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Ashley Reaks (Music)
Alternative / Ambient / Punk

Ambient Punk



London, London and South East
United Kingdom

Profile Views:  36275




Last Login:  7/12/2009
View My: Pics | Videos | Playlists

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   Ashley Reaks (Music): General Info
Member Since12/29/2005
Band Websitewww.ashleyreaks.com
Band Members

Melancholia 2008

-------------------------------------------

Children Rule! 2003

InfluencesNick 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

Type of LabelMajor


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Ashley Reaks (Music)'s Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

'Melancholia' review - www.toxicpete.co.uk  (view more)

'Melancholia' review - Subba-Cultcha  (view more)

'Melancholia' review - Sandman magazine  (view more)

'Melancholia' review - Vibrations magazine  (view more)

’Melancholia’ review - Connexion Bizarre  (view more)

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   About Ashley Reaks (Music)
Here's an animated video for my song 'She Burns' from my album 'Melancholia'... The video was made by Norwegian film-maker Ulf Kristiansen ..
My Art

My Comedy

My Poetry

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

 


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Ashley Reaks (Music) has 3827 friends.
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Ashley Reaks (Music)'s Friends Comments
Displaying 25 of 1004 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
M goddam





Jul 12 2009 4:34 PM

Brother Joe.. love it, esp the lyrics
PRINCE ADE





Jul 12 2009 4:34 PM

Hey Ashley, how have you been? I'm really enjoying your music. Very refreshing sound, good stuff mate..
Tracy The Celtic Diva - The Official Music Page





Jun 26 2009 6:06 PM

Thanks for the add!  I appreciate your friendship.
-Tracy


glitter-graphics.com
IT'S THAT TIME OF THE MONTH





Jun 10 2009 11:46 AM

 
 
This is a small gig, advance tickets advised!
 
Hope you can make it!
Magazine





May 28 2009 12:10 AM



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.

To order please go to http://www.wire-sound.com/shop

Anne Sophie





May 28 2009 12:09 AM

The Pool, 3
the pool
Elisabeth Nygaard





May 11 2009 9:50 PM

'this will be one of the defining Leeds events of 2009'
Photobucket

On Sunday 17th May @ TJ's Woodhouse we are proud to present:

Tommy Tokyo And Starving For My Gravy www.myspace.com/tommytokyo

'Americana, folk, gospel, soul and psychedelia in an attractive blend, served up by an ingratiating singer with fine vocal harmonies on the side.

Tommy Tokyo and his band will be this years breakthrough Norwegian act' - Great Escape Festival

Support comes from:

Beggars Hollow www.myspace.com/beggarshollow

Hardtime Orchestra www.myspace.com/hardtimeorchestra

Only £5/4adv - Tickets Available @ Crash Records Leeds
Walter Strauss





May 11 2009 3:03 PM

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 >>>.
Cousin Kate





May 7 2009 9:32 PM

Thank you for your myspace friendship :)
We hope you enjoy our music and wish you a magical week!
Mac





May 3 2009 8:33 PM

Hi Ash,
good luck with the blues bar gig..i would of come through but alas..I'm on this shit tip oil rig keeping Mr Browns pockets happy!..have a good un..were deffo down now by the way!
mac
crybaby





Apr 28 2009 9:49 PM

cant wait to meet you - at blues bar!
Jules





Apr 20 2009 3:51 PM

Ash my love I really don't like this picture...can we have the fish back please or the cat mask ? How long before your new masterpiece is ready ? Hope all's good with you...happy here,the sun is out !!..J xx
Taurus Trakker





Apr 18 2009 9:08 PM

Great music Ashley- keep on the track...peace love and subversion..Martin
rarajolly





Apr 17 2009 3:07 PM

♥...hi Ashley ;D
♣...thanks for your friendship ; )
♦...hope all is well ^^
◊...cheers ♥



♥♥♥


Robots From Mars





Apr 12 2009 6:49 PM

Greetings From The Red Planet,

Well the USA has a new president and the Earth is a far better place.

Can’t you feel the world shattering difference?
Even the Red Planet has been held spellbound by these historic events.


We just spotted the Mars Lander putting billboards up on Mars with CHANGE spelled out in mile high letters.

You should grab your binoculars and check this out.

Just look up. But you should be prepared to duck if you see any tools tumbling towards you from the international space station. Some stupid astronaut let his monkey wrench float away.

On second thought, you should activate your Star Wars Defense System and blast the international space station out of existence! You can’t be too careful.
Space Trash can be dangerous!

Your friends,
RFM


Jem_Spoiler





Apr 7 2009 9:57 PM

sorry for the delay in getting to you, Ashley. Magazine were amazing, I love She Burns, the video is incredible, it must've taken you ages.
Cheers Jem
soo catwoman





Apr 3 2009 4:52 PM

Hi Ashley, I hope you're getting out in the sun, isn't it great?

*Big smiles here*

Soo x:)
Mark





Apr 1 2009 11:16 AM

Mr Ashley,

Thanks for the add. You are an interesting man. Twisted sure, but interesting all the same. More power to you Sir!

Seems like a long time since that tour with Frank D. Hang on, it IS along time since that tour.

Mark ;D
the birdman rallies





Mar 31 2009 9:44 AM

alright
i enjoyed tooting
are they all your pictures? i really like them
Acoustic & Unplugged Festival of Britain





Mar 30 2009 4:11 PM

Hi – great to meet you! Here's to a fabulous Spring Bank holiday of unplugged music at its best.
THE DISCREET SOUND OF MACHINES





Mar 29 2009 7:02 PM

hi ash
hi everybody

LIVING TOOL OF THOUGHTS is up now and downloadable...

best
börnd
Sinister Research Facility: Books, Art, Mischief.





Mar 16 2009 12:20 PM

Photobucket

Thanks for adding Sinister Research Facility. We make interesting things and we want to tell the world about them. Stop by and check out our redesigned page and new artwork. We have our steam/breaks musical project at www. myspace. com/goodsoldiersvejk and our wonderfully puerile, extremely dubious animations at www. myspace. com/deeplywrongfilms

Regards,

SRF
AKASHA PROJECT





Mar 15 2009 12:59 AM

SADJA - 28.03.
09 - Braunschweig


SADJA - Earth Year tone meditation in Concert.
Info - deutsch:
http://www. akashaproject. de/htmlde/praxis_sadja_de. html
Info - english:
http://www. akashaproject. de/htmlen/practice_sadja_en. html
Swinging greets
Akasha Project
OHM


Online Now!


Mar 17 2009 7:11 AM

Hi Ashley was wondering is melancholia available in stores or only online ? would like to buy it but don't have the facility to purchase online ! .
cheers OHM
Bob Dickinson





Mar 10 2009 9:03 PM

Real sense of spaciousness in your sound...powerful and intense songs...
darkly beautiful...
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