Stephen Housden

Stephen Housden is a gifted guitarist well known for his many years playing and recording with Little River Band.

He has also played/recorded with such music legends as Warren Zevon, Glenn Frey,, Dr. John, Christopher Cross, John Entwhistle (The Who), Renee Geyer, P.F Sloan, Albert Lee, Steve Cropper, The Seekers, Noel Redding (The Jimi Hendrix Experience) and many, many others.

Soon after moving to Australia from the UK Stephen started learning guitar and took inspiration from Hank B. Marvin and Chuck Berry. Hendrix and Wes Montgomery became influences and as Stephen worked hard on his technique he also strived to develop his own distinctive style.

That style brought him to the attention of some of Australia’s most successful recording acts and over the coming years Stephen was highly sought after as a band member and recording session player. Some of the Australia stars Stephen worked with during this time were Marcia Hines, John Farnham, James Reyne, Joe Camilleri, Mark Hunter, The Bushwhackers, Doug Ashdown, Brian Cadd, Mark Williams, Doug Parkinson and Richard Clapton.

Stephen also played on various advertising jingles and film soundtracks including the international blockbuster Crocodile Dundee.

In August 1981 Stephen was asked to join one of the world’s most successful acts, Little River Band, as their lead guitarist. He toured the world many times with them and co-wrote many of their songs including their Australia Top 10 hit, Love Is A Bridge.

Over the years Stephen has conducted music theory and improvisation seminars for guitarists, and written columns for magazines such as Sonics and Australian Musician. He has also toured schools with his highly successful one-man show The Evolution of Rock Guitar.

In 1993 he released his first solo instrumental album New World Groove. The opening track Celtic Warrior has been featured on the TV series Baywatch.

In 1999 Stephen and his family moved to Cork, Ireland. Long inspired by Irish music, Stephen now enjoys the opportunity to play with some of Ireland’s top musicians including a feature on Paddy Keenan’s Long Grazing Acre CD.

In 2006 Stephen hosted Top Of The Fret, a DVD series released around the World featuring interviews with guitar legends including James Burton, Duane Eddy ad Steve Cropper.

Aside from his solo work Stephen has a duo, DreamBeam, with flautist; Margaret Kennedy and also a trio; Kings Of Kudos. Both acts focus on his original music.

Stephen is currently putting the final touches a new solo album, West of Everywhere. The songs are all original collaborations with writer/poet Frank Howson. The album is inspired by times spent in America and records the ruminations of the outsider adrift in that vast country.