■ STEVE FORWARD | BIOG
■ IN THE PRESS...
■ Current viral trends, noteworthy mentions and other things concering my playing career...
■ BBC ESSEX | INTERVIEW | FEB 22nd 2021.
■ Take a listen to the recent interview I gave with Rob Jelly and the BBC Essex crew.
■ I'm talking about my musical influences, what got me started on guitar, talking about Jimi Hendrix, and my own music.
■ Live playback of my track, 'Shine' from my album, '7 Bridges 2 Cross'
■ Thanks so much guys, It was fun!
■ CLASSIC ROCK MAGAZINE | FACEBOOK VIRAL VIDEO.
■ In October 2017 Classic Rock Magazine featured me on their Facebook page playing Purple Rain.
■ The video was originally shot back in 2011 at a gig in Maldon.
■ It quickly went viral reacing 1.3million views.
■ Check out the video.
■ The original Facebook post is HERE
■ In 2020, I recorded a new version of this great track. Watch it HERE.
■ PLANET ROCK RADIO
■ In September 2019 Planet Rock Radio gave me a nice mention..
■ I had no idea this happened, so thanks to Phil Ridgwell for getting in touch to let me know!
■ Huge thanks to everyone at Planet Rock, you, er, Rock!
■ MAIN BIOG
■ My main career as a working musician is split 3-ways between gigging, sessions/studio work, and teaching.
■ Gigging | Touring Musician...
■ Pro Guitarist and Session Musician since 1996.
■ Writing, playing, touring credits include playing live with Les Binks (Judas Priest), Bernard Purdie (Barry White), Russell Gilbrook (Uriah Heep), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chilli Peppers), Wurzel(Motorhead), Jasper Stainthorpe (Then Jerico), Phil Starr (Sham 69) and many more...
■ In my tribute bands and cover bands around Essex and North East London from the 90's to today, have supported The Blockheads, The Stranglers, Dr. Feelgood, Dr. & The Medics (Linkfest) and many more great acts.
■ Have depped in local bands like East of Java (with the lovely Dave!), Phil Williams on Bass (Tony Hadley), Luke Niami on drums (Roachford), Preacher, Metalworks, Dragon, as well as Cry Wolf, Blackfoot Sue
■ Played and toured with various bands, all genres of music, from Jazz, Country, Funk, Metal, Rock. In 2007 starting going solo as a rock guitar act, playing the venues of Essex, and even Europe.
■ Guitar Teacher...
■ Musicians Institute London | M.I. London(Hons) Graduate (1996 Alumni) in Electric Guitar. Upon graduating I taught there on several of the part-time courses, before going freelance as a guitar tutor. By 1996, I had a roster of private students of about 50 throughout London.
■ Since 1996 have taught guitar extensively in schools, colleges, notably, (St.Charles VIth form), teaching A(s) Level performance guitar, universities (Hertford Regional College), adult education centres, and evening classes, in a peripatetic role.
■ I've been a member of the Registry of Guitar Tutors (RGT) since the 1998. Countless students have taken their RockSchool/RGT Grades with me, bass guitarists or guitarists. Many have reached Grade 8 and beyond and are now full-time working musicians themselves, notably Stefan Fletcher (Trevor Rabin, YES, The Grand Tour).
■ Have studied orchestration and advanced music theory with my old music school teacher, extensively. Now currently teaching Piano alongside Guitar from my home studio in Essex.
■ Session Guitarist & Music Producer...
■ Have produced music for Ian Curnow (Keys for the pop band Talk Talk | EE Music | Take That | Kylie producer) For the Alan Carr Chatty Man TV Show.
■ Have worked as a content creator for companies such as Peel Entertainment Group, Hugh Fowler, Martin Pearson, since 2012-present, as well as Funky Voices Choir, (lovely bunch!), the latter gaining extensive production experience on location recording and producing large (300+) choirs, and several albums at the Mercury Theatre Colchester, and Braintree Arts Centre.l
■ Worked extensively with Jon Kutselinis (Biomechanical) around the same time (1999) had my music played on TV/Radio. Credits include, Aqua Pura (Channel 4), BBC2, Sky.
■ Private commissions and work for clients including, Lloyds Bank, Sky, and countless commissions for Radio, including Colchester's Heart FM, and BBC Radio 2.
■ In 2018, re-released my entire back catalogue of original instrumental rock and vocal rock music under my own production and publishing company Steve Forward Music.
■ In 2021, I had the opportunity to play on Maurice Grumbleweeds (of The Grumbleweeds fame) new album. Great fun, and a lovely chap!
■ Today | 2020-Present | Live Streaming...
■ I Continue to work freelance as a music producer, backing track creator, guitar & piano tutor and gigging solo as a guitarist/vocalist.
■ In 2020 I was happily getting on with things when the covid pandemic hit. This led me to explore live streaming and online content creation on social media a lot more.
■ I now live stream regularly on Twitch, YouTube and Kick.
■ In December 2023 I was made a Twitch Partner, and also a YouTube Partner.
■ I still love performing and playing live too. I'm always looking for gigs, dep gigs, tours, and interesting studio projects, so get in touch!
■ For more biog info on my gigging days, including college days etc, visit my Gig History page right now!
■ Comments | Feedback
■ I'm very humbled to have received compliments from these lovely chaps!
■ "Steve is one of the most promising guitarist's that I have heard, better still he comes from Essex where most good guitarist's live!" - Phil Hilborne (Guitarist Magazine, Guitarist for Queen Musical 'We Will Rock You')
■ "I can assure you that listening to Steve is a pleasure that will no doubt result in an appreciation of his abilities" - Nathan Shipley (Music-Zine)
■ "You've got a really nice touch..the guitar tones are killing and very warm, great job!" - Joe Stump (Rock/Metal Guitarist)
■ "You gotta see this Guy play!"
- Anver Anderson (SaintFM)
■ Guitar Certification | RGT Certification
■ MI London (Hons) 1995-1996
■ RGT | Registry of Guitar Tutors
■ Piano Grades | Certificates
■ I sometimes take the ABRSM Grades along with my students.
■ I took Grade 1, and 2 passed with Distinction, some of my piano students have gone onto Grade 4, 5.
■ Piano was my first instrument, but in 2019 I came back to it.
■ Find out more on my piano website
■ Piano Website - https://piano.steveforward.com