Simon Campbell

White Van Man

2013-05-17T09:15:43+00:00

Vans of one type or another have always been a part of my life. My first band, Whitefire, used to have a very unreliable Ford Transit which, for a reason that is buried in the mists of time, we painted orange. Over the years I have hired or borrowed hundreds of the bloody things.

The Strypes

2012-12-04T15:57:44+00:00

Meeting the STRYPES for the first time at the Isle of Man’s Ronaldsway Airport had me proper flummoxed. They looked like four, small-town, Irish school kids with cool shoes, accompanied by their Dad – but of course that’s exactly what they are.

Celestial Bodies

2012-08-19T05:00:36+00:00

For years I have used ElectroVoice EVM12L’s in my rigs but following a lot of experimentation have loaded one of my TwoRock 2×12’s with Celestion G12-65’s

Scott Clark

2012-08-12T13:03:04+00:00

Its been around four months since the death of Scott. Time enough to reflect.

The TC Electronic 2290

2012-05-01T20:57:39+00:00

I have decided to do a series of reviews about the guitar gear I use. This second article features the mighty and totally classic TC Electronic 2290 Digital Delay.

Liverpool

2012-03-25T09:47:59+00:00

My formative years were closely associated with this historic city, but I fell out of love having had a series of bad experience in the 80’s. This weekend has seriously rekindled the love.

The humble guitar tuner

2012-03-12T20:17:58+00:00

I have decided to do a load of very quick and dirty reviews of every piece of gear I use. The first being the mighty Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-200.

Musicians, value your hearing

2012-02-18T11:15:57+00:00

I had been noticing my inability to define conversations in pubs and bars and knew, after abusing my ears for 37 years of raucous Rock ‘n Roll, most of the real top end had disappeared. Last year I visited Boots to have a hearing test and following the audiologist giving me the bad news, was referred to the hospital for further investigation.

The Gibson Flying V

2012-02-05T20:03:50+00:00

I had been messing around with guitar for about six months when, in 1974, heard Wishbone Ash for the first time. Even then I was obsessed with tone and wanted to know how they achieved their guitar sound. After investigating their guitars and amps, I swiftly set my sights on a Gibson Flying V. This is a story of love, loss and rediscovery.

Manx Independent top ten

2012-01-27T13:40:01+00:00

This week, the Manx Independent asked for a top ten of my favourite music, books and films. An impossible task, but I gave it my best shot. The selection was published today and thought it may be a good idea to share! Enjoy…

The album ThirtySix: part three

2012-01-16T14:08:21+00:00

This is the third part documenting the recording of my new album ‘ThirtySix’. But before you start, you may want to read parts one and two first!

Obsessed with stationary?

2012-01-10T15:33:44+00:00

Phil Keen and I were asked to perform in an advert for a Manx stationary suppliers. We had no idea what to expect, but once in the flow a great time was had by all…

A season to be merry

2011-12-22T14:27:49+00:00

I am totally sick and tired of everyone telling me how bad things are and that world is going to end any second in horrendous scenes, straight out of Dante’s Inferno. So in this years Christmas message, let’s put all this a side and take a positive look forward, because no matter what people are telling you, the future is bright.

A new arrival

2011-09-30T16:27:00+00:00

The expression ‘a dog is a man’s best friend’ is often used, but the fact of the matter is, it’s true. Of course we have never owned a dog, but a few hairy princesses.

Digital, film, vinyl

2011-08-31T17:49:07+00:00

Since the emergence of digital recording, the battle for sonic superiority between vinyl and digital has created a great deal of controversy and with the current resurgence in vinyl sales, it doesn’t look to end soon. Is it going to be the same for film cameras?

Barista brillance

2011-06-08T15:55:51+00:00

I have always adored great coffee and Angela promised to buy me the ultimate machine for my 50th birthday. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find anyone with the knowledge to advise us, but then we met Allan Fair, owner of the Velvet Lobster and the Isle of Man’s consumate coffee connoisseur. Three years late, but worth the wait.

