Gong, Cat Stevens, The Byrds, Hawkwind, Ozric Tentacles, CSNY, Mamas and Papas, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Led Zepp, Pink Floyd, Richie Havens, Arlo Guthrie, Steve Hillage, The Who, The Doors, Here & Now, Melanie, Canned Heat, Steeleye Span, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Incredible String Band, Daevid Allen, Syd Barrett, 13th Floor Elevators, Janis Joplin, Caravan, Rain Parade, Frank Zappa, Jefferson Airplane, Tim Blake, Sandy Denny, The Seeds, Fairport Convention, Bonzo Dog Band, The Beatles, Love, Country Joe & The Fish, Santana, Joni Mitchell, Small Faces, Dukes of Stratosphear, The White Noise, Sly & the Family Stone...
Sounds Like
Try the player on the right-hand side of the page, or - for more ambient spacey soundscapes - try clicking on this link to John's CARBON LOGIC webpage.
You could also do worse than check out the (Alias) John Riley page at:
Then a young man in his teens, Riley was producing a huge repertoire of self-penned songs and sound-collages, influenced by the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and Pink Floyd - to name but a few. He managed to combine playing in regular pop/rock combos such as Seven Sisters, with setting his sights on a possible post-band solo career.
His vision followed the lines of the sixties/seventies pop heroes and heroines that he so admired. Indeed, the name 'John Riley' came to him from a traditional folk song, brought to life by The Byrds, on their glorious Fifth Dimension album.
In the song, a sailor who has been at sea for 'ten long years' (like 'Martin Guerre'), returns to his true-love - who has been waiting for him all this time. But he decides to test her love for him by pretending that he himself is a new fancy. In this way, he is able to discover whether she has taken another love in his absence, and/or whether her love for him remains strong. Finally he admits to her that he is her 'long lost John Riley', and the story ends - happily ever after, we hope...
Unfortunately Riley's band career collapsed in 1987, along with part of his soul. (Crikey!)
To quote from one of his songs:
"I can't see through the storm that's passing overhead,
All I know is that I'm feeling almost dead,
So many paths forward, so many ways back
I don't know which one to choose I'll just follow this track."
Much intensive studio recording work however, meant that in 1988 (Alias) John Riley was able to release two 'seminal' albums; PRECARIOUS FLAMINGO and HARD FRUIT.
These collections included songs for a generation of Thatcher's children. 'In the Light of the Sun', for example, alluded to the impending environmental crisis that was then being realised by many people. Other compositions such as 'Computerised Doom' and 'Skinheads in Uniform' toyed with images of the seedier sides of the Hi-Tech revolution and the national security force in Britain. John Riley had always been a rebel, and now was the time for him to speak out!
At the same time though, as with most artists and musicians, there was a lighter side to his work. This sunnier, happy-go-luckiness was exemplified in songs like 'Belladonna Baby' and 'Supper in the Morning'. Overall, this was Riley at his best. A peak in his initial artistic career.
Almost a year later, Riley was invited to record two of his 'Hard Fruit' songs at an anonymous London studio. 'The Headhunter's Song' and 'Belladonna Baby' were once again put to the test, this time with a drum-machine backbeat. The session turned into a superb EP - eponymously titled 'Easter Egg' - which Riley intended for release that year, but which never made it to the record shelves.
With the split of Seven Sisters still weighing heavily on his mind and with alternative career choices bearing down upon him, John swung away from his musical options, in favour of a life away from it all, in the West Country - Devon.
"He barely touched his guitar", one friend was quoted as saying. "He wanted a new life, in new surroundings - where people couldn't hurt him, and where he couldn't hurt them."
Art - painting, sculpture, printmaking etc. - became his sole purpose. He developed an almost 'pious' approach to life, and followed strict routines, broken only when he felt relaxed enough to be able to laugh at the world.
(Phew, heavy stuff...)
Circumstances being as they were, after two years a move back to Surrey ensued.
