Born
in Burwell, England on Halloween of 1963, Rob is the third of four children. Attending
school, the son of parents who were both teachers, he spent much of his youth active in
football (soccer to the yanks).
Always and avid listener to music, as with any teen, Rob became more
than a listener when he picked up his first guitar at age 16. "That was about the
time I got my first guitar and a friend of mine showed me a few chords." Those
"few chords" were the only lessons Rob took on the instrument and shortly
thereafter Rob started his first band, "Rat Race Rockers."
The name of the band was given to him by Nicky Garrett, guitarist for the band UK Subs,
as Garrett autographed the back cover of their recent released album titled "Brand
New Age." When Rob asked to suggest a possible name for his new venture, Garrett
immediately suggested the title of one their songs, "Rat Race" on the album
being autographed. Hence the name Rat Race Rockers.
"I was in my mid-teens when the punk rock scene swept across England,"
he tells us. He goes on to say, "There were so many great bands at that time. I
remember taking the bus to Cambridge almost every weekend to the Corn exchange to see
bands like The Stranglers, Ruts, Clash, UK Subs, Angelic
Upstarts, and the Undertones, etc. Sometimes we'd take the train to London
and go to the Rainbow [theatre] Marquee Club, The Lyceum Ballroom.
Those were very exciting times in my life. So much energy and inspiration."
Although most of the tunes Rob composed during those early years have passed into the
lost land of forgotten memories. Rob recalls one song that he was quite proud of, "Every
Teenage Dream." Rob told us, "I still have a cassette of a concert that
we performed in 1980. To this day I still listen to it just to remember how far I have
traveled."
Rat Race Rockers did not make a successful entry onto the music scene however, after a
couple of years the group disbanded.
On to Newmarket! Rob teamed up with Colin Crawford to form Sancho
Panzer. The Panzers recorded a three song demo at Spaceward Studios in
early 1984. In 1985, after a change of rhythm section the band followed their new drummer
to his hometown of Athens, PA. Tom Gable had been stationed in England with the Air Force
and joined Sancho Panzer following his discharge. Tom is still with Rob to this day.
Sancho Panzer toured the Southern Tier of New York and the Northern Tier
of PA before the whole band moved to Rhode Island in the autumn 1986. The move to RI was
the beginning of the end for Sancho Panzer. By Halloween of ‘86, Rob moved back to NY
State with his new bride and Colin returned to England. The group did part on good terms.
Back in the valley, Rob continued his song writing while attempting to
put a band together in one form or another. Musicians with the same "vision"
where difficult to come by. After a year of rehearsals with his band, The Essence,
it was determined that the group was not making any headway and thus disbanded.
Other bands came and went as the search for "that perfect
combination" continued. However, Rob continued adding to his ever expanding
catalog of original material.
Around 1990, Rob was starting to fit the pieces of "that perfect
combination" all together. One of the key elements to his current
popularity was Pat Kane of Sayre, PA. Kane, a traditional Irish musician,
shared Rob’s interest in Irish and Celtic folk music. The 1990 WVIA Radio
"session", under the name of Skylarks, was the beginning of a
collaboration which continues today in the traditional Irish band West o’Clare
in which Rob plays Guitar, Bodhran [traditional Irish drum], mainly backing vocals and
some lead vocals. Rob left West 0'Clare in
Sept 2001 to peruse solo recording career.
Today Rob rehearses with his songs with fellow West o’Clare band
member, Donal O’Shaughnessy on fiddle and keyboard, Roger Bacorn
on bass, and Tom Gable on drums.
With a catalog of many originals songs completed, a CD recorded, and
members together in perfect unison, the Rob Spence Band is ready to be
marketed to the multitudes of fans waiting to hear this collection of
"Poptimistic" music for the first time.
