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Spike (musician)

January 01, 1970

Jonathan Francis Gray[1] (born 4 February 1966), known professionally as Spike, or Spike Gray, is an English singer-songwriter and founding member of the British rock band the Quireboys, for whom he performed as lead singer and released 12 studio albums. He is recognised for his raspy voice which led to comparisons with Rod Stewart.

Spike
Spike in 2015
Background information
Birth nameJonathan Francis Gray
Also known asSpike Gray
Born (1966-02-04) 4 February 1966 (age 58)
Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom
OriginHaltwhistle, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom
GenresHard rock, blues rock, glam metal, glam punk
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, harmonica, guitar
Years active1984–present
Labels

As a solo performer, Spike has collaborated with Tyla of The Dogs D'Amour, and released five solo studio albums. In March 2022, fellow Quireboys members announced that Spike had been fired from the band, leading to an ongoing dispute about ownership of the Quireboys name.

Career edit

Jonathan Gray was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and grew up in Northern England. At age 17, he moved down to London where, eventually, he would form the rock band the Quireboys with Guy Bailey in 1984.[2] After various tours and singles, Spike with the Quireboys released their debut album A Bit of What You Fancy (1990), which went to number two on the UK Albums Chart. The band gained significant success, but their second album Bitter Sweet & Twisted (1993) did not quite have the impact of the first.

After the Quireboys split up in 1993, he played in the United States, in Los Angeles, California, with a band called God's Hotel. He also sang lead vocals on a cover of Hank Williams's country classic "Hey Good Lookin'", with C.C. DeVille from the American glam-metal band Poison, for the soundtrack of the comedy film Son in Law (1993) that starred Pauly Shore.

Spike decided to record in other projects; the first was in 1994 with Darrell Bath of the English rock and roll band the Dogs D'Amour. The recording, Take Out Some Insurance, was an album of covers, featuring songs from old blues artists, and was released under the artist name Spike an' Darrell.[3]

Soon after, Spike moved back to Newcastle and, in 1996, he recorded with another member of the Dogs D'Amour – this time it was frontman Tyla, with whom he recorded the album Flagrantly Yours, under the artist name Spike and Tyla's Hot Knives.

In 1998, Spike recorded his first solo album Blue Eyed Soul.

The Quireboys reformed in 2001 with a new line-up and have released six new albums since that time.

Spike's second solo studio album, It's a Treat to Be Alive, was released in 2005, followed by So Called Friends in 2008.

Spike was involved in a fracas with German rock guitarist Michael Schenker in November 2000. This happened after a show at the Newcastle City Hall by the English heavy-metal and hard-rock band UFO. Schenker later admitted he caused the brawl, and refused to blame Spike. The Quireboys have since played on the same bill as the hard-rock band Michael Schenker Group.

In 2006, Spike released his second studio album It's a Treat to Be Alive through Demolition Records. It was described by the Belfast Telegraph as "more than decent collection", noting its "bluesy" influences.[4]

In 2007, Spike became part of Damage Control, a British supergroup formed by guitarist Robin George, UFO bassist Pete Way and Chris Slade, former drummer with the Australian hard-rock band AC/DC. The group released a self-titled album on Cargo Records which was generally well received.

Over the years, Spike has also provided vocals for a number of songs on various American rock tribute albums, specifically: the power ballad "Don't Cry" on Uncivil War, a tribute album to the hard-rock band Guns N' Roses; a cover of the rock band Styx's song "Lady" on the album A Tribute to Styx; rock musician Ted Nugent's "Need You Bad" on the album The World's Greatest Tribute to Ted Nugent; and the rock band Bon Jovi's ballad "Living in Sin" on the album Covered Dead or Alive. Spike also collaborated with the American electronica artist David Madden (also sometimes known as DJ Webern and Nonnon) on a version of the English heavy-metal band Judas Priest's song "Rock Forever" for An Industrial Tribute to Judas Priest.

