McKenna's Gold

Here's the poster for our first gig! MEMORIES!

We played 'Into The Arena' in McKenna's Gold! It ROCKED! Here's Ted playing it in MSG!

Michael Schenker Group - Into The Arena Dortmund 83 The best version of Into the arena

We performed Desert Song in McKenna's Gold! Congratulations Charles, on reaching those notes so well!

M.S.G-Desert Song THE BEST ALBUM OF MICHAEL SCHENKER!

The very first piece of music that Julian-Hutson Saxby and I played with Ted McKenna at our very first jam (which was really an audition for us) at Hammersmith Studios in 1986 was the awesome Nuclear Attack by Gary Moore!

Ted played in Greg Lake's band with Gary and this was the opening number on the 1981 album, Greg Lake. What can I say? We ROCKED and nearly blew the roof off! Ted loved the police siren guitar bit Julian played just like Gary too! It was AWESOME!

Greg Lake & Gary Moore - Nuclear Attack PoRcUpInE present...Greg Lake & Gary Moore from Greg Lake selftitled album Released in 1981.ENJ@Y all my playlists --- https://www.youtube.com/user/porcupine...

I played an Aria SB 1000 bass in the early days of McKenna's Gold! That was a great bass!

What a great singer we had in McKenna's Gold! He comes from Glossop in the Derbyshire Peak District and his name is Charles Bowyer. We'll never forget the day when he walked into the audition room and started singing! We all knew then that we had found our singer! 😀

We had one of the BEST keyboard players in the world in McKenna's Gold. His name is Steve Franklin. 😀

McKenna's Gold in concert in Milton Keynes. What a great gig that was!

McKenna's Gold rehearsing in the cellar at Chapel Cleeve Manor during the Summer of 1987! 🙂

Today is Ted's birthday! 🙂

Here's another great photo of Ted, taken at the Cozy Powell Birthday Bash by our good friend Mike Pinn.

Here we are performing The Faith Healer! This performance of this classic Sensational Alex Harvey Band song was recorded in Hertfordshire. We worked through the night, having recorded many songs during our time at the studio, and the stunning keyboard solo was played by a very tired Steve Franklin, who rose to the challenge and surely played one of the best keyboard solos ever recorded! This was truly a CLASSIC performance of a CLASSIC song and how great it was to play it with Ted, the drummer of The Sensational Alex Harvey Band! 😀

The Faith Healer - The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - McKenna's Gold Ted McKenna's band McKenna's Gold performing The Faith Healer. This performance of this classic Sensational Alex Harvey Band song was recorded in Hertfordshi...

Here's another song we played in McKenna's Gold. It's called Outer Boogie! Check out Ted's COOL vocals too! This is GREAT! 😎

SAHB (Without Alex) Outer Boogie.wmv 'Outer Boogie' From SAHB's 1977 'Fourplay' Album (Without Alex). Featuring: Hugh McKenna - Keyboards, Zal Cleminson - Guitars, Chris Glenn - Bass, and Ted Mc...

We played Into The Arena in McKenna's Gold! Well done Julian!😎

Michael Schenker Group - Into The Arena Dortmund 83 The best version of Into the arena

Our good friend Mike Pinn took this great photo of Ted at the Cozy Powell Birthday Bash! Ted and Cozy were good friends and both played drums in the Michael Schenker Group. Interestingly Cozy also played a part in the story of McKenna's Gold!

We did a gig in Lambourne at the home of the well-known racehorse trainer Rod Simpson. Whilst driving to the gig in my father's Commer camper van I spotted Cozy Powell walking across the square in Lambourn! I stopped the van and wound down the window and introduced myself. Cozy was surprised to learn that we were going to play at the party, which he was actually going to, and promised to bring some drums sticks for Ted! Sure enough he came to the gig with the sticks, which Ted was thrilled to receive!

It was great to spend some time chatting with Cozy about his time in Rainbow and Emerson Lake and Powell and later on he entertained us with a drum solo on our articulated lorry stage! Cozy Powell became the opening act before McKenna's Gold took to the stage that night!

Here's Midnight. This song became our opening number! Enjoy! 😎

Midnight - McKenna's Gold The legendary Scottish rock drummer Ted McKenna's band, McKenna's Gold, performing Midnight. This was a 'demo' recording and it captures the energy and flair...

Have you read the McKenna's Gold story?

McKenna's Gold ​Ted passed away on the 19th of January 2019. He was my friend and was like an older brother to me. It was the most wonderful privilege for me to be his bass player in McKenna's Gold. He remains,...