John Lawton biography

John Lawton      vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica

 

(born July 11, 1946, UK)
.
John began his musical career in North Shields, UK, in
the early '60s with "The Deans", a bunch of "kids" who
decided at random that John should be "singer".
.
He then moved on to "West One" and later "Stonewall"
which included John Miles, Vic Malcolm (later Geordie)
and Paul Thompson (later Roxy Music).
..
After "Stonewall" finished their stint at "Top Ten Club"      .
in Hamburg in '69, John decided to stay in Germany,
after having been offered the "job" as singer with
legendary German rock cult band "Lucifer's Friend";
('69-'76 & '79 -'95) with whom he recorded 9 studio albums.
.
.
..

He also joined the Les Humphries Singers, in the early '70s,   ( which included the Eurovision Song Contest in '75)

The ex - Uriah Heep front man and vocalist with Lucifer's Friend has built a reputation on his powerful

vocals and charismatic personality and is regarded as one of the best singers around

.

In '76 John joins Uriah Heep as their frontman, recording the albums :"Innocent Victim", "Firefly",

"Fallen Angel" and "Live '79" touring Europe and the USA until Sept. '79.

.

During his longstanding career John has worked with some big names of rock, on various projects, including

Roger Glover's "Butterfly Ball" live in the Royal Albert Hall in '75, feat. David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes,

Ian Gillan and Twiggy.  He sang on Eddie Hardin's "Wizard's Convention ll" with Chris Farlowe, Dennie Lane

Paul Jones and Tony Ashton.

 

John had the privilege to have worked with some of the finest

record producers, including Tony Clarke (Moody Blues) Jimmy Miller

(Rolling Stones) Harold Faltermayer (Pet Shop Boys), who produced

the titles John sang on the Lenny McDowell Project "Lost Paradise"

.

Lawton sang with German rockband "Rebel" later known as "Zar" on

three albums, during the late '80's/'90s including their hit singles

"Line of Fire" & "Eagles Flight", moving on to Volker  Barber's

classical  project "Excalibur"

..

John also sang on several German commercials, including the "Colgate Gel"

TV spots, the "Peter Stuyvesant Travel" spots, the Stuyvesant single "Come

Together" and a stint for Harley Davidson Motorbikes.

...

..

John formed GunHill, later known as JLB - John Lawton Band, in Jan. of '94,

touring the Uk and Europe...

.

In '95 he briefly re-joined Uriah Heep, for 2 weeks, to tour South Africa

with Deep Purple, filling in for their singer Bernie,

who was suffering from voice problems at the time.

.

Inspired by German top producer Robert Papst, John re-recorded one of

the Les Humphries Singer's favourites, the big '70 s hit "Mama Loo", in

January '98.

.

In August  2000, Johns solo CD "Still Paying My Dues.." produced by

Robert Papst, is released in Europe, UK and Scandinavia, by "Hypertension Music"  Hamburg and distributed through

"EDEL" Germany. This album has been hailed as the "best work" John has ever done.......

.  .

During the 4th Uriah Heep Annual Convention in London, May 2000, plans were made for a one-off concert by the so-called

"Hensley/Lawton Band". John was joined by former Heep keyboarder Ken Hensley, for the first time 21 years after John's

departure from Heep in 1979! With them were Paul Newton (Heep's original bassist), and 2 members of John's band

Reuben Kane on lead guitar and Justin Shefford on drums.

They played a collection of old Heep classics and some of Ken & John’s solo songs to an amazed audience, and the concert

was recorded for a CD release "The Return".

.

In 2001 John teams up with Ken Hensley to form the Hensley Lawton Band.

After extensive touring, during spring and summer of 2001, culminating with a concert in Hamburg, Germany, featuring

a full orchestra and a new rendition of Heep's old classic "Salisbury", both Ken and John return to their respective "solo"

careers.

.

The John Lawton Band - "JLB" is taken on by Classick Rock Productions in 2001, to record the acoustic CD "Steppin It Up"

which features John & Steve Dunning.

"One More Night" Live at the Mean Fiddler, CD & DVD, is recorded in 2002, which is followed in 2003 by JLB's "Sting In The

Tale" CD, an original studio rockalbum.

Later that year followes another Live CD & DVD "Shakin' The Tale"..

JLB have been  touring extensively with their last gig in Hamburg, Sept 2004, when John decided to take an indefinite break

.

In May 2006 John joins forces with Dutch guitarist Jan Dumee (ex-Focus) to form the " OTR" ( On The Rocks )  A Project.

featuring Brazilian musicians Ney Conceião on bass, Xande Figueiredo on drums, Marvio Ciribelli on keyboards.

.

John and Jan have written some great material for an album that was recorded in Brazil in 2007.

OTR have  signed a record deal with " Lion Music" , covering Europe and North America.

The new album is named "Mamonama" and was  released on 10. October  2008.

In spring 2009 the album has also been released in Brazil by "Dynamo Records"

. .

During 2008 John enters the world of television by presenting the Bulgarian travel documentary series "John Lawton presents"

which also includes music from the "Mamonama" album.

Made by Bulgarian TV company "Skat" the films feature interesting historical landmarks of Bulgarian towns and cities,

traditional festivities and interviews with the city mayors and local people.

Filming & editing of 11 documentaries "John Lawton Presents" are now completed..including the towns of  Karnobat, Sozopol,

Tsarevo, Primorsko, Bourgas, Smolyan, Pamporovo, Varna and Velingrad.

.

In March 2010, John makes his acting debut in the motion picture Love.net, filmed and produced by Bulgarian film company

Miramar Film.

Part of Johns scenes were shot at Liscombe Park,  UK , with the remainder in Sofia, featuring a guest appearance

by Uriah Heep guitarist Mick Box.

The film is expected to be premiered in Sofia in January 2011.

.

For latest John Lawton concerts see here