ABO Rock Covers Band

+++ This is the story of how it all began all those years ago (when Dave was a just a boy!) It's been up & down but it got there in the end +++

Here you can find out how it all came together and the band was formed.
It wasn't an easy journey but it's been well worth it!

Way back in the past (possibly 2002?) there were two frustrated guitarists who had a similar(ish!) taste in rock music. They used to get together some lunchtimes at work and have a bit of a playing session. One Christmas they even played a few tracks they'd learned to some very appreciative co-workers (at least five or six people!) who were all so busy chatting they didn't realise they'd finished playing! These guitarists were Chris and Steve. The path was starting to be carved out to form the 'Anything But Ordinary' we know today, but it was a long twisty path!

Very early in 2004 a drummer acquaintance (already in a band) offered Steve and Chris the opportunity to come along and 'jam' a few songs they all knew. There was a possibility that the bass player could come along too? The band was 'Something For The Weekend' and the bass player was Riv. The session took place and proved so positive that another was organised with the vocalist. The outcome of the second session was that Chris and Steve were joining Riv in 'Something For The Weekend' Many rehearsals went by but sadly this line up never gigged and the band decided to go their separate ways in late Summer 2004.
From the ashes, Chris, Steve and Riv were hungry for more and vowed to search out fresh talent.

First to audition was Rob. He had been in a few other bands (most recently 'Mantis') but liked what he saw in these boys and decided to join the (as yet un-named) ABO!

At this point, Chris said he knew a long time friend who used to play keyboards. He would get in touch and see if he still had the gear and fancied joining us. The outcome of this was Neil dusting off his Technics gear from the loft and coming along to a rehearsal. The Technics never got the chance to let dust settle on it again!

So, musically we were complete. Just the elusive vocalist to find! The time is Autumn/Winter 2004. Many ads placed, many auditions held, no vocalists were suitable. Struggling to find the motivation to keep things going, Darren from 'Morpheus' stepped in to the vocalist role to enable us to get practiced ready for the day when the 'right one' came knocking! This was a welcome move but we all knew it was only ever going to be a temporary one. The search went on and on...

We were rapidly becoming the best band to have never gigged!

But, in another band across Ipswich, things were happening which were not good for them but proved to be great for us!

The band were 'Cyprus Manoeuvre' and were about to lose their guitarist back to Devon. Add to this a break of the vocalist's wrist playing football and you have a band that can't realistically go on. The vocalist was Dave. Knowing Dave and the situation he was in, he was asked to come along to see if he wanted to front us. Needless to say, he wanted in and by May 2005 the
ABO line up was finally complete.

It didn't take everyone long to find their feet, but finding a suitable bandname proved difficult! After a few initial bad choices, ABO was chosen and practicing for gigs and building a quality set-list was a priority. A first airing for invited guests was organised for 29th July 2005 (an incredible achievement in such a short space of time!) and proved to be a great success. More gigs followed and the mighty ABO became an established unit taking in all the usual venues on the circuit and undertaking private functions along the way.

In July 2006, after 11 months successful gigging, Rob decided he wanted to leave ABO so the search for a new drummer began...

In early August 2006, we appointed Frazer as ABO's new drummer and we were once again a full band ready to rock!

In early August 2007, following a successful time with the band since its inception, Riv decided to take a break from gigging to concentrate on other projects. It’ll be strange not having him around and we all wish him well with what ever he does next.

ABO's next bassman was Darren. Recently retired from Colourblind Hedgehogs (and a previous member of a certain Cyprus Manoeuvre!) Darren joined ABO in mid August 2007 making our line up complete once more!