Spike is known to have contributed backing vocals on the following recordings:

  • Gang Bang (1997)  – an extended-play (EP) album by the Gangbang Band (also featuring members of the Finnish hard-rock band Hanoi Rocks and the Babysitters); a live session
  • Company Of Wolves (1990) – an album by the American rock band of the same name
  • "Night of the Cadillacs" – on the Cuts EP (1992) by the American hard-rock band L.A. Guns
  • Rock & A Hard Place (2007) – an album by the English heavy-metal band the Handsome Beasts
  • "Good Times" – on the Cookin' EP (2009) and "On the Sunny Side Again" – on the Set Fire to It All album (2012) by the Swedish rock band Diamond Dogs

Discography edit

This discography documents the studio albums Spike has been a part of in various projects, throughout his musical career.

The Quireboys edit

God's Hotel edit

  • 1997 – God's Hotel

Spike an' Darrell edit

  • 1995 – Take Out Some Insurance

Spike and Tyla's Hot Knives edit

  • 1996 – Flagrantly Yours
  • 2005 – Flagrantly Electrically Acoustically Yours
  • 2016 – The Sinister Indecisions of Frankie Gray and Jimmy Pallas

Damage Control edit

  • 2007 – Damage Control

Solo edit

  • 1998 – Blue Eyed Soul
  • 1998 – Live in London
  • 2005 – It's a Treat to Be Alive
  • 2008 – So-Called Friends
  • 2014 – 100% Pure Frankie Miller

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "AMAZING DISGRACE". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  2. ^ Naughty Mickie (n.d.). "Get Ready for a Second Helping of the London Quireboys". Dabelly.com. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  3. ^ Staff (undated). Sonny1968.de "Spike – 'It's a Treat to Be Alive'. sonny1968.de. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  4. ^ Gould, Nigel (4 July 2008). "Spike – It's a Treat to Be Alive". Belfast Telegraph. from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.

