December 15th 2008

I'm very happy and excited to announce that after 16 months in the making, I've finally finished mixing my new album 'A Seat At My Table'. We Master it on December 18th and then that is it! Bar one cover of a Stevie Wonder song, the album will consist entirely of my own material. A date hasn't been confirmed yet but I'm aiming to release the album sometime in late February or March 2009. Watch this space! I'm also happy to report that 'What A Day' is seemingly getting quite a lot of radio play up and down the UK and all over Europe judging from the massive amounts of emails we've received. Thank you so much for all of your kind words of support, I do appreciate it very much and may I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmastime and a fantastic 2009. With love, Elio. x

November 1st 2008

It's crazy but I'm writing this update sitting on the balcony of my hotel room in Terceira in the Azores in just a pair of shorts in the sweltering heat. I flew in yesterday with Albert Lee to do the gig tonight and we fly home tomorrow... that's if they can drag me away from this balcony!

October 4th 2008

August 28th 2008
It took 26 years but tonight I finally got to meet my favourite Rock and Roll piano-player, Gavin Povey.  Along with Neville Dickie and Billy Joel, Gavin's playing influenced my own piano style more than anyone else. He played piano for Shakin' Stevens from 1982 up until 1991. He also worked and wrote with Kirsty MacColl and Van Morrison, to name but a few. The last time I saw Gavin play live was in 1988 at the Harrogate Conference Centre with Shaky and, as I had done at the previous 6 or 7 gigs over the years, I spent the whole night watching him like a hawk hoping to pick-up a few tricks. And here he was tonight in Naul near Dublin, 20 years later, watching me play with Albert Lee. We had a good chat after the gig discussing our mutual acquaintances and he certainly didn't disappoint on the 'meeting your heroes' front... He couldn't have been nicer. Photo will follow soon...

July 19th 2008
I had two great musicians do guest sessions for me today. Firstly, Gerry Hogan on Steel Guitar who added divine touches to my ballad 'You Loved Me Too' and secondly, Ray Beavis, with whom I had the pleasure of touring with whilst working for Suzi Quatro, who played a rip-roaring Tenor Sax solo on the one cover on my album, Stevie Wonder's 'Ebony Eyes'.

July 11th 2008
It's always a relief when you find the title for an album and today, after a conversation with Matt Daniel-Baker, we came up with the title for mine... 'A Seat At My Table'.

May 30th 2008
Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes were, for the first time ever, joined on stage tonight at the 100 Club in London by a horn section. Paul Newton on Trumpet, Peter Effamy on Sax and Clarinet, Adrian Fry on Trombone and Richard Pite on Sousaphone augmented the usual line-up for two songs, 'Rad Gumbo' and 'Can Your Grandpa Rock And Roll Like This'. It was decided that the section will make a repeat appearance at The Stables in Wavendon later this year on September 2nd.

May 28th 2008
A week later than originally planned and incredibly 99% healed, Albert Lee flew back to Britain today to recommence the tour. We start up again tomorrow night in Bridgwater, Somerset.

May 27th 2008
Desmond Carrington becomes the first to nationally play a track off 'Like This' featuring 'Why Me' on his BBC Radio 2 show 'The Music Goes Round'.

May 19th 2008
Recorded both Adrian Fry's beautiful Big Band arrangement of my song 'Take You Home' and Paul Newton's tremendous arrangement of another one of my tracks, 'Thinkin'. I wanted a couple of Big Band numbers on my album to compliment 'What A Day' which will appear as a bonus track.

April 30th 2008
Plans are being made for the official release of 'What A Day' at Christmas this year with my new album and live dates to follow early in the new year. Fingers crossed! This unexpected 'break' (excuse the pun!) means that I have the opportunity to crack on (Oops! There's another) with the making of my album. More news to follow soon.

April 14th 2008
Albert Lee was in good spirits when I spoke to him yesterday at the airport as he was getting ready to fly back home to LA. This will be the longest period in his life (since he was 17-years old) that he won't be able to play the guitar. His other passion is cars... He won't be able to drive either. Shame, he'll just have to sit and enjoy the California sunshine... Poor guy! So far, 8 of the cancelled 20 gigs have been re-scheduled throughout June and July with, hopefully, more to follow. Check the website for more news and details at www.albertleeandhogansheroes.com

April  8th 2008
Today, having been on the road in mainland Europe for exactly 1 month and with only 3 more gigs in Holland and Denmark to do before returning to the UK for a 2 month tour, Albert Lee broke his arm whilst killing time in Paris before our sound check and gig. He tripped off a kerb and in trying to save himself outstretched his right arm and broke the humerus in two places close to the shoulder. Needless to say, the gig at the 'New Morning' this evening, with 400 people queuing around the block, was cancelled as are the next 20 gigs up until May 19th when he hopes to be fit enough to continue.

March 6th 2008
Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes 2008 Tour kicks off today just as is it did last year at The Robin in Birmingham.

February 25th 2008
The master for Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes new album 'Like This' went off to the pressing plant today.

February 15th 2008
Having put my album on the back-burner for 5 months and with Albert Lee's album very nearly mixed and finished, I got back to mine today and in style! Both Albert Lee and Jerry Scheff came to Din Studios to record for me. Albert graced one of my songs 'Sober Siri' in a way that only he can with his unique Country picking even choosing to use his 1951 Fender Telecaster because "it sounds right for this track". Both He and Jerry also played on my bluesy 'Lazy Days'. Jerry played a 1964 Fender Jazz through an Ampeg B15 and boy did it sound great. Jerry's playing has always been so free and lucid and I knew that he would do a fantastic job on this song, which he certainly did.

February 8th 2008
Yours truly turned 40 today! Mixed in the daytime and celebrated with family and friends at the Groucho Club in the evening.

February 7th 2008
Started mixing 'Like This' with Darren Loveday and Jeff Knowler at Darren's studio in North London.

January 30th 2008
After a series of phone calls and email exchanges, Huey Lewis recorded his harmonica part for 'Rad Gumbo' which will feature on 'Like This'. Recorded in California and 'emailed' over to us here in the UK within a few hours, Huey's wonderful, bluesy contribution to Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes new album was the last thing to be recorded and the icing on the cake.

January 19th 2008
One of the world's greatest percussionists, Ray Cooper, came to Din Studios to do a session for Albert Lee & Hogan's Heroes new album 'Like This'. We've all seen Ray over the years performing with the likes of Elton John, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney to name but a few and we all know what a great performer he is on stage. Well, it was great to watch him record and see that he performs in exactly the same way even when the cameras aren't there... it's part of his music. His timing is impeccable and Albert, Peter Baron and I watched in awe as he added sparkle to the album. A great friend of Albert's, Ray hadn't seen him since they performed together at the Royal Albert Hall at the tribute concert for George Harrison. Ray is not only a legend but also the perfect Gentleman and it was truly an honour to meet and work with him.