George Bellamy

Infobox Musical artist
Name =George Bellamy


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background =non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born =birth date and age|1941|10|8, Sunderland
Died =
Origin =
Instrument =Guitarist
Voice_type =
Genre =
Occupation =musician, record producer
Years_active =1950s-??
Label =
Associated_acts =The Tornados
URL =
Notable_instruments =

George Bellamy (born 8 October 1941, in Sunderland) was the rhythm guitarist from The Tornados; and father of Matthew Bellamy, frontman of British rock band, Muse.

History

Bellamy encouraged his son Matthew (in the highly successful band Muse) to learn piano by showing him the work of Ray Charles.

Bellamy was first and foremost a Country and Western singer and in the late 1950s he played in a duo with Alan Klein. George decided to audition for a group, formed by Joe Meek, that was advertised in the Music Press. It was then decided that Bellamy would play rhythm guitar for the Tornados, who were firstly a session band for Meek. However, the group reached new heights with their song, "Telstar" -- the Tornados' largest hit in the United States. George wrote one of The Tornados' songs, "Ridin' the Wind".

After Bellamy left the Tornados, he worked with Don Charles. Charles had set up his own recording company named "Sound Venture". George re-recorded "Telstar" with his own record company "SRT" in 1978 with members of the original Tornados.

After leaving The Tornados, disillusioned with their continuing line-up changes and a record producer who was beginning to lose interest in them in pursuit of the band's former bassist's solo career, Bellamy briefly had an almost completely unnoticed solo career. He produced a couple of EPs but never had any further success before eventually retiring from music.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he played in a local based band, called Rough Terrain, who played at local events in the UK. The members were:

*Richard Harris - Lead Guitar
*George Bellamy - Rhythm Guitar/vocals
*Jodie West - Vocals
*Michael Green - Bass Guitar
*Vic Johns - Drums.

Bellamy then worked as a plumber in Plymouth, Devon. He has now retired to Spain, in La Jana, a town near Bel, in Spain, although this has not been confirmed yet.Fact|date=July 2008