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WageR History and Biographies.

Wayne            Alan            Dave            Mick            Emmerson

Alan Bell (Guitar & Backing Vocals).

Alan's musical career began at the young age of nine years old, when he auditioned for the Midlands Arts Centre Children's Opera Company at Canon Hill Park, Birmingham. Alan was successful  in his audition and performed in two productions (Dragon Tales Of Granny Chang & Gawain and Ragnall). At Eleven years old Alan decided that Opera was not the path he wanted to pursue and left the Opera Company.

Alan had a passion for music and prior to leaving the Opera Company he started playing Piano/ keyboards. After a few months of showing lots of interest for the instrument his parents decided to encourage Alan and paid for weekly lessons which continued until Alan's father fell ill and died of Cancer in 1987. Not long after his Fathers death Alan poured his heart into his love for music and performing taking every opportunity to appear on stage. Alan studied at Holyhead School in Handsworth, Birmingham and musically was taken under the wing of his music teacher Derek Jones.

Whilst at school Alan aged 14 secretly taught himself guitar by transporting as much as he could from what he learnt playing Piano onto guitar. Alan performed in every school production, assembly and function that he could and luckily was encouraged to do so.

 In Alan's final year at school he was asked to join a rock band created by Birmingham Education head of Arts Paul Slater, which led to playing keyboards at Birmingham Town Hall performing an adaptation of Gabriel Faure's "Pavane". Alan was also asked to help out the City Of Birmingham Youth Brass Orchestra in a concert in Birmingham's Chamberlain Square. Five minutes prior to the show Alan was handed a piece of sheet music and was told to "play that and watch the conductor". 

Along with performing and attending school Alan also helped out a number of local Bhangra bands by playing keyboards and guitar. Most weekends Alan would be found performing at various Asian weddings and functions throughout the UK. Coinciding with performing with various Bhangra bands Alan also rearranged three pieces of music for a Bollywood movie.

After leaving school Alan attended Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form college and studied A-Level Music & Performing Arts. Alongside with studying Alan played keyboards for a couple of bands "ESP" & Redditch based "Situation Vacant". Unfortunately Alan decided to leave Situation Vacant after being rather naughty and got himself banned from driving for a year due to taking part in illegal street races oops. Meanwhile Alan also started playing guitar for a Punk/ Rock band he joined with fellow music student Gary Solomon called "Dangerous Substance".

A few months prior to getting his licence back Alan put a few adverts out to form his own band "Dreamchild" and met Greg Addison (Bass), Richie Dredge (Drums), "Sutty" (keyboards) and Paul (lovley hair and Vocals). After a few gigs and clashes in the band with musical direction the band split, so Alan & Sutty formed another band called Point Blank. After Point Blank Alan played in various bands performing venues throughout the UK.  Alan also during this time played session both live and recording on Guitar and keyboards for a number of bands up until he formed a four piece band called Kaje.

Kaje performed all over the Midlands and obtained a large following throughout. The band was offered a recording contract when the bands vocalist Kevin McCormick disappeared. Not knowing where Kevin had gone the band split and lost the recording contract. Six months later Kevin returned and Kaje got back together but due to time apart Kaje never gigged again. After performing live shows, Alan decided to take a break from gigging to concentrate on building his own Recording studio.

It wasn't long before Alan got the gigging bug and started looking for a regular gigging band. As if luck should have it Alan received a call from a friend "Dean Fowler" asking  if he was playing in a band. Alan said "no" and was asked by Dean if he wanted to play for a friends established band called Chapter Vi, Alan agreed and met the band for an audition. It was here Alan met Wayne Hughes although Alan and Wayne didn't always see things the same, there was mutual respect for each others talents.

Chapter Vi lasted two years until the band finally split, a number of musicians were auditioned but the band ultimately faded into history. By this time, Alan had spent more time writing and recording original material with a vocalist which ended up with a performance for a Student TV Show about music and entertainment in and around Birmingham that aired on a Cable TV station.

Not long after, Wayne contacted Alan about a project he had in mind and after getting together for a chat and a few drinks WageR was born. Soon after Wayne and Alan met with Soul Legend Edwin Starr following Wayne bumping into Edwin in his home town, Tamworth. Edwin offered to take WageR into the studio to record and co write two tracks. A year into WageR's journey Edwin unfortunately died and the lads went their separate ways.

Alan started recording various bands demos at his studio and was asked to help run a small record label and entertainments agency. It wasn't long till Alan missed playing and both Wayne and Alan agreed to get WageR back on track. WageR was reformed and upto date have done 80 gigs in and around the UK, with plenty more in the diary.

For more info read WageR's History and Latest News.