Nick Cave, The Ruts, Prefab Sprout, John Cooper Clarke, Bob Marley, The Stranglers, Joni Mitchell, Magazine, The Ramones, The Only Ones, Bob Dylan, John Shuttleworth, Sex Pistols, Marvin Gaye, Steve Reich, Spike Milligan, Captain Beefheart, Steely Dan, Bjork, The Clash, Neil Young, Paul Simon, Velvet Underground, David Bowie, The Beatles, SLF, John Lennon, Ivor Cutler, Del Amitri, The Cure, PIL, The Jam, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Lou Reed, Nick Drake, Gang of Four, Killing Joke, Sisters of Mercy, PIL, Steve Reich, hymns, Jah Wobble, collage, Gorecki, abstract art, The Doors, nursery rhymes, Scientist, Can, The Pop Group, King Tubby, The Buzzcocks, William Burroughs, Leonard Cohen, collage, Lou Reed, outsider art, Erik Satie, Talk Talk, dada, Joy Division, electronica, Eek-A-Mouse, minimalism, Nirvana, Burnt Friedman, Iggy Pop,
I reluctantly left my mum’s womb on a cold winter’s evening in 1966 in Harrogate, a small town in North Yorkshire in England.
I attended prep school where I excelled at Latin and was a promising cricketer.
From a young age I began to spend a lot of time imagining I was someone else.
In 1978 I went to the local all-boys public school, which was to play a crucial part in my lack of emotional development
I fell in love with the ‘Do-It-Yourself’ ethos of punk rock and began to make art and music without any semblance of ability.
I found my spiritual home in The Ramones’ world of cretins, geeks, weirdos and pinheads.
I borrowed my dad’s bass guitar and formed a band, appropriately called 'No Reality'.
I got an admirable 0% in my art exam for ignoring the set questions and tracing the sleeve of the first Ruts album instead.
Left school at 16 and practiced being socially inept.
Moved to London.
Made a valiant attempt at normality, wearing a tie and working for the Civil Service.
In 1990 I returned to Harrogate just in time to suffer a breakdown.
Whilst convalescing I wrote songs and made collages.
I sent my bank manager some of my poetry. He took me to court.
The early part of the 90's was spent sleeping until in 1994 I somehow ended up joining Francis Dunnery on tour, playing acoustic guitar and performing my surreal poetry to bemused audiences across the world, culminating in a live album 'One Night in Sauchiehall Street'.
Spurred on by a short-lived belief in my abilities I formed dark-pop band YY28's, signed a major record deal and thought I could be the new Elvis.
One year and one album later we lost the record deal. I returned to Yorkshire to hibernate, listen to dub reggae and Steve Reich and get nursed through another severe depression by Misty the dog.
There then followed
a frenzy of creativity. I produced over 100 collages, which I subsequently dumped at the tip for no apparent reason.
I recorded and toured a collection of dark poetry, comic songs and primal noises, ominously called 'Itchy Circus Odour'. At this time I was often to be found performing on various stages in the UK wearing a sheeps mask and making moaning noises.
I got together with some old friends in 2003 to record 'Children Rule!' an album of melancholy pop songs. 2007 brought a new album of sprawling poetry/comedy/death rattles called 'A Conglomeration Of Jockstraps' quickly followed in 2008 by 'Melancholia' my latest musical creations.
All my music, art and comedy can be purchased here
Hi Ash - just watched the YY28s video on your page and had forgotten how gorgeous the girlies were/are. (No comment about the blokes!!). What's happened to them? If you are still in touch, give them our love and remembering wonderful evenings of your music at the Anchor. Cheers - Dee
Hi Ashley...good to "see" ya! Just went through packed things and played your cd yesterday(10/6). Been living out of suitcase and in transition, long story. Haven't been online much. Have you read any of Drumbo's blogs lately or listened? I hope I get copies of booklets. He said he had an interview in Modern Drummer not too long ago. Been meaning to find the issue and save forever. Hope things are well with you...can I come visit :)
Sad times are afoot! It's all about to end. Yes, Oh My Word! will be playing their final gig on Tuesday 15th September 2009. We hope you can attend this "FUNERAL SPECIAL"!
The deXter Bentley Hello GoodBye Show returns to the airwaves on Resonance 104.4 FM this Saturday 5th September between noon and 1.30pm. Today's broadcast is in conjunction with PESTIVAL * With contributions from the Mosquito expert Dr. James Logan, an essay from the author Tim Burrows (on the subject of insects in rock and pop), plus live music from the London based alt/art duo Plug, who will debut new insect related material especially written for Hello GoodBye.
* PESTIVAL is a festival celebrating insects in art, and the art of being an insect. Pestival 2009 runs from 3rd-6th September @ The Southbank Centre and is jam-packed with insect-inspired talks and debates, as well as comedy, music, walks, workshops, installations and experiments. For further information, please visit: http://pestival.org
platform58 issue 010 light - Free Online - Submit art for issue 011 'freedom' - deadline September 27
full archive, creative network and competition with a cash prize at www.platform58.com,
What-ho, old sport! We've heard a lot about you through one channel and another; glad to see it's true, for a change. Welcome to our squalid, acoustic, liberalbilly playground: feel free to have a go on the swings; try the roundabout as well, if you fancy it. Stay away from the Big Slide, though - that's where the tough kids hang out, drinking their cider and what-not... Keep it gangsta, CrackTown
A special DVD set of the February shows is now available to pre-order at the wire-sound shop
This strictly limited edition 2 disc, region free, PAL format DVD set will be shipped in June.
The ‘Real Life + Thereafter’ DVD contains the entire concert filmed at Manchester Academy …
PLUS … Extra features include ‘Feed The Enemy’ filmed at the rehearsals, an alternate take of ‘A Song From Under The Floorboards’ and exclusive images from the period …
PLUS … On the second CD disc, you get an audio recording straight from the desk of 11 songs from the show at The Forum, London …
PLUS … In the package, you get a free tour T-Shirt in any size you like ranging from Super Small to Mighty XL and all stops in between.
Ashley - thanks for the kind note. Looking fwd to hearing yr tunes when I'm on a computer I can listen on. I dig the artwork. Hope to catch up with you when I play in London >>>.