All the while, our hero had been occasionally strumming with friends and playing them his recordings. They liked his songs and tried to encourage him back to his musical path, but he wasn't ready yet, he couldn't face the idea of anyone appreciating him for his musical ability.
Riley joined bands and left bands, mostly playing bass. He felt unfulfilled, and a little mis-placed. This was, until he came across The Weedkillers, in mid-1993.
"I fell into it really", he says. "Not like a hole; more like an offer I couldn't refuse. The bass player dropped out of a recording and they called me in at the last minute. I was going-out with the Tin-Whistler at the time, so it stood to reason that I should help out."
"I played in a couple of other bands that year too; Temporal Unison and Blackcat Bone were good, and Suntanner was just knocked together from nothing really. With the Weedkillers, I started to get the old feeling back - like nerve endings that had been blown away starting to grow again.
It was a steady and secure atmosphere to work in - we had fun. Of course, there were plenty of down-points too, but the scales weighed in my favour. Suffice to say, that if it hadn't have been for the Weedkillers, I probably wouldn't be where I am today. I'm lucky really!"
In 1995, Riley, and most of the Weedkillers with him, set up home in Brighton - on the (sunny?) South Coast of England. "It was a gamble really. Brighton's a pretty groovey place, where there are plenty of like-minded people, all trying to get music and art projects off the ground.
I think the move has paid off. It's also the place where I did my first ever live solo performance, in '97, at the then 'Cybar'."
"It wasn't the 'gig of all gigs'," he says. "But I was bloody nervous, I'd spent weeks rehearsing (and yes, sleeping with my guitar!). I flunked a few lines, but everybody seemed to like it anyway. I felt fantastic! This was a completely new experience - singing my songs, on my own. It was like a home-coming of some kind. I really appreciate the fact that so many people turned up, and I doubt anyone wants to re-live it, but if you do - buy the recording, which could be out soon."
Several years and a few gigs later, Riley produced the enigmatic PHOTOCOPY OF MY MIND concept cassette album and changed his name to John Zonn. It has been a long haul, but Riley (in his new and improved guise) is now set to take the bigger stage at the forefront of British, and perhaps 'world' contemporary music.
So, he has made it thus far. A survivor in the face of adversity - a dancer with Death. From place to place, from band to band, he sailed away to foreign lands. Just like his namesake in that old song, John Riley has returned to us - STRONG.
Thanks for the kind words about my music, and I really appreciate your efforts to keep John's music alive. Hopefully, we'll get the chance to say hi in person someday.
Just dropped by to say hello.Hope all is well with you. Thought I'd drop by and let you know I have uploaded a new acoustic demo called Old Gang. Hope you like it. Have a great week and I'll catch up with you soon!
Hello to thee Mr Riley! Nice to hear from you! Yeah, it's good to have finished the new album - got another one I've got to get uploaded soon too... Hope life is going spiffingly in the Land of Legends! Love Aelph xXxXxXx ;-)
Greetings from the land of Aelph! Ta for yer last message! All's well this end - still slaving over a hot pc doing me music and art and such... Am recovering from an extended phase of overindulgence (story of my life!) - Oh, the joys of excess - but aaaargh, the hangovers that follow! That sexy bitch Stella moved back in for a while...need I say more! Anywaze, must be orf to do a bit of recording now - the wolf is gonna put some lovely slidey guitar down on one of me trax - he's limbering up now as I write, and it's sounding goooooood! MUCHOHUGEBIGLOVES'NTING from da Aelph ;-) xXxXxXx
Hello there Mr Riley! Hope you're full of the joys of Spring at the mo'! I've been having a busy but productive time (alternating with severe bouts of laziness!) Hope you have a groovy St Paddy's day - I got a little smashed last night already, so no beverages of the alcohol variety for my liver today alas! Bye for now, Stay Splendid, Love Aelph xXxXxXx ;-)
