Andy Scott

Andrew David Scott (born 30 June 1949) is a Welsh musician and songwriter. He is best known for being the lead guitarist and a backing vocalist in the glam rock band Sweet. Following bassist Steve Priest's death in June 2020, Scott is the last surviving member of the band's classic lineup.

Andy Scott was born on 30 June 1949 in Wrexham, North Wales; his father was a children's entertainer. Scott attended Grove Park School. Scott became acquainted with the guitar when he was a teenager and a family friend, having bought a new guitar, left the old one at Scott's house; he started playing around with it. The first record Scott bought was "The Frightened City" by The Shadows and the first band he saw was The Searchers, who were performing in his home city of Wrexham.

Scott's first gig was at St Peters Hall in Wrexham with The Rasjaks in November 1963. He then performed with other bands in Wales such as Guitars Incorporated and 3Ds.

He moved to guitar and played with other bands including The Saints, The ForeWinds, and The Missing Links. In 1966 he joined The Silverstone Set (later shortened to The Silverstones), who won the TV show Opportunity Knocks five weeks running, and appeared in the all-winners show for Christmas 1966, losing to Freddie Starr. One of their further highlights was to support Jimi Hendrix in Manchester in January 1967.

When The Silverstones split, Scott went on to form The Elastic Band, who recorded an album called Expansions of Life. Lead singer Ted Yeadon left to join Love Affair, however, before the album's release, the band folded. During this time they also recorded the album Pop Sounds, under the name The Cool.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.