Welcome to the Van Williams Website!

Van Williams

Van was raised in the 60s and 70s, on the tough Westlane council estate in the North East of England. A small town called Chester-le-Street, in the County of Durham.
It was here that in the 60s he would hear the music of
r & b, Elvis, the Beatles, The Stones, and the like, through a radio his mother would play every day in the kitchen, and, by the way, that same old radio would go on every family holiday they ever went on when he was a child.
Later on Van was influenced by the likes of Santana, Deep Purple, Wishbone Ash, and now, Zuchero, Paul Weller, U2, etc,
As a child Vans dream was to be a footballer and at the age of 12 was asked if he would be interested in joining the church choir, solely for the football team, as they had the cream of all the junior players in the area, and he was already representing his school and boys club as an outside right. However one of the rules was that if you played for the football team then you must attend the weekly choir practice, which didn't go down to well with some of his friends from the school of hard knocks, thinking he'd gone a bit soft. But suprisingly he was soon being selected to sing solo, showing his natural talent for singing.
During his teens he became very influenced by Stevie Wonder, Ottis Reading, Marvin Gaye, etc. all accumulating into some kind of musical recipe for madness.
At 19 Van formed his first rock band with his old friend Vince Langton who played wicked guitar.
Eventually, they got their first ever gig at The William, in Birtley.



"Here's Van in an early foto with Vince, 'bout 1977".

Van then started working the club scene and gained 4 jack’o’club awards from the godfather of clubs, Jack Amos for his performances.
He started writing and recording his own music in the 80s, which was a style of soul rock, and received great reviews, his music was being played on local and national radio stations and this earned him the very sought after P.R.S. and credibility as a singer songwriter.
Van was then asked to do live interviews with Metro radio, on 2 occasions, where he had the opportunity to meet and talk with Paul McCartney, who was also doing an on the air interview on one of those particular days. Following that he did interviews with B.B.C. radio and was selected as “artist of the week” on no less than 3 occasions.
B.B.C.Radio Newcastle air play "That's Just Your Imagination" 1982

Now receiving airplay and great reviews with featured write-ups in local and national newspapers his growing success led him to playing to audiences all over G.B.

"1985 Van tours Scotland with Roadies Fergie, on the right, and John, on the left, and man do we have some stories to tell!
The following year Van acts as "Best Man" for Fergie when he marrys Judith, while John decides to join the army and fight for his country in the Gulf war, eventually returning home safely".
Van wrote and recorded his own original song called "Soldier Boy" and would therefore like to dedicate it to all the troops through out the world trying to keep peace and liberate all people from tyrany, makeing this world a safe and free place to bring our children into.

Van then went on to his first recording deal, and should have followed up with a TV. appearance on, the now legendary, The Tube. The big record companies were now showing an interest, plus, top managements in both London and New York were considering signing Van to their labels.
At this point Van was seen by central T.V.producer Richard Holloway and given the opportunity to test for New Faces 87.
Van made his first national TV. appearance in Oct’ 87, and performed an original number called "can't escape my love" written by friend and musician Graham Donn.



This was seen by over - 7.5 million viewers, and although he didn’t become the show’s outright winner it helped springboard him onto the stage and performing in theatres such as the – City Hall, Hippodrome etc. and working with stars like Peter Skellern, Stephanie Laurence, the Dooleys, Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, plus comedians Les Dennis, Joe Pasquale, Jimmy Cricket, to mention but a few, and eventually going on to playing world wide audiences in his own right.
So once again big managements were showing an interest.

Over the next few years Van toured and worked with the likes of Gloria Gaynor, The Supremes, Showaddywaddy, Susie Quatro and others. It was during one of these tours that Van met his wife Diane, who had joined the dance troup "The Karen Western Dancers" while in between acting roles in the likes of "Spender" "Heartbeat" "Young At Heart" "Pascoe and Dalziel" to mention a few.
Here's Diane dancing her heart out on "The Grumbleweeds Xmas Show" at the Holiday Inn Newcatle 1990

In ’92 Van decided to stop travelling and took up a residency at King St’, Newcastle. with Mike Watson (Martin Stevenson and the Dainties), Malcolm Dick (Toy Dolls, currently with Ritchie Blackmore/ www.blackmoresnight.com ) and Dave Bruis (Kane Gang/ ) Jim Hornsby (G.B. best country guitarist currently with Prelude, and Martin Stevenson and the Dainties/ www.dainties.com/jim.htm )and stayed there for 5 years.


"In 1994 Van and Diane decide to tie the knot".
Now it was onto Springbank, Newcastle for 1 year with Alan Moran (Metro radio) Davy Dryden (Andrew Lloyd Webber, and currently Tony Christie/ www.tonychristie.com ) Malcolm dick (as previously mentioned) and Martin Hammond our slick bass player.
He was also asked to make a few radio adverts at this point.
Then turning his hand to a bit of acting he appeared several times on Jimmy Nails “Spender”.
In ’97 Van decided to take a complete break from the music scene. This lasted for 4 years.
During this time he took up the harmonica and has become a proficient player adding his own unique flava to his music today.
In 2002 following a chance meeting and discussion with his old friend, and chart topper "Breaking Up Again" Pete McDonald (Goldie, currently Pete McDonald) he decided to start playing the club circuit, as a solo artiste.
2003 Van has completed his 1st album for 10 years “The Best Of” which he dedicated to his father who passed away May 19th 2003. It is currently available on c.d. and can be bought from this site.
check out the hats and t.shirts bro'.
You san listen to tracks taken from the c.d. by clicking onto the my space link. You can also find out where Van will be playing next by clicking onto gigs.

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