Bass Guitar, Vocals
John is one of the founding members of Metatone. He switched to bass guitar for Metatone having been primarily a lead and rhythm guitar player for previous musical projects.
Prior to Metatone, John has played with various other musical projects including STML, Angulus, Voice of the Black Knife and Experimental Folk Unit, the last two with both Andy and Roddy. John also writes and records some electronica music under the moniker “Mentor’s Touch”.
Other Projects
Voice of the Black Knife
2006-2010, Lead and Rhythm guitar, vocal
John formed Voice of the Black Knife with Iain Macaulay (Crossing Giants, STML, Czekai), initially as a two-piece acoustic folk-punk band.
The pair subsequently recruited Dan Brennan (Crossing Giants) on bass along with Andy on guitar and mandolin and Roddy on drums and percussion to fill out the live sound for full electric sets, while still performing acoustic sets often as a two-piece.
Voice of the Black Knife can be found on Spotify.
STML
2000-2006, Lead and Rhythm guitar, vocal
John joined STML alongside vocalist Iain Macaulay and drummer Alex Benzie (Angulus, and others), the group soon recruiting bassist Dave McGinty to replace original bassist Norm.
STML toured relentlessly across Scotland playing locations as diverse as Stornoway, Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh.
STML’s punk DIY ethos meant most releases were self-funded, sold by hand at gigs and promo events. No recordings survive on Spotify.
STML – Solpachino
STML – St Vitus
Angulus
1997-2000, Lead and Rhythm guitar, vocal
John formed Angulus with Caireen Harrison on guitar and vocals and Jamie Thompson on bass (both Slowloris), the group soon recruiting drummer Alex Benzie.
Angulus received critical acclaim for the brittle emotional sound of their music.