Phenomenal musician releases solo debut

10:50am Tuesday 5th August 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A ROCK musician who has played with a host of legends throughout his career has released his debut solo album.

Lee Small, of Stourport, was due to front the new band of legendary guitarist, Mel Galley, formerly of Whitesnake, before he died of oesophagus cancer last month.

Lee explained: “Mel had decided he wanted to do some new shows and asked if I would get involved.

“I jumped at the chance but then it became clear his cancer was terminal and before we knew it, he was gone.

“He was the nicest guy in the business I have ever met.”

Lee has also played in a band called Phenomena, with Tony Martin, who fronted Black Sabbath after Ozzy Osbourne left, and Glenn Hughes, of Deep Purple.

The album, Psychofantasy, was released in 2006 and was number one in Sweden.

Lee said: “We’re very big in Scandinavia. They love rock and metal music much more over there than people in England.”

He has now turned his attention to his solo album, which he said has a “morbid, dark feel to it”.

Through the Eyes of Robert Lees is a concept album about the Jack the Ripper murders in the East End of London, in 1888.

The album was recorded in Stourport and was co-written with Glenn Leon, lead vocalist of Amen Corner.

Lee explained he had always been fascinated by the Victorian mystery and wanted to make an album that took a different perspective of events.

He added: “Robert Lees was a psychic and everyone thought he was a madman at the time.

“His visions are rumoured to have helped the murder inquiries and apparently he even had sessions with Queen Victoria after her husband Prince Albert died.

“I wanted to look at what happened, as he might have seen it.”

Lee now plans to tour to promote the album and “keep plugging away”.

He told the Shuttle/Times & News: “I feel so lucky to be doing what I love and to have the freedom to make an album like this.

“I just hope it sells!”