Gary Grainger first came to prominence with a band called STRIDER, whose first release on GM records “Exposed” is an undiscovered classic. Mixing original songs with heavy reworkings of old classics such as “Higher and Higher” and “Get Ready”, it is surprising that it didn’t break the band into the big time. With Gary’s guitar prominent, and successful tours with The Faces, however, it was no surprise that, following STRIDER’S second release “Misunderstood”, and it’s subsequent failure to set the charts alight, despite some great songs and a new singer, Gary left for the States as axeman to a certain Mr.Stewart’s escalating solo career. Far more than just a side man, Gary proved to be a valuable and successful songwriter, helping to co-write classics such as “Hot Legs”, “I was only joking” and “Passion”.
Returning to Britain, Gary worked with a number of big names, including B.A. Robertson and Paul Young, which saw him re-uniting with his former STRIDER band mate Ian Kewley, who, via the Q-Tips, had become a mainstay of Paul Young’s band. Gary also got heavily involved in writing jingles and TV themes.
In 1991, with Jess Roden and Jim Capaldi, he formed The Humans, releasing one classic album, that featured a guest appearance from Capaldi’s former Traffic band mate, Steve Winwood on the track “Railroad of Desire” .With just one more album “live at the Robin” released, fans wait in hope for the return of The Humans.
More recently, Gary is to be found playing with Kenney Jones, Rick Wills and Robert Hart in The Jones Gang.
gary grainger now
would like to see recent photo of gary grainger and how to email or send a post card would be awesome
i think i would like to here music he has been involved in since, well, since the hot legs thing, i probably would enjoy,
by the way is that his picture up there?
um, i cannot get out of your website, it keeps asking me to comment
Hi Denise, hope you aren’t still trapped in my blog!! Yep, the pictures are of Gary then (top ) and Gary now (bottom) You really need to check out the Humans albums, studio and live, great examples of Gary’s playing on both.