MGB were formed in 1999
when local band Stepson split up. Prod, Lugs and Cammy decided
to form a new band and recruited Bert, who had previously played
in The Shining with Cammy a few years previously, on vocals,
and Dave on, who had been with Virgin's Prayer, on guitar.
MIND GONE BLIND MK
I - 1999-2000
Bert McPherson - Vocals
Calum Jamieson - Guitar
Dave Ianetta - Guitar
Michael Forrest - Bass
Alan Stewart - Drums
This fledgling line up
played their first gig at the Fife Arms Hotel in Keith on the
2nd April 1999 and survived for 27 gigs with the final gig being
played on the 25th February 2000. The band were playing mostly
covers but had already started to introduce their own material.
Some parts of these songs still exist in different guises to
this day, including Unknown which started life as a song called
Darkest Days and Solo, which was a section of a completely different
song! There are some recordings kicking about of these early
tracks but it is unlikely they will ever see the light of day!
Bert left the band in March 2000 so the hunt was on for a replacement!
One was found in the shape
of Gary Moyes who had no previous experience
of playing in a band but after his audition on 1st April 2000
(April Fools Day!) it was decided to give him the job. Also
joining the band around this time was a friend of the band called
Phone who became the soundman/roadie,
probably the most essential member of any band!!
MIND GONE BLIND MK
II - 2000-2003
Gary
Moyes - Vocals
Calum Jamieson - Guitar
Dave Ianetta - Guitar
Michael Forrest - Bass
Alan Stewart - Drums
The bands first appearance
together was at a BLUE
GUM EARS gig in the Seafield in May. Gordy from the BGE
invited a rather drunk MGB up to play one song!!, which
was Local Boy In The Photograph. Not one of our finer moments!!
Although it was good to try the line up out in front of an audience.
The first real gig took
place in the Mash Tun in Aberlour on the 18th November 2000.
Click the link here for a set list!
The band were on a roll!! Unfortunately after a dozen gigs Moyz
had to get an operation which put everything on the back burner
for a while.
It was on the 16th March
2002 before Mind Gone Blind surfaced again, once more at the
Mash Tun. After constantly gigging for the next twelve months,
the band went to the Mill Recording Studio, near Banchory, where,
under the watchful eye of Niall Matthewson (Pallas
guitarist), recorded TIME AND MONEY
so called because it cost us a lot of both, as well as speakers,
amps, exhausts!?! And various other items to lengthy to mention!
Check out the studio diary to
find out how Cammy got his new nickname, Omar!! Time
and Money was officially released in November 2003 at the
East Grange Loft with
support from Lirik (Kim, Gary's wee sister was lead singer with
this band!). Prior to this gig Dave played his final gig in
front of a packed Aberlour Games Marquee on 1st August 2003
due to the pressures of becoming a father for the first time!
The decision was made to carry on as a four piece.
MIND GONE BLIND MK
III - 2003-2004
Gary
Moyes - Vocals
Calum Jamieson - Guitar
Michael Forrest - Bass
Alan Stewart - Drums
The next bombshell to hit
the band came in the shape of Lugs deciding to call it a day
to take up the less dangerous pastime of gliding!! Apparently
it's not as dangerous as being in a band! His last gig was an
emotional one on the 28th August 2004 in Dicey's Bar in Elgin.
The place was packed out to witness the end of an era! Just
previously MGB played a gig with Austrian band JABA
in Peterhead and also played at the HUBL
cd fundraiser gig in Keith. Fear had been one of the tracks
selected to appear on the cd.
The hunt started for a
replacement for Lugs and on September 25th auditions were held.
One drummer stood out from the rest and was asked back a week
later for a more informal jam. So on the 1st October 2004 Rob
Hendry became the new drummer in Mind Gone Blind! Rob
had previously played with Buckie band, Certainly Not The Worst.
MIND GONE BLIND MK
IV - 2004-2006
Gary
Moyes - Vocals
Calum Jamieson - Guitar
Michael Forrest - Bass
Rob Hendry - Drums
After a few months of Rob
learning the material and continuing to write new stuff, MGB
eventually resurfaced on the 26th February at a wee hall in
Portessie alongside Buckie bands Mute,
Penthouse and Days in December where they played an unannounced
set of an hour's worth of their own material. Mind Gone Blind
were back!
The band followed this
up with their first gig in Moshulu in Aberdeen at a Tsunami
Relief Fundraiser alongside various Aberdeen bands. Fear was
released on the HUBL compilation
cd and various songs from Time and Money
were getting airplay on internet radio stations.
On Saturday 9th April the
band went back to the Mill Studio for three days to record 'World
Of Lies', the follow up to 'Time and
Money' Recording went well and after a lot of work, the
new e.p. was released on the 17th September, again at the Loft,
with support this time from Bullit Theory.
Before the cd launch came
the highlight gigs of the year! On the 28th May in a muddy park
in Aberlour, Mind Gone Blind played as main support to 70's
legends Nazareth
at the inaugural Speyside Music Festival. The band were over
the moon to get the chance to play in front of a wet, but enthusiastic
crowd!
On the 18th June the Keith
Chaos Live festival took place at Seafield Park in Keith. Mind
Gone Blind hit the stage at roughly 7 o'clock and played to
a sunburnt, but enthusiastic crowd! The line up included The
Bluetones, The
Grim Northern Social, John Young, Blue
Gum Ears, The Method,
Spindrift, The
Phoenix Band and many others.
A lot of acoustic shows
were played in 2005 as well, including the HUBL
cd launch gig in-store at Sound and Vision in Elgin, supporting
Dead Men Walking at the Loft,
supporting Unkle Bob and Le Reno Amps again at the Loft
and also a handful of shows supporting Ewan MacFarlane of The
Grim Northern Social.
Meanwhile 'World
Of Lies' was continuing to sell well and also receiving
some great reviews which culminated in the cd becoming available
to buy on iTunes!
Then, after a few weeks
off at Christmas and New Year to recharge the batteries, the
band returned to action on the 14th January with a gig at the
Marine Hotel in Buckie which was to prove to be Cammy's last
gig! After the gig, Cammy announced that he was leaving the
band!
So after all the hard work
of the previous years, it was back to square one again!! Fortunately,
Shane Younie (ex - As Yet Unknown) was available and after an
excellent audition, on the 29th January 2006, Shane became the
latest addition to Mind Gone Blind!!
MIND GONE BLIND MK
V - 2006 -
Gary
Moyes - Vocals
Shane Younie - Guitar
Michael Forrest - Bass
Rob Hendry - Drums
