Kevin began his musical life on Charlie Gillett's Oval Records in 1981 with his own band Local Heroes SW9.

After two albums, his career began thriving as a writer, producer, bandleader and above all, a bullet-proof guitarist. Most notably, Kevin met David Bowie in late 1984, and worked with him on various projects including putting together his band and performing at the legendary Live Aid show at Wembley in July 1985, adding to the first Tin Machine lineup and co-writing songs including the title song for Bowie's Outside 1 album.

David Bowie introduced Kevin to Iggy Pop as guitarist on the the 1986 album Blah Blah Blah and Kevin became Iggy's bandleader in 86/87. He put together Iggy's touring band again from 2014 until 2019.

He has 4 decades of unique and wholly incomparable experience working with some of the biggest names in music

Kevin has worked with Morrissey, Grace Jones, Sinéad O’Connor, Prefab Sprout, Thomas Dolby, Transvision Vamp Brian Eno, Paul McCartney, Sandie Shaw, Gil Evans, Alien Sex Fiend, Keziah Jones and many many more.

In the Post-Covid19 world Kevin is concentrating on studio collaborations and releasing his own work.

VISIT WISHING TREE STUDIOS

Kevin's memoir

BOOK LAUNCH

Absolute Beginner

Pre-order now available

'Kevin does what I pretend to do. Kevin’s a proper musician.’ - David Bowie

Growing up in a world of punk squats and the London pub-rock scene, suburban rookie guitarist Kevin Armstrong found himself signed to EMI as a solo artist in the early 80s, but fate had other plans for him, his life and career changing in an instant when he was called for a studio date with an unnamed star at Abbey Road.

That unnamed star was soon revealed to be David Bowie, and that afternoon’s recording catapulted this unlikely lad onto the world’s grandest stages alongside some of the biggest names in the business. Kevin has gone on to carve out a singular career as a producer, songwriter, and guitarist, touring and recording with everyone from Grace Jones to Paul McCartney, Iggy Pop to Roy Orbison, Sandie Shaw to Alien Sex Fiend.

Absolute Beginner is the story of what it takes to survive as a self-taught musician. It provides an honest and funny glimpse into the backstage world of the artists Kevin has worked with, and is packed with acerbic, laugh-out-loud observations on popular music and musicians from someone who has had a prime seat at the high table of rock’n’roll for more than forty years.