SPIKE EDNEY
In addition to being legendary rock band Queen’s musical director and keyboard player since 1984, British multi-instrumentalist Spike Edney has toured, recorded and performed with the living and late legends of our time.
His career began in the mid 70’s as keyboard player and musical director for Soul & Motown legends Ben E King and Edwin Starr.
In the 80’s, after tours with Bob Geldof’s Boomtown Rats, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Thomas Dolby, Haircut 100 and Duran Duran, Spike commenced his 22 year career with Queen, joining them for two world tours, (“The Works” and “Magic”), as well as classic performances at “Live Aid”, “Rock in Rio”, “Live at Wembley” and “Knebworth”. Since then Spike has continued to perform and record with both Brian May and Roger Taylor on their solo projects. In 1987 Spike founded the band The Cross with Queen’s Roger Taylor, co-producing 3 albums “Shove It”, “Mad Bad and Dangerous To Know” and “Blue Rock” and in 1992 Spike joined The Brian May Band for the “Back to the Light” tour (the first of two world tours), followed by the “Another World” tour in 1997. More recently, Spike has resumed his familiar position on the Queen stage for their 2005/2006 international tour with a new line-up, featuring Paul Rodgers on vocals. Spike’s other work in his capacity as Musical Director for Queen includes the “Freddie Mercury Memorial Concert”.
The 90’s also saw the launch of Spike’s All-Star Band a.k.a. The SAS Band. Since their debut in 1994, Spike and his band have made television appearances and performed at select private, public and major corporate events around the world. Several of those internationally televised concerts, with Spike as MD and his all-star band backing an array of stars, include the finale of the 2000 & 2001 Prince’s Trust “Party in the Park” concerts and the 2003/2005 Nelson Mandela “46664” concert for aids. Phil Collins, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Brian May and the Rolling Stones are also amongst those that have called upon Spike and his band to put something special together for a private evening.
The artists and musicians who have performed with The SAS Band to date are part of an ever growing collection of some of the world’s greatest Rock and Pop performers and include such names as Roy Wood, Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie, Roger Taylor, Brian May, Gary Brooker, Paul Young, Marti Pellow, Paul Rodgers, Madeline Bell, Tony Hadley, Bob Geldof, Lulu, Suggs, Midge Ure, Errol Brown, Graham Gouldman, Kiki Dee, Leo Sayer and Fish, to name a few.
In between other Queen and SAS Band commitments, Spike has also recorded, toured and/or performed with other legendary artists such as: Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, The Manic Street Preachers, David Bowie, Roger Daltrey, George Michael, George Benson, Beyoncé, Anastacia, Elton John, Bono & The Edge, Robert Plant, Annie Lennox, Jimmy Cliff, The Soweto Gospel Choir, Peter Gabriel, Peter Green, Lisa Stansfield, Def Leppard, Axl Rose, Joe Cocker, Curtis Stigers, Lulu, The Beautiful South, Paul Stanley, Jack Bruce, Joe Walsh, Jon Lord, Bill Wyman and Luciano Pavarotti.
Other notable performances include the “Unesco Concert for Iraq” and the “Party at the Palace” concert for the Queen’s Jubilee at Buckingham Palace.
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