A Christmas Carol

2010-12-20T22:22:09+00:00

In 1843 Charles Dickens wrote ‘A Christmas Carol” detailing the plight of brow beaten Bob Cratchit and family at the hands of money grabbing and heartless Ebenezer Scrooge. Following the supernatural intervention of Scrooge’s late business partner Jacob Marley, he reforms into a loving and caring individual. A happy ending…

Facebook ate my life

2010-10-08T19:22:52+00:00

My use of facebook has surreptitiously become an obsession. It has increased my creativity for sure, but now no matter where I am in the world, I am glued to my MAC or iPhone, checking what’s going on. All that is going to change…

The album ThirtySix: part two

2010-06-30T14:05:14+00:00

This is the second part documenting the recording of my new album ‘ThirtySix’. But before you start, you may want to read part one first!

OK Simon, what do you think?

2010-05-27T13:50:54+00:00

Following a performance at the Big Wheel Blues Festival, Sue Hickling of the Nottingham Blues Society, home to the British Blues Awards, kindly asked my for an interview. Here is an unabridged transcript…

Funerals and shoes

2010-04-21T20:13:59+00:00

Can you have a good funeral? I didn’t think so, but even after he passed over to the other side, Dave Moore still entertained, as did Angela as she teetered home from the wake…

The album ThirtySix: part one

2010-03-31T21:16:46+00:00

It seems like three lifetimes since I was in my home environment. No, not the sea, not the meeting room, but the studio. Now, I am back and recording the album that has been in my mind for a very long time indeed.

Search for the ultimate tone: part three

2010-01-31T20:23:17+00:00

I have spent 35 years in search of the perfect guitar tone. This is the third, and final, in a series of articles describing the journey to date, and how I reached the conclusions about the gear and techniques I now employ. Grab a large brandy and let’s reel through the years…

A funny decade really

2009-12-31T15:26:00+00:00

Following last years complaints from Buckingham Palace for stealing the Queen’s thunder the day before her ‘Christmas Day’ message, I have decided instead to do a review of our 2009 and a little on the Decade in general – I didn’t fancy having an ‘accident’ in a Parisian tunnel – enjoy…

Search for the ultimate tone: part two

2009-11-30T02:35:42+00:00

I have spent 35 years in search of the perfect guitar tone. This is the second in a series of three articles describing the journey to date and how I reached the conclusions about the gear and techniques I now employ. Grab a stiff whisky and let’s examine the signal chain from the amplifier to recording console and/or PA…

Search for the ultimate tone: part one

2009-10-31T08:33:38+00:00

I have spent 35 years in search of the perfect guitar tone. This is part one of a series of three articles describing the journey to date and how I reached the conclusions about the gear and techniques I now employ. Grab a beer and let’s examine the humble guitar string to just before the amplifier…

Reasons why I love the Isle of Man

2009-09-20T09:17:01+00:00

There are many reasons why I love the Isle of Man. I have already covered a little about the music scene and of course the diving. But here are four, more eclectic reasons…

Isle of Man: terrific temperate diving

2009-08-30T16:54:00+00:00

I have dived all over the world from Malta to the Maldives, Myanmar to Mexico but I have to say that the waters of the Isle of Man is the best temperate experience I have encountered. Reefs and wrecks: it has everything.

For God’s sake support our troops

2009-07-28T12:27:00+00:00

Recent weeks have again seen terrible losses of life in Afghanistan. We, the people, are responsible for them being there in the first place, so for God’s sake, lets support them…

Selling my Jim Kelly FACS 30/60 amplifier

2009-07-13T15:25:01+00:00

Its not very often that I sell any of my gear, but I have decided to let this amplifier go. I am now using my TwoRock amps exclusively, this fantastic unit deserves to be played regularly and loved by those listening.