Sam Jones next to the Vistula River with the Józef Piłsudski Bride in the background, Toruń PL – December 2016 (shortly after moving to Poland)
When London musician Sam Jones arrived at the railway station in Toruń, he did not know that this city would become his home for several years, before the end of the same year. Following the suspension bridge over the hazy Vistula River towards the city centre, he felt it was no accident that this unique place appeared on the map of his first European tour . He came to Toruń to take part in an annual event under the slogan “Guitar Days”, where the masters and enthusiasts of this instrument had already met several times. This time, the most important guest of the festival organised at the Hard Rock Pub Pamela was Jennifer Batten, known for her collaboration with Michael Jackson. He appeared as support for the well-known guitarist and led guitar workshops. Here he also met Zbigniew “Tony” Olewicz – a Welshman of Polish descent, who was born in a hospital in Wrexham, later changed into an art college, which Sam attended! The previously mentioned Hard Rock Pub club Pamela has become an important place to which the musician will return several times thanks to the hospitality of the owner – Darek Kowalski. He was here again six months later, playing earlier in Ostrów Mazowiecki and Poznań, as part of his second European tour. Forced to cancel a concert in Nice, he decided to visit Toruń again and extend his stay in the city of Copernicus. This time, he took to the Hard Rock Pub Pamela stage as part of their yearly festival organised there, bringing together fans of guitar music. Among the artists performing on that day was also Ilona Szumańska, now the fiancée of Sam! This is how the journey of several years began, which brought many unexpected stories and encounters in the life of a musician. They initiated the most interesting year of Sam’s stay in Poland during 2017, which resulted in establishing cooperation with Relco London, as well as the creation of Angry Town. Through this activity, Sam tried to transfer to the canvas of the Polish music scene elements of an the important Mod subculture from British history. The Toruń adventure began fully when in December 2016, just before his 37th birthday, Sam made the final decision to leave Great Britain. He got on a bus, having only his guitar and a small suitcase of clothes, but with relief and curiosity about what this trip would bring him. This book is about how all this unfolded, and is only a chapter in the vastness of many stories.
Marta Dembińska
Sam Jones & Ged Lynn performing at The Hatch Bar, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones gig poster (Camouflage Booking 2020) / Sam Jones fronting Angry Town at Lizard King, Toruń PL – November 2017
“I never really thought about this until I began this biography journey, I’ve come to realise I’ve created a few simple looks which I’ve rotated between over the years. I’d be wearing this stuff both on & off stage now & the more I’ve refined it on-stage the less I wear it off stage! It’s nearly always pitch black, I think the plain t-shirt has been the big one, long or short-sleeved, the suede ‘desert boots’, the leather shoelace, the self-cropped jeans I’d cut the collar from a denim jacket to make a frayed collerless edge, the same with my jeans wear leather shoe laces around my neck. I’ve been inspired by the things I love, it’s hard to confess but I must have been inspired by someone else. As well as his music his unique mod/alternative hybrid sense of style caught the eye of fashion label Relco London in 2017 who used him to model their clothes for thier website relcolondon.com where he is heavily featured. He rekindled his relationship with the company in late 2019 for the Bulletproof promo videoshoot and can often be seen wearing their gear on stage and in photos.
Sam Jones self-portrait, London UK – June 2015
Sam Jones (Relco London shoot), Toruń PL – April 2017
Urban Dogs, The Membranes (John Robb), Moriah Woods, Charlie Harper, Koniec Świata, UK Subs, Tatia Jayne Starkey (Ringo Starr‘s Granddaugher), Kobranocka, The Steepwater Band, Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson) & The Coral
Sam Jones & Ged Lynn, The Hatch Bar, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones (Relco London shoot), Toruń PL – April 2017
Ebenezer's
I really want to do it – really like your songs. I’m honoured to guest.
John Robb
I Remeber this concert, it was amazing!
Izabella Kossakowska
Sam Jones’ solo ”no bullshit” performances are raw and honest, leaving his audience with a taste for more. One can imagine how powerful this would sound with a full band. ‘Hit The Floor’ is a stomping track!
Belinda De Bruyn
I think you have some fucking great ideas, good guitar riffs and your voice is just right… has aggression but is not harsh or annoying, like many bands…
Paul Rooney
Brawo Sam Jones! To jest to! Słychać Ciebie nawet w Borach Tucholskich!
Witold Chmielewski
You look pretty sharp these days.
Charlie Harper
It’s a really pleasant song, ambient and inviting in sound, and I love your vocal tone, it’s gripping and soulfully raw.
Nessi Holt
Without a doubt Sam Jones is an extraordinarily talented musician and songwriter, capable of eliciting support from both legendary punk and mainstream artists alike. Though, having trod the streets and stages of both the UK and mainland Europe for nearly three decades now, this can come as no real surprise. Indeed it is testament to his musical skills and abilities that, through a combination of diligence, luck, tenacity, hard work and total self-belief, he has managed to sustain and maintain his career when many others (like my beloved The Clash) couldn’t. Sam’s obvious love and passion for his trade of choice – nay, his life’s vocation even – and the respect he has garnered to date amongst seriously dedicated professional musicians like Malcolm Joseph (Grace Jones Band), Richard Marcangelo (Manfred Mann’s Earth Band) and Jenifer Batten (Michael Jackson/Jeff Beck), puts him in a bit of a class of his own amongst the majority of his punk peers; and this is a man and musician who, I would happily suggest, would have been just as equally at home strutting around a stage with e.g. The Kinks, The Rolling Stones, The New York Dolls, the Dead Boys, The Cramps, or The Jim Jones Revue, as he is in Angry Town or busking solo around the city centres of the UK and mainland Europe in 2018.