Ello there! Cheers...glad you like the vid! Yeah, no one can accuse me of scrimping on the colours! Can't wait to make some more soon, although it is very time-consuming and does cause large doses of insanity to ensue whilst making them! (and melted eye-balls also!) I'm hard at work doing a load of tunes for album number two at the mo...not sure which ones I'm gonna pick yet...It's nice to be running the new page too...a chance for me to indulge my inner punk a bit! The default pic for my Aelfreeda profile is actually a pic of Betty Page, although I'm thinking of dressing up in the same way and getting some snaps taken soon...should be fun! Well, I tink that's enuff nattering from me for now...must get on wif da job at hand! Lovely to hear from you, Stay Splendiferous, Love Aelph XXXXXXX ;-)
Ello Mr Riley! Nice two ear fromm ewe agen! I've just finished uploading my new music video onto my profile (my first one ever!!!Yay!!!) so I'm all buzzed out like!!! I'm still bright-tailed and bushy-eyed and feeling fit! (My relationship with Stella was fun while it lasted, but I've been much healthier and happier since the divorce!) I may pop in and see her once in a while, but not very often! I'm sending you a pic I took of Glastonbury Tor the other day, when we went there to get some footage in for the video. Hope you like it! Awlritey then, thats all from me for now...Stay Splendid! Looodsza Love, Aelph XXXXXXX ;-)
Greetings Mr Riley! Here's wishing you a hugely happy new year! I hope 2008 is marvelously splendid for you! My liver is in extremely good nick, I'm pleased to say! I've managed to stay off the booze, apart from the occasional drink and I've stopped smoking for nearly two months now! I still enjoy a nice slice of toasted cheese with an interesting garnish in the afternoon tho'! Time for ME to get horizontal now! Lotsa Love an ting to yoo from Aelph xxxxxxx ;-)
You are invited to join club Spher][cal on the 3rd Friday of every month @ The Pressure Point in Brighton! Details for this months party are as follows; Love
Bruno x
Check out the following myspace pages to hear some of our guests tunes!
Yeah, you tell 'em!!! A dude of a lady - I like that! Cheers matey! Ta for the virtual Stella as well! I'm light-weighting it at the moment in the alcohol department...(...might as well get some liver-credit in before crimble!) Other than that I'm in good spirits at the moment - can't complain! I'm busy doing lots of different projects, so its keeping me nice and busy! So many parties in December too - will this mayhem never cease!!! Speak soon Mr Alias...Luv Aelfreeda XXXXXXX ;-)
Ullo matey. Jeez, if anyone saw our correspondences they'd think we were a right couple of lushes eh?! How very wrong would they be!?? Thanks for the fabulous fungi pic! I'm seriously considering launching a legalize mushrooms and the herb and other such shamanic substances campaign and stubbornly carrying on until I see the result which myself and so many people want. It's about time the injustice of it all stopped once and for all! (rant rave!) OK, I'm sedated now! It's alright! Thanks for the offer of the virtual Stella by the way. (can I have it now please?) Anywaze goodly-bye to ye for the now and Oil speeek two yoo sooooooon! Lotsa Love, Aelfrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeda XXXXXXX ;-)
Hello me good fellow! Sorry I've taken so long to reply, but I've been taking a bit of a break from myspace to concentrate on rehearsing for gigs, working on songs and I'm also having a go at making a bit of a video at the moment for State of Independance. That's no excuse for taking so long to write to such a splendid chap as yourself tho, so apologies once again! France sounds like lots of inebriated good fun! Its good to escape from old Blighty every now and then! Anyway dear, I hope all's well wit you at da moment, and everything's all peachy like! Take care of yourself, and if you trip over any toadstools, I hope it's an enjoyable experience! Lotsa of Elvish love to you from Aelph XXXXXXX ;-)
Hello and thanks for friending me.I found you by accident.Quite different than my own music[I'm real noisy] but I dig it all the same and as I'm in my 40's we share some similar tastes and influences.Especially the Byrds!Love their early stuff.Well thanks again and cheers! Christophe/Ultima Thule
Thanks for the add mate, and well done on your music. I have always been a fan of psychedelic music, so it's great to know this kind of music is still being made. Nice one!
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