MUSIC
Al left school at the age of sixteen and soon after began learning to
play
the guitar, partly as a result of seeing The Clash at the age of fifteen
but due mainly to the general influence of Punk. Soon after, he was singing
and playing in various bands: Three Minute Warning/Four Minds Crack,
produced by Dave Parsons (Sham 69) and Rab Fae Beith (The Wall, UK Subs).
By the age of eighteen Al was performing, recording and appearing in music
magazines like Melody Maker for punk new wave Polydor band, The Wall,
playing on their 'Day Tripper' 12" and 7" EP and recorded at
Crass' legendary
Southern Studios. (The Wall were the first punk band produced by an ex-Pistol
Steve Jones. Other producers were Jimmy Pursey (Sham 69) and Pete Wilson
(The Jam). Their debut single 'New Way' was heavily played by John Peel
and
sold up to 20,000 copies and they toured with the likes of Joy Division,
Stiff
Little Fingers, Crass, The Fall, Teardrop Explodes, Angelic Upstarts and
Cockney Rejects. Both The Wall and Four Minds Crack feature in Ian Glasper's
recent bestselling book about the second wave of Punk, 'Burning Britain'
(Cherry Red).
The Wall (Melody Maker)
THE WALL - LIVE
To purchase the album click here
The Wall's Official website
The Wall's myspace page
The Wall appeared at the Rebellion festival in 2007.
The Wall - The Arena, Blackpool Rebellion Festival, 2007
Ghetto
Day Tripper
Exchange
Al played guitar for Caroline Alexander, one of the UK's
top young female rock singers, and toured all over the UK, appearing with
the band on Television and Radio and in various rock magazines including
Classic Rock. Al co wrote with Caroline the single 'Yellow Baby'
which was produced by 'Ace' of Skunk Anansie. The single was released
on
O2 records and coincided with a UK Tour supporting Paul Roberts
of The Stranglers. Al also completed work on Caroline's recent single
Suicide
Note, also produced by Ace. Suicide Note appears on Caroline's
new studio album - Scenes from the Underground.
Caroline headlined The Forum last year and supported Girlschool at
the London Astoria.
Caroline's new live album 'Say it all Now' has been released on Organic Records.
Hong Kong Garden
Yellow Baby
Lifetime
Review of the gig at The Forum
From Punk to Skunk CD
Al has released 'From Punk to Skunk' a compilation album on Organic Records of the best of his guitar/vocals in various bands from the early eighties to the present, including: Three Minute Warning/Four Minds Crack; The Wall; The Psychotropes; Caroline Alexander. The 20 track compilation CD is mastered by Bob Elliott (Paul Roberts of The Stranglers band) and can be ordered off this site for £5. Both The Wall and Four Minds Crack are included in Ian Glasper's new bestselling book about the second wave of Punk, 'Burning Britain'.
The Mag review of From
Punk to Skunk
FROM PUNK TO SKUNK
£5.00
Rip it Up
Rip it Up
The band Rip it Up was formed specifically for the new Friday night prime
time 'The Boland Show' on Sky television from September 2006. The show
is presented by Maurice Boland and the members of Rip it Up (Rashid Ali
- Vocals, Al Gregg - Guitars and Sasha Jackson - Backing vocals/percussion)
contributing musical guest intros, jingles, show theme tune, plenty of
character banter and performances with the high profile celebrity guests
(George Gallaway etc) and with the presenter. There are also ordinary/extraordinary
members of the public who also appear making this both a fresh and original
chat show. Rashid, the lead vocalist is a highly talented rock/pop singer
and songwriter, heavily influenced by both Jeff Buckley and Freddie Mercury.
He has performed for many years both solo and in rock bands in varying
live venues around Hertfordshire where he hails from. He has also appeared
in many London gig venues including most notably Covent Garden's Rock
Garden as part of a regular unplugged/acoustic outfit. The new independent
label Ankh Music has released Rip it Up's rock/pop double A-side single
'Time for me to Leave' (Gregg/Ali) and 'Angel' (J. Hendrix). The single
was recorded at London's Fortress Studios. The tracks were produced by
top
producer Dan Swift (Feeder, Ash, Nickelback, Snow Patrol). The release
coincides with 'Rip It Up's forthcoming television appearances on the
show.
