Well, some of you may remember one of our members, Bucky1000 (Chris Buck)...


Guns N' Roses manager praises Abercarn guitarist


Chris Buck, (centre) currently plays in the band the Tom Hollister Trio

A guitarist from Caerphilly county is being heralded as "the best up-and-coming player this century" by the former manager of Guns N'Roses.

Alan Niven, who managed the American rock band until 1991, is quoted in April's Classic Rock magazine praising 19-year-old student Chris Buck.

Chris, from Abercarn, is currently studying creative sound and music at the University of Wales, Newport.

He also plays in the band the Tom Hollister Trio.

Mr Niven got in touch with Mr Buck after seeing videos of him playing guitar on file-sharing website You Tube three years ago. Since then they've been in regular contact by e-mail.

Mr Niven managed American rock band Guns N'Roses during the height of their fame . They were one of the biggest bands of the 1980s with their multi-million selling album Appetite for Destruction including hits such as Sweet Child O'Mine.

He praises Chris' guitar talents in April 2010's Classic Rock-Slash Collector's Edition - dedicated to the infamous former Guns N'Roses guitarist Slash.

In the article, Mr Niven says: "I am also a friend to a young guitarist from Wales, Chris Buck, who I rate as the best up-and-coming player I have heard this century. He's extremely smart for his years, very musically literate."

Mr Buck won the Caerphilly County Borough Council Young Contemporary Musician of the Year title in 2005. Since that time he has been gigging with several local bands.

He describes music as his life and says hopes to pursue a career in the music industry.

"Ideally I'd love to be a professional musician," he said.

He currently belongs to blues influenced rock band the Tom Hollister Trio. He also plays with covers-band Ninth Gate and is halfway through recording an album with Son of Man, a band which includes ex-Man members George Jones and drummer Bob Richards.

The guitarist admits he found it "mind blowing" to get such a huge compliment about his playing ability in a national music magazine.

He said he had absolutely no idea that he'd be getting a mention in the article.

"The first thing I knew about it was when I was reading the magazine in bed at 2am and saw my name," he added.

"I couldn't believe it, I had to read it again to double check, it blew me away."



Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/southeastwa ... 619687.stm
* http://www.tomhollistertrio.com

yes i saw it too That's why I logged in... CONGRATULATIONS! this is amazing