Lloyd Watson

Lloyd Watson (born Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, England) is an English rock and blues guitarist.

Born to a Jamaican father and an English mother, Watson's early influences covered the whole spectrum of both black and white music. From an early age he showed a musical talent, initially for the piano, but then for the guitar and astounded fellow schoolmates at Deacon's Grammar School with his performance in the Annual House Competitions.

Self-taught on guitar, Watson quickly emerged as a talented and enthusiastic performer on the circuit in and around the Cambridgeshire town of Peterborough with his band, Lloyd Watson and the Soul Mates. Watson was an early adopter of the wah-wah pedal and one Saturday afternoon in the late 1960s the Soul Mates brought Peterborough traffic to a halt playing Cream's 'Sunshine of Your Love' and various Hendrix numbers on the steps of Peterborough's ancient Guild Hall in Cathedral Square (observed personally).

In 1972, Watson won the solo category of the coveted Melody Maker Folk/Rock competition and two days later appeared on The Old Grey Whistle Test. Following his success, he went on to open shows for David Bowie and did two British tours, one supporting King Crimson and the other one for Roxy Music. A European tour for Roxy Music then followed. When asked by Eno to play on Here Come The Warm Jets, Watson then played the majority of the guitar parts for Roxy Music's sax player Andy Mackay's solo album In Search of Eddie Riff. The Roxy Music connection continued when Watson joined the Phil Manzanera spin off group called 801, who released one of the best live albums ever, according to many press reports, entitled 801 Live.