Simon McBride

Simon McBride is a guitarist from Belfast, born in 1979, who works in blues rock, blues and rock. He begins playing guitar at the age of ten and is often compared with Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore, though his own style is distinct from both.

Early career

At 15, McBride enters Guitarist Magazine’s Young Guitarist of the Year competition at Wembley Conference Centre and wins it. Shortly afterwards, aged 16, he joins the Belfast metal band Sweet Savage, replacing Vivian Campbell. He tours with the group and records the albums Killing Time and Rune.

After leaving Sweet Savage in 1998, he joins Andrew Strong, who is best known from The Commitments. This work takes him away from metal and into soul, R&B and pop material, and he spends six years touring with Strong before turning towards a solo career.

Solo recordings

McBride releases his debut solo album, Rich Man Falling, in 2008 on Nugene Records, a label focused on guitarists and blues-based artists. The album includes covers of Free’s Be My Friend and Jimi Hendrix’s Power of Soul. His second album, Since Then, follows in 2010 and earns nominations in the British Blues Awards.

By this period he has opened UK and Ireland shows for Jeff Beck, Joe Bonamassa and Derek Trucks. He also tours the UK supporting Joe Satriani in 2010.

Live work and later releases

In 2011 McBride appears at major festivals including Glastonbury Festival, and also makes special guest appearances at Don Airey’s Soul & Blues Festival in 2011 and 2013. A UK tour in 2011 is recorded and issued as Nine Lives, a live album containing nine concert tracks and four solo acoustic pieces. One of those acoustic tracks is a version of the title track from Rich Man Falling.

In 2012 he releases Crossing The Line, which contains mostly original material alongside Blood, Sweat & Tears’ Go Down Gambin. It is recorded in Belfast and Maryland, mixed in New York by Peter Denenberg, and appears on several end-of-year best albums lists, including one from Classic Rock magazine.

Associated acts

McBride is associated with Sweet Savage, Andrew Strong, Don Airey’s projects, Snakecharmer, The Don Airey Band, Don Airey & Friends and Deep Purple.