1. Philip Bates was born on 30 March 1953 and is an English musician who has been a member of many notable bands, including Trickster and Quill, and was the lead guitarist, songwriter and joint lead vocalist for ELO Part II from 1993 through to 1999 and then its successor band The Orchestra from 2007 to 2011 and both times being replaced by Parthenon Huxley.
Phil Bates was briefly the singer and guitarist for a reunited Move, from 2004 to 2007, under the leadership of ELO and ELO part 2 drummer Bev Bevan.
In 1970, Phil Bates joined Wolverhampton heavy-rock band, JUG, playing several stints at Glasgow's infamous Electric Garden on Sauchiehall Street.
In 1976, Phil Bates put out 'Take to the Mountains' under the name, Billy Phil Bates Company.
In 1981, after Trickster left Jet Records label, Phil Bates moved back to Birmingham and re-joined Quill, where he met his 2nd wife, Josephine, with whom he later formed the band, Don't Panic.
Around the same time, Phil Bates was the featured vocalist on the theme song for The Gladiators TV programme, and featured on several tracks of the accompanying gold-selling album.
In 1993, Phil Bates met up with old friend Kelly Groucutt, who had been ELO bassist, resulting in Phil Bates joining ELO Part 2, replacing Pete Haycock and Neil Lockwood.
In 2007, Phil Bates rejoined his old mates from ELO Part 2 in The Orchestra.
Phil Bates has often appeared live on German, Swiss and Polish TV playing ELO songs.
Phil Bates plays guitar and several other instruments on Les Penning's album Belerion, which was released in December 2016.