Review
of Time for me to Leave/Angel
Rip it Up CD
Rip it Up's 11 track debut album 'Rip it Up' is now released
on Ankh Music. The album features Al Gregg and Rashid Ali with various
guest musicians/writers/producers etc including; Nigel Hoyle (ex late
90's Top Ten UK chart band 'Gay Dad' and EMI Published Number One hit
chart writer for ex 'Blue' singer Lee Ryan); Dan Swift (Top UK Producer,
has produced the likes of Snow Patrol, Feeder, Ash and Nickelback); The
album is UK chart eligible and is mainly digital. There is a limited physical
CD release which can be purchased from this site for £5 (See below).
ANKH MUSIC
Ankh Music is a new Independent Record label with a wide ranging variety
of music including: Rip it Up (Debut album just released); Sonic Generation;
The Wall; Caroline Alexander; Three Minute Warning; Four Minds Crack;
Psychotropes.
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Visit the indiestore here
Bands Al's played in:
Three Minute Warning
Four Minds Crack
The Wall
Marshall Triumph
Bloody Mary
Psychotropes
Caroline Alexander
Rip it Up
Sonic Generation
Live: Dingwalls 2000
Producers, engineers, musicians worked with:
Roy Dodds (Fairground
Attraction)
Dave Parsons (Sham
69)
Rab Fae Beith (The
Wall)
Pete Wilson (The
Jam)
Dave Lynch (Toploader)
Ace (Skunk
Anansie)
Roger Tebbutt
(King Prawn, Gay Dad)
Nigel Hoyle
(Gay Dad)
Dan Swift
(Feeder, Snow Patrol)
Bob Elliott
(Paul Roberts, The Stranglers)
Laurence Harris
(Four Minds Crack, Psychotropes)
Dave Wilkinson
(UK Subs, Angelic Upstarts)
Sam Palmer (Misty
in Roots, Steel Pulse)
Mickey Howard
(Chelsea, Honey Bane)
Honey Bane
Main studios recorded at:
Chelsea Studios
Southern Studios
ICC Studios
Mill Hill Studios
Rooster Studios
The Fortress Studios
Studio 811
Space Studios
Ankh Studios
Favourite Guitarists:
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Carlos Santana
Robbie Krieger
Mick Ronson
Ronnie Jordan
Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter
Steve Jones
Paul Fox
Django Reinhardt
Ace
Dave Parsons
Live: Dingwalls 2001
Main venues played:
The Arena, Blackpool Winter Gardens (Rebellion)
The Forum
Mean Fiddler (LA2)
Dingwalls
The Garage
The Borderline
The Marquee
100 Club
Rock Garden
Water Rats
Ronnie Scott's
The Moonlight
12 Bar Club
The Monarch
Cardiff Barfly
The Cavern
Sheffield Boardwalk
Cheltenham Racecourse
Watford Palace Theatre
Peterborough East of England Showground
Equipment:
Guitars;
Gibson Les Paul 'Goth'
Gretsch Duo Jet (Pic)
Yamaha FG-336SBII
Amplification;
Laney VH 100R (Pic)
Laney GS412IA Cabinet
Marshall MG Series
Boss PW-10 V-Wah
Korg DTR-2 Digital Tuner
Live: The Cavern 2003
Discography:
Four Minds Crack NERVOUS
BREAKDOWN EP TMW
The Wall DAY
TRIPPER EP Polydor/No
Future
DAY
TRIPPER12"
Polydor/No
Future
The Wall THE
COLLECTION Captain
Oi
Psychotropes 001
Psychotropes
The Truth LOVE
AT THE FIVE AND DIME Rubble
Music
Bloody Mary ACROSS
THE NORTHERN LAND Bloody
Mary Records
Caroline Alexander
FAKE THE BLAME Organic
Caroline Alexander DON'T
NEED YOU Organic
Caroline Alexander LIVE
AT DINGWALL'S Organic
Caroline Alexander UNPLUGGED
Organic
Caroline Alexander
IF YOU Amberlamp/Universal
Caroline Alexander YELLOW
BABY 02/Universal
Caroline Alexander SUICIDE
NOTE 02/Universal
Al Gregg FROM
PUNK TO SKUNK Organic
Records
Caroline Alexander SCENES
FROM THE UNDERGROUND 02/Universal
Rip It Up TIME
FOR ME TO LEAVE/ANGEL Ankh
Music
Rip it Up SHE'S
OUT OF CONTOL/WORLD ON FIRE Ankh Music
Rip it Up RIP
IT UP (Album) Ankh
Music
Caroline Alexander SAY
IT ALL NOW Organic
Records
The Wall REBELLION(live)
Opus
Sonic Generation REALITY
CHOKES EP Flaccid
Records
