WildFire

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Band Members

Brendan 'Basha' O'Regan

Born in Watford (1989), son of Carol and Denis. Brendan's "Animal" drumming provides the driving force to WildFire and he is stylistically very versatile and secure. He saw his first drum set at 2 and was a natural. Through piano, trumpet, even choir at St. Edmunds in Ware he started drumming seriously and joined the band at the age of 13!

Now 22 and into jazz funk and everything unusual rhythmically, he stays with the rest of "the oldies" in the band, but he has inherited a distinct taste for Guiness and good wine.

Favourite Artists/Influences include: The Police. The RH Factor, Sting, RATM, Common, The Roots, Nathanial Townsley Trio, Stevie Wonder, Lee Morgan, Soulive, Branford Marsalis, Four Tops, Richard Bona - any quality jazz/motown/funk/rock/reggae....

Carol 'Ace-Bass'

Carol 'Ace-Bass' O'Regan

Born in London, her Irish parents took her back to Ireland when she was ten, and having taken up piano a year earlier, she continued to develop her music talents there with the help of the Dominican nuns. This culminated in taking a B.Mus at U.C.D. She took up cello at 14 as a second instrument, and won scholarships, competitions, appeared on a TV masterclass, and played in a rock band Sunday nights in Baggot Street, Dublin called "Average Contents".

After her degree she played in the National Symphony Orchestra, and taught cello and piano. A chance conversation ended with a "bee in her bonnet" to come to London to train in Music Therapy. She met Denis at college and the rest is History! Carol still considers herself truly Irish!

The Bass guitar, given to her by Denis at Christmas '99 was the "spark" that caused the "Wildfire"!! Ron showed her the tuning (a bit different to the cello!), Nick gave her a few lessons and she was away. Now 11 years later she is playing without any print - Yippee! Sinding Tide is High, and doing backing vocals. Favourite artists include: David Bowie, Bjork, Sting, Donal Lunny, Afro Celt Sound System, The Verve, George Michael and anything that is creative and unusual!

Hazel 'Nutz'

Hazel 'Nutz' Westwood

A local from Saffron Walden Hazel is a true 'Rock Chick and Essex babe.

As she has not sent me anything for the website, I might as well tell you that she is a complete nutter - has a reliable and fun stage presence with vocals from all the great Divas in her sight. She sings 'gutsy to lyrical' effortlessly and brings a bit of fun and laughter off gig!

Ron 'Fender-Bender'

Ron 'Fender-Bender' Martin

Born in Chester in 1950, spent 20 years playing the club circuits throughout England and Western Europe.

Retired from bands in 1986 shortly before moving to the South of England. Loves to play old Robby Williams and revamp old Tamla Motown music. At age 50+, Ron is the 'old man' of the band as he is thirty five years older than the youngest member - however when it comes to his music he is as young as he feels - fifty-something!!!

Way back in the seventies, Ron played lead guitar and fronted a band called The Martin Brothers and among the line up was a sax player called Ian Kirkham. Ian is now the sax player with Simply Red.

Sheila 'Saxcat'

Although Sheila is our most recent addition, she has been connected with the band forever, as her daughter Rosie was our original saxophonist. She is the more sensible member of the band, or has more sensibel moments thatn the others... and keeps wayward behaviours in check!!

A keen hockey player in her youth, Sheila began playing tenor sax with Bishop’s Stortford Hockey Club’s Chairman’s Blues Band. Unlike Ron, she can’t claim to have played with anyone even slightly famous, but once touched knuckles with Courtney Pine, and hopes a small fraction of his talent rubbed off.

Recently Sheila is playing a bit of keyboard and organ, vocals, and making the tea - a true multi-tasker!

Likes going to gigs, and listening to Radiohead, John Martyn, Lamb, Steve Winwood and Ella Fitzgerald.

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