John Hedley

John Hedley (“my boyhood hero and mentor” - Sting (musician):‘Broken Music’ )is a guitar player of some great repute in the North East of England. He came to local prominence playing with Brian Davison (drummer) (ex The Nice), the Newcastle Big Band and the jazz rock group Last Exit. Sting (who also played in Last Exit (British band) & The Newcastle Big Band) described John as “a delightful person and an extraordinary guitarist....................looks like a blond Hendrix with his shock of frizzed-out white hair”.

As a session musician he has played television as a member of the house band on the The Tube (TV series) (Tyne Tees), backing international stars as varied as Madonna, Elvis Costello, Billy Preston, Eddie Grant and Eartha Kitt. John also worked on cruise ships, e.g. the QE2, backing such stars as Kris Kristofferson, Neil Sedaka, Petula Clark, and Anthony Newley. He has also played in theatres and in the bands of some big name bands on tour and/or in the recording studio e.g. Tony Christie.

John played with Sting again at the Baltic Arts Centre in May 2006, at a get-together with old band mates to celebrate Sting's award of an honorary doctorate of music, and most recently worked with Roger Daltry, Ruby Turner and Jimmy Nail at The Sage in Gateshead.