A long time ago (Christmas 1966 to be precise) in a front-room far, far away (actually it was 4 miles East from where I'm sitting now) I got my first electric guitar - a bright red Futurama Duo. A school friend taught me how to play E, A, D and C chords, from there I picked it up as I went along. There were a couple of half-hearted School Band attempts between 1966 and 1968 which didn't get off the ground.
I left school in 1968 and joined my first real band, (Powerhouse) in September 1968, playing rhythm guitar - we couldn't find a bass player so when the lead guitarist bought along a Hofner electric bass to a rehearsal I thought I'll have a go ..... That was my 'LightBulb Moment' , my Epiphany and I've played bass guitar ever since.
Our first real (and paid !!) gig was early 1969 at a youth club at St Christopher's Church Hall, Jaywick Sands, Essex. Photo shows me at that gig playing a Framus Star Bass through an unknown amp and speaker. Songs included 'Flames' (Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera), 'Making Time' (Creation), 'Johnny B Goode (Chuck Berry), and She's Not There (Zombies).
It's now 2023, I'm 71, still gigging and most importantly I'm still loving it.
Chris.