John Halliwell

Biography

Guitarist for TEN, Kage and Enzign. John Halliwell’s passion for the electric guitar began the moment he attended his first rock concert — Van Halen supporting Black Sabbath at Manchester Apollo in May 1978. That night lit a spark that never went out. In the years that followed, he drew inspiration from some of rock and metal’s most iconic players, including James Hetfield, Dave Mustaine, and Tony Iommi, later broadening his influences to include blues greats such as Gary Moore and Bernie Marsden. In the early 1990s, John formed the Manchester-based band KAGE with Ged Rylands and Mark Sumner, quickly building a reputation on the local rock circuit. His next major opportunity came in the summer of 1996, when his friend Pete Dutton — who was in the studio during the recording of Ten’s first two albums (X and The Name of the Rose) — recommended John to Gary Hughes and Vinny Burns, who were assembling a live band lineup. Gary already knew of John’s talent; Kage had previously supported Gary’s band Big Bad Wolf, and he’d been impressed with John’s playing. Shortly afterward, John was invited to Startracks Studios, where Gary was finishing what would become the first Ten album. The first track John heard, “Lamb to the Slaughter,” left a lasting impression — he was blown away by the songwriting and musicianship. He recalls sitting in a car outside the studio with Bruce Mee of Now & Then Records, listening to rough mixes and being asked if he wanted to join. “Are you kidding, mate? I’m in!” came the answer. With Ten also looking for a keyboard player, John suggested his Kage bandmate Ged Rylands, who soon joined as well — marking the start of a long and celebrated era in Ten’s history. Outside of Ten, John continued to pursue his musical ambitions, forming the band Enzign, who released their debut album Cast the First Stone in 2003. Combining technical skill, expressive tone, and decades of experience, John Halliwell remains a vital part of the melodic rock scene — a guitarist whose journey began with one unforgettable night of pure rock inspiration.