

Family Man Phil is steel player with top retro band The Western Aces.

Phil also played with Lynette Morgan and The Tennessee Rythmn Riders.

As well as being John's friend he also played pedal-steel on John's session for Mark Lamarr's 'God's Jukebox' show on BBC Radio 2.

'Sticks' is the long-time friend and drummer of Shipcote.

He has played drums for John throughout the North East

He also occupies the drum stool with Martin Stephenson and The Toerags.

Much in demand US drummer Brad now lives in England where he plays drums with Too Country.

He also plays with Lynette Morgan and was the drummer on John's TV appearances for BBC Alba's 'Ceol Country' show.

Brad works at the Science Museum in London where he is well known as a purveyor of 'punk' science (which I think is code for blowing things up).

A brilliant fiddle player, pianist and singer, classically trained Seonaid (pronounced Shona) can turn her hand to just about anything.

She has been known to play Folk Music, Country Music, entertain on Cruise Ships and perform with Opera companies.

She also plays fiddle and sings on John's latest CD 'Still Carrying A Flame'. Is there no end to this girl's talents?

Check out her website and buy her CD while you're there.

Having recently retired Alasdair is now a 'former' member of Scotland's #1 Bluegrass Combo The Moonshiners.

John performed with The Moonshiners live at the famous Edinburgh International Festival.

The show was broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland's 'Brand New Opry' show.

Alasdair also played fiddle and mandolin on John's first album 'Popping Pills'

Ray Prior is a former Army (25 year) man. When asked what he did in the Army for 25 years he replied 'I played Violin'.

After his (inactive) Army service Ray became a member of Edinburgh Bluegrass band Home Made Jam.

It was while performing with them at the Radio Sweethearts' club in Glasgow that he first met John.

Ray played fiddle on John's second album 'One Excuse Too Many' which was recently remastered and released by The Folk'n'Western Recording Co.

Fiddlin' Jim Morrison (as opposed to that other Jim Morrison) is best known as fiddle player with Alan Tyler and The Lost Sons Of Littlefield.

He has also played with several other bands and is a member of Lynette Morgan's touring band.

Jim was a member of The Country Casuals when they recorded their session for Mark Lamarr on BBC Radio 2.

As well as making music, Electronics wizard David works at Riverside Studios where he has been an invaluable member of staff for many years.

David played piano on the very first recordings John made with Radio Sweethearts which were released exclusively in the USA.

They both came full circle when David played Piano and Organ on John's latest CD 'Still Carrying A Flame'.

Phil Sakerski plays Banjo and Dobro with Top Scottish Bluegrass Combo The Moonshiners.

He has also lent his talents to a variety of other artist including the late John Herald, Martin Stephenson, Tim O'Brien and Kathy Chiavola.

Phil plays beautifully on John's albums 'Popping Pills' and 'One Excuse Too Many' and has also performed live with both John and Radio Sweethearts.

Actor and singer with top London Honky-Tonk combo Too Country.

Gareth embraces the music and lifestyle (especially the food) of Old Texas as evidenced in his great song 'All The Trimmings (with the whole hog on the side)'

Gareth has joined John onstage on several occasions.

Check out the video of them both singing 'Popping Pills'.

New York born Kathy now lives in Scotland where she has carved out a name for herself as a singer and songwriter.

Her album 'Celestial Shoes' contains some of the prettiest music I have ever heard.

Kathy is an old friend of John's and provided harmony vocals on his 'Popping Pills' album.

Former band of Country Casuals bass player Andy McDowell.

First met John after being invited to appear as a guest at the Radio Sweethearts' club in Glasgow.

The other members were Scott Kennedy, Graeme Hawes and Angela Cleland.

The lazy Ranch Hands provide the harmonies on 'Taking The Long Walk To Freedom' which can be heard on the 'Popping Pills' album.

Officially the nicest man in showbiz, ace guitarist Johnny is co-owner of Riverside Studios.

Johnny has played guitar for many different artists both live and in session including Carol Laula, Laura McGhee and the famous Cameron Brothers Ceilidh Band.

Johnny was the engineer and played on John's first ever recording session with Radio Sweethearts.

He also sings on John's latest CD 'Still Carrying A Flame' and can occasionally be seen taking up guitar duties when Martin can't make it.