As a 15 year old boy, the middle 60s were really swinging. I lived in a small village in North Yorkshire total about 200 residents.My parents had a black and white t.v. and an old radio. The music on radio and t.v. inspired me to want to learn to play the guitar, but trying to get a tune out of a tennis racket with my friend Simon Featherstone just didn`t cut it.... It was Christmas 1967 when my parents bought me an acoustic guitar and a Play In A Day guitar book by Bert Weeden, I`m still on page three. I also tried to play along to tunes I heard on the radio. I could only play bits of the tunes. I knew loads of bits to different tunes, but not one complete tune......The guitar I had was really hard to play, it hurt my fingers and I had chance to buy an electric guitar for £8.00, so I did some work on the farm and earned my £8.00......My father bought me a Little Giant 4 watt Selmer amplifier, so now I could make a noise.

In December of 1968 my parents moved from our sleepy village in Yorkshire to the Lincolnshire steeltown of Scunthorpe. I took my guitar and amp to the local youth club where I met another guitarist called Bob Cunningham....We soon learned about eleven tunes and wanted to play them to the public. We formed a group called  Lincoln Green with ex RAF drummer, Byron Watson. Byron had this very large Zephyr saloon car which carried all the drums, guitars,amps and P.A. system. We played mostly in Lincolnshire and achieved a good reputation, we even recorded our own E.P at Nottingham Sound Studios only to be told our Bass player couldn`t play a note in tune....his part on the E.P. was turned down.........Eventually Bob left the group with the female singer and moved to South Africa , so after touring the pubs and clubs of Lincolnshire, I parted company with Lincoln Green...........I enjoyed watching a group at the local pubs called The New Era, they had a lead guitarist who played Shadows tunes,  I found out that he was in the Army and the band members paid for him to leave. When he left he also quit the group. The other band members knew about my guitar style and asked me if I would join them as their lead guitarist, the only stipulation was they were playing four nights per week. I felt bad about leaving Lincoln Green but my heart was in playing instrumental guitar music..........The rest is history........

From 1969 to 1995 I enjoyed playing lead guitar in this successful 60's tribute band called The New Era.We played in most of the clubs and pubs in northern England. Before we eventually hung our guitars up, we had the opportunity to play at the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool. We were introduced by pre. Epstien Beatles manager, Alan Williams. The show was to recognize the passing of John Lennon on the anniversary of his death.The band had different musicians through the years and I feel that I should name them here.

1969 to 1972

Keith Grice.............Lead Guitar / vocals

Ron Oakden..........Rhythm Guitar /vocals

Ron Blackburn.......Drums / vocals

Eric Marris.............Bass Guitar

1972 to 1979

Keith Grice.............Lead Guitar / vocals

Peter Leadenham......Bass Guitar / vocals

John Coult.............Drums / vocals

Ron Oakden..........Rhythm Guitar / vocals

1979 to 1982

Keith Grice............Lead Guitar / vocals

Pete Leadenham......Bass Guitar / vocals

Tony Leadenham......Drums / vocals

1982 to 1995

Keith Grice..........Lead Guitar / vocals

Phillip Green.......Bass Guitar / vocals

Tony Leadenham.......Drums / vocals

During 1994 we changed the name of the band to The Backbeats, a more 1960s sounding name, although it didn`t make us play any better, but we did get more gigs.

This is my old mate Phil, twanging away the old and modern hits with the new Backbeats.

After my career with the band, I still wanted to be involved in music, so I bought a computer and recording software, and converted a spare bedroom into a recording studio. I was fortunate to be able to have some excellent musicians who call themselves The Local Heroes, record some  backing tracks of my favorite guitar music. I recorded the backing tracks onto my digital 16 track editor, I then played the lead guitar part straight into one of the spare tracks.

On this C.D. is a few of my favorite instrumental melodies from my playing career. Tracks 2 - 4 -6 -7 -9 -13 -14 -20  are played with a 1963 Fender Stratocaster, the remaining tracks are played with a 1965 Burns Marvin, pictured on my C.D. Track 8 is played with double tracked guitar..... I hope you enjoy, My Guitar Favorites..... 

LEAD GUITAR COPYRIGHT ... Keith Grice 2010