Certainly, Sam’s own material shows a willingness and desire to transcend ridiculous, and ultimately extremely limiting, musical tribal bigotries and ‘loyalties’. Just check out the presently available free download via Sam’s Facebook page – Live at Restauracja Stara Gorzelnia, Mogilno, Poland. It’s an awesome and heady mixture and cocktail of adrenalin driven, gasoline fuelled, highly infectious, out of control, car crash, rock ‘n’ roll: made all the more chaotic and raucous by both Sam’s obvious inability to verbally communicate with the majority of his Polish audience, and the introduction of a new bass player for the evening (though it seems that new members are very much the status quo for Angry Town, as Sam continues to remain the only consistent member of the band to date). Yet, though undeniably a little rough around the edges in both quality and sound (as par the course for the majority of live recordings/bootlegs let’s be honest), nevertheless it still serves as a perfect introduction to some of Sam’s own compositions – Somebody’s Somebody, Under Glass, Boredom Drug, Fire in the Rain, The Walker and The Way She Is – for anyone coming across him for the first time; as well as of course being the perfect accompaniment to Sam’s recently released studio album collection, containing material written between 2002-2014, ‘Retrospective’.
The live recording also hints at the range of Sam’s personal taste in music, with the inclusion of the tracks New Rose (The Damned) and Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode). The latter of course (as noted elsewhere within this article) having been released recently also, as Angry Town’s first single. That all said however, it really would be quite impossible to pay Sam Jones and his music full justice within these few simple pages that Punked can offer. Like the legendary (and quite cantankerous) Mark E. Smith’s long and illustrious career, Sam’s too would need the kind of space and freedom that only an auto/biography or two could give it; and who knows, perhaps that’s a project mulling away at the back of Sam’s mind already. For the moment though it’s enough to simply enjoy this multi-talented man’s music.
Johnny Heartbreaker
Noir wave, high velocity garage psych out!
Bull & Gate
These superb Stooged out punkers have been in the studio with Brian James, original Damned guitar troubler – which sounds like it could be Robert Johnson! – but I digress.
Hope & Anchor
Acoustic troubadour Jones plays with brooding rock, a bit like BRMC and Kasabian.
Time Out London
Fascynujący, oldschool’owy występ solowego muzyka mieli okazję usłyszeć sympatycy klubu Vinyl. Przed publicznością wystąpił Sam Jones, który zaprezentował swą unikatową mieszankę popu, blues’a i rock’a.
Telewizja aMazing Ostrów Mazowiecka
We’re thinking The Dammed meets The Fall via Sisters of Mercy and Joy Division.
Dublin Castle
Muzyczny teleporter w czasy grunge. Dobre.
Bartek Podogrodzki
Impassioned, hooky pop grunge with a probable Foo Fighters influence without sounding too much like them.
Dublin Castle
A veteran performer for nearly three decades, a raw and honest musician and songwriter. Versed in Punk and Rock ‘n’ Roll but very much multi-faceted. Sam tore it up at our Venue in Crewe last year, so we’re bringing him to Nantwich for a very special performance of original material and covers.
Ebenezer's
Effervescent pop grunge nodding to the Foo Fighters, nicely melodic with some decent hooks.
Dublin Castle
Takich muzycznych podróżników lubimy!
W pustyni i w disco
Ogień na 6ciu strunach!
Miasto Bar
Taka gratka
Klub Muzyczny Bogart
A consommerabsolument sans moderation!
Mike Smith / Pub Le Kennedy
Expect the unexpected (and perhaps some rock’n’roll).
12 Bar Club
Guitaristechanteuret auteur compositeuril specialise dans le ‘slide guitare’ – 100% technique!
