Biograghy

When a reluctant 12-year old Jon Randle was dragged ‘kicking and screaming' to a Level 42 concert in 1986, little did he know the experience was one that would change his life for ever. Jon began his musical career playing guitar, but soon realised it was the bass that was his real passion.

Inspired by bass driven pop tunes of the late 80s, Jon decided to learn to play bass in 1989 and it is with this instrument that he has been making his mark ever since.

Jon's first outings as a semi-pro bass player saw him playing with a couple of local pub bands, neither of which went anywhere, other than to the pub! Then, in 1992, Jon's bass playing career was put on hold for a four-year stint in the Army, a career that saw him ‘fighting for buns in the Naafi', as his dad was often prone to remark!

His Army days over, Jon once again picked up his beloved bass. Following a series of lessons with Mansfield-based Dave Shields, best known as the bass player on Aztec Camera's number 18 hit Oblivious, Jon joined Stained Glass, a Nottingham based four-piece playing pop and rock covers to pub and club audiences across the UK. The line-up included Jon's brother Nick on drums and Carl Axon on guitar, who later joined Dr and the Medics along with Jon. In 1999, the Revd Clive Jackson, aka The Doctor, decided on a new line up for his infamous Medics, and Jon's playing career was to take a different turn.

Since then, Jon has been driving the Medics along with pulsating bass and has developed a unique style of playing which has helped to stamp his signature well and truly onto the Medics' sound. Best known for their 2.4 million selling number 1 hit ‘Spirit in the Sky', and their Top 30 hit ‘Burn', the Medics regularly play to sell-out theatre audiences and festival goers, as well as boasting a healthy following of die-hard Medics' fans and lovers of 80s pop music. And, since the new line-up was established in 1999, the Medics have become renowned across the UK and Europe as a top live band.

In 2009 Jon decided to broaden his playing experience further by joining Go!Reload, a funky foursome featuring Dan Tompkins, lead vocals, Gavin Lewis on guitar and vocals and Mike Bell on drums and vocals. The band's ever-expanding set list includes some of the liveliest and least expected ‘covers' spanning four decades.