External links edit

January 01, 1970
spike, musician, this, biography, living, person, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, adding, reliable, sources, contentious, material, about, living, persons, that, unsourced, poorly, sourced, must, removed, immediately, from, article, t. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page especially if potentially libelous Find sources Spike musician news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2013 Learn how and when to remove this message Jonathan Francis Gray 1 born 4 February 1966 known professionally as Spike or Spike Gray is an English singer songwriter and founding member of the British rock band the Quireboys for whom he performed as lead singer and released 12 studio albums He is recognised for his raspy voice which led to comparisons with Rod Stewart SpikeSpike in 2015Background informationBirth nameJonathan Francis GrayAlso known asSpike GrayBorn 1966 02 04 4 February 1966 age 58 Newcastle upon Tyne Northumberland England United KingdomOriginHaltwhistle Northumberland England United KingdomGenresHard rock blues rock glam metal glam punkOccupation s Singer songwriterInstrument s Vocals harmonica guitarYears active1984 presentLabelsCargo Demolition Jerkin Crocus As a solo performer Spike has collaborated with Tyla of The Dogs D Amour and released five solo studio albums In March 2022 fellow Quireboys members announced that Spike had been fired from the band leading to an ongoing dispute about ownership of the Quireboys name Contents 1 Career 1 1 Discography 1 1 1 The Quireboys 1 1 2 God s Hotel 1 1 3 Spike an Darrell 1 1 4 Spike and Tyla s Hot Knives 1 1 5 Damage Control 1 1 6 Solo 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksCareer editJonathan Gray was born in Newcastle upon Tyne and grew up in Northern England At age 17 he moved down to London where eventually he would form the rock band the Quireboys with Guy Bailey in 1984 2 After various tours and singles Spike with the Quireboys released their debut album A Bit of What You Fancy 1990 which went to number two on the UK Albums Chart The band gained significant success but their second album Bitter Sweet amp Twisted 1993 did not quite have the impact of the first After the Quireboys split up in 1993 he played in the United States in Los Angeles California with a band called God s Hotel He also sang lead vocals on a cover of Hank Williams s country classic Hey Good Lookin with C C DeVille from the American glam metal band Poison for the soundtrack of the comedy film Son in Law 1993 that starred Pauly Shore Spike decided to record in other projects the first was in 1994 with Darrell Bath of the English rock and roll band the Dogs D Amour The recording Take Out Some Insurance was an album of covers featuring songs from old blues artists and was released under the artist name Spike an Darrell 3 Soon after Spike moved back to Newcastle and in 1996 he recorded with another member of the Dogs D Amour this time it was frontman Tyla with whom he recorded the album Flagrantly Yours under the artist name Spike and Tyla s Hot Knives In 1998 Spike recorded his first solo album Blue Eyed Soul The Quireboys reformed in 2001 with a new line up and have released six new albums since that time Spike s second solo studio album It s a Treat to Be Alive was released in 2005 followed by So Called Friends in 2008 Spike was involved in a fracas with German rock guitarist Michael Schenker in November 2000 This happened after a show at the Newcastle City Hall by the English heavy metal and hard rock band UFO Schenker later admitted he caused the brawl and refused to blame Spike The Quireboys have since played on the same bill as the hard rock band Michael Schenker Group In 2006 Spike released his second studio album It s a Treat to Be Alive through Demolition Records It was described by the Belfast Telegraph as more than decent collection noting its bluesy influences 4 In 2007 Spike became part of Damage Control a British supergroup formed by guitarist Robin George UFO bassist Pete Way and Chris Slade former drummer with the Australian hard rock band AC DC The group released a self titled album on Cargo Records which was generally well received Over the years Spike has also provided vocals for a number of songs on various American rock tribute albums specifically the power ballad Don t Cry on Uncivil War a tribute album to the hard rock band Guns N Roses a cover of the rock band Styx s song Lady on the album A Tribute to Styx rock musician Ted Nugent s Need You Bad on the album The World s Greatest Tribute to Ted Nugent and the rock band Bon Jovi s ballad Living in Sin on the album Covered Dead or Alive Spike also collaborated with the American electronica artist David Madden also sometimes known as DJ Webern and Nonnon on a version of the English heavy metal band Judas Priest s song Rock Forever for An Industrial Tribute to Judas Priest Spike is known to have contributed backing vocals on the following recordings Gang Bang 1997 an extended play EP album by the Gangbang Band also featuring members of the Finnish hard rock band Hanoi Rocks and the Babysitters a live session Company Of Wolves 1990 an album by the American rock band of the same name Night of the Cadillacs on the Cuts EP 1992 by the American hard rock band L A Guns Rock amp A Hard Place 2007 an album by the English heavy metal band the Handsome Beasts Good Times on the Cookin EP 2009 and On the Sunny Side Again on the Set Fire to It All album 2012 by the Swedish rock band Diamond Dogs Discography edit This discography documents the studio albums Spike has been a part of in various projects throughout his musical career The Quireboys edit 1990 A Bit of What You Fancy UK 2 1993 Bitter Sweet amp Twisted UK 31 2001 This Is Rock n Roll 2004 Well Oiled 2008 Homewreckers amp Heartbreakers 2009 Halfpenny Dancer 2010 Halfpenny Dancer Live 2011 Live in Glasgow 2013 Beautiful Curse 2014 Black Eyed Sons 2015 St Cecilia and the Gypsy Soul 2016 Twisted Love 2017 White Trash Blues 2019 Amazing Disgrace 2020 Live amp Alive 35 2021 A bit of what you fancy remixed God s Hotel edit 1997 God s Hotel Spike an Darrell edit 1995 Take Out Some Insurance Spike and Tyla s Hot Knives edit 1996 Flagrantly Yours 2005 Flagrantly Electrically Acoustically Yours 2016 The Sinister Indecisions of Frankie Gray and Jimmy Pallas Damage Control edit 2007 Damage Control Solo edit 1998 Blue Eyed Soul 1998 Live in London 2005 It s a Treat to Be Alive 2008 So Called Friends 2014 100 Pure Frankie MillerSee also edit nbsp Biography portal nbsp Rock music portal List of people from Newcastle upon TyneReferences edit AMAZING DISGRACE ASCAP American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers Retrieved 14 November 2023 Naughty Mickie n d Get Ready for a Second Helping of the London Quireboys Dabelly com Retrieved 25 September 2013 Staff undated Sonny1968 de Spike It s a Treat to Be Alive sonny1968 de Retrieved 25 September 2013 Gould Nigel 4 July 2008 Spike It s a Treat to Be Alive Belfast Telegraph Archived from the original on 14 July 2022 Retrieved 14 July 2022 External links editSpike at AllMusic Spike Gray at AllMusic Official website https www spikequireboys com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spike musician amp oldid 1219234464, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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