Mike Smith / Pub Le Kennedy
Sam Jones performing an impromptu show at La Pharmacie, Namur BE – March 2019
Sam Jones performing at L’uZinne, Brussels BE – October 2018 (audio only)
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones with his customised Yamaha RGX 121-D, London UK – ? 2014
Sam Jones travelling in Luxembourg LU – July 2019
REV & SNELL (TOWERS OF LONDON/DAY 21/THE PRODIGY), Ed Wight, Joseph Mydell (Royal Shakespeare Company), Robbie Kelman (The Dripping Lips), Ged Lynn (The Stairs), David Caplin (Go-Kart Mozart), Belinda De Bruyn (Da Hush), Charlie Harper & Paul Slack (UK Subs), PJ (Anti-Nowhere League), Sławomir Ciesielski (Republika), Malcolm Joseph (Grace Jones), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things), Richard Marcangelo (Manfred Mann‘s Earth Band), Michael Owen (footballer), Tom Hipkin (Subculture), Andy Bell (Erasure), Danny Ward (Gengahr), Tony Piper (Vice Squad), David Henshaw & Brian James (The Damned)
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones fronting The Artists Rifles at Bull & Gate, London UK – ? 2005
Sam Jones performing at ?, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones recording drums (for new Angry Town demos) during lockdown – Black Room Studios, Llandudno UK – January 2021
Sam Jones before performing at Wild Inn, West Kirby UK – March 2020 (a poignant shot walking into the distance, unaware this would remain his last show before lockdown)
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, Jette/Brussels BE – August 2009
Sam Jones feat. Zoe & Zara performing at Artliners, Berlin DE – November 2016
Sam Jones performing at Piwnica Kulturalna Spichlerz, Kwidzyn PL – January 2017
Sam Jones performing at Vinyl Klub, Ostrów Mazowiecka PL – November 2016
Sam Jones appearence on Radio Sfera UMK, Toruń PL – February 2017
Sam Jones performing at Muzyk, Toruń PL – February 2020
Sam Jones ‘Retrospective’ (Camouflage Records 2019)
Sam Jones appearence in Tim Burton’s ‘Sweeney Todd, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath UK – March 2007
Sam Jones performing at the Bull & Gate, London UK September 2008
Sam Jones travelling in Dublin IE – July 2019
I have until recently been using two Yamaha instruments; a customised RGX-121D and a Pacifica 112VMX. The RGX has travelled with me through the years and served me well. Unfortunately due to frequent changes of tunings and playing outdoors in various weather conditions busking, I need to put it ‘out of service’. I used a Pacifica during the first incarnation of Angry Town in Poland. Over the years I’ve found them most suitable for my style and physique, especially the neck profiles. I’ve tried many different branded guitars and have come to realise I feel most comfortable and at my best performance ability when playing a Yamaha. The RGX and Pacifica (in natural finish) have been my main instruments for years and have become a trademark image, especially in photos. I definitely need a separate guitar for slide and I imagine having two very similar looking guitars for shows. I would probably benefit from two Pacifica guitars or perhaps another model which may be closer to an RGX. I do not have any current musical instrument endorsements. – Sam Jones
Sam Jones fronting Angry Town at Lizard King, Toruń PL – November 2017
Sam Jones appearance on WWK’s Our Favorate Shop Sessions, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones appearance on WWK’s Our Favorate Shop Sessions, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones appearance on WWK’s Our Favorate Shop Sessions, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones ‘Bulletproof’ promo video (Camouflage Records 2020)
Sam Jones performing at L’Uzinne, Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones & The Artists Rifles ‘The Witching Hour’ promo video (Camouflage Records 2000)
Sam Jones during lockdown Llandudno, UK – ? 2020
Sam Jones performing at Hard Rock Cafe, Dublin IE – July 2019
SAM JONES TALKING ABOUT USING YAMAHA GUITARS
This collection of mobile phone recordings was made at small venues across Europe. All the tracks were picked from performances made during the 1st European Tour in April 2016 as well as a couple of Belgium gigs & warm up shows which took place in London.
The last 2 years has seen Sam Jones make the transition from a recording artist playing the occational gig, to a travelling live solo act. As a result this album includes several tracks which have not yet been given the studio treatment & gives an incling to the style of his upcoming official debut album.
As the album’s original concept was solely for upload on Soundcloud (to promote his 2nd European Tour in October/November 2016) it has been limited to just 50 copies on CD, which were on sale before & during the tour. The CD also features 4 additional bonus tracks recorded on a multitrack cassette recorder during summer 2016.
Listen on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/samjonesband/liveineurope
The album in its entirety has now been removed from Soundcloud although specific tracks are still available to hear.
Fire In The Rain (Artliners, Berlin DE) / Woman Gone (Wiel’s Renard Noir, Brussels BE) / Hell’s Bank Note (Music Lab, Brno CZ)# / Famous Last Words (Wiel’s Renard Noir, Brussels BE)+ / These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ (The Boogaloo, London UK) / Boredom Drug (Wiel’s Renard Noir, Brussels BE) / Killer In June (Wild Rover Irish Pub, Manzolino IT) / Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam (Wiel’s Renard Noir, Brussels BE) / Somebody’s Somebody (Music Lab, Brno CZ) / The Walker (Café Kafka, Brussels BE) / When The Howling Wind Comes Back (The Boogaloo, London UK) / On My Way (Café Kafka, Brussels BE) / December’s Child (Artliners, Berlin DE) / Looking Back (Taverne De Met, Overijse BE) / Gotta Tell Me (The Boogaloo, London UK) / Hit The Floor (Music Lab, Brno CZ)# Trigger Red (music only)* / Under Glass* / Falling Down* / On My Way*
+Belinda De Bruyn – vocals #Bartosz Walos – harmonica
*4 TRACK DEMOS Recorded at Creation Studios, London June-July 2016
Cover photo & design: Sam Jones
The album features 8 live recordings made in November 2016 during the final leg of the 2nd European tour & is the follow up to Camouflage Records’ first official bootleg CD ‘Live In Europe 2015-2016’. ‘Live In Poland’ will be available at future shows from 17th February to coincide with the first headlining gig of 2017. The album’s purpose was for Sam Jones to introduce himself as a new arrival in Poland & to boost the income from a string of weekend shows around the country. This CD is limited to just 35 copies!
The CD also features 2 additional bonus tracks temporarily available here in physical format. The download singles ‘Hell’s Bank Note’ & ‘The Walker’ were recorded in London the day before his departure for Poland & released on iTunes, Amazon MP3 & Google Play Music one month later on 13th January to coincide with the first gig of 2017 supporting Oil Stains in thier native Poland.
Search ‘Koncert Sama Jonesa 2016’ in YouTube for footage from Vinyl Klub, Ostrów Mazowiecka. Filmed by Telewizja aMazing Ostrów Mazowiecka.
