SHOWS

IN MEMORIAM

Alan Rogan
February 1951 – July 2019

Sadly, on July 3rd 2019, we lost our dear friend and BluesClub bassist, Alan Rogan to cancer.

As well as being a hugely respected guitar tech for Pete, Eric, Tom, Ronnie, Keith etc. etc. he was a very dear friend and bandmate. What he didn’t know about guitars and amplifiers, wasn’t worth knowing. Alan was the real deal in so many ways and his love of blues music was widely known, an authority on the subject and along with original guitarist, Gary Grainger, instigator of the band Danny and I joined over 10 years ago, BluesClub.

Charismatic, funny, generous and mischievous, Alan was a great friend to so many. Our thoughts are with his family. We miss him hugely.

Here is one of Alan’s BluesClub playlists. He used to send us these with a view to putting the songs in the set.

THE BAND

Danny Cummings
Danny CummingsDrums
Having played drums for Mark Knopfler for 5 years, Danny has played percussion with Dire Straits, George Michael, the late John Martyn, Simply Red, Daniel Beddingfield, Talk Talk and Bryan Adams.
Guy Fletcher
Guy FletcherKeyboards
Guy Fletcher has been Mark Knopfler’s right-hand man on all his projects since joining Dire Straits in 1983, for the Brothers in Arms album and before that toured with Cockney Rebel and Roxy Music. Guy has appeared on albums by Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Difford and Tillbrook, Chet Atkins, Bryan Ferry, Aztec Camera, Willie DeVille and Randy Newman.
Peter Hope-Evans
Peter Hope-EvansMouth Organs/Jews Harp
Peter Hope-Evans, who in 1968 together with John Fiddler, formed the group Medicine Head. Peter is known for his eccentric and raw style of Blues Harmonica as well as his jew’s harp, and mouthbow playing. Peter has also toured with Pete Townshend.
Sophie Lord
Sophie LordBass
Sophie has been very lucky to have been mentored by two British Bass greats – Norman Watt-Roy (Ian Dury and The Blockheads/Wilko Johnson) and the one and only Mr. Alan Rogan. Sophie’s major passion is the blues – her main creative home is with blues guitarist Stephen Dale Petit. She has previously performed and/or recorded with Viv Albertine (The Slits), Marlon Roudette, Mike Lindup, Wally Badarou & Phil Gould (Level 42), Tony O’Malley (Kokomo), The Blockheads. Sophie is massively thankful to Alan Rogan and she intends to play bass for the both of them going forward!
Robbie McIntosh
Robbie McIntoshGuitar
The most recent member of BluesClub started playing guitar at the age of 10 and was influenced by Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Spencer Davis Group, Jimi Hendrix, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Fats Waller, Django Rheinhardt, Louis Armstrong. Most well know for his stints with The Pretenders and Paul McCartney’s band, Robbie is truly one of the finest guitar players in the land and has often been seen with Guy and Danny on Mark Knopfler’s promo tours.
William Topley
William TopleyVocals
William Topley was born and bred in England and nurtured on a diet of blues and rock and roll. His first album with his band The Blessing was produced by Neil Dorfsman (Sting, Dire Straits) who described him as “the most original songwriter I’ve heard for years.” The influences, still recognisable in his music, were already there – The Stones, Van Morrison, the best of soul and southern rock.