See what others have to say about the band
 
See the catalogue of songs the band performs
    Find out when Monkey Spanner are near you!   Main Page

Ronnie - (Lead Vocals & Guitar)

Been on the music scene since Lincoln college days, mainly around the Black Country area, where my origins are. Joined my first band before I even started shaving. Played many pub's and clubs around Birmingham. Virgin records were even interested in us once - Honest! First guitar: Spanish (whose wasn't). First Influences: Bert Weedon (play-in-a-day & mega-guitar cufflinks). Previous bands include: Sadida, Sadeeda II (Reggae), Savvy (Reggae), Shakedown (Reggae), 8 Till Late (Blues), Snapper & the Crabs (Blues), Something for the Weekend (Reggae/Soul/Blues) and the VIP's (Local Function Band). Highlights include: Lincolnshire folk clubs, Almost having our speakers blown-out by a shotgun in a Birmingham Heavy Metal Club, Storming the 'Ironbridge World Music Festival', Starting to play Bass whilst with 8 Till Late (others would say this is not a highlight) and wearing striped trousers at Boswell's on New Year Eve.

Paulus - (Synth,Hammond & Webmaster)

Paulus is originally from a small village called Guist in Norfolk. Self taught on Synthesizers and Keyboards. He design's and build's Websites (like this) and Personal Computers. He has spent lot's of years gigging with several different function and club bands including 'Alsortz', 'Reunion' & most recently 'Hollywood' on the East Anglian music scene. An ex Rude-Boy and Scooterist, his musical influences were Ska, Reggae, Rocksteady, Bob Marley and later UB40 and the Coventry 2-Tone scene. He still cannot believe that he is now part of a band that is playing those early Ska/Reggae/Soul hits that he used to love. He remember's standing in-line to see a lot of the original artist's perform 'LIVE' when they first toured around the UK during the 60's/70's & 80's.Hobbies: He collect's Synth's, Keyboards, Ska/Reggae CD's and he has a large collection of unusual hats.

Philosophy: 'Don't dream your life, live your dream'.

Mac - (Drums & Backing Vocals)

Mac joined the band in September 2003. He has had over 20 years experience playing with local bands (9 years with 'The East Coast Blues Band'), orchestras and theatre groups, including being a founder member of groups such as 'General Petting', 'Foot in the Door', 'Sunday Drivers' and 'Blues at Ten'. Mac has also played with some notable bands, such as 'Esbernsnare' and 'Jah Love and the Irie Vibrations', which is where he first joined up with Ron and Barry. When he is not hitting things with sticks, he can be found working in the community at Magdalen CLIP (Community Liaison & Information Point). In his spare time, amongst other things, Mac is the Drum 'Mestre' for 'Samba Magdalena', a community samba drumming group and he co-organises the 'Mad Mag Day' festivals, where 'The Spanners' headlined last year to great critical acclaim.

Simon (Shaggy) - (Bass Guitar )

 

Barry Tone - (Sax)

I got involved with Ron's band by chance after I moved from Manchester to Gt.Yarmouth. I was busking in my usual spot outside Burtons when a bloke, I now know as Ron, spotted me and threw a ten pence piece into my hat (I did notice that he took 5 pence change out of the hat at the same time!). To cut a long story short, Ron noticed that I was attempting to play a Prince Buster tune and remarked 'You're a Skanker', well by the time my mate told me how to pronounce it I'd wrapped my sax around Ronnie's head with disastrous consequences for both sax and singing legend Ron, but we did laugh about it afterwards! We've been mates ever since.

Ambitions: To get the brass section to read the music the right way up.

Guy - (Trumpet)

Originally a guitarist, Guy was taught to play by his father, a professional trumpeter in a Leicester big band and converted to trumpet some 12 years ago. He has played on Q.E.2 cruises and he has worked with LioneI Blair in pantomime and played at many big band gigs, backing Denis Lotis amongst other famous people.

Buzz - (Trombone)

 

All Copyrights Acknowledged - Monkey Spanner 2007