Original advertising 1:
‘Hell’s Bank Note’ & ‘The Walker’ will now be temporarily available in physical format as bonus tracks on a new limited edition CD entitled ‘Live In Poland’. The album features 8 live recordings made in November 2016 during the 2nd European tour & is the follow up to Camouflage Records’ ‘Live In Europe 2015-2016’. ‘Live In Poland’ will be available at future shows from 17th February to coinside with the first Sam Jones headlining gig of 2017.
Original advertising 2:
‘Hell’s Bank Note’ & ‘The Walker’ are available to download from iTunes, Amazon MP3 & Google Play Music on 13th January to coincide with the first Sam Jones gig of 2017 supporting Oil Stains in Poland.
The recording session took place at MAP Studio, London on 13th December & features Leo Georgiou on drums. These semi-live recordings were produced by Sam Jones & Duncan Thornley.
Hit The Floor (Tanner’s Irish Pub, Poznań) / Gotta Tell Me (Muzyk, Toruń) / Fire In The Rain (Tanner’s Irish Pub, Poznań) / If I Were A Rich Man (Muzyk, Toruń) / Famous Last Words (Tanner’s Irish Pub, Poznań) / Looking Back (Odessa, Toruń) / Woman Gone (Tanner’s Irish Pub, Poznań) / These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ (Muzyk, Toruń) Hell’s Bank Note+ / The Walker+
+ Download singles (released 13th January 2017) Leo Georgiou – drums Written by Sam Jones Produced by Sam Jones & Duncan Thornley Recorded ‘semi-live’ by Duncan Thornley at MAP Studio, London 13th December 2016 Mixed & edited by Duncan Thornley Mastered by LANDR January 2017
Inside photo: Karolina Mrówczyńska Cover design: Nicol Jocić
Million Dollar Baby / Under Glass / Fire In The Rain / Boredom Drug / New Rose / When The Howling Wind Comes Back / On My Way / The Way She Is / December’s Child / Mr. Joke Shop Owner / Gotta Tell Me / Hell’s Bank Note / Trigger Red / The Walker / Hit The Floor Ged Lynn – bass on live at The Hatch Bar, Liverpool 2017 (vocal & guitar on ‘Mr. Joke Shop Owner’) Special thanks to Lucas O’Heyze for recording set 1. Cover photo: Michał Borowiak Cover design: Sam Jones
Sam Jones appearence in Tim Burton’s ‘Sweeney Todd, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath UK – March 2007
Sam Jones travelling in Luxembourg LU – July 2019 (later used for the cover of ‘A Musician’s Guide To Europe’)
“I never really thought about this until I began this biography journey, I’ve come to realise I’ve created a few simple looks which I’ve rotated between over the years. I’d be wearing this stuff both on & off stage now & the more I’ve refined it on-stage the less I wear it off stage! It’s nearly always pitch black, I think the plain t-shirt has been the big one, long or short-sleeved, the suede ‘desert boots’, the leather shoelace, the self-cropped jeans I’d cut the collar from a denim jacket to make a frayed collerless edge, the same with my jeans wear leather shoe laces around my neck. I’ve been inspired by the things I love, it’s hard to confess but I must have been inspired by someone else. As well as his music his unique mod/alternative hybrid sense of style caught the eye of fashion label Relco London in 2017 who used him to model their clothes for thier website relcolondon.com where he is heavily featured. He rekindled his relationship with the company in late 2019 for the Bulletproof promo videoshoot and can often be seen wearing their gear on stage and in photos.
Sam Jones performing at Muzyk, Toruń PL – February 2020
I have until recently been using two Yamaha instruments; a customised RGX-121D and a Pacifica 112VMX. The RGX has travelled with me through the years and served me well. Unfortunately due to frequent changes of tunings and playing outdoors in various weather conditions busking, I need to put it ‘out of service’. I used a Pacifica during the first incarnation of Angry Town in Poland. Over the years I’ve found them most suitable for my style and physique, especially the neck profiles. I’ve tried many different branded guitars and have come to realise I feel most comfortable and at my best performance ability when playing a Yamaha. The RGX and Pacifica (in natural finish) have been my main instruments for years and have become a trademark image, especially in photos. I definitely need a separate guitar for slide and I imagine having two very similar looking guitars for shows. I would probably benefit from two Pacifica guitars or perhaps another model which may be closer to an RGX. I do not have any current musical instrument endorsements. – Sam Jones
Sam Jones with his customised Yamaha RGX 121-D, London UK – ? 2014
Sam Jones performing an impromptu show at La Pharmacie, Namur BE – March 2019
Sam Jones performing at L’uZinne, Brussels BE – October 2018 (audio only)
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones with his customised Yamaha RGX 121-D, London UK – ? 2014
Sam Jones travelling in Luxembourg LU – July 2019
ITALY, ISLE OF MAN, POLAND, ENGLAND, CZECH REPUBLIC, WALES incl. ANGLESEY, GERMANY, SCOTLAND, BELGIUM, IRELAND, NETHERLANDS & FRANCE
“I never really thought about this until I began this biography journey, I’ve come to realise I’ve created a few simple looks which I’ve rotated between over the years. I’d be wearing this stuff both on & off stage now & the more I’ve refined it on-stage the less I wear it off stage! It’s nearly always pitch black, I think the plain t-shirt has been the big one, long or short-sleeved, the suede ‘desert boots’, the leather shoelace, the self-cropped jeans I’d cut the collar from a denim jacket to make a frayed collerless edge, the same with my jeans wear leather shoe laces around my neck. I’ve been inspired by the things I love, it’s hard to confess but I must have been inspired by someone else. As well as his music his unique mod/alternative hybrid sense of style caught the eye of fashion label Relco London in 2017 who used him to model their clothes for thier website relcolondon.com where he is heavily featured. He rekindled his relationship with the company in late 2019 for the Bulletproof promo videoshoot and can often be seen wearing their gear on stage and in photos.
