Lymington teacher turns rocker

By Victoria Bartlett
BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight

The comeback rockers will tour again "as long as it is in school holidays!"

A music teacher from Priestlands School in Lymington is practising what he teaches by releasing a debut album.

Steve Owers, 47, who also teaches bass guitar and Rockschool at Romsey school and Totton College, sings in a rock band called The Psychics.

The album has received critical acclaim from radio stations and magazines across Europe.

The CD sold out on three online sites on its first day of release, which Steve finds "unbelievable".

Success of The Psychics

Steve said: "The pleasure of doing this album was that I wasn't taking it too seriously, because I'm pretty ancient and very happy in life. The fact it's done so well is a real bonus and has surprised me."

"I can honestly say it was a 'toe in the water' and is the first album I've performed as a vocalist, which was challenging. I got fed up with working with other high-maintenance singers so just decided to do it myself!"

Steve, along with his identical twin Mark, form the core of The Psychics on guitar and vocals. They are joined by long-standing friend, Ian Corlett, on bass and John Manners, also a music teacher at Priestlands, on drums.

It is nice for my students to see that if you stick with it you can make a living out of music Steve Owers Music teacher and lead singer of The Psychics

Steve said: "We are amazed at the reaction the album has got.

"We are getting calls from all over Europe asking for interviews and signings.

"Now we are talking about tour dates and festivals for next year, but we have to keep telling people we can only do these in the school holidays!'"

Head of Music at Priestlands, Phillip Dowd, said: "As a school specialising in music and drama it is wonderful to be able to show young people that playing an instrument can be a career option. We are very lucky that we have teachers who are real working musicians too."

Musical career

Steve has been involved with music professionally since the age of 18 - playing with "countless bands".

He had success with a band called Lionsheart in terms of sales in Europe and Japan, but Steve and his brother left that group behind them years ago and took a break from the rock scene.

In the interim Steve turned to teaching: "I got into it when I got married and had children and thought I should get a proper job!

"But I really love working with young people who are so enthusiastic about music."

A couple of years ago The Psychics were created so that he could still transform into a rocker at the weekends.

They released their debut album in Japan first because of the previous positive reactions they had experienced there.

Steve added: "They are more into rock than in the UK - they are more upfront than we are and will promote everything equally."

This plan seems to have worked and word-of-mouth appears to be spreading: "This is the first thing I've done for about 15 years and these have been the best reviews for any work I've done - particularly for this country."

School of Rock

The band's music is likened to Whitesnake and Iron Maiden

Steve teaches Rockschool on Wednesday evenings, which is a nationwide scheme aiming to bring the best in pop and rock into mainstream education.

It offers pop music exams up to grade eight in guitar, bass, drums, piano and vocals.

Its syllabuses are designed to develop a whole range of skills that reflect the realistic requirements of being a musician in today's world.

Steve likes to keep this going alongside his new-found personal success: "It is nice for my students to see that if you stick with it you can do something in the music business and make a living out of music.

"It's also good for them to work together in a band, and find out that creative goals are as achievable as the academic ones."

"Plus I've already had former students support us in gigs, which is great fun!"