Chris Clowsley – Guitar
Chris Clowsley hails from Wolverhampton and so it’s no surprise that when Reuben moved from London to the same town, the two were bound to eventually meet up. Chris and Reuben met by chance around 2002 – it was one of those jam nights where everyone grabs a guitar and gets up to do a bit, so when Reuben formed his blues band it was a natural thing for Chris to just turn up to a gig and simply join in.
Over the next few years the two often met socially, hanging out with the same set of friends, comprising mostly of musicians from many different genres of music.
In the Summer of 2010 during the football World Cup, Reuben invited Chris and friends to a barbeque – the idea was to watch the game, cook some burgers and drink as much red wine as possible.
During the afternoon, Reuben played Chris rough mixes from the new Stampede album and Chris was duly impressed. He did make a point though. You have dual guitar parts on many of the tracks, how will you replicate that live?
Chris was familiar with previous material and knew that Stampede had always been a one guitar band, however on the new tracks written by Rob and Reuben, strong guitar harmonies had been laid down which would certainly create a problem live.
Reuben explained the problems with Laurence’s availability and said that he was treating the Stampede reformation as a new concept that would require a second guitar and also stronger vocal harmonies.
“I’ve always liked your playing, I said. And you are strong vocally – would you be interested in coming on board?” There was no more to be said and the very next week Chris joined Reuben and Rob in the studio and four more songs were recorded.
Chris’s musical journey started way back in 73’ when he first heard Purple’s Made In Japan. “Blackmore’s solos in Highway Star and Child In Time simply blew me away and I pestered my parents to buy me a guitar”.
Chris finally got his guitar in the shape of a Zenta Strat Copy, which he played through a hi-fi system in his bedroom and he was soon playing in his first band, The Starving Rascals – later progressing to a new line up, The King Spiders. However, it was Karrier that gave Chris his first taste of success and writing all the songs with co guitarist Chris Hall, the band signed a record deal and went on tour with Magnum.
Chris recently got together with songwriter Pete Higginson. Calling the Duo ‘Deuce’, they recorded an album of material that both are extremely proud of.
For several years now, Chris has been touring theatres and venues in the UK and Europe with the Pink Floyd experience, ‘’Darkside’’, in which he is joined by Steve Graystone (Stevie G), Stampede’s drummer.
Chris’s song writing ability, playing and vocal delivery contributes hugely to Stampede’s recording and live work and, like the rest of the band with the new album release, ‘’A Sudden Impulse’’, is now working on the reformed band’s next album and looking forward to touring.
Chris uses Gibson Les Pauls, Fender Strats and Fender and Marshall amps.
