Andy Pyle (born c. 1946, Luton, England) is an English bass guitarist. He played with the Kinks from 1976–1978. Prior to that, he was in Blodwyn Pig (1968–1972) and Savoy Brown (1972–1974). Later, he played with Wishbone Ash (1986–87, 1991–93).

Career

Pyle began playing with the band McGregors Engine in his home town of Luton, Bedfordshire, in 1967. He then joined Blodwyn Pig, which included Mick Abrahams, who had left Jethro Tull in 1968.^[1] After Blodwyn Pig split, Pyle joined Juicy Lucy (which included Micky Moody, later of Whitesnake) and Savoy Brown, as well as sessioning for Rod Stewart on his 1971 album Every Picture Tells a Story.

In 1975/76 Pyle spent a year recording and touring with former Ten Years After guitarist Alvin Lee, before joining the Kinks in 1977 for a two-year period of touring and recording, with Pyle featured on the albums Sleepwalker and Misfits. In 1980 Pyle worked with Thin Lizzy guitarist Gary Moore, before joining Chicken Shack for live work during the mid eighties.

Following the departure of Mervyn Spence, Pyle was offered the vacant bass position in Wishbone Ash early in 1986. An intensive period of touring followed – including appearances in Russia in 1987 – before Pyle stepped aside to allow for the reformation of the original Wishbone Ash line-up. Andy Powell and Pyle remained close friends and continued to collaborate on song material – Pyle is featured as co-writer of the Strange Affair title track. Pyle, meanwhile, joined Gary Moore once again and appeared on 1990s million selling Still Got the Blues album.

In 1991 Pyle rejoined Wishbone Ash in the wake of Martin Turner's second split with the band. A two-year period of live work followed, as documented on 1992's The Ash Live in Chicago.

More recently, Pyle has performed as a member of original Uriah Heep member Ken Hensley's band, appearing on the album Running Blind (2002). He also played in a one-off concert by Ken Hensley and John Wetton, which was filmed and recorded for the live DVD release More Than Conquerors (2002).

References