ARTIST: John Waite

WHERE: Carlisle The Brickyard

WHEN: Sunday, February 28

John Waite is a man with a distinguished past, taking in solo success as well as fronting both The Babys and Bad English. And, although he now lives in California, returning to the UK for live dates means a lot to the man born in Lancaster.

“I love having to chance to come over and play, even if right now I’m on the balcony at my apartment, with a cold beer and the hot sun. I don’t miss the English weather!”

Waite is promising fans who come to see him on this brief return visit – which also features The Robin II in Bilston on March 1 and The Underworld the next day – that he’ll be going for a raucous rock’n'roll approach. No acoustic stuff this time, as he’s done in the past.

“What I have now is a really rocking trio, and I love what we do. This is a full-on attack, no holds barred. To get in the mood I’ve been listening to a lot of Humble Pie and Free. Man, how is it that nobody ever talks about Steve Marriott when they discuss the greatest vocalists in rock?! He was just incredible. There was a time when Humble Pie were toe to toe with Zeppelin in America.

“If you know what those two bands are about, then you’ll have an idea of what I’m gonna do live.”

Waite is promoting the live album In Real Time, which will be sold at the gigs.

“The title says it all. Everything you hear was done live, no overdubs in the studio, no cheating. I can’t understand these bands – and they claim to be rock bands – who use electronic effects, tapes, anything when they supposedly play live. Rock’n'roll is about the connection between the performer and the audience. Nothing should get in the way.”

For further info, go to www.myspace.com/johnwaite