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,
Sounds Like
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
Glad to hear you are feeling better. I haven't been on here much lately but have missed chatting to you. Thought I'd come by and wish you a wonderful weekend.
Hey! I play "She Burns" in my July show for Dandelion Radio - The online radio station inspired by John Peel!
To listen go to our website at dandelionradio. com and click on the link on the front page! You will be able to hear my show at least once a day for the whole of July! Plus a host of other shows playing an eclectic variety of new and unreleased music! See schedule on website for details!
Thanks for dropping by. That video is quite magnificent. It really compliments your music perfectly. We've just posted a new track called 'I Remember....', please give it a listen if you haven't already done so.
Thanks for that - in my current hungover state "She Burns" is about as dark and unsettling as I can manage today. I'm particularly keen on the sad Gorilla with the gun. Good luck with the album and the video!
Hi there Ashley, tnx for the request. Nice sound and influences! Seems to me we share some similar interests...I like your artwork too, reminds me a bit of Miro and some COBRA artists. Take care grtz from Antwerp x
hi ashley - tremendous vid for "She Burns", matey. deepest sympathy re: northern schleppery!!. ever been to malton bacon factory club?. fantastic, for all the wrong reasons. ha ha etc.
Thanks Ash. We do show films/animations yeah. We're booked up this year. Things busy busy for Sundown! We're playing the Leigh Folk Festival this sunday if you get bored and fancy popping in x