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Andy Bown | |
|---|---|
 Performing withStatus Quo at Arvika Hamnfest inArvika, 2024 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Andrew Steven Bown |
| Born | (1946-03-27)27 March 1946 (age 79) Beckenham,Kent, England |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1966–present |
| Member of | Status Quo |
| Formerly of | |
| Website | www |
Andrew Steven Bown (born 27 March 1946)[1] is an English musician, who has specialised in keyboards and bass guitar. He is a member of the rock bandStatus Quo.
Bown's first major band wasThe Herd, along withPeter Frampton. After The Herd dissolved he spent two years withJudas Jump[2] who were the opening act of theIsle of Wight Festival 1970. He played [keyboards at first] for Frampton in the 1970s then switched to bass briefly whenRick Wills departed the Peter Frampton band in early 1975. Bown himself left the Frampton entourage less than a year later, just as Frampton was on the verge of achieving worldwide success. He went back to England where he first dabbled with a solo career (recording two solo albums for Bill Gaff's GM label, US Mercury), then resumed work with Status Quo whom he started playing keyboards for in 1973 as asession musician, including sessions with Jerry Lee Lewis on theLondon Sessions Album. Bown first appeared on Quo'sHello! album in that year; performing on every album by the band from 1977'sRockin' All Over the World onwards, and supporting them in concert. He joined Status Quo as a full member in 1982, and has been with them ever since.
Bown released a number ofsingles in the 1970s, including "New York Satyricon Zany" and "Another Shipwreck", none of which charted. His most well-known song however was the theme tune to the children's seriesAce of Wands, "Tarot", reissued in 2024 by Think Like A Key Music. He also released five albums, the first of which,Gone to My Head, was released in 1972.
His latest solo album,Unfinished Business, was released on 5 September 2011. The album was produced byMike Paxman and recorded by Chris West, it features contributions fromHenry Spinetti on drums, Mick Rogers on guitars,Trevor Bolder and Brad Lang on basses as well as vocalistsJuliet Roberts andSylvia Mason-James. It was recorded at State of the Ark Studios inRichmond, Surrey in 2010.[3]
He was the bass player in the "Surrogate Band" duringPink Floyd's The Wall tour in 1980 and 1981[4] and can be heard on the live albumIs There Anybody Out There? The Wall Live 1980–81.[4] He also did some keyboards forPink Floyd'sThe Final Cut album.[4] and onJack the Lad's last albumJackpot in 1976. In addition he playedHammond organ and 12-string guitar during the recording ofRoger Waters' solo albumThe Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking in 1984, but did not take part in Waters' subsequent tours.[5]
He still plays keyboards, guitar and harmonica with Status Quo, and is an integral part of the band, havingco-written many well known Quo songs on various studio albums, most prominently collaborating withRick Parfitt on the group's 1979hit "Whatever You Want".
During live performances Bown uses aRoland RD-700 piano, aHammond C3 Organ and a Roland D-70synthesizer, which are connected to a Roland U-220, anE-muVintage Keys module, anAkai Sampler and aLeslie speaker.
Bown uses a vintageFender Telecaster, aGibson Les Paul, aWashburnsemi-acoustic as well as aTakamine acoustic.[6]He also uses custom Telecaster types and aStratocaster-type made by J Davey Guitars, and sometimes usesRick Parfitt's custom-madeFender Telecaster Thinline