Sam Jones self-portrait, London UK – June 2015
Sam Jones (Relco London shoot), Toruń PL – April 2017
Sam Jones (Relco London shoot), Toruń PL – April 2017
Sam Jones gig poster (Camouflage Booking 2020) / Sam Jones fronting Angry Town at Lizard King, Toruń PL – November 2017
Sam Jones shortly after moving to Poland Toruń PL – December 2016
When London musician Sam Jones arrived at the railway station in Toruń, he did not know that this city would become his home for several years, before the end of the same year. Following the suspension bridge over the hazy Vistula River towards the city centre, he felt it was no accident that this unique place appeared on the map of his first European tour . He came to Toruń to take part in an annual event under the slogan “Guitar Days”, where the masters and enthusiasts of this instrument had already met several times. This time, the most important guest of the festival organised at the Hard Rock Pub Pamela was Jennifer Batten, known for her collaboration with Michael Jackson. He appeared as support for the well-known guitarist and led guitar workshops. Here he also met Zbigniew “Tony” Olewicz – a Welshman of Polish descent, who was born in a hospital in Wrexham, later changed into an art college, which Sam attended! The previously mentioned Hard Rock Pub club Pamela has become an important place to which the musician will return several times thanks to the hospitality of the owner – Darek Kowalski. He was here again six months later, playing earlier in Ostrów Mazowiecki and Poznań, as part of his second European tour. Forced to cancel a concert in Nice, he decided to visit Toruń again and extend his stay in the city of Copernicus. This time, he took to the Hard Rock Pub Pamela stage as part of their yearly festival organised there, bringing together fans of guitar music. Among the artists performing on that day was also Ilona Szumańska, now the fiancée of Sam! This is how the journey of several years began, which brought many unexpected stories and encounters in the life of a musician. They initiated the most interesting year of Sam’s stay in Poland during 2017, which resulted in establishing cooperation with Relco London, as well as the creation of Angry Town. Through this activity, Sam tried to transfer to the canvas of the Polish music scene elements of an the important Mod subculture from British history. The Toruń adventure began fully when in December 2016, just before his 37th birthday, Sam made the final decision to leave Great Britain. He got on a bus, having only his guitar and a small suitcase of clothes, but with relief and curiosity about what this trip would bring him. This book is about how all this unfolded, and is only a chapter in the vastness of many stories. Marta Dembińska
REV & SNELL (TOWERS OF LONDON/DAY 21/THE PRODIGY), Ed Wight, Joseph Mydell (Royal Shakespeare Company), Robbie Kelman (The Dripping Lips), Ged Lynn (The Stairs), David Caplin (Go-Kart Mozart), Belinda De Bruyn (Da Hush), Charlie Harper & Paul Slack (UK Subs), PJ (Anti-Nowhere League), Sławomir Ciesielski (Republika), Malcolm Joseph (Grace Jones), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things), Richard Marcangelo (Manfred Mann‘s Earth Band), Michael Owen (footballer), Tom Hipkin (Subculture), Andy Bell (Erasure), Danny Ward (Gengahr), Tony Piper (Vice Squad), David Henshaw & Brian James (The Damned)
Urban Dogs, The Membranes (John Robb), Moriah Woods, Charlie Harper, Koniec Świata, UK Subs, Tatia Jayne Starkey (Ringo Starr‘s Granddaugher), Kobranocka, The Steepwater Band, Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson) & The Coral
After making the decision to become a solo artist in 1998 Sam Jones singer, songwriter & guitarist has written, recorded & performed almost constantly since. He played his debut solo gig as Sam Jones near to his hometown in Chester at Telfords Warehouse, a place that became Synonymous with testing the waters for a while. The set for the evening included the songs Did I Tell You? & Secret. Most remembered for founding Goth-garage outfit The Artists Rifles with whom it’s various line-ups has enabled Sam Jones to showcase his songs both as live performances & in the studio as a band or even ‘as though a band’ sometimes resorting to playing drums or bass himself on early drafts of songs. So who were Sam Jones & The Artists Rifles? Well there were two studio albums, ‘Shoot To Kill’ & ‘Cowboy Wicca’ both compiled from lose recording sessions which took place 1998-2000 the latter being an outtakes album from those tracks left over from the cherry picked tracks of the debut ‘official’ album including some acoustic demos & alternative mixes of tracks from ‘Shoot To Kill’. Sam Jones supplies the lead vocals, electric & acoustic guitars. He also appears on bass guitar, drums & backing vocals on many of the recordings. Most of the tracks on both albums were recorded using tape (analogue). A mini-disc ‘Shoot To Kill’ spawned a CD single & 2 promo videos both directed by, edited by & featuring Sam Jones. Like most the bands which came later also fronted by Sam Jones they were somewhere between a solo project & a band, the difference with this one was that at most this umbrella was giving the image or impression of a band outfit as reflected in the name. It’s origins as a live band are rather vague & murky as to when they used the name for the first time & there were several over-lapping members & understudies. A consistent line up formed by accident in 2000 to play one show then reformed for another gig in 2001 then again for a string of gigs / mini-tour of Englandthat summer. The band played their last show under this title at The Limelight Club in Crewe, a mutual decision among band members to shorten the name & continue as a The Artists Rifles, a title which would out live the band into several completely new line ups bar their front man each time he relocated. There was of course some promotional pictures from 2 shoots, the first of Sam Jones which spawned the cover of the CD single & album & the second of the band. Live audio exists from their first concert at The Limelight Club & was issued as a DIY live album.
