Band Biogs
Mark Radcliffe (Vocals & Slide Guitar)Radio 2's Mark Radcliffe has spent his life talking in between records on the radio in order to avoid working for a living. He has been playing in bands since he was fourteen and has yet to achieve the massive success he misguidedly believes he deserves. He did get into the charts with The Shirehorses with Marc 'Lard' Riley in his Radio 1 days, and still gigs regularly with his folk rock band The Family Mahone, with whom he has made three albums.
He is the author of four books, his fourth 'Reeling in the Years' having been published in Spring 2011. He lives in Cheshire where he continues to work for a lasting peace in the Northwich area. His favourite colour is purple and he enjoys real ale, Manchester City, fine cheeses and extreme limbo.
PJ 'Shimmy' Walmsley (Treble Guitar)PJ has been unable to shake off Mark as a 'friend' since they met at Manchester University in 1976, where their legendary double act 'Ridiculous and Jones' soon became legendary on account of being legends (in their hall of residence bar anyway). A native of rock city Poulton-Le-Fylde, PJ's guitarist influences are Keith Richard, Pete Townshend, Chuck Berry and particularly Wilko Johnson of the great original Dr Feelgood - a band which is the inspiration for The Big Figures. PJ also plays in classic rock band The Firm,along with drummer Andy Hyams.
Now resident in Longton near Preston, PJ lives on a ramshackle smallholding
with his lovely postal Thai bride, Ethel, where they breed rare newts, make their own dock leaf chutney and weave their own yoghurt. Notoriously 'careful' with his cash, PJ hops on alternate feet to his local pub to save on re-soling costs.
"Go-Go" Johnny Jobson (Harmonica)An eccentric billionaire having made a fortune from the protective clothing industry, Johnny can often be seen wandering around his native Preston in a teflon boiler suit complete with reactalite incontinence attachments. He played for many years in a big soul band called The Commandments where he was featured on sax, having been inspired to take up the instrument by the records of Jr Walker. He is a master of the blues harp and has been particularly influenced by Paul Jones of The Blues Band. He played for many years with PJ in Preston's fourth best R'n'B band, Lights Out.
When not playing music Johnny likes to sample the guest ales at his local, visit steam railways and continues to be an enthusiastic break-dancer. He broke a vase and a pane of glass in the patio door last month alone.
Cameron Sweetnam (Bass)Born in Carlisle in 1958, Cameron comes from sturdy hill farming stock and to this day often spends nights out foraging for truffles. A top flight bass player, he has been a regular fixture on the North West blues scene for many years with such bands as The Upsetters, The Stumble, Lights Out and The Dirty Hat Band. As well as being in The Big Figures he is also a member of The Roads (formerly the Fugazis).
Cameron's day job involves fitting carpets and that explains the numerous carpet burns to be seen around his body (or that's what he tells the wife anyway). He is a keen Preston North End fan, enjoys whitewater rafting through the sewerage system of Preston in his spittle and lolly stick coracle, and was once hit in the face by Mark with a turnip to prove that other vegetables apart from onions can make you cry.
Andy Hyams (Drums)The mystery man of the group, Andy rarely speaks although this may be due to the fact that he cannot stand any of the other members. He is believed to dwell in a hobbit-style burrow in the Leyland area where his rhythmic poundings echo from deep underground. He played for several years with PJ in The Resonators and now the two of them play in classic rock band The Firm. Other than this, little is known of the mystery man who remains a mystery on account of the mystery that surrounds him. His sparkly drums are by Mapex. His sparkly waistcoats by Matalan.
