BRYAN IRWIN:
Guitarist and Great Human Being: Sadly no Longer with us. However Bryan did leave some great Music with The TORNADOS
and as a solo performer recording his own CD "Easy Does It" In His own Home Studio real "Joe Meek" like. Bryan was Born and lived in North London. He became interested in the Guitar and took it up , becoming a competent rhythm Guitarist playing in local Bands.
Odd he never met Ray Randall as Ray was from North London. Anyway Bryan eventually met Joe Meek and did a lot of session work for Joe. Playing on sessions, which ones we have no clue. He also recorded his own compositions as demos for Joe. These must be in the Tea Chest Tapes. Love To Hear Them.
I finally got too know Bryan in 1993.The crazy thing is I never met him .Talked on the Phone for Hours wrote letters. But that was it. I caught a glimpse of him once at A Joe Meek Gig In Newent. By That time we were not talking due to Ray Randalls Influence a very Sad and regretful situation .As I had reintroduced Ray & Bryan after nearly 30 Years. Don't get me wrong Ray Randall is a great Bloke but lives a totally different life style to me it was difficult but bloody regretful.
One of the things that Bryan told me was how well he knew Joe Meek and What he thought of Joe .A Genius. He also said very interestingly that when he recorded "Hot Pot" with The Tornados Joe played it back to him in the control room and he was flabbergasted at the quality and sound Joe Had achieved, However when he heard the Record on vinyl he could not believe it.Bryan said he did not think it was the same record. Baffling he called it.
Bryan later on in life Married to a Girl Called Jenny and Lived In Royston Cambs .He played Guitar in Pubs and Clubs .Playing Standards. and as I said above made his own Cassette which I have now put onto CD. TRACKS: are
This Masquerade (own composition) Cavatina, The Girl From Ipanema, All The Way, Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, My One And Only Love, Yesterday, Drive, True Love Ways, Theme From A Summer Place, Imagine .A very competent and well recorded CD
Called "Easy Does It" as Lee Mitchell which was his stage name.
Bryan also recorded His Tornado Tune "Blue Blue Beat" as "Gemini Uprising" again and made it longer.He also recorded atune of his own called "Confusion".One of the Biggest recordings he made was after he had met Ray Randall again he record a tune called 304 a tribute to Joe Meek with Ray Randall and Stuart Taylor a 3 track CD with 2 Ray Randall compositions on as well. See Ray Randall Site for details..
Bryan is missed and loved deeply by me and his many Fans cheers Bryan for all the pleasure you gave us a s A Tornado and are still doing so today cheers Tom. If you want to hear any of Bryans tracks contact me. I must emphasis none of Bryans Music is for sale:
Listen To CONFUSION Bryans Home recording of his Own Composition ( remember this is only a demo Confusion- Bryan Irwin
APRIL 2009 I HAVE RECENTLY LEARNT SOME MORE ABOUT BRYANS- PAST IN MUSIC IN THE 1970S HE WAS IN A BAND CALLED "SOUNDS NICE" AS LEAD GUITAR.....THANKS TO DAVE MARCH THE DRUMMER WITH THIS BAND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCESS HIS HISTORY.AND SOME OF THE MUSIC THEY RECORDED 1ST IS A VERSION OF A SHADOWS TRACK "APACHE" A TORNADO PLAYING APACHE..ALSO IS A SELF COMPOSED NO BY BRYAN AND SANG BY HIM ..CALLED HOME-- A TERRIFIC VERSION OF "SLOW DOWN" THE LARRY WILLIAMS SONG IN THIS VERSION BRYAN PLAYS SOME OUTSTANDING GUITARING.WAH WAH THE LOT AND A VERSION OF SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN INSTRUMENTAL.WHAT IS REALLY NICE IS THESE TRACKS REALLY SHOWCASE BRYANS GUITAR PLAYING HE WAS SOME PLAYER....:
THE FULL LINE UP OF "SOUNDS NICE" WAS BRYAN IRWIN LEAD GUITAR.DAVE MARCH DRUMS AND VOCALS ( GREAT DRUMMER)-ROY KIRBY BASS GUITAR AND KEVIN DONKIN RHYTHM GUITAR AND KEYBOARDS AND VOCALS-THE RECORDING ARE SUPERB ...CHEERS DAVE