I have been playing different musical Instruments since the age of 11. I started on my mother’s kitchen pots and pans and then promoted myself to a bass drum - I couldn’t afford anything else! Like other youngsters at the time, I used to listen to a lot of music on our radiogram (in those days it was the latest radio technology) and soon found out that I had a good ear musically for different genres and styles of music. My parents had divorced and my mother wasn't getting much support from my father, so she struggled to support my brother and I, so as much as I'd wished for a piano and piano lessons, that was out of the question. But what had started on kitchen utensils and a cheapskate bass drum later led to me playing bass professionally in bands for about 20 years.

My first real break came in the early 1970s. A colleague's daughter was a music teacher, of classical music, and so I bought myself an expensive guitar and started my lessons with her. That nylon string guitar cost all of R12,00, by the way, which was a lot of money - I had just started my first job as an apprentice earning R90,00 a month - but it was worth every cent, because it opened up a new world to me: I came to believe that I had the potential to be a really good musician and soon learned that I had the ability to compose and write my own material. And, of course, with that came the idea of being a rock star some day - probably every musician's dream, but over the years I learnt, as all musicians do eventually, that life is never that simple: you need more than skills and a dream to make your living from music.  

My favourite groups in the early 70s were Pink Floyd, Golden Earring, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. These musicians inspired me and over the years they have helped me to keep going, to not give up on the music industry. To this day these groups, as well as great solo artists like Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, T Rex and so on, remain my favourites.

I’m using a HartkeVX3500 4x10" A original American 1976 Fender jazz bass, Cort Artisan A5, Washburn Fretless & Epiphone acoustic bass I would not swap my instruments for any others in the world. Reason? I know them inside out and often and they know me! I feel comfortable with them and, really, the instruments that feel right in your hands and sound right to your ears, those are the ones you want as a musician. Instruments don't make the player any better, no matter what make of instrument it is (within reason, of course, standards and quality of sound being equal). My advice is: if you feel comfortable with it, stick to it! My instruments really are an extension of myself and my personality.  

There has always been in my mind the thought of playing the double bass. But no, I have not attempted to play a double bass yet. Of course, I would definitely take advantage if such an opportunity should come knocking on my door.  

I was fortunate to be able to perform with amazingly talented musicians in original/cover jazz, blues and rock bands. A project I embarked on in 2006, a Pink Floyd tribute project, has turned out the most exciting and rewarding music project I have ever worked on.

Watching shows and keeping track of the work of rock legends such as Roger Waters and Guy Pratt in action has been immensely inspiring. I never stop wanting to learn from the greats and so, no matter what my personal circumstances may have been these last few years, I've persevered and worked hard on improving my handling of the bass guitar and on creating a similar style of playing but one that is also my own and unique in some way. It is difficult to judge one's own mastery, so I will probably never feel that I’m anywhere near the class of my idols, but that's what I want, to play that well, to sound that great, to be respected for my art. And I have to say the feedback has been very positive, which helps me to keep working towards higher and higher levels. This has certainly always been the case, but even more so the last five years, especially since I'd started building up a bit of a fan base. Feedback greatly influences a musician, so I'm happy that people enjoy the music that I play and it is only natural for me to want to keep improving. 

I was part of a friend's studio recordings for two CDs that received limited air play. That was a lot of fun and I learnt a lot, but I have yet to do recordings of my own. Watch this space, though! Hopefully that opportunity is on its way anytime now...  

A huge regret is that I discovered the bass guitar at such a late stage in my musical career - had to learn to play a new instrument all over again! - but it has turned out well. I've never looked back since picking up the bass guitar. There have been low points, of course, breaking into the music scene can be disheartening and disillusioning, life can get very tough financially, but I don't believe a stop-and-start approach solves anything - I just keep going no matter what, I guess. So far no low point has been low enough to make me reconsider my choices. It'll always be me and my music, as the bottom line.

Oh, without a doubt my Pink Floyd tributes. I had the privilege of being 'approved', of being judged good enough to play Pink Floyd professionally. Both EMI Publishers and Gallo Publishers, the SA managers of Roger Waters and Pink Floyd materials, granted me the necessary permissions to use the copyrighted music of Roger Waters and Pink Floyd, which means that I am South Africa's official Pink Floyd tribute representative. I was also given permission to use the name ‘Welcome to the Machine’, which was wonderful, as well as the banner artwork created by a graphics artist in America.  

I am always working towards getting people to recognise the fact that South Africa, like other countries of the world, has its very own and very good  Pink Floyd Tribute Band. I am always working on taking the band and the whole tribute process to higher and higher levels in South Africa. Audience recognition is a crucial part of that; you need your fans. And additionally, in the near future, I hope to see my new project, called 'Legends of Rock', taking off and developing into something really worthwhile, in the same way the tribute band did.

As I've said, I like to dream big - and of course this includes my performing some day as a bassist alongside Pink Floyd right here in South Africa. That is my ultimate dream, but a close second would be the opportunity to play with any of my favourites groups, the ones mentioned above.

My personal definition involves the great audience expectation that the tribute band delivers as close and as perfectly as possible the sound and feel of the original musicians and their original material. I think a tribute band's audiences expect to hear exactly that which they have come to appreciate and love as the fans of the original and usually great artist.  

Audiences can be unforgiving, really tough to please. If a tribute band/artist cannot deliver a tribute precisely, and if it cannot live up to the expectations both of audiences and of the musicians it is tributing, then don't even try. Other alternatives include creating your own style of originals/covers and getting really good at that. Become a 'normal' band/artist, by all means, play just whatever grabs you - or just go out there and play a lot of rubbish if it makes you happy - but if you don't have the drive and dedication to perfect your renditions of someone else's original music, save yourself the time and frustration of calling yourself a tribute band, because you will not make it and you will probably be open to some serious criticism, which is never easy. Unless you've willing to work hard and to put in years and years developing yourself as a tribute band, don't expect applause or accolades, because you simply won't get that! As I said above, audiences can be unforgiving.