Endless Floyd Biography

 

Stone (lead vocals): Stone’s mentor as a lead singer is Roger Waters, one of the master lyricists of post-war music. Stone once had the opportunity to meet Richard Wright, Pink Floyd’s keyboard player, and tell him of his love of the music at an evening BBQ in Lindos, Greece in 1986. Richard’s reply was: “That is one of the nicest things anyone has said to me.”  A most charming, gracious and self-effacing man. Stone says: “Pink Floyd goes back to my very teenage roots, as it does with my good friend and cohort lead guitarist, Danny Sykes. We went to school together in the early seventies. We have been inseparable since then (apart from falling out and not speaking for 7 years – which is a bit in character for Gilmour and Waters, is it not?) Many times we would listen to Pink Floyd at each other’s houses with the classic posters on the wall. The pyramids, etc. By the early eighties, we had started bands here and there.  And somehow we got here now. But that’s another story….”

Danny Sykes (guitars/lap steel/b.vocals):  Ever since his school days, Danny was into Pink Floyd, above all the other bands. Initially from a classical background, he started playing guitar in bands with Stone way back in the early 80s. In 2003 they formed Fire in the South, and after making their mark on the progressive rock scene, they have now moved on to Endless Floyd. Here they have found their natural home, with a band of musicians, all of whom have similar sensibilities and an outstanding feel for the music of Pink Floyd. 

Will Halsey (drums): The first band Will ever saw live was Pink Floyd in 1994 and that was the moment he wanted to play the drums. Watching Nick Mason lay down the sold grooves and Gary Wallis with all his flair. That was that! For 20 or so years he taught himself how to play the drums, learning all of the Floyd albums from Meddle onwards. Over the years Will has been playing rock, blues, soul, funk and even dabbled in a bit of dub reggae. His favourite Floyd album is Dark Side of the Moon but Wills’ favourite track has to be Comfortably Numb.

Julian Thompson (bass guitar): Having played in various rock and funk groups since the early 80s, Julian has found his calling with Endless Floyd and thrives on performing and recreating the original bass parts of Pink Floyd. His favourite Pink Floyd song is ‘High Hopes’ along with the classic tracks from their greatest albums.

Andy Hogbin (piano/keys): Andy first found his way to prog rock in his early teens, a connection which was cemented by a progressive piano teacher who decided that the works of Rick Wakeman were suitable for study. Many years later, after playing in a number of rock bands and a lengthy sidetrack into electronica, Andy has returned to his roots, recreating Rick Wright’s jazz-inflected prog soundscapes that underpin the overall Endless Floyd sound.

Mark M Thompson (guitars/b.vocals): Mark has been a Pink Floyd aficionado since experiencing the Division Bell tour at Earl’s Court at just 14 years old with his dad. He loves all three versions of the band almost equally, made his now-wife accidentally sick by playing her Animals after one of their first dates, convinced P&O Cruises to include a Floyd show in their programming for the last half-decade, and never asks younger fans wearing DSotM T-shirts to name five songs. His favourite album is Amused To Death.

Terry Quinney (sax): Terry is a saxophonist and arranger based in Somerset in the UK.  Since arriving in Somerset from Toronto, Canada in 2009, Terry has firmly established himself on the jazz scene in the south of England.  He has performed all over the UK at festivals, theatres and in clubs such as Pizza Express in Soho, Boisdale in Canary Wharf and The Bull’s Head in Barnes to name a few. As co-leader of the BlueNote Records tribute band ‘The Sound Of BlueNote’, Terry has recently shared the stage with UK jazz icons such as Nigel Price, Alan Barnes, Mark Nightingale, Dave O’Higgins, and Gilad Atzmon.

Vanessa White-Smith (backing vocals): Vanessa was a former member of Fire In The South. She is a Singer/Actor who has worked with Artistes such as Martha Reeves as a Vandella in London’s Covent Garden and on tour in Dancing In The Streets, With Sheila Ferguson of the Three Degrees as her understudy in Soul Train also in London’s West End.  She also sings with various other bands, and is delighted to be reunited with her former colleagues in Endless Floyd.

Rosie Osborne (backing vocals): Rosie began gigging at the age of 16 years old in Zimbabwe and since then, has gained a wealth of on-stage experience in singing and choreographed dancing. She is currently writing with other freelance musicians and performs regularly with function bands across the UK and abroad. These include lead and backing vocals for 70s, 80s & 90s tribute acts and tribute shows such as ‘ABBA’ where she plays the role of Anna Frida (Abba Mania, Abba Revival) and backing vocals for Endless Floyd. Fluent in most genres, Rosie has experience in many styles of music such as Pop, Rock, Soul, Country and Musical Theatre.

Debby Bracknell (backing vocals): Debby is a hugely experienced and versatile session singer. She has performed with incredible artists in the studio, TV, radio, and live venues across the world, including Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande, Shakatak, Mica Paris, Boy George and Culture Club, The George Anderson Band, Kavana, Tommy Jules (Rudimental), ACM Gospel Choir (Last Choir Standing), SuRie (Eurovision Song Contest), Endless Floyd, and many more.

Nicole Gill (backing vocals): Nicole’s career as a performer and voice researcher has enabled her to travel, perform and coach internationally. Her original projects have offered her the opportunity to tour the UK and Europe as well as being featured on radio stations such as Radio 1. Nicole also had the pleasure of performing at the Kenyan music festival. Nicole regularly performs at functions as well as singing with tribute bands professionally.

Sofia Jones (backing vocals): Sofia is a portfolio musician with over 30 years of professional experience. Being genre versatile has enabled her to work as principal backing vocalist on multiple jukebox musicals including Fastlove and Lost in Music both nationally and internationally, as well as singing backing vocals for original artists on stage and in the studio. She has also worked with several Pink Floyd Tributes over the past 15 years.

Terry McMahon (production manager): Terry is Endless Floyd’s long-suffering Production Manager, without whom the band would be lost. He is the glue that brings the whole show together, with a world-weary necessary sense of humour. If you see him, buy him a pint of Guinness.

Henry Birdsall (production engineer): Henry is EF’s outstanding production engineer. His attention to detail is second to none, and he has set the standard for any engineer to follow. An excellent musician in his own right, he understands the wants and needs required to help bring the full show together.

Michael van Koetsveld (FX and video engineer): Michael has joined the Endless Floyd team to run the live aspects of sound effects, video and click tracks, helping with the smooth running of the shows.