ESTABLISHED 1987
The one stop music agency
#Booking Live Bands & Musicians for over 30 years
ROCK ARTIST MANAGEMENT IS RUN BY MUSICIANS - FOR MUSICIANS
THE BEGINNING - PETE BARTON
Rock Artist Management was started in 1977 by Peter Barton. Pete started peforming in bands at the age of 16, over the years he has had the pleasure of being a Mindbender playing alongside Wayne Fontana, Playing Drums with The Swinging Blue Jeans and Eric Haydock from The original Hollies. Pete played guitar with Lieutenant Pigeon alongside original Steve Johnson. His main instrument being the bass guitar. Pete spent over 15 years performing as lead vocalist and bass player with John Steel, Dave Rowberry and Mick Gallagher from The Animals. Along the way he has performed as bass player and lead vocalist with The Boomtown Rats (Roberts and Crowe), Trevor Burton from The Move, Noel Redding, Steve Cropper, Chris Farlowe, Zoot Money, Mick Green and many many more.
Since those early days Pete has grown his 'one man' agency into a force to be reckoned with in the world music scene - he has achieved this with the support of a team of seasoned musicians (see below) who are dedicated, like him, to delivering the best possible service to bands, promoters and venue operators alike.
In 2015 Pete teamed up with business partner Colin Black, a guitar giant in the Blues music scene, who has also been leading and managing bands for over 25 years and was looking at that point for a career change. It is this fortuitous combination that we now intend to use to grow RAM into one of the best 'one stop' music agencies in the UK.
COLIN BLACK
Colin Black has been involved in making music and booking bands for 28 years.now. Started playing at age 17 - played pro since age 20 - Formed 1st band Hideaway Blues Band in Glasgow around time of the '80's Blues Boom - gained large Scottish and UK wide following which resulted in roughly 300 gigs per year for 3 years. During that time opened for most touring U.S.blues acts due to local popularity. Moved to Preston early '90's and formed festival and blues club favorites, 6 piece blues band 'The Stumble'. Colin continues to enjoy playing Chicago style rhythm and blues to enthusiastic audiences throughout Europe and has been involved with Peter Barton and RAM for over 15 years.
COLIN BLACK
M +44 (0)7846 427 810
PETER HUGHES
Pete began performing with his first band in 1967 playing all the major club venues in Liverpool including the legendary Cavern Club, The Blue Angel and Litherland Town Hall. He formed the progressive rock band Stoned Rose in 1970 and was signed to Birmingham based agency Tramps (owned by Tony Iommi from Black Sabbath). The band performed the underground club and university circuit alongside bands such as Canned Heat, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Mott The Hoople, Status Quo, Judas Priest, Lindisfarne, Egg, Quiver, Blonde On Blonde and Fairport Convention. Along with songwriting partner Michael Carroll, Pete signed a publishing contract with CBS in 1973. This led to a recording contract with Warner Bros and a name change to Ritzi. Their self written single Too Much Fandango was a No.1 hit in Australia and was voted recently in the top all time classic songs.
Pete began working as an agent and in management in 1982 managing a band called Cavern, (which included Peter Barton). Pete also wrote songs for the band and got them a recording contract, a UK hit single, lots of Radio 1 airplay and tours of the UK, Europe, America and Bermuda, before continuing to work as an agent with many top name artists booking shows and tours throughout the UK, Europe, Scandanavia and Australia. Also during this period Pete was performing with former Hollies founder member Eric Haydock and toured for fifteen years throughout the UK, Europe, Scandanavia, America and Australia as a member of the Eric Haydock Band. Pete now performs with The New Mindbenders. Pete reconnected with Peter Barton some years ago and is now proud to be a member of the Rock Artist Management team
PETER HUGHES
T +44 (0) 1772 321 341
M +44 (0) 7980 197 369
E bandmgmt@aol.com
JOHN WILLIAMSON
John has worked as a professional musician and song writer for over 40 years, having played guitar with The Animals (and friends) Steve Cropper (Booker T & The MG's) Spencer Davis, Chris Farlowe and Mick Green. He has also opened for Rory Gallagher, Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Deep Purple, Tony Joe White, John Mayall, Jethro Tull, White Snake, Cream, Cat Stevens and Jools Holland. He was a member of Titanic, who’s single “Sultana" reached number 1 in 7 countries, founded prog rock Band ‘Goliath’ in the 70s and fronted The Skeleton Crew. He currently works as a Manager, performer, song writer and tours with his own band Blue Swamp.
JOHN WILLIAMSON
M +44 (0) 7764 788 725
GARY MARKS
Gary Marks has worked with a wide variety of acts both as a Promoter & agent including The Stranglers, The Pretty Things, Focus, Neil Innes, Steve Harley, Peter Hook, Marc Almond, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer etc... he is also a Vinyl enthusiast and runs the successful Hull Record Fair.
GARY MARKS
M +44 (0) 7817 669 893
DAVE HILL
Having caught ‘the bug’ working on Stage Crews at Newcastle City Hall and despite the ’crushing’ news of failing an audition as a presenter for iconic music show, ‘The Tube’, proud Newcastle on Tyne-born Dave has since enjoyed a career that has seen him run his own label, Siren Music (Alex Harvey, Michael Chapman), whilst also operating as consultant for several re-issue projects, including releases by Alan Hull, Bert Jansch, Steve Jolliffe (Tangerine Dream), Steve Phillips (Notting Hilbillies), Maggie Bell, Level 42, Leo Sayer and Lindisfarne, for whom he also acted as publicist for almost 20 years. He also wrote the bands’ official biography, ‘Fog On The Tyne’ (Northdown). During his time as a rep with Virgin Records, the label had successes with Mike & The Mechanics, Phil Collins, Enigma, Genesis and Lenny Kravitz – who Dave got lost in Gateshead on his first day. Dave also managed a Virgin retail store. His publicity clients currently include Nazareth, Big Country, Colin Blunstone, The Lindsfarne Story, Cregan & Co., Animals & Friends (with Steve Cropper), Stephen Dale Petit, Roachford, Magna Carta, The Blow Monkeys and Deborah Bonham for www.tenacitypr.co.uk. “It just feels a natural progression to add ‘agent’ to my CV, thanks to Peter Barton’s latest kind invitation. I hope my own experience can add to the talented team and impressive roster at RAM”.
DAVE HILL
M +44 (0) 7951 679666
