12a

12A drummer Mark Gleeson started musical life with a drum kit on a remote rural property near the New South Wales/Victoria border. After shying away from the routine of piano lessons, the rhythm of the drums seemed far more appealing. The venture was directionless until Mark moved to the small community of Cootamundra in New South Wales and fell into an opportunity with a local band, Torque, where he played locally for a couple of years before Torque disbanded as the various members moved to other locations. Mark met Canadian guitarist Steve McCormack after returning to Wagga Wagga from a 2 year sojourn overseas. Steve’s influences included the sounds of James Taylor and John Fogerty, worlds apart from Mark’s Police and Foo Fighters attraction. Steve was playing around Wagga, displaying his mastery of the guitar and harmonica, and entertaining crowds with his sweet, melodic vocals. Nothing came from this junction until the two were at a local pub, and their friend Craig Hiscock announced that he was going to sing an AC/DC track on the karaoke. The boys thought this would be good for a laugh. What they did know was that Craig came from a rugby league background, being signed by the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks before his career was cruelly cut short by knee injuries. What they didn’t expect was that Craig would soon have the pub under his spell as he gave a faultless rendition of ‘Thunderstruck’. At this point the seed was sown, and the three began to practice, write and perform under the 12A banner. A fullness of sound was still needed, and a bass player was required. David Saxon was a trombone player. His list of accomplishments was long, having played in Big Bands, Concert Bands, Traditional Jazz Bands and Rock Bands, along with a 5 year stint in the Australian Army as a trombone player. One of David’s greatest highlights was playing at the ‘French Quarter Jazz Fest’ on Bourbon Street, New Orleans in 2000 and 2001. However it wasn’t until the day that David strapped on the bass guitar, to replace an absent stage band member, that the pieces began to fit. David took up the invitation to join 12A, giving it the element that was lacking. Since that time it has been a regime of practice and gigs for the boys before they stepped into the recording studio to lay down a number of demo tracks in mid-2010. The future promises more gigs, writing and recording, as 12A’s hectic schedule drives them into 2011. Twelve A