John Sloman

For the New Zealand cricketer, see Alfred Sloman.
John Sloman
Birth name John Anthony David Sloman
Born (1957-04-26) 26 April 1957
Cardiff, South Wales, United Kingdom
Genres Hard rock, pop rock, progressive rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s) Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, piano, keyboard, guitar
Years active 1977-present
Labels Bronze Records, FM Records, EMI Records, Majestic Rock
Associated acts Trapper, Pulsar, Lone Star, Uriah Heep, UFO, John Sloman's Badlands, Gary Moore
Website Official website

John Anthony David Sloman was born in Cardiff, South Wales, 26 April 1957 as the eldest of six children. He is best known as the lead vocalist for Welsh band Lone Star during 1977/'78 and classic rockers Uriah Heep from 1979 to 1981.

Biography

Sloman's first band of note were local Cardiff heroes Trapper before he joined Lone Star in time for their 1977 sophomore album, Firing on All Six, supported by a Reading Festival appearance on August 26, 1977, a headline tour, and another tour with Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush later that same year.[1] Lone Star disbanded before a third album could be completed as guitarist Paul Chapman left to take Michael Schenker's spot in UFO. 4 songs from a BBC broadcast with Sloman, recorded September 29, 1977 at Queen Mary College, were released in 1994 as part of BBC Radio One Live In Concert.

Sloman and Lone Star drummer Dixie Lee, along with Trapper bassist Pino Paladino, would join forces in Canadian outfit Pulsar with former Ian Thomas Band guitarist Dave Cooper and keyboardist Gregg Dechert. It would prove to be a short lived union as Sloman got the call from the Uriah Heep camp in 1979 to take over for John Lawton. Sloman recorded the controversial Conquest album with the group but departed in 1981, citing "musical differences." An uncredited Sloman also played keyboards on UFO's 1981 album The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent.

After Uriah Heep, he formed the band John Sloman's Badlands and showcased at the Marquee Club but failed to procure a record deal. Badlands featured former Trapper drummer John Munro, Whitesnake's Neil Murray on bass, and guitarist John Sykes prior to his joining Thin Lizzy. Sloman and Murray would both join Gary Moore's band which resulted in the Rockin' Every Night: Live in Japan album.[2]

Sloman went on to record the first of his solo albums, the Todd Rundgren produced Disappearances Can Be Deceptive, released in 1989. It featured contributions from former Trapper and Pulsar band mates Pino Paladino, John Munro and Gregg Dechert, who had also spent time with Sloman in Uriah Heep, as well as noted session guitarist Alan Murphy.

Sloman worked on various projects throughout the 1990s, including Souls Unknown with old mates Paladino and Munro and The Who affiliated guitarist Steve 'Boltz' Bolton. Another project involved Paladino, guitarist Mats Johansson, and drummer Theodore Thunder (Dick Heckstall-Smith, Leo Sayer). Sloman would take on the pseudonym Earl Grangetown for The Beat Poets, a venture into soul music, which also featured former Lone Star band mate Pete Hurley on bass. Although an album was recorded, it was never released.[3]

Sloman has gone on to produce three more solo albums since the turn of the millennium, Dark Matter (2003) and 13 Storeys (2006), an acoustic affair on which he is credited with playing everything from cello to harmonium, and his latest effort, Reclamation (2010). Toto guitarist Steve Lukather recorded a cover of Sloman's "Jammin' with Jesus" off Dark Matter on his 2008 solo album Ever Changing Times. Lukather had originally cut the song with Jeff Beck years earlier but Beck never put it out.[4]

Sloman guested with NWOBHM veterans Praying Mantis on 2003's The Journey Goes On, providing lead vocals on 3 songs, "Tonight", "Beast Within" and "The Voice." He is also credited on the 2007 soundtrack for Highlander: The Source as the vocalist performing the Queen hits "Princes of the Universe" and "Who Wants to Live Forever" as well as "The Sun Is Gonna Shine", a duet with Tamasin Hardy.

Discography

Solo

with Lone Star

with Uriah Heep

with UFO

with Gary Moore

- Backing vocals on single "Falling in Love with You"

Sessions and guest appearances

References

  1. ↑ "Vintage Rock's Lone Star Archive". Vintage Rock Weblog. 2013.
  2. ↑ Joe Geesin (2007). "10 Questions With... John Sloman". GetReadyToRock.com.
  3. ↑ Russ P (August 24, 2010). "John Sloman - Interview Exclusive". ÜberRöck.com.
  4. ↑ Owen Edwards (February 12, 2008). "Steve Lukather Interview: Ever Changing Times...". AllOutGuitar.com.
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