Phil Bates Short Biog

Phil Bates is an accomplished and experienced guitarist/singer/songwriter working across the genres of blues, pop, rock and acoustic music.

A Phil Bates solo show will include several original compositions, both vocal and instrumental, plus his arrangements and re-arrangements of songs from some of the greatest songwriters of the 20 th century – Lennon & McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Robert Johnson, Jagger & Richard, Ray Davies, Bod Dylan, the Gershwins.

Phil also features instrumental arrangements of many classic songs.

Alongside his solo work in the UK, Germany and the Czech Republic, Phil is a member of the Orchestra, featuring former members of ELO and ELO Part 2/ Beatles, Blues and Blue Violin - featuring Mik Kaminksi and Tina McBain/ Classic ELO – a German project featuring symphonic versions of ELO songs, plus The Phil Bates Band – a blues/r&b trio featuring guitar, drums and Hammond Organ. Phil also works with wife, Joanna Bates, playing acoustic Celtic and traditional music, interspersed with a little blues.

Phil has worked with, or alongside, some of the biggest names in the music business – ELO, Boston, Foreigner, Fairport Convention members, Clive Bunker ex-Jethro Tull, Gordon Giltrap, Billy Ocean, Alvin Stardust, Status Quo, Fleetwood Mac, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Bev Bevan, Roy Wood, Robert Plant, Paul Carrack ..... and in many parts of the world – USA, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Peru, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, the Baltic States, Russia (Moscow, St Petersburg, Siberia, Vladivostock), all Scandinavian countries, across the whole of eastern and western Europe .... and on the stages of great venues such as Madison Square Gardens/Carnegie Hall, New York, Munich Olympic Centre, Sydney Music Centre, Philadelphia Music Hall, Rosemont Theatre, Chicago, LA Dodgers baseball stadium ....

Phil is equally at home on the stage of a pub, blues/folk club, a small theatre or arts centre as he is appearing in front of a 3000 strong theatre audience, or 20,000 strong festival crowd. In 2006, Phil played to 200,000 people at the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin for the annual German re-unification celebrations.

In 1970, Phil joined Black Country heavy-rock band, Jug, then in 1972 was a founder member of the still popular folk-rock band, Quill.

From 1974 until 1977, Phil was a solo artist, releasing several records on the Spark Records label, and a session guitarist/bassist, playing bass for American guitar legend, Duanne Eddy , on his 1974 UK tour.

In 1997, Phil formed the prog-rock band, Trickster, who released 2 albums and several singles on the Jet Records label, home of ELO. Trickster went on to guest on ELO’s 1978 Spaceship World Tour, and the 1979 European tour of American band, Boston.

In 1981, Phil re-joined Quill, where he met future wife, Jo, with whom he formed the band/duo Don’t Panic. Don’t Panic signed a songwriting contract with RCA/Arista before spending 3 years performing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Between 1990 and 1993, Phil became a session singer/guitarist, featuring on many radio jingles, plus the gold-selling album that accompanied the TV series, The Gladiators. Phil also co-wrote and co-produced, and was singer/guitarist on the AOR album Power, by Atlantic in 1992.

Between 1993 and 1999, Phil was singer/guitarist in ELO Part 2, travelling the world playing rock and symphonic concerts featuring the music of ELO, and co-producing their live album, One Night (1995) live in Australia. ELO Part 2 also released an album, Moment of Truth (1994), featuring many of Phil’s songs.

In 1999, Phil studied for a History Degree with the University of Wales, and on graduation briefly taught Welsh history to undergraduates.

2003 – Phil formed the Electric Light Band in Germany, performing many concerts across eastern and western Germany, plus Poland.

Running simultaneously with this was a stint with Bev Bevan’s Move, playing concerts in the UK and Holland, before rejoining the guys from ELO Pt2 in the Orchestra, in 2007.

In 2009, Phil formed Beatles, Blues and Blue Violin with ELO violinist, Mik Kaminski and vocalist, Tina McBain. Their first album was released in September 2010.

Phil has released 5 solo albums – Naked (1996), Agony and Ecstasy (1998), Alter Ego (2003), One Sky (2005)

Bates Bands