Neil Carter | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Neil Andrew Carter |
Born | Bedfont, Middlesex, England | 11 May 1958
Genres | classical music, jazz, hard rock, heavy metal |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, examiner |
Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, clarinet, saxophone, keyboard, flute, bass guitar |
Website | Official website |
Neil Andrew Carter (born 11 May 1958) is an English musician who has worked in diverse genres throughout his career. Classically trained, he became a professional rock musician at the age of 17 and initially had his first "mainstream" experience with singer-songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan. He subsequently played guitar and keyboard for the hard rock band UFO (from 1980 until their first breakup in 1983), guitarist Gary Moore, and Wild Horses. He is credited for co-writing a number of Gary Moore's songs including the worldwide hit "Empty Rooms".
At 30 he left the rock world and developed a different career as a of woodwind (saxophone and clarinet). He became a music examiner for ABRSM in 2003. 2010 saw an unexpected return to rock with Gary Moore, playing festivals across Europe and a tour of Ukraine and Russia. Future tours and a Celtic rock album were to follow but this was curtailed by the death of Gary Moore in February 2011.
On 30 April 2019, it was announced that he would return to UFO for their 'Last Orders' tour, following the death of Paul Raymond with Carter replacing Raymond. The tour began in June 2019 in Germany and continued into 2022 after being postponed from 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Following this tour, UFO called it quits once again in April 2024. [1]
In 2024 ´Moggs Motel´ an album from the musical project of the same name, in which he participated and composed and featuring UFO´s Phil Mogg, was released to wide critical acclaim.
Carter taught at Brighton College, from January 1993 holding the position of "Head of Woodwind and Brass". He taught one-on-one lessons on clarinet and saxophone. Carter was the conductor of the school Concert Band, and the school Saxophone Ensemble and led the School's Swing Band. [2]
UFO were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They became a transitional group between early hard rock and heavy metal and the new wave of British heavy metal. The band's final lineup consisted of vocalist Phil Mogg, lead guitarist Vinnie Moore, rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Neil Carter, bass guitarist Rob De Luca, and drummer Andy Parker. They had gone through several line-up changes, leaving Mogg as the only constant member, and had disbanded three times. The band's classic line-up comprised Mogg, Parker, bassist Pete Way, keyboardist Paul Raymond and former Scorpions guitarist Michael Schenker. In May 2018, Mogg announced that he would retire from UFO after one last tour as a member of the band in 2019; however, their farewell tour was set to conclude in 2022 before it was cancelled, due to Mogg's health issues. Mogg confirmed UFO's third disbandment in April 2024.
Michael Schenker is a German guitarist. He played in the rock band UFO and leads the Michael Schenker Group (MSG). He was an early member of the hard rock band Scorpions, a band co-founded by his elder brother Rudolf Schenker. In the mid-1970s, Schenker joined UFO, playing lead and rhythm guitar. He left the band in 1978 to briefly rejoin Scorpions for the recording of Lovedrive, and then to form MSG. He has rejoined UFO three times, producing an album each time. Schenker continues to perform and record. He has been called "a legendary figure in the history of metal guitar."
Ian Richard McDonald was an English musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the progressive rock band King Crimson in 1968, as well as the hard rock band Foreigner in 1976.
James Stewart Bain was a Scottish musician, best known for playing bass guitar in the bands Rainbow and Dio. He also worked with Kate Bush and Thin Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott, co-writing on his solo albums.
Strangers in the Night – originally issued with a sticker stating A Double Live Album – is a live album by British hard rock band UFO, first released in 1979 on the Chrysalis label.
John Anthony David Sloman is a Welsh singer and musician, best known as the lead vocalist for Welsh band Lone Star during 1977/78 and classic rockers Uriah Heep from 1979 to 1981, as well as briefly recording with hard rock band UFO in 1980 and Irish guitarist Gary Moore's band.
The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent is the ninth studio album by English hard rock band UFO, released on 16 January 1981. Their first to be entirely self-produced. Its song "Lonely Heart" was a minor UK hit.
Mechanix is the tenth studio album by English rock band UFO, released in February 1982 by Chrysalis Records.
Making Contact is the eleventh studio album by English hard rock band UFO, released in January 1983. It was their first album without founder and bassist Pete Way. UFO disbanded after an unsuccessful European tour and a few UK dates in 1983.
High Stakes & Dangerous Men is the thirteenth album by British hard rock band UFO, released in February 1992. It is the only UFO studio album to feature guitarist Laurence Archer and drummer Clive Edwards, both former members of Wild Horses.
Phillip John Mogg is an English singer. He was the lead singer and frontman of the hard rock band UFO, which he co-founded with longtime friends Pete Way, Andy Parker and Mick Bolton in 1968.
Peter Frederick Way was an English bassist. He was the co-founder and original bassist of the rock band UFO from 1968 to 1982; he briefly rejoined the band in 1988–1989 and full-time from 1991 to 2008. He was also a founding member of Waysted and Fastway and notably played with Michael Schenker Group and Ozzy Osbourne.
Wild Horses were a British rock band, active from 1978 to 1981.
Paul Martin Raymond was an English keyboardist and guitarist, best known for playing in UFO and Michael Schenker Group. Raymond was the replacement for Christine McVie when she left Chicken Shack to join Fleetwood Mac in 1969.
Paul William Chapman was a Welsh rock guitarist best known for his work in bands such as UFO and Lone Star. He was well known by his nickname "Tonka", allegedly acquired because of his indestructible qualities.
The Visitor is the nineteenth studio album by the British hard rock band UFO, which was released on 2 June 2009. Bass parts were recorded by Peter Pichl. Since there are no writing credits on the album booklet, they were posted on UFO's official website.
Regenerator – Live 1982 is a live album by the British hard Rock band UFO, recorded live at the Hammersmith Odeon in London on 28 January 1982. It is the official issue of the bootleg UFO Landed London of the early 1990s, with the addition of the song "Mystery Train".
Seven Deadly is the twentieth studio album by British hard rock band UFO, released on 27 February 2012.
A Conspiracy of Stars is the 21st studio album by British hard rock band UFO, released on 23 February 2015. This would be the last full-length studio album of original material released by the band before their fourth breakup in 2024.