Meet The Band - if you can take it!!.

BeeJay Fontana - Vocals, Guitar & Bass

 BeeJay has been playing guitar for over 25 years and has been active in the local music scene for some 10 years now. As Chairman & Founder of the North Lakes & Borders Guitar Club, Bee Jay became involved with some of the areas finest musicians and also 2 of the other members of "WIPEOUT"! He has appeared in several bands in the area playing everything from rock to folk. Previous bands include: "Fell'em'doon", "Jerbilz 2" and tribute band "Threetwood Mac". "WIPEOUT" is BeeJay's first band as a frontman and brings all of his experience to the forefront of the band. '"WIPEOUT" is the most important band I have ever been associated with. We achieve something EVERYTIME we play to an audience and we pass our achievements on to the most important people in the venue...our audience'. Originally from Wallsend in the North East of England BeeJay now lives in Brampton on the Cumbria/Northumbria border.

In 2000 BeeJay did a stint as lead guitarist on loan to the late lamented Soul Traders when their original guitarist left, laying down some sweet soul music. Most recently BeeJay has launched his own solo career "Firmly In The Modern Vein" he proudly proclaims which only goes to show just how talented the WIPEOUT crew really are.

Mike has spent many years on the music scene. He joined his first band, "Tel-Me" in late 1979 when he was still living in Newcastle. He left the band in 1980 when he got a place at university in Oxford where he joined the prog rock band "Vixen's Young". After leaving Oxford, and the band, he moved to Durham University where he filled the lead guitar role in the band "No Way Out" who also played all of the live theatre performances of the Durhan Review. He was then asked to join "Mike Shinings Oyster Catchers" This was the break that Mike was waiting for as the band was already signed to a major independant label at the time of Mike's arrival. Unfortunately a major car accident laid Mike Shining out for several months and without the frontman the record company closed their options and the band folded. A move to Barrow in the early 90's for Mike opened up another band spot when "Rotary Vale" asked him to fill in the lead guitar role, Mike stayed with the band until he moved up to Carlisle a year or two later. After meeting up with Laurie & BeeJay the chemistry was there and "WIPEOUT" were formed. 'I knew immediately that BeeJay & Laurie were on my wavelength, we just hit it off straight away musically and there was no stopping us after that!'

Laurie Inglis - Bass, Guitar & Vocals

 The senior partner in "WIPEOUT". Laurie brings some interesting and essential baggage with him to the band with many years of experience and ability under his belt. Laurie has been in Cumbrian & Scottish bands since the late fifties and that gives him an amazing amount of experience. He started in the late fifties & early sixties in the band "Marie Raine" a 3 piece skiffle group where he played guitar and was the vocalist. Later as the beat boom started Laurie was there at the forefront as "Marie Raine" turned to rock & beat. In the late sixties and early seventies Laurie was part of the highly acclaimed, "Variation MK 2" a big hit on the club circuit, this band could turn it's hand to almost anything from middle of the road music to pop to old time. Their range of abilities was essential for keeping audiences happy. In "Variation MK2" Laurie again extended his skills with him not only appearing on vocals & guitar but also his debut as a bass player, skills which were to prove invaluable to "WIPEOUT" some 20 years later! in the late seventies and early eighties Laurie moved on to the band "Southern Comfort", a close harmony duo performing everything from country to pop. After the split up of "Southern Comfort" in the early 80's Laurie decided to hang up his guitar for good, but the draw of the live performance was too strong so when the offer of "WIPEOUT" came along the temptation was too much and Laurie became a kingpin in the band. Originally from Lockerbie in Scotland Laurie now lives in Carlisle

Charlie Johnston - Drums