Why I love Alistair Griffin

Alistair Griffin has recorded an exclusive track used on the BBC1 coverage of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina November 14th 2010.
Read all about it Here listen to it, watch the video and buy it from ITunes

I first heard of Alistair when he was a contestant on the BBC TV show Fame Academy.

I have always been a music fan but I have never been moved by music as much as when Alistair sings. Over 3 months my adoration of him grew and I had to learn more about him. Sadly he wasn't to win the competition but did come a very respectable 2nd (It was all a fix anyway)

The one good thing that came out of appearing on the show for Alistair was his great lasting friendship with fellow singer/songwriter James Fox




Before he even released his first single, Alistair worked tirelessly travelling around the county doing gigs and personal appearances anywhere from shopping centres to nightclubs to village shows.

I met Alistair for the first time in Loughborough of all places when he played at the opening of a shopping centre. After the that I think he probably got fed up of seeing me. I travelled up and down the country so that I could get to hear his marvellous voice as much as I can.

When Alistair released his debut Album "Bring it On" I travelled all the way up to Newcastle in a car with 2 other fans to meet him at HMV and get my first copy signed. That copy has never been played and stays packed away.

It was while at a gig at The Bedford in Balham London that I first really melted. I coined the phrase "Turned to a puddle" because when you are in a small room and Alistair is sat right in front of you singing and playing his guitar it is just mesmerizing.

My favourite gigs have always been the acoustic ones. When he isn't trying too hard, just Alistair and his guitar and his gorgeous voice.
One such meeting was at a radio station in Nottingham as part of his radio tour to promote second single You & Me (tonight).
Alistair sat on a sofa with his guitar and 10 or so fans sat on the floor at his feet. The whole afternoon was very emotional and a day I will never forget.

Unfortunately Alistair was dropped from his record company after the release of You and Me (tonight). This didn't stop him though, he carried on writing new material and recording new demos as well as performing live in pubs and clubs and at various charity events.

It has been quite a while since I travelled the country from town to town to see Alistair play live.
I think it was in December of 2005 at St John's in York When I saw Al play his last full gig with Acoustic and band sets. Alistair has a great sense of humor and his Christmas concert that year was named the Summer Spectacular. It was a great night of fun and music and a great testament to his talent and wit.

For a couple of years Alistair was performing as part of a band called Albion. They were putting together quite a good set list of new material and playing lots of gigs around York,Leeds and Whitby. Sadly they have parted ways but Alistair is now working hard as a solo artist and writing and recording new material.

Alistair also plays as part of a covers band who seem to have a different name for every gig. They mostly play at private parties in the North East area and also do Charity events and the odd covers gig.

Luckily for us, Alistair Griffin is soon going to be re-launching his career. He has been working on lots of new material and has been on a nationwide tour supporting a band called Ivyrise.

Track Listing

Bring It On
Alistair Griffin

Painkiller
Alistair Griffin, Tom Nichols & Greg Fitzgerald

Oblivion
Alistair Griffin & Stuart Hanna

You and Me (Tonight)
Alistair Griffin, Tom Nichols, Greg Fitzgerald & Jon O'Mahony

Hungry for Love
Alistair Griffin, Tom Nichols & Greg Fitzgerald

Real World
Alistair Griffin, Jon O'Mahony, Michael Harwood, Nick Keynes & Ryan Molloy

Feeling Alive
Alistair Griffin & Jon O'Mahony

Something About Her
Alistair Griffin & Stuart Hanna

My Lover's Prayer
Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb & Robin Gibb

Jealous Guy
John Lennon

In Your Smile
Alistair Griffin

Everything I Own
David Gates

Wherever You Will Go
Aaron Kamin & Alex Band

A Heart Can't Lie
Alistair Griffin, Louise Griffiths & Danny Schogger

As well as being a talented singer/songwriter and musician Alistair is also a very talented sportsman.

As a youngster he played football at the Scarborough academy and throughout his life where ever there is a charity football match, he will do his best to be there.






Along with his charity football events Alistair also plays for a charity cricket team named the Bunburys.
In the Summer of 2004 I was over the moon to hear they would be playing a charity match in my home town.
I took my family to the cricket ground and it was a marvellous day out. There were lots of local and national celebs playing and everyone had a good time.





After the game finished we hung around the players' VIP area and lucky for us Al came out to chat. He was in a great mood and really chatty. We all got hugs and I had a picture taken with him.
This is my favourite picture because it was the last one I shared with Alistair.

In September of 2007 Alistair was lucky enough to take part in a Premier league soccer tournament alongside other celebrities, fans and ex-players. He took great pleasure in representing his beloved Middlesbrough FC.

In their first match they beat Newcastle United on penalties which sent them through to the Quarter finals. Next they beat Birmingham City 2-0.
In the Semi-finals Boro beat Sunderland 2-0.


Alistair played well throughout the whole competitilon and claimed victory as he scored the winning goal against West Ham to clinch the title as Premier Allstar Champions.

After 3 long years of waiting I finally got my chance to see Alistair perform live again. His recent tour was set to hit the East Midlands and I had the chance to go see him play.

It was an awesome evening. The 2 bands that were on first - Paper Heroes and Ivyrise were great acts. Real raw guitar bands that really did rock the place.
It was only a small place too so it was full.

Alistair was due on at around 10pm so as he was getting ready to perform I made my way to the front so I could get a good view.
He performed 7 songs. 2 of which were new to me "Plans" and another which he didn't even name.
I knew the other songs well though. "Is it me" which I have used for a Skins fanvideo. "Blown away" and "Naked" which is a great Rocky song and a big hit on Youtube thanks to another of my fantastic Skins fanvideos. "Silent Suicide" which is an awesome emotional song with some great lyrics.



We thought that was the end until everyone called out for an encore and then we got Something's going on which is one of my ALL-TIME favourite Alistair Griffin song so it was a fantatsic way to go out.



Luckily for me I got the chance to speak to Alistair afterwards and have a photo taken with him.
I was a bit the worse for wear though as the picture clearly shows...

For the last year Alistair has been busy working with industry veteran Elliot Kennedy on his new album. Last year Al spent a considerable amount of time in Canada recording for his album. He kept us up to date the whole time on twitter and facebook and seemed to have fun while he was there.

Eliot Kennedy has worked with a lot of big acts including Take That, The Spice girls, S Club 7, 911, Bryan Adams and Peter Kay. and in December 2009 he hosted a charity event in his home town of Sheffield and invited Alistair along to perform.
Alistair, performed his own song Albion Sky - formerly Born Again - and a cover of Crowded House's Fall At Your Feet,. He said: "Peter Kay's just a genius, really. He was compèring the show and although I only met him briefly, I'm pleased to say he was very complimentary! Unfortunately, I didn't think to get a picture taken with him.
"The show went very well. I didn't play with the band - it was just me and my guitar, backed by piano and a cello, and it seemed to work."

All reports are that Alistair is finishing off the album and getting ready to release it so It is all exciting now as we wait with baited breath. Cover art has been shot and the video clip for the first single has been recorded and is in the can.