Robbie Freeburn born in Craigavon Northern Ireland serves as lead guitarist for Christian rock band Reedstar. He is one of the founding members of Reedstar.
Robbie’s first interest in guitar came from his dad when he was 11 or 12 years old who used to play Simon & Garfunkel tunes on a slightly battered ovation acoustic.
After purchasing his first album ‘Appetite for Destruction’ the scene was set to knuckle down and learn everything he could on his long term ‘borrowed’ well worn Marlin Strat which later changed to a PRS. Influences like Metallica and ACDC fueled the need for rock riffage and probably his favourite and most influential band Pearl Jam inspiring a much more versitile lead guitar sound, bluesy in nature and feel orientated. Some people have described his playing style as similar to the edge alhough U2 were never an inluence on his guitar playing. Robbie joked “people used to say i sounded like the edge but i think they were duped by the hat i was wearing at the time”
Robbie’s first band was called ‘Overload’ led by front man ‘Sticky’ Gary Anderson with John McMullan on Drums, Jamie Addis on Bass and Robbie Freeburn playing lead guitar. The band disbanded shortly after recording their first EP.
‘Reed’ was the second band that Robbie was involved with. With Gary Anderson as front man Neil Guiney rhythm/BVs Nik Anderson drums and Gareth Proctor playing Bass. Reed was formed initally to raise money for a mini bus for a church in albainia. With Anderson and Guiney providing the song material the band set about writing musical riffs and melodies for their first ever live performance which was recorded and released as an album.The band sucessefully funded the provision of the mini bus but disbanded
due to work and family commitments.
After ‘Reed’ had disbanded Guiney and Freeburn decided to reform the band introducing Lewis Woods on bass and Nicky Williamson on rhythm guitar with Guiney taking over as front man. Robbie said “with Woods playing bass and Williamson playing his crazy noises the band started to take a a whole new dynamic”
After sometime Lewis Woods left the band to be replaced by Timmy ‘Lee’ Proctor who added a new dimension to Reedtstars ever expanding musical horizons. Robbie commented “he plays guitar like bruce lee does kung fu.. come to think of it he looks a little like bruce..”
Apart from playing in various bands Robbie has been playing guitar in christian worship since he could strum out a few chords and attended Nexus Academy of Music Coventry for a 1 year intensive guitar tuition and worship leadership course. He has played many venues all over the world from the Kings Hall in Northern Ireland to an Olyimpic Stadium in the Ukraine, and has played with many christian artists such as Johnny Parks and Tim Hughes.
