Leslie Wilson - born 10/9/1955 , Willenhall ,Staffordshire , England
began playing guitar aged 15 - 1970
bought Cherry red Gibson 345 new in 1973
got an Antoria/Les Paul for slide after seeing Thorogood in 1978
bought a 1973 Fender Strat. in 1987 - still gigging with these three guitars !
started playing professionally 1974 in social clubs and pub in the Midlands, England
1981 formed The Mighty Houserockers - due to influences
namely a mind-blowing George Thorogood gig at Barbarellas/Birmingham in 1978 which led to
Hound Dog Taylor records - other influences were 2 Fabulous Thunderbird gigs at Dingwalls in Camden 1981/82 - and Son Seals in 1979
along with long time favourites Elmore James/BB King / Albert King / Buddy Guy /Otis Rush /Rory Gallagher/Ry Cooder-
these things shaped the Les Wilson hot-dog slide style
Jimi Hendrix was a major influence always
during this time Les also learnt acoustic style - and solo gigs today still show the other side of his musical interests - such as the great Richard Thompson
albums came
1987 - Les was one of the first session guests asked for on the BBC ' Paul Jones Blues Show ' - BBC Radio 2
1989 - first Les Wilson album on vinyl ' Fine Looking Woman '- after securing a deal at Red Lightnin records - a small but prestigious world-wide blues label -
other albums to follow were
1991 - first Cd - Fuelled Up
May 1997 - the Cd 'On The Loose ' followed
August 1998 - a live album 'On The Road '
Jan 2002 - a compilation of the fore albums was - ' A Ton Of Red Lightnin '
October 2004 - the latest album ' Slide It On Over '
2005 - a live album ' Rock Away Those Blues '
2010 - another studio Cd - Blue Highway
ONE TRACK - I'LL PLAY THE BLUES FOR YOU - CONTINUALLY FEATURES ON MAJOR LABEL COMPILATION ALBUMS , AND WINS FRIENDS AND FANS ALL OVER THE WORLD . HEAR IT ON THE MYSPACE SITE .
thru the 80's Les gained a fine live reputation all over the UK
1997 - moved with wife Christine to live in West Cork - Ireland
Les continues to perform at the top UK & Europe blues clubs and festivals
Les & the Houserockers have played at the Great British Blues festival at Colne,Lancashire many times - twice on the International stage , three times headlining on the British stage
in the early 90's - started playing gigs in Europe
there have been many festival appearances across Europe - as with
Luxembourg Jazz & Blues festival 2004
GIETHOORN DRIJF-IN FESTIVAL 2005 - HOLLAND
OUDENAARDE FESTIVAL 2006 - BELGIUM
several times at the Cork Jazz & Blues festival in Ireland
Sittard/Utrecht/Goirle/Culembourg in Holland - Banana Peel club - Belgium - SPIRIT OF 66 - WILLEM TELL CLUB - LOTS MORE !
2004 also saw yet another tour of Holland & Belgium , and an appearance back in the
UK at the Kendal International guitar festival - Les Wilson was appearing on equal billing with Gordon Giltrap/Jerry Donahue/John Renbourn/Kent Duchaine
LATEST ALBUMS .....................................
IS A LIVE RECORDING - 'ROCK AWAY THOSE BLUES ' 2005'
BLUE HIGHWAY 2010
IN 2009 LES RELEASED AN ACOUSTIC ROOTS ALBUM - CALLED BROKEN HEARTS ON NEW MOUNTAIN MUSIC , ANOTHER IS PLANNED FOR 2011
http://www.mightyhouserockers.co.uk/