Vocals, Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar
Andy is one of the founding members of Metatone. This is the first band where Andy has focused on lead vocals and frontman duties, having previously been more of a lead and rhythm guitar specialist.
Andy has been writing and recording music since the day he first picked up a guitar in the late 80s. Music is part of his DNA. Before Metatone, Andy played in a variety of other bands including Endorphin, Holocaust, Voice of the Black Knife, Experimental Folk Unit, Cool Devil Hills and Cry Hades. Two of those previous projects were with John and Roddy, and a further two with Roddy. Andy also writes and records with Greg Gilmore, once of Mother Love Bone, for Dog Watch.
Other Projects
Dog Watch
2020-present
Dog Watch is a collaboration between Andy and Greg Gilmore, once of Mother Love Bone.
The project set out to record several songs remotely using ProTools, starting work on four of the songs Andy had prepared for the project. Working with Greg has helped teach And a lot about recording, rhythm, timing, and feel, and has made Any a noticeably better musician.
2 songs are fully completed from the project with several others underway and further collaborations are being considered.
Voice of the Black Knife
2008-10
In 2008, Andy (alongside Roddy) was invited to join Voice of the Black Knife, a project John was already working on with Iain MacAulay (Crossing Giants, STML, Czekai). VOTBK was an alt-folk punk project, inspired by bands like The Levellers, New Model Army and The Men They Couldn’t Hang.
Andy played lead and rhythm guitars and mandolin, and the band released on EP, Billy Bones, which can be found on Spotify and other streaming services.
Holocaust
2006-07
On the disbanding of Endorphin, Scott and Mark approached Andy to join the legendary Edinburgh metal band Holocaust on lead guitar.
Although the line-up worked on an album of material and played one gig, Andy ultimately decided that he wanted to work with a different sound.
No recordings of this period have been released.
Endorphin
2002-06
endorphin was formed in 1999, including Si Pollitt on vocals and guitar and Wes Sinclair on drums. John Need and Andy joined in 2002 on bass and lead guitar, respectively.
Endorphin saw some considerable successes over their four-year existence, recording 3 EPs and 1 album, and touring repeatedly around the UK, including playing at the MTV Music Awards showcase, BIG in Falkirk and the final heats of the Tennants T-Break and Emergenza competitions.
endorphin also receive airplay on Beat 106, Storm Radio, Radio 1 Radio Usgnd, and others.
Cool Devil Hills
2000-02
Andy formed Cool Devil Hills with Alan Melville in early 2000. The line-up was completed by Niall Donachie on bass and Roddy on drums.
This was Andy’s first experience singing and as the primary song/lyric writer. The band focus on making music fun and played extensively around the Scottish circuit, releasing one EP, “We Know Where You Live…”.
Rod left the band to go to University in late 2001, resulting in Scott and Mark joining, changing the band’s sound and dynamic dramatically. Shows were more intense with a more 4-to-the-floor pounding beat and driven bass, but unfortunately, nothing recorded survived this time.
Cooldevilhills live in Eaglesfield with special guest John Hughes – YouTube
Cry Hades
1991-95
Andy created Cry Hades with Roddy in 1991, and soon recruited Dave and Doug on bass and vocals.
The band was the first real opportunity for Andy to explore song-writing and music creation, and see his creations really come to life.
Various
1990-99
Andy has briefly written, recorded, and performed with various other people during the 90s, most notably when reconnecting with John on a project titled “Caught Smoking”.
He has also performed with:
- Indigo,
- Manhattan Project, with Alan Melville (Cool Devil Hills)
- Mr Burns, with Scott Wallace and Mark McGrath (Cool Devil Hills, Holocaust)
- The Garage Band