| Neil Carter | |
| Landscape: | yes |
| Background: | solo_singer |
| Birth Name: | Neil Andrew Carter |
| Birth Date: | 11 May 1958 |
| Birth Place: | Bedfont, Middlesex, England |
| Instrument: | Vocals, guitar, clarinet, saxophone, keyboard, flute, bassoon, bass guitar |
| Genre: | classical music, jazz, hard rock, heavy metal |
| Occupation: | Musician, songwriter, examiner |
| Associated Acts: | UFO, Wild Horses, Gary Moore |
| Website: | Official website |
Neil Andrew Carter (born 11 May 1958) is an English musician who has worked in diverse genres throughout his career. Classically trained, he became a professional rock musician at the age of 17 and initially had his first "mainstream" experience with singer-songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan. He subsequently played guitar and keyboard for the hard rock band UFO (from 1980 until their first breakup in 1983), guitarist Gary Moore, and Wild Horses. He is credited for co-writing a number of Gary Moore's songs including the worldwide hit "Empty Rooms". At 30 he left the rock world and developed a different career as a of woodwind (saxophone and clarinet). 2010 saw an unexpected return to rock with Gary Moore, playing festivals across Europe and a tour of Ukraine and Russia. Future tours and a Celtic rock album were to follow but this was curtailed by the death of Gary Moore in February 2011.
On 30 April 2019, it was announced that he would return to UFO for their 'Last Orders' tour, following the death of Paul Raymond with Carter replacing Raymond. The tour began in June 2019 in Germany and continued into 2022 after being postponed from 2020 due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Following this tour, UFO called it quits once again in April 2024.[1]
Carter taught at Brighton College, from January 1993 holding the position of "Head of Woodwind and Brass".[2] He taught one-on-one lessons on clarinet and saxophone. Carter was the conductor of the school Concert Band, and the school Saxophone Ensemble and led the School's Swing Band.[3]