Roger Niven

Guitars & Vocals

Roger is one of the foremost guitarists in the North of Scotland, equally at home playing rock, jazz or classical guitar.

Roger first started playing in bands in the late 60s, first in Caithness and later Aberdeen. He performed with several R&B, Soul and Progressive rock bands, including the wonderfully named Spiggy Topes whose claim to fame was they were the first UK band to tour the Faroe Islands.

He turned professional with his band A Million People and moved to London where he cut his teeth on the pub and club circuit there, performing at the likes of the Speakeasy and the Marquee Club. Despite building a steady following and receiving good reviews in the music press the band eventually split in 1975, after which Roger returned north.

In the eighties Roger took up the classical guitar and has been a serious student of the instrument ever since. In 1994 he gained the London Guildhall School of Music Teaching Diploma in the instrument and for 8 years he organised the Scottish International Guitar Festival in Inverness. He has had master-classes with some of the best guitarists in the world, including David Russell and Vladimir Mikulka..

His versatility has been evident for all to see having played in rock bands such as The Missiles, Wounded Knee, in Latitude 57 a salsa group he helped form in Inverness with Coca Tenorio and later in the jazz quintet Four on Six. Roger was also in the early line-up for Wolfstone and recorded an album with former Yes songwriter, David Foster.

His musical influences include the Beatles, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, David Russell, Miles Davis, Steely Dan. Pat Metheny, Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, Hendrix, Bach and Dowland.

Roger is passionate about guitars and in Twisted Blues he plays a Gibson Les Paul, a Gibson 335 and a PRS Custom 24.

 Amplification: Cornell Romany Pro and a Mesa Boogie MK4.