Cross Country was formed By Mike McMaster in Teeside in 1984. Initially the band had a female lead singer Nadine Daynes, with Mike McMaster on lead guitar, Vince Holden on rhythm guitar, John Taylor on bass and Joe Bewick on drums. Mike McMaster left his own band in 1985 with Nadine’s boyfriend, Paul Stephenson, coming in on bass and John Taylor moving to lead guitar. This new line up was intended as a temporary measure for an important showcase. For its first two years the band only played local gigs within a 50 mile radius mainly in workingmen’s clubs between the bingo sessions in the north east. John Taylor was keen to tour nationwide and, as a result, Nadine and Paul parted company with the band in 1986. John Taylor switched from lead guitar to rhythm guitar and took over as lead singer. Steve Place came in on lead guitar with Ted Gray on bass. Nadine and Paul (who later married) formed Rebel Rose duo. They were later joined by Dave Wilson and worked as a trio and later a band. Paul and Dave were once in the northeast top band Diablo a very popular piece band who once performed at Wembley Arena.
Cross Country quickly became a very popular Country rock band, a real breath of fresh air playing the very latest songs from the States long before many British Country bands had even heard them. As they started touring extensively for the first time all the major festivals booked them and they regularly played the many US air bases like the popular Rod & Gun club at RAF Lakenheath. They were very well received by US service personnel because their material was so contemporary. They were regularly featured in the British Country Music press and their music was regularly featured on British Country radio. There is no doubt that they were the ‘in demand’ act being booked to support numerous visiting US Country artists including The Bellamy Bros, Tom Paul Glaiser, Albert Lee, Dan Seals, Carl Perkins, Colin Ray, Townes Van Zant, Joe Sun, Little Texas and even our very own Chas & Dave. They were eventually offered a record deal with Way Out West Records but couldn’t agree terms.
By 1994 the band was at the height of its popularity but John Taylor really wanted to play other music genres and he felt that Cross Country had gone as far as it could. Steve Place, Ted Gray, Dave Wilson and Joe Bewick formed a new band at this time called Little Rock which allowed them to continue to earn a living on the traditional Country club circuit. Dave Wilson was the lead vocalist but he left after a couple of years and the band became a trio with Steve Place on lead vocals. Cross Country came off the road in 1995.
With a generous financial incentive from some festival organisers, including one in France, Cross Country reformed in 2005 with the return of John Taylor. During their second period the band constantly featured at festivals and would often be the headline act they day they were on. On one occasion they were on the bill with Mark Chestnut. Little Rock also continued and remained a very popular club act initially with Ted Gray on bass but he retired from the trio in 2009 and was replaced by Derrick Firth (formerly of Dillinger). Ted continued to play with Cross Country until 2011 when he passed away and the band folded.
After the demise of Cross Country John Taylor formed the John Taylor Band which included Steve Place; they won BCMA Band of the Year in 2013 and 2014. Little Rock continued as a trio with Derrick, Steve and Joe and then a duo in 2012 when Joe Bewick retired. Sadly Derrick Firth passed away in 2015 and Chris Ringer came in on bass. Little Rock duo is still performing today. The John Taylor Band folded in December 2014 after which John formed the John P Taylor Band which plays all original material and also has Chris Ringer on bass.
Research by Nick Catford.