Extensive touring in Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Chile, US, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, South Africa, UK followed . ELO Part 2 took the music of ELO around the world, often playing with symphony orchestras in large venues around the globe. In 1993, Bates met up with old friend Kelly Groucutt, who had been ELO bassist, resulting in Bates joining ELO Part 2, replacing Pete Haycock and Neil Lockwood.
Bates electric tv#
Around the same time, Bates was the featured vocalist on the theme song for The Gladiators TV programme, and featured on several tracks of the accompanying gold-selling album. In 1990, Don't Panic returned home just as the first Gulf war started.īates resumed solo work, and jingle writing/singing/playing at the Old Smithy Studios, Worcester, where he also became lead singer/songwriter and playing guitar, keyboards and bass with the AOR band, Atlantic.
After a period writing songs for RCA/Arista Music, Don't Panic spent three years, 1987–1990, playing the hotel circuit in the United Arab Emirates, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In 1981, after Trickster left Jet Records label, Bates moved back to Birmingham and re-joined Quill (sometimes referred to as "Kwil"), where he met his future wife, Jo, with whom he later formed the band, Don't Panic. Trickster also appeared as Boston's "Special Guest" during their 1979 tour for " Don't Look Back". Trickster enjoyed minor chart successes with the singles 'If That's The Way The Feeling Takes You' in the USA, and 'I'm Satisfied' in the UK, and featured as support band on ELO's ground-breaking and spectacular 1978 Spaceship world tour. Several singles and two albums were released by Jet, 'Find the Lady' and 'Back to Zero'. Trickster released one single, 'Flyaway', on the United Artists label before signing with ELO's record label, Jet Records, and being managed by the infamous Don Arden.
Bates electric plus#
and for producers like Steve Lillywhite, Colin Thurston and Tony Visconti, plus many TV and radio jingles.ĭuring a spell as a resident musician in London's Piccadilly at the Piazza restaurant, Bates formed Trickster. During the 1970s, Bates established himself as a session musician on the London recording scene, doing sessions for Billy Ocean, Alvin Stardust . In 1976, Bates put out 'Take to the Mountains' under the name, Billy Bates Company. 'Mr Hand Me Down' released under the name Billy Bates on Spark Records followed in 1974.
Next was a stint as a solo artist, with a publishing deal with Southern Music, and a single. Next was a complete musical reversal when Bates joined cabaret/folk band, Enigma, which was being groomed to challenge the New Seekers, by Morgan Music/Studios in London.Įnigma became Quill in 1972, releasing a single 'Spent The Rent' on the EMI's Parlophone label. In 1970, Bates joined Wolverhampton heavy-rock band, JUG, playing several stints at Glasgow's infamous Electric Garden on Sauchiehall Street.