About John-Luke Shelley & High Speed Steel

John-Luke Shelley - Lead Guitarist, Lead Vocals

John-Luke Shelley didn't know he could play music until five years ago. He was 16 years old and had started listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan. From then on he was convinced that the blues was his love and passion. This was when John-Luke picked up a guitar for the first time ever - his Dad's - and found he could strum the melody, instantly and instinctively. John-Luke was naturally hooked. Two years ago John-Luke also discovered his singing voice, an additional way to express the music in his soul.

Inspirations are BB King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Johnny Lang, Pete Cornelius, Dave Hole, Jimmy Hendrix ... the list goes on. But JL's idol, the talent he aspires to, is still Stevie Ray Vaughan.

John-Luke has located many Australian guitarists to learn from and play with - Tim Hancock (supported the Monkeys), Chris Wilson, Jason Tinker (ex Lee Kernighan guitarist), Shannon Bourne, Mike Elrington and Brett Wood (Thirdstone). One of his favourite guitars is the one signed by the legendary Ian Moss, guitarist for Cold Chisel.

John-Luke has played from Southern NSW through the Albury area, North East Victoria, in Melbourne and he currently plays regularly in and around Geelong and Melbourne. He plays his own brand of rocking blues with his band High Speed Steel, in his duo with dad Brett Shelley, or as a guest artist with other bands. He also currently features as the lead guitarist/vocalist in the new line-up in the Melbourne band Synergy Blue. Festival highlights to date include the Thredbo Blues Festival 2008, where he did an unscheduled performance, Bluestone Festival 2008 and the inaugural Homestead Blues Festival. Upcoming festivals include the Maldon Folk Festival 2008 and Echuca Winter Blues 2008.

In 2006 John-Luke was the youngest guitarist to feature in the Fender Invitational, a ten-guitarist performance to celebrate Fender's 60th anniversary.

John-Luke plays rock to blues and celebrates a great ballad. As music is his lifeblood he is 'driven' to exercise his blues passion. John-Luke - now five years on and very accomplished - is heavily booked and is the guitarist that other musicians want to listen to and make music with!

Pete Anderson - Bass Guitar

Pete Anderson (world's fourth best bass player) has been honing his bass skills for more than 20 years. Pete is an important facet in High Speed Steel's high energy rocking blues style, underpinning the music with oomph and grounding.

A dedicated and accomplished musician Pete has been an integral part of a number of bands including King Biscuits, Blue Sheiks, Blunatic, Electra, Unsetters, One Way Out and Megan Smith and the Blue Sapphires. Pete also currently plays with the Blues Reverends, a well-known Geelong band.

Pete cites in his list of influencing musicians Tommy Shannon (Stevie Ray Vaughan band), Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Reed, Keith Urban and Sunny Boy Wilson.

Jared Shay - Drums

Jared has been drummer for High Speed Steel for over a year and has been playing drums for eight years although still only 20 years old. Although softly spoken he is a passionate rhythmic craftsmen when playing in the band. Prior to playing in High Speed Steel Jared was drummer for Jealous Elliot.

Mike Portnoy, Marco Minnemann, and Thomas Lang are Jared's biggest influences. His ultimate percussion goal is to not have any technical or mental obstructions that prevent him from expressing himself on the drums, while enhancing and contributing to High Speed Steels interpretation of rocking blues. He often features as a soloist and accompanist around Geelong.

A Geelong resident he is currently a student at University of Melbourne where he is studying for an Arts Degree, majoring in computer science.

Brett Shelley - Guitar

Brett is the "ultimate technician" of the group. Brett's instrumental technique sets the bar very high for a quality, dynamic sound from the other members of High Speed Steel. But, he is also very happy to let loose with forceful power, matching and driving stunning riffs with John-Luke. Not surprising is that he is John-Luke's very youthful father, and music mentor!

Whilst living in North East Victoria for many years Brett gigged the local music scene as a Blues based duo with Joe Kirley, and also as a Folk/Blues trio in the Albury district with founding members of High Speed Steel, Tim Hancock and John-Luke Shelley.

Brett has been playing guitar for more than 20 years. Basically self-taught, apart from few lessons with respected Geelong musician Paul Carrigg, Brett nominates Roy Buchanan, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler and Rory Gallagher as his prime influences.