Sam Jones & The Artists Rifles – ‘Shoot To Kill’ album cover – ? 2000
Sam Jones & The Artists Rifles, ? UK – ? 2001
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones fronting The Artists Rifles at Bull & Gate, London UK – ? 2005
Sam Jones performing at ?, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, (Jette) Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones recording drums (for new Angry Town demos) during lockdown – Black Room Studios, Llandudno UK – January 2021
Sam Jones before performing at Wild Inn, West Kirby UK – March 2020 (a poignant shot walking into the distance, unaware this would remain his last show before lockdown)
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, Jette/Brussels BE – August 2009
Sam Jones feat. Zoe & Zara performing at Artliners, Berlin DE – November 2016
Sam Jones performing at Piwnica Kulturalna Spichlerz, Kwidzyn PL – January 2017
Sam Jones performing at Vinyl Klub, Ostrów Mazowiecka PL – November 2016
Sam Jones appearence on Radio Sfera UMK, Toruń PL – February 2017
Sam Jones performing at Muzyk, Toruń PL – February 2020
Sam Jones ‘Retrospective’ (Camouflage Records 2019)
Sam Jones appearence in Tim Burton’s ‘Sweeney Todd, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath UK – March 2007
Sam Jones performing at the Bull & Gate, London UK September 2008
Sam Jones travelling in Dublin IE – July 2019
I have until recently been using two Yamaha instruments; a customised RGX-121D and a Pacifica 112VMX. The RGX has travelled with me through the years and served me well. Unfortunately due to frequent changes of tunings and playing outdoors in various weather conditions busking, I need to put it ‘out of service’. I used a Pacifica during the first incarnation of Angry Town in Poland. Over the years I’ve found them most suitable for my style and physique, especially the neck profiles. I’ve tried many different branded guitars and have come to realise I feel most comfortable and at my best performance ability when playing a Yamaha. The RGX and Pacifica (in natural finish) have been my main instruments for years and have become a trademark image, especially in photos. I definitely need a separate guitar for slide and I imagine having two very similar looking guitars for shows. I would probably benefit from two Pacifica guitars or perhaps another model which may be closer to an RGX. I do not have any current musical instrument endorsements. – Sam Jones
Sam Jones fronting Angry Town at Lizard King, Toruń PL – November 2017
Sam Jones appearance on WWK’s Our Favorate Shop Sessions, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones appearance on WWK’s Our Favorate Shop Sessions, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones appearance on WWK’s Our Favorate Shop Sessions, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones ‘Bulletproof’ promo video (Camouflage Records 2020)
Sam Jones performing at L’Uzinne, Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones & The Artists Rifles ‘The Witching Hour’ promo video (Camouflage Records 2000)
Sam Jones during lockdown Llandudno, UK – ? 2020
Sam Jones performing at Hard Rock Cafe, Dublin IE – July 2019
SAM JONES TALKING ABOUT USING YAMAHA GUITARS
Sam Jones (pre-European Tour promo shoot) London, UK – ? 2016
Sam Jones (promo shoot) London, UK – ? 2006
CITIES PLAYED WOKING, PRAGUE, NAMUR, BRIELLE, CREWE, BERLIN, CONWY, POZNAŃ, LLANDUDNO, KRAKÓW, BRIGHTON, PARIS, MALBORK, LONDON, CHESTER, BORDEAUX, OSWESTRY, LIVERPOOL, WROCŁAW, ANTWERP, TORUŃ, WHITBY, OSTRAVA, KWIDZYN, BRUSSELS, ANGOULÊME, SCARBOROUGH, BYDGOSZCZ, HULL, DUBLIN, WEST KIRBY & BRNO NOTABLE VENUES PLAYED 12 BAR CLUB (LONDON), RHYTHM FACTORY (LONDON), HARD ROCK CAFE (DUBLIN), HOPE & ANCHOR (LONDON), UPSTAIRS AT THE GARGE (LONDON), LIZARD KING (TORUŃ), BULL & GATE (LONDON), HARD ROCK CAFE (ANTWERP), DUBLIN CASTLE (LONDON), HARD ROCK PUB PAMELA (TORUŃ)
Sam Jones recording drums (for new Angry Town demos) during lockdown – Black Room Studios, Llandudno UK – January 2021
Sam Jones before performing at Wild Inn, West Kirby UK – March 2020 (a poignant shot walking into the distance, unaware this would remain his last show before lockdown)
Sam Jones performing at De Gele Poraa, Jette/Brussels BE – August 2009
Sam Jones feat. Zoe & Zara performing at Artliners, Berlin DE – November 2016
Sam Jones performing at Piwnica Kulturalna Spichlerz, Kwidzyn PL – January 2017
Sam Jones performing at Vinyl Klub, Ostrów Mazowiecka PL – November 2016
