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Spike | |
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 Spike in 2015 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jonathan Francis Gray |
| Also known as | Spike Gray |
| Born | (1966-02-04)4 February 1966 (age 59) Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom |
| Origin | Haltwhistle, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom |
| Genres | Hard rock,blues rock,glam metal,glam punk |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, harmonica, guitar |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels |
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Jonathan Francis Gray[1] (born 4 February 1966), known professionally asSpike, orSpike Gray, is an English singer-songwriter and founding member of the British rock bandthe Quireboys, for whom he performs as lead singer and has released 13 studio albums. He is recognised for his raspy voice which led to comparisons withRod Stewart.
As a solo performer, Spike has collaborated with Tyla ofThe Dogs D'Amour, and released five solo studio albums. In March 2022, fellow Quireboys members claimed that Spike had been fired from the band, which Spike disputed. Spike proceeded to form a new version of the band, with his ex-bandmates changing their name.[2]
Jonathan Gray was born inNewcastle upon Tyne and grew up inNorthern England. At age 17, he moved down to London where, eventually, he would form the rock bandthe Quireboys with Guy Bailey in 1984.[3] After various tours and singles, Spike with the Quireboys released their debut albumA Bit of What You Fancy (1990), which went to number two on theUK Albums Chart. The band gained significant success, but their second albumBitter Sweet & Twisted (1993) did not quite have the impact of the first.
After the Quireboys split up in 1993, he played in the United States, in Los Angeles, California, with a band called God's Hotel. He also sang lead vocals on a cover ofHank Williams's country classic "Hey Good Lookin'", withC.C. DeVille from the Americanglam-metal bandPoison, for the soundtrack of the comedy filmSon in Law (1993) that starredPauly Shore.
Spike decided to record in other projects; the first was in 1994 withDarrell Bath of the Englishrock and roll bandthe Dogs D'Amour. The recording,Take Out Some Insurance, was an album of covers, featuring songs from oldblues artists, and was released under the artist name Spike an' Darrell.[4]
Soon after, Spike moved back to Newcastle and, in 1996, he recorded with another member of the Dogs D'Amour – this time it was frontman Tyla, with whom he recorded the albumFlagrantly Yours, under the artist name Spike and Tyla's Hot Knives.
In 1998, Spike recorded his first solo albumBlue Eyed Soul.
The Quireboys reformed in 2001 with a new line-up and have released six new albums since that time.
Spike's second solo studio album,It's a Treat to Be Alive, was released in 2005, followed bySo Called Friends in 2008.
Spike was involved in a fracas with German rock guitaristMichael Schenker in November 2000. This happened after a show at theNewcastle City Hall by the Englishheavy-metal andhard-rock bandUFO. Schenker later admitted he caused the brawl, and refused to blame Spike. The Quireboys have since played on the same bill as the hard-rock bandMichael Schenker Group.
In 2006, Spike released his second studio albumIt's a Treat to Be Alive through Demolition Records. It was described by theBelfast Telegraph as "more than decent collection", noting its "bluesy" influences.[5]
In 2007, Spike became part of Damage Control, a Britishsupergroup formed by guitaristRobin George, UFO bassistPete Way andChris Slade, former drummer with the Australian hard-rock bandAC/DC. The group released a self-titled album onCargo Records which was generally well received.
Over the years, Spike has also provided vocals for a number of songs on various American rocktribute albums, specifically: thepower ballad "Don't Cry" onUncivil War, a tribute album to the hard-rock bandGuns N' Roses; a cover of the rock bandStyx's song "Lady" on the albumA Tribute to Styx; rock musicianTed Nugent's "Need You Bad" on the albumThe World's Greatest Tribute to Ted Nugent; and the rock bandBon Jovi's ballad "Living in Sin" on the albumCovered Dead or Alive. Spike also collaborated with the Americanelectronica artist David Madden (also sometimes known as DJ Webern and Nonnon) on a version of the English heavy-metal bandJudas Priest's song "Rock Forever" forAn Industrial Tribute to Judas Priest.
Spike is known to have contributed backing vocals on the following recordings:
This discography documents the studio albums Spike has been a part of in various projects, throughout his musical career.
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