Music Biography- Jeff Knabel
Rhythm/Lead Guitarist & Lead Vocalist/Song Writer


I've been playing guitar and writing my own songs for about 25 years. I started playing in Hawaii where I learned the basics of rhythm guitar. Then I moved to South Carolina where I learned the components of song writing. I started my first band there when I was sixteen. After that I moved to England where I got my first taste of recording in a studio and playing out live with Dave Hinton in 'Surge'. One of the bands I played in called 'Chain Reaction' got into the Top 100 in Amsterdam, Holland and various cities in Germany. I was also able to play in the Marquee in London twice, and the Oxford Apollo. My ability to compose on the guitar, bass, and keyboards lead me to meeting top musicians such as Phil Lynott
from 'Thin Lizzy'. For my Highschool graduation I was elected to write our graduation song and was able to perform it with chosen choir singers from our school in the Oxford Town Hall in front of 400 people.


After three years in England I moved back to the states. I taught guitar and recorded in Omaha, NE. for a year and a half. Then I moved to Longmont, Colorado where I played in various bands, taught guitar, recorded, and made a music video with a band called the 'Tommy Knockers' that is still played to this day on local access stations. From there I spent three years in the Navy. In my spare time I would teach and write music.


My next big move was to New Zealand where I played in a band called 'Locomotive'. We played all over New Zealand off and on for about two years. During that time I studied music at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. I taught about 20 students to play guitar and write their own music for the three years I was residing there. The blues were the in thing in New Zealand at that time, so I wrote a lot of them.


I decided to do some more traveling down to Fiji where I won a local talent show and to Australia where I was able to play some open stage gigs in various cities there. Longmont, Colorado was calling so I headed home and formed a two piece band called 'Glass Staircase' with an old friend of mine. I programmed Midi music to play behind us and I played rhythm guitar and sang lead vocals, and Tim Forsyth played keyboards and sang harmony. From that a six piece band was formed called 'Naughty Naughty'. So for the past two years I performed with two bands, wrote all the original material, and recorded a C.D. at
Blue Dream Studios with Joseph 'Hal' Racheli (Bass), Robin 'Bird' Smith (Mandolin), Jason Lynn (Lead Guitar), & Darcy Griffiths (Drums). Let me give a big 'Thanks' to those guy's for all their hard work and dedication.


I'm ready to teach guitar and record again here in the Christchurch area. If you are interested give me a call at (643) 389-5838. My address is Flat 5E, 32 Brittan St. Linwood. Christchurch, New Zealand 8001. E-Mail address jeffknabel@hotmail.com - Teaching beginners and songwriting techniques is my speciality. Listen to the new studio version of And Who Am I by "Lebanese Renegade". Ritchie Gillies
did a great job on Lead Guitar and Harmony vocals. More original mp3's are available at on www.mp3.net.nz


Thanks,


Jeff Knabel