I have until recently been using two Yamaha instruments; a customised RGX-121D and a Pacifica 112VMX. The RGX has travelled with me through the years and served me well. Unfortunately due to frequent changes of tunings and playing outdoors in various weather conditions busking, I need to put it ‘out of service’. I used a Pacifica during the first incarnation of Angry Town in Poland. Over the years I’ve found them most suitable for my style and physique, especially the neck profiles. I’ve tried many different branded guitars and have come to realise I feel most comfortable and at my best performance ability when playing a Yamaha. The RGX and Pacifica (in natural finish) have been my main instruments for years and have become a trademark image, especially in photos. I definitely need a separate guitar for slide and I imagine having two very similar looking guitars for shows. I would probably benefit from two Pacifica guitars or perhaps another model which may be closer to an RGX. I do not have any current musical instrument endorsements. – Sam Jones
Sam Jones fronting Angry Town at Lizard King, Toruń PL – November 2017
SAM JONES TALKING ABOUT USING YAMAHA GUITARS
CITIES PLAYED WOKING, PRAGUE, NAMUR, BRIELLE, CREWE, BERLIN, CONWY, POZNAŃ, LLANDUDNO, KRAKÓW, BRIGHTON, PARIS, MALBORK, LONDON, CHESTER, BORDEAUX, OSWESTRY, LIVERPOOL, WROCŁAW, ANTWERP, TORUŃ, WHITBY, OSTRAVA, KWIDZYN, BRUSSELS, ANGOULÊME, SCARBOROUGH, BYDGOSZCZ, HULL, DUBLIN, WEST KIRBY & BRNO NOTABLE VENUES PLAYED 12 BAR CLUB (LONDON), RHYTHM FACTORY (LONDON), HARD ROCK CAFE (DUBLIN), HOPE & ANCHOR (LONDON), UPSTAIRS AT THE GARGE (LONDON), LIZARD KING (TORUŃ), BULL & GATE (LONDON), HARD ROCK CAFE (ANTWERP), DUBLIN CASTLE (LONDON), HARD ROCK PUB PAMELA (TORUŃ)
Sam Jones interview & performance at Muzyczny Kram, Toruń PL – July 2022
Sam Jones performing at Muzyczny Kram, Toruń PL – July 2022
Sam Jones performing at Kukmál Hilda, Prague CZ – June 2022
Sam Jones performing at Irish Fiddler, Dresden DE – June 2022
Sam Jones performing at The Bohemian, Bussana Vecchia IT – June 2022
Sam Jones performing at U Dvou strašidel, Olomouc CZ – June 2022
Sam Jones performing at Le KJBI, Le Crès FR – June 2022
Sam Jones performing at Kukmál Hilda, Prague CZ – June 2022
Sam Jones performing at 6-Ścian PUB Sześcian, Białystok PL – April 2022
Sam Jones performing at 6-Ścian PUB Sześcian, Białystok PL – April 2022
Sam Jones performance & interview at Ebenezer’s, Crewe UK – February 2022
Sam Jones performing at 6-Ścian PUB Sześcian, Białystok PL – September 2021
Sam Jones performing at Hard Rock Pub Pamela, Toruń PL – October 2019
Sam Jones performing at Hard Rock Cafe, Dublin IE – July 2019
Sam Jones performing an impromptu show at La Pharmacie, Namur BE – March 2019
Sam Jones performing at L’Uzinne, Brussels BE – October 2018
Sam Jones appearance on WWK’s Our Favorate Shop Sessions, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones performing at Mustang Live Music Club, Poznań PL – June 2017
Sam Jones appearance on WWK’s Our Favorate Shop Sessions, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones appearence on Radio Sfera UMK, Toruń PL – February 2017
Sam Jones appearance on WWK’s Our Favorate Shop Sessions, Liverpool UK – July 2017
Sam Jones appearence on Radio R, Mokrá-Horákov CZ – April 2016
Sam Jones performing at Vinyl Klub, Ostrów Mazowiecka PL – November 2016
Sam Jones appearence on Radio R, Mokrá-Horákov CZ – April 2016
Sam Jones performing at Sherlock’s Pub, Ostrava CZ – November 2016
Due to the Coronavirus lockdown I’ve been forced to cancel all my England / Wales shows booked for April & Poland shows booked for May. After registering my SAM JONES solo performances as an official business in March this whole thing has been very bad timing! The future is uncertain so please spread the word about my new online lessons! From Monday 6th April I’m offering ONLINE guitar & bass lessons, music for Autism & English conversation. This service will be entirely FREE to everyone for 2 weeks (until Monday 20th April) while I get to grips with the technical aspects & a return to teaching. I am limiting each person to 3 of these FREE lessons. I know there will be people who will want to pay me for this to whom I simply say, you will be helping me find my feet. If you still feel the need to give me something back then a nice testimonial would be gladly accepted after the 2 weeks but I’m really not doing it for that! When you book a slot it is already set to £0.
UPDATE :
P L E A S E R E A D :
From Monday 20th April my online lessons will cost as follows: guitar & bass lessons / music for Autism £25 per hour & English conversation £10 per hour. Additional pupils for any of these subjects pay £10 per hour. Please use the booking system below which is set up for specific teaching times which are Monday-Saturday starting at 9am & finishing at 9pm. I take a lunch break from 1pm until 2pm & a dinner break from 5pm until 6pm there for I do not teach during these 2 hours. Please select a contact option in which you want to use to make video contact, then click on the direct link to take you there a couple of minutes before our sessions starts.
Twice a week I have internet, phone & computer free days therefore I will not be teaching on Saturdays & Sundays.
