Group Biographies... (The truth hurts....)
Each member of the group has lots of experience gained before Dangerous Dogs were formed in 1997. The following is a condensed version of what they would tell you if you met them in person.
Tony Dallison : Lead Guitar
Another white Ibanez guitar and an even louder Marshall amp, what more do you want! Tony joined the band soon after Sukh announced his intention to emgrate to the US, and for several months the group went out as a 6 piece while Tony got up to speed with the set. The experiment with dual lead guitars was an interesting one but now Sukh has left for the States we are all pleased to back to a 5 piece and that Tony is on board. Tony has the same gear aquisition problem that Sukh suffered from, and there is hardly a week that goes by when Tony does not turn up at a rehearsal with a new gadget or gizmo.
Jules Cracknell : Lead Vocal
What an amazing vocal talent! Jules joined the Dogs in 2003 to replace the departing Nigel Dams who had briefly fronted the band following Val's departure. Jules left Blind Bend, another sucessful rock cover band, just as it left the road, (he swears he was not driving). Jules' introduction heralded a new chapter in the Dangerous Dogs saga as we replaced many of the late 90's indie numbers with classic no-nonsense rockers from the 70's and the 80's. Jules is strangely yet another group member who earns a living in IT, and by a another twist of fate, Colin The Knob is also working on one of the Projects that Jules manages.
Sukh Ryatt : Lead Guitar 2001-2004
With a ferocious technique, a strong sense of melody and a warped sense of humour, Sukh puts his trusty white Ibanez guitar and bowel-movement inducing Marshall amp to great effect in delivering driving rhythms, screaming solos and a variety of ear-bending noises that provide a new energy to the Dogs already rocking sound. Prior to joining the Dogs in late 2000, Sukh's musical career included playing several 'guest spot' sessions with various bands, as well as recording his own material and giving lessons in exchange for goods and services (ask him!). He almost started a band with Geoff, (the Dogs' bass player and male vocalist) in 1993 but thought better of it and got married instead (to a lovely young lady, not to Geoff !). However, he stayed in contact with Geoff over the years, often threatening to turn up to a gig or a rehearsal for a jam with the Dogs. In November 2000, with Richard getting ready to leave the band, Geoff finally convinced Sukh to come to a Dogs gig. Bowled over by a powerful sounding band and a roaring crowd at the now infamous Royal Oak, he jumped at the chance of joining the Dogs as their new lead guitarist.
Richard Borsey : Lead Guitar/Vocals 1997-2001
Richard cut his musical teeth on the Manchester pub and club scene, playing with such luminaries as The Flying V's, Pyramid, and The Burn before moving south where he joined up with Moby and the Dicks to play no nonsense rock covers at local venues such as Farnborough's legendary Tumbledown Dick, and the Lion Brewery in Ash. At the same time Richard teamed up with Geoff and Paul to form The Consultants. This trio played their own material around the Guildford, Woking and Farnborough area for three or four years before replacing their trusty drum machine with a real drummer - Colin, and recruiting Val to form Dangerous Dogs Act in early 1997.
Geoff Burnes : Bass/Vocals
Why limit yourself to only four strings, when you can have five? Geoff's renowned virtuosity on his five string Ibanez bass provides the drive behind the Dangerous Dogs Act. A prolific songwriter and lyricist of awesome talent, he was the main force behind The Consultants success. At the centre of the project that was to lead to the formation of Dangerous Dogs Act, Geoff's considerable vocal talents complement Val's voice perfectly.
Colin Burnes : Drums
The groups 'Cheeky Cockney Chappie', Essex born Colin has been involved in the live music scene in East London, and Essex for many years. Colin's musical career includes, amongst many highlights, playing to 10,000 people at Southend Football Club on the same bill as Alvin Lee, Budgie, and Fairport Convention, and many great gigs at the Dagenham Roundhouse, supporting the likes of Ace, Budgie and Sutherland Brothers & Quiver. Colin's involvement with music in this part of the world ended when he relocated to the south coast, but when the possibility of forming Dangerous Dogs Act was put to him, he readily accepted the chance to join his brother Geoff in the new venture.
Paul Perryman : Keyboards/Rhythm Guitar.
The strong, silent, studious one, Paul displayed his keyboard virtuosity at many concerts around Woking and Guildford before he joined The Consultants following a chance meeting with Richard and Geoff. During the 'Consultant Years' Paul concentrated on keyboards, but since forming Dangerous Dogs Act he had dusted down his trusty Fender Strat, spent half and hour with his 'Play Guitar the Burt Weedon Way' chord book, and now alternates between trading some great guitar licks with Richard, and belting out some barnstorming keyboard solos.
Val Harris : Lead Vocals 1997 -2002
A supremely talented vocalist, whose wonderful voice soars gloriously to the heights of Skunk Anansie's 'Twisted' and 'Every Day Hurts', and captures the complexity and subtlety of Natalie Merchant's 'Carnival' brilliantly, Val completes the Dangerous Dogs Act line-up. Before joining DDA, Val sang as part of a trio playing pop standards at dinner dances and weddings in and around Surrey and Hampshire. Accepting the challenge of fronting Dangerous Dogs Act, she has proved more than equal to the task of propelling them to the top rungs of the local pub rock ladder.
Colin (the Knob) Parry : Sound Engineer
Very much an afterthought, Colin is a total waste of space, and frankly, we don't know why we keep him around. (Pity mainly.) He is totally bemused by his new, state of the art mixing desk, and we have yet to do a gig where we haven't been plagued by feedback from beginning to end. Colin has actually roadied and mixed sound for quite a few big name bands, Osibisa, Golden Earing, Crossbreed, Dirty Money, Stesko Dolly and Chairman of the Board to name but a few, but how he got away with it for so long nobody in DDA knows.
back to the kennel!