Artist History
It was a magical time for music, the Bow Street Runners were in high school, following that Rock’n’Roll dream. The music was great — Doors, Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Beatles — George, Steve and I would practice in George’s garage and on Saturday and on Saturday nights play the YMCA, the Skating Rink and the Teen Club (remember those?). After we graduated we played night clubs from Jacksonville, Florida to Washington, D.C. for a few years, what we used to call the “Chitlin’ Circuit.” Eventually we got to play concert openers for Strawberry Alarm Clock, Big Brother and the Holding Co., Blood Rock, Chubby Checker, Percy Sledge and bunch more . . . As time went on the Rock’n’Roll dream faded, Steve and George went to college and I continued to play music full time, but now it was jazz.In 1981 I met keyboardist David Guy. We performed throughout North Carolina for the next 10 years doing anything we had to do to make money making music. When George and Steve moved back to Fayetteville in the early nineties, the Bow Street Runners had a reunion — this time in Steve’s garage. We discovered that the music was still there, we remembered all the old songs as if it were yesterday, only now they had more depth and power. Like fine wine, the Bow Street Runners had matured and the music along with them. We decided that we’d have to play some gigs (just for the fun of it). So we got together with David and started booking.The Bow Street Runners have been back together playing all the songs they grew up with (and some new ones) now for 6 years, with a friendship that spans 32 years. What is most amazing is that the music seems fresh and contemporary, we love our songs so much that every time we do it all seems new. As we’ve been performing these last few years we’ve come to realize that the music spans all generations and our audience includes people building new memories as well as those who are remembering the past — for us it’s both.
Group Members
Steve Darling (guitar and vocals), David Guy (keyboards and vocals), George Graham (percussion), William Simkiss (bass, guitar, and vocals), Steve Struthers (special guest on guitar), Doyle Wood (special guest on guitar and vocals)
Press Reviews
"Absolutely one of the best improvisational rock bands around. They play classic rock but they do it their way. Their new CD is excellent, but how they perform on stage is where they really shine. It's a real concert out of the 60's and 70's. The Bow Street Runners take their name from the street they grew up on in Fayetteville. They've been together for 25 years, doing classic rock covers from the sixties and seventies. This four piece ensemble performs anything form Crosby, Stills and Nash to the Beatles, with plenty of nostalgic stops along the way." Grant Britt, DIGITAL CITY.COM/RALEIGH
Click here to visit our IUMA website and listen to our music
Click here to visit our IUMA website and listen to our music
Click here to order New Classic Rock, the Bow Street Runners final CD
Click here to order the original Bow Street Runners CD
Click here to order the original Bow Street Runners LP
Frank Hardwick, Bass Player/Lead Singer of the Bow Street Runners, passed
away on Tuesday, 8 January 2002 apparently from complications due to pneumonia.
We are saddened by his death and will greatly miss his wit, friendship and leadership.
Click here to read Weekender article
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