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“BLEWK”
LEW MURRAY BATE
Rhythm guitar and Vocals

Lew was born in 1966 in Johannesburg, South Africa, and grew up in Kyalami. His father, born in SA, had an Equine Transport Company and his mother, born in the United Kingdom, was a professional singer. He has 2 sisters and a brother.

He started singing at school level in 1972/3 and later developed an interest in playing the guitar in 1978 when he was 12 years old.

At 14 he formed a punk band, “Local Chaos” and played bass guitar. He began playing a 6-string (nylon) guitar at the age of 16 and 2 years later joined a metal outfit, “Genocide”, playing lead.

He matriculated in 1984 and was conscripted into SADF from 1986 to 1988. Thereafter he traveled in Europe for approximately 1.5 years and played in a Dutch metal band, “Nocturnal Fog”, which was a great experience.

He returned to SA at the end of 1989 and formed a 3-piece rock band, “Strange Days”, playing rhythm and lead and doing some vocals. The band left for the UK, but Lew remained in SA as a one-man band until 1994.

Coinciding with the birth of his son in 1995, he formed a 4-piece band, “True Blue”. He played rhythm guitar and did the lead vocals. The band enjoyed good success in Johannesburg and moderate success internationally. By this stage they had added about 50% original material to their repertoire.

With the birth of his daughter in 1998, Lew decided to “hang up” his guitar and join the family Equine Transport business. This he continued until his divorce in 2006 and the death of his father in the same year.

He then returned to his guitar and music once again as a one-man band, and for the past 2.5 years, has performed at pubs, private functions and the occasional corporate function.

Towards the end of 2008 Lew teamed up with Mike Head to form “Blewk and the Pip”, a Blues project, which they aim to evolve into a 5-piece band. They do not limit their repertoire to playing Blues, as they are accomplished at other music genres. With their combined experience, they are producing original material, which will be introduced to the Public as they grow.


“THE PIP”
MICHAEL GAVIN HEAD
Lead guitar

Mike was born in 1979, also in Johannesburg, South Africa, but lived in Plettenberg Bay until he was 9 years old. Thereafter he returned to Johannesburg and has lived in Midrand for over 10 years.

He is a Blues guitarist with 15 years’ experience. His major influences have been the following:
• Jimi Hendrix
• The Doors
• Led Zeppelin

The older Blues players like Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters also influenced his style to some extent.

He has played in numerous bands and with various musicians, most recently in 2 bands, namely “Pass the Frogg” and “The UFO”. The latter is an eclectic rock band that plays original material.

He has a market stall at the Bryanston Organic Market, selling acoustic instruments and organic seeds. He also teaches beginners to play the guitar.

He hopes to positively influence the South African music scene and eventually make his living out of music