[ameliabooking]
Sam has an extensive music knowledge and a genuine passion for music that he brings into every lesson. Friendly and supportive, he takes time to tailor each 1-2-1 lesson to your specific needs and interest allowing you to develop at your own pace. His comfortable style of teaching makes learning effortless.
Eunice (London N1)
Sam Jones guitar teaching has been a very positive influence in my sons life and he has enabled him to concentrate and focus on learning an instrument and even supported him in singing and performing. This is particularly impressive considering my son has severe Autism and PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) as well as severe speech, language and sleep disorders. Sam is very calm and very patient and initially worked with every one of my sons tutors alongside my son. However now my son prefers to work with Sam alone and has continued to progress, is very happy to see Sam and looks forward to his sessions with him. This is an unusual outcome in my experience and I am very pleased with the efforts Sam has made. Sam is also always punctual and very professional at all times, his passion for music and the guitar is very infectious and this shows clearly in my sons continued interest. Sam has always taken my son seriously and treated him as any other student which is very refreshing. Sam has become a very positive role model for my son as well as a competent music teacher. Highly recommended.
Caroline (London N5)
Whilst living in London for 12 years I ran a highly successful private beginner guitar lessons, working with pupils of all ages who typically took weekly lessons at their homes, my pupils included several celebrities such as Andy Bell of Erasure & journalist David Henshaw. I even prepared actor Joseph Mydell for his appearance as Jimi Hendrix at Handel & Hendrix in London (previously Handel House Museum) which was directed by Maureen Lipman.
I have met many weird & wonderful people through teaching & during my first year one of my lessons was ‘pranked’ & filmed by hidden camera for the Christian O’Connell Show. As well as giving me a tremendous sense of pride, this job has taught me basic business skills I can now use anywhere.
I became especially popular among parents of students with learning difficulties. I also ran an After School Guitar Class at a Primary School, Islington. One of my pupils gained a grade A in his GCSE music exam playing bass. I think the popularity of my lessons was due to my reliability, especially my timekeeping. My main two selling points are that my lessons are split into basic music theory (or a guitar technique) & practice, performance & transposing recorded music to paper makes up the practical element of my lessons. My slogan has been “Learn guitar, bass & music theory without buying any books”. I have also taugtht grade pieces for those wishing to prepare for an exam using the London School of Music (RGT) Acoustic Guitar Playing series.
I’ve written 2 guitar eBooks entitled ‘So You Wanna Play Guitar’ & ‘Mali Guitar’ the latter specialising in pupils with autism. During breaks in a European solo tour in July 2007 I began taking frequent trips to London to continue working with several autistic ex-pupils as a support worker through music therefore developing my Music For Autism. In addition to my private lessons in April 2013 I ran the first of a trial lecture-style guitar class entitled Rebel Guitar London at two hired locations in London. Between October 2014 & March 2015 I ran two Rebel Guitar courses at an Institute in North Wales. In August 2015 after many frequent trips I began offering beginner guitar lessons in Brussels when I am visiting.
From late 2016 until late 2019 I lived in Poland where I created & taught British Studies as well as running English classes at a prestigious academy in Toruń where I also gave private English conversation to locals. I have talked at workshops in Poland with Michael Jackson guitar legend Jenifer Batten & have spoken in several schools as a guest or foreign public figure.
I have always designed my own leaflets to promote my lessons & run a Facebook page to assist my pupils with practicing & networking with each other. Some pupils have gone on to play together then record in the studio with my assistance, in particular Avoid The Sunlight who released a song on YouTube called Lost In Eternity in 2013. In 2015 I stood in on drums during rehearsals with Argyria, a band I help one of my pupil’s put together by auditioning members. In 2016 I began teaching drums.
Sam has been giving guitar lessons to our son Jay (now aged 20) for 8 years. We are completely relaxed with Sam, who is not only a patient and understanding person, but reliable and courteous at all times. Sam has even continued to teach Jay during his frequent visits whilst living out of London. His support helped to gain Jay’s place on a HND in Music Production course, giving Jay a life vocation. He’s been a good influence on Jay, often giving him advice he would rather hear from him than us! Sam has become a close friend of the family and often helps out with other things like taking Jay to recording studios, releasing material online and applying for jobs. He’s introduced Jay to many new styles of music & even attended concerts with him. We highly recommend Sam as a guitar teacher. He has given Jay the confidence to write his own songs in a new band. For us these lessons have been well worth the money, when we consider all the benefits. A teacher knowledgeable on his subject, always on time.
Tim & Yael (London N16)
Sam is a great teacher, really committed to ensuring my kids enjoy as well as learn (boys on bass and lead guitar) – a reliable teacher too.
Vicki (London N16)
My son Ben did private lessons with Sam for over a year before relocating abroad, Sam’s dynamic, non-judgmental approach to teaching makes him a one of a kind guitar teacher, he is always well prepared and his vast knowledge makes each lesson unique. My son loved that he was open to play a range of music from “Pulp Fiction” to ‘The Shadows’, his lessons were fun, interesting and most importantly Ben developed a natural interest in bettering himself. A year later his passion is going strong and we are still in contact with Sam. Just recently Ben auditioned to get into a special music stream for High School and played a piece he was taught by Sam – we highly recommend Sam as he just ‘gets it’!
Joanne Rosen (London N10)
I really enjoy my guitar lessons with Sam. He has introduced me to some great songs and he explains it all very clearly. Sam is always on time and makes the lessons fun.
Kit (London N5)