Andy Scott (guitarist)

Guitarist

Birthday June 30, 1949

Birth Sign Cancer

Birthplace Wrexham, Wales

Age 74 years old

Nationality Wales

#32901 Most Popular

1949

Andrew David Scott (born 30 June 1949) is a Welsh musician and songwriter.

He is best known for being the lead guitarist and a backing vocalist in the glam rock band Sweet.

1963

His first gig was at St Peters Hall in Wrexham with The Rasjaks in November 1963 and then with other bands in Wales such as Guitars Incorporated and 3Ds.

He then progressed to guitar and played with other bands including The Saints, The ForeWinds, and The Missing Links.

1966

In 1966 he joined The Silverstone Set (later shortened to The Silverstones), who won the TV show Opportunity Knocks five weeks running, and appeared in the all-winners show for Christmas 1966, losing to Freddie Starr.

1967

One of their further highlights was to support Jimi Hendrix in Manchester in January 1967.

When The Silverstones split, Scott went on to form The Elastic Band, who recorded an album called Expansions of Life.

Lead singer Ted Yeadon left to join Love Affair, however, before the album's release, the band folded.

During this time they also recorded the album Pop Sounds, under the name The Cool.

Scott then played in the backing band for The Scaffold, which also included Mike McGear on bass and saxophone.

He went on to join Mayfield's Mule, who recorded three singles, "Drinking My Moonshine", "I See a River" and "We Go Rollin'".

An album was also released in Uruguay called Mayfields Mule with the song titles translated on the sleeve into Spanish.

1970

In the late summer of 1970, Scott replaced Mick Stewart in The Sweet after an audition in front of Brian Connolly, Steve Priest and Mick Tucker, as well as group managers Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman.

He was one of the last guitarists to audition.

According to Steve Priest's autobiography Are You Ready Steve?, Scott turned up looking pretty untidy, with very long hair and Scruffy clothes.

He plugged his guitar in and immediately the amplifier to feedback.

He eventually performed his piece and the members of the band thought he should join The Sweet.

1975

Scott's first single release in 1975 was a reworked version of the Desolation Boulevard track "Lady Starlight" backed by "Where D'Ya Go?".

Both songs, recorded during the Give Us a Wink sessions, were written and produced by Scott and Mick Tucker and featured Scott playing all instruments except the drums (Tucker).

Scott made a promotional video for the track and also appeared on Mike Mansfield's British TV Show "Supersonic".

1983

Scott released his second solo single, "Gotta See Jane", in 1983 under the name Ladders.

It was a cover of the R. Dean Taylor Motown hit and was produced by him and Louis Austin, who had worked with Sweet as their engineer on past ventures.

The B-side "Krugerrands", co-written with Chris Bradford,

was subsequently released as the follow-up single (as Andy Scott this time), but like its predecessor, failed to chart.

Except in Australia where it peaked at number 89 and South Africa where it was a top 10 hit.

1984

In 1984, Scott released two more solo singles, "Let Her Dance" and "Invisible".

1985

In 1985 Scott and Tucker re-formed Sweet with new members Paul Day (ex-Iron Maiden) on lead vocals, Phil Lanzon (ex-Grand Prix now with Uriah Heep) on keyboards, and Mal McNulty (ex-Weapon) on bass.

1991

This band became "Andy Scott's Sweet" following Tucker's departure in 1991.

1993

A compilation of all his solo projects, including demos, was released by Repertoire Records in 1993, under the title 30 Years.

He produced a couple of demos for Weapon, which was then fronted by Danny Hynes who went on to form Paddy Goes to Holyhead and Scott played with them now and again.

Scott then produced, played on and appeared in the video for their single "Green Green Grass of Home" and then joined the band on a regular basis until reforming Sweet.

2006

Scott produced the Suzi Quatro album, Back to the Drive, released in February 2006.

2010

In July 2010, Scott appeared in UK television adverts for the insurance company VanCompare.com.

Three adverts were in circulation featuring "Fox on the Run", "Love Is Like Oxygen", and "Action".

2012

Scott was a main organiser of the first charity Rock Against Cancer concert in All Cannings, Wiltshire, in May 2012, which was headlined by Brian May, The Boomtown Rats, and Midge Ure.

Concerts are still ongoing, in which Scott still plays an active role.

2020

Following bassist Steve Priest's death in June 2020, Scott is the last surviving member of the band's classic lineup.

Scott started out playing bass guitar.

Since the death of Steve Priest in June 2020, Andy is the last surviving member of the Sweet.

Scott lives in a converted barn at All Cannings, in the Vale of Pewsey, Wiltshire.