LEW MURRAY BATE - Guitar, Harmonica and Vocals - Lew was born in 1966 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and grew up in Kyalami. His father, born in SA, had an Equine Transport Company and his mother, born in the United Kingdom, was a professional singer. He has 2 sisters and a brother. He started singing at school level in 1972/3 and later developed an interest in playing the guitar in 1978 when he was 12 years old.

He matriculated in 1984 and was conscripted into SADF from 1986 to 1988. Thereafter he travelled in Europe for approximately 1.5 years and played in a Dutch metal band, “Nocturnal Fog”, which was a great experience.

He returned to SA at the end of 1989 and formed a 3-piece rock band, “Strange Days”, playing rhythm and lead and doing some vocals. The band left for the UK, but Lew remained in SA as a one-man band until 1994.

Coinciding with the birth of his son in 1995, he formed a 4-piece band, “True Blue”. He played rhythm guitar and did the lead vocals. The band enjoyed good success in Johannesburg and moderate success internationally. By this stage they had added about 50% original material to their repertoire.

With the birth of his daughter in 1998, Lew decided to “hang up” his guitar and join the family Equine Transport business. This he continued until his divorce in 2006 and the death of his father in the same year.

He then returned to his guitar and music once again as a one-man band, and for the past 2.5 years, has performed at pubs, private functions and the occasional corporate function.

Towards the end of 2008 Lew teamed up with Mike Head to form “Blewk and the Pip”, a Blues project.  They did not limit their repertoire to playing Blues, as they were accomplished at other music genres. With their combined experience, they were producing original material, but Lew left the Gauteng area towards the end of 2009 so had to seek alternatives in the Midlands area of KwaZulu Natal, his new home.

In the beauty of the Natal Midlands Lew teamed up with Des Rasmussen, who plays keyboards and does vocal. They went by the name of “Double Trouble” and later “No Man’s Band”. To suit the area, Lew had to forgo his love of rock and blues to a certain extent and learn to play country and even some Afrikaans songs.

Now once again, Lew has reverted to playing solo and is concentrating on his rock and blues, while developing more original material.

Contact: Lew 082 084 1100 or Fiona 082 920 3342