Fire In The South

Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, Jesus Jones, Erasure, Roachford, Londonbeat, all these bands have benefitted from the skills of Fire In The South band members as backing musicians and vocalists, both in the studio and on tour. But sooner or later the likes of Paul Wiffen, Martyn Phillips, Patch Hannan, Vanessa White-Smith and Honey Hylton were bound to make their own mark and this came when they met the songwriting duo of vocalist/bassist Stoney Mayes and lead guitarist Danny Sykes. Keyboard player/guitarist/composer Paul Wiffen (who was Stevie Wonder's right hand man for 4 years and Paul McCartney's for 2) played his first gig within 24hrs of meeting them and he then pulled in the finest musicians he knew to fill out the band's sound as a 7-piece. Martyn Phillips, legendary producer of Jesus Jones and The Beloved on rhythm guitar, Patch Hannan on drums and Vanessa White-Smith and Honey Hylton on backing vocals. Regularly filling cult venues like Putney's Half Moon and Kentish Town's Bull & Gate, their big breakthrough came when they hit the British summer festival circuit, where their music really comes into its own with the big crowds. Guilfest supporting Blue Oyster Cult, Bournemouth Festival supporting Bob Dylan, Strawberry Fayre supporting Radiohead, Sunrise Celebration supporting Muse, WOMAD supporting Peter Gabriel, this band constantly wins over audiences who have come to see someone else. Their early demos circulate on US Prog Rock stations but actually Fire In The South are a straight ahead rock band with a symphonic sound. Think Floyd on one of Roger Waters better days or Muse with Beethoven along for the ride!