Rod Demick is one of the United Kingdom's top sidemen. In addition to stints with the David Essex Band, the Strawbs, the Jim McCarty Band, and Bees Make Honey, Demick has played bass for Dr. John, Guitar Shorty, George Mojo Buford, Ron Kavana, Terry Woods, Taj Mahal, Snooky Pryor, and Clarence Gatemouth Brown. Along with lead guitarist Herbie Armstrong, he backed Screaming Lord Sutch on a six-month European tour in 1970.

Demick first worked with lead guitarist Armstrong in the Wheels, a pop/rock band originally based in Belfast. Relocating with the band to London in 1964, they continued to build on their partnership. When the group disbanded in 1967, they began writing songs together, releasing a single, I Forgot to Give You Love b/w The Truth About It, as the James Brothers. As members of Screaming Lord Sutch's group, they toured Europe for six months in 1970. Upon their return to England, they recruited vocalist Gordon Smith, keyboardist David Watkins, and drummer Tony Knight and launched Demick Armstrong. Together for two years, the band released two memorable studio albums -- Little Willie Ramble and Looking Through -- before disbanding in 1973.

A native of the small city of Presatyn in northern Wales, Demick moved to Belfast at the age of five. Teaching himself to play gospel tunes on the ukulele, by the age of nine he switched to the guitar, shortly before joining his first band, the Vibros, in 1958. He continued to play with the band for another three years after they changed their name to the Telstars in 1960. Invited to join Belfast-based pub rockers the Wheels, which included Armstrong, in 1963, Demick remained with the group after it relocated to England in 1965. Although they scored with a rendition of Gloria that became a minor hit, the Wheels disbanded in 1967. Although he quickly joined a new group, Bees Make Honey, after the Wheels broke up, Demick reunited with Armstrong when they formed Yellow Dog in 1978. The same year, Demick recorded an album, Take Away, with Tex-Mex band Meal Ticket.

Demick has continued to seek new outlets for his music. He recorded two albums -- What a Blow and Village Voice -- and toured the United States as opening act for Dire Straits with British vocalist/guitarist Ian Gomm. The 1980s were a fruitful time for Demick, who juggled his schedule between working with the David Essex Band and the Strawbs, whom he joined in 1985. When a conflict arose in 1990, he opted to continue with the Strawbs. He also played with a blues band, Turkey Leg Johnson, that featured other Strawbs members.

Demick's connection to the blues continued when he joined with Paul Lamb and Johnny Whitehill of the Blues Burglars to form the Paul Lamb Blues Band. Although they toured France, Demick was prevented from full-time commitment by his involvement with the Strawbs. Between 1988-1992, Demick worked in a variety of bands with former Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty, including the Top Topham-Jim McCarty Band and the Jim McCarty Group. In 1992, he joined McCarty, Chris Dreja, and "Detroit" John Idon for a series of reunion concerts celebrating the election of the Yardbirds into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Leaving the Strawbs in 1999, Demick went on to become a member of the Kingsnakes. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi