JULY 4th, 1952

As the younger of two boys John Charles Waite gives his very first cry in Northern Lancaster in England. Naturally the newly enlarged Waite family of four doesn't yet think about what this little squaller was going to be one day, but due to their unconditional love to the music they unconsciously pave the way in exactly that direction. As a result of that, Waite the 3rd recalls later: „I was always surrounded by music.“
The penchant for traditional Country & Western music seems to be a legacy from his father Colin, who works as a mechanic; his love for classical music, however, John shares rather less. Mother Veronica, who works as a nurse, is the singing, dancing and piano playing part of the family. „John never asked for trouble“, she remembers later on. „He was a quiet child, very independent and honest. He was at art school, though, but music was the only thing he wanted to do. He and Joe were pretty good.“ Waite Junior, however, remembers himself in a less flattering light: „I always did the wrong things“, he says. „For instance, filling the tank with oil instead of gas.“
Probably little John´s head already was full of music at that time...

It´s big brother Joe who finally makes John interested in music. „I´ve got it from him“, the charismatic Brit guy admits. „He was a tremendous guitar player. He was playing all the time, he still does. We shared the same room and beside his bed there stood a Telecaster. Joe showed me some chords. To be honest: I´m not able to play anything perfect. I always watched music with a sense of wonder... I just walk into it!“

„And Joe brought records home of Cliff Richard and The Shadows and many others“, he goes on. „When I was four I had a plastic Mickey Mouse guitar, a Ukulele with four strings on and later on my aunt Doris gave me a bunch of American records and a radiogram (Brit-speak for radio/gramophone) and I used to tune in Radio Luxemburg, with a candle in one hand, because it was the only rock station in Europe. I was fascinated of Elvis, Otis Redding , Leadbelly and Stax Vault. When I was eleven the Beatles happened and from that point it was just Rock´n Roll.“

At the tender age of ten John gets the first chance to experiment on the stage when the singer for his brother´s band didn´t show up. So the first step into musical development is done.

Besides, there is another family member that belongs to the musically ardent family, cousin Michael Deigan, today a well known traditional Swing music banjo player. At that time... „I think after all it was him that influenced me in my final decision to become a musician. He was a highly gifted guitarist, I mean, he was really good. He played me all these country classics when I was about five and I was thrilled of all these wonderful, American songs. Michael was a kinda crazy guy, his influence on me was huge. We attended the same school, and he lived with my grandmother. He was artistically exceptionally gifted as well. A real prodigy.“

„In England at that time there was only Rock´n Roll. That was before the Stones came“, John knows. „Michael was an art student. Like everybody that didn´t play in a band. Either you´ve been in a band or you were studying art. That simple. As for me I always had a penchant for art, as well as for Rock´n Roll. So when I studied art later on it was like a completion to Rock´n Roll.“

In the course of the years John´s original career plans for being a children´s book illustrator disappear slowly but surely. The music has got him firmly under control. But he hasn´t given up painting till this day. (A self portrait was hanging on the walls of the Hard Rock Café in Chicago)

Photo Credit  Joe Bangay

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