Bob Cotton
Along with brother Ray, I formed the band BRAD Rock'n'Roll back in 1974, when we were both still at school. At the time the band members initials made up the name Bob, Ray, Andy, Dave, --- BRAD.
Being in a band seemed like it might be a good laugh, so after my uncle showed me a few basic chords and riffs on the guitar to some old '50's records we decided that is what we would do and it's basically what we've been doing ever since.
At the time I was heavily into Reggae, Motown and Soul music, being a Skinhead it was the music that went with the image. As I learnt the guitar, I got more and more interested in the whole 50's scene and found myself changing my dress style to that of a Teddyboy, Rocker, 50's cooldude Hepcat type of guy. I'm not quite sure what the hell you'd class me as now, ( don't say anything) let's just say ...........ME!
As well as being the guitarist in the band, I played in the school orchestra on Clarinet, in the Northampton Town Orchestra on Flute and in the Boys Brigade band as the Solo Marching band drummer,(whatever I played the rest of the drummers had to repeat, that was a laugh in itself!). I actually began my musical career playing the recorders, Descant, Treble and Tenor while at junior school.
I sang and played guitar for about 4 years around various clubs and pubs using a few different guitars and amps, a couple of Japanese guitars as well as a Blonde 50's semi-acoustic Kay, a black Kay,(the same as one Brian Adams has) and a Fender Telecaster with a Bigsby tremelo arm, which is a pretty rare guitar. For amplification, I used good old Rock'n' Roll gear, namely, Marshall 100watt valve top and 4x12 cab,Orange valve top, a Selmer Thunderbird twin thirty combo and always for the echo sound, a Wem copicat.
Sometime around 1978/79 we changed the band name to The Jets and had an instrument change as well. I changed to playing the Double Bass or Slap Bass, as some people prefer to call it. We changed from a 4 piece outfit, to a 3, (see Ray and Tonys files). Amplifying the Bass was a real problem. I tried all sorts of different acoustic bugs, all without much real success, they always fed back, so nowadays I use Magnetic pickups, either Kent Armstrong or at present Schaller. I use the pickups in conjunction with a really cheap acoustic bug, for the slapping sound. My amplification is a 600watt Peavey combo with a 15" speaker and a tweeter along with a second 15" Peavey speaker cab on the bottom.
Over the years I've been lucky enough play Double Bass on various top artists records, such as Kim Wilde, Alvin Stardust, Dave Edmunds, The Inmates, Phil Everly and Billy Fury. I have also sessioned on a few Television and Radio adverts for various companies.
One year, I happened to be on holiday in Rhodes and wandered into an Elvis themed bar, who was up there on the video screen? Yes, Me. I had filmed a 2 hour television special dedicated to Elvis, in which I was the studio band Bass player. The show was called "Love me Tender" and on it famous singers sang their favourite Elvis tracks, so I played behind Meatloaf, Boy George, KimWilde, Elkie Brookes, Ben E King, Nona Hendrix (Jimmys daughter) and played in Dave Edmunds band instead of his own electric bass player, he preferred my "Slap Bass" instead, which coming from him, was quite a compliment.
As well as being the bassist, I am the lead vocalist, screaming out songs written by Ray and myself and also good old Rockabilly originals, Rock'n'Roll and Doo-wop.
My favourite artists from the 50's, are artists like, Johnny Burnette, Elvis, Eddie Cochran and more recently, Prince, Shania Twain, Boys to men, Another level and and in todays Rockin' scene, Darryl Higham, whose album "The Cochran Connection" with my, brothers we sang backing vocals on.
I've also with The Jets backed original singers such as Carl Perkins, Sleepy LaBeef, Charlie Gracie, Tommy Sands, Johnny Preston, Alvis Wayne, Terry Dene and Wee Willie Harris, as well as more recent Rock'n'Roll stars, such as Linda Gail Lewis (Jerrys sister), Graham Fenton, (from Matchbox), Freddie Fingers Lee, Crazy Cavan and Craig, Lee and Daniel Cotton all seperately from The Bad Boys.
Something a little more personnel now.
In my spare time, I love to play football, ride my motorbike and I'm totally addicted to Snow skiing which I try to get to do two or three times a year, if possible. My Ideal holiday would be 2 weeks on one of the Greek Islands lying on a nice secluded beach with a beautiful woman lying next to me. (yeah! In my dreams). My favourite meal would be, Chilli con carni, a bottle of red wine and a bar of milk chocolate. I drive a white 5 series BMW and a 600cc Suzuki motorbike. Anyway enough is enough, I'm sure that you don't need to know things like, shoe size, inside leg measurement and starsign etc. etc. etc.
Thanks for checking out the Jets page and also my little bit, don't forget to check out Tony and Rays files.
If you want to know anymore info drop us an e-mail.
Cheers for now BOB COTTON.
Web site designed by Tony Cotton