Colossus I. August 1996-the first session with Andy Hilton drumming and Andy Semple playing guitar and bass and some singing and Brian Williams swapping guitar and bass for three hours of intense guitar bass n drums, obviously. Very reminiscent of everything else that has been guitar bass and drums, but without the need to thrash the instruments, or break into a sweat, there was already enough noise to have the proprietor, Andy, saying that we were too loud to everyone who asked him about Colossus. By Friday it was already legendary in the pub.
23,8,96. Back at 83 Curtain Road, EC1 for another three hours of music mutation with a twist, as new boy Ricardo Marins joins in with his Yamaha 83 something keyboard to add bleep bass and more noise to a - this time- much quieter two guitars and drums. One of which was through the PA and the other, conventionally vibrating a combo. Ricardo had not arrived by the time the equipment was ready, including his keyboard. The new combination of guitar, guitar and drums bursts into the first song, which lasts about 20 minutes, meanwhile Ricardo slips in late and introduction to the Andy’s takes place at a short pause before another riff and another twenty minutes or so pass. Two or three more riffs and the time goes quickly and its all over, see you next time.
THE third noise making session happened after some break, on the 16th of November 1996, in the early evening, back to the original line-up of guitar bass and drums, and with no swapping of instruments apart for a quick bash on the drums from Mr Semple. The amps were doing all the singing all night ringing out with riff after riff and plenty of background noise. Still without a song, a direction or even any sort of organised co-ordination it sounded great- all that was missing, as discussed at the end of the session was some decent vocal sounds. More practice at singing and playing guitar required. Attempts to record the session for posterity again failed miserably, borrowing an old getto blaster that sounded like we were being recorded from the street rather than the intense noise of the room when it was played back. Anyway the music is supposed to be live. Forthcoming dates will be announced as soon as possible. We managed to book ourselves a place in the studio without anyone else, just the guitar, which sounded like a twangy old country guitar or a noise like about four train stations, with mics placed next to all the trains brakes. The bass guitar pounding heaving rythm, grooving away in its super heavy distortion full on heavyness. This time the result was documented in the form of two four track cassette tapes, which just gets too heavy for the speakers that you are listening to it, and if you were to turn it up too much you just know that your system would be toast. Aptly titled this tape will change your life, YOUR 30-MINUTE STRESS BUSTER. and if you wanted to buy it, in unlimited edition, send £26 to Colossus. Or just bring along a blank tape with you and have a cup of tea and it can be recorded while you wait............... Meanwhile, as the city freezes over may be some time will be given in consideration for the next get together so that some other people can come along and join in the music/noise party. Three notes and two guitars and drums make a colossal amount of sound energy. Until next time!
1997 So you missed the party, the first one of the year well never mind I’m sure there will be others, well all you have to do is ask us and we will gladly come around and fill your house with extremely loud guitar rock relentlessly and monotonously the licks fly grooving and grinding away at the intense tolerance levels of such noise. The first week of 1997 was one in which three Colossus songs transformed in their conception into an audio spectactular which can only be described by being involved in it and not by words which are too tame. A musical direction is being forged with what would seem like....... well you can have a tape if you ask, but chances are that you would not want to listen to a tape recorded in a rehearsal room, especially at low volume! In this year some more guests were invited along to sessions, Portuguese friends Alex and Isa added keyboards and extra vocals to the established songs and fitted into some heavy improvisation rather neatly. Another friend Rachel, also came to join us on a few occasions bringing a softer vocal touch over the top of charging riffs. Several live tapes were made and technique at live four track recording was improving, the tapes were made as a simple reference so that we would be able to remember some of the things that we played because it usually happened that the best parts were just pure intense jamming, with the guitarist and the bassist looking at each other wondering what the other was actually playing but amazed at the sound which just kept the pace going, with some moments that were astonishing but we knew that it would never be recreated, just the sound of the moment, even though it was on tape, there would be no point in trying to recreate that spontinaety. One summer evening we decided that we should make a decent recording, or a least a listenable one of the songs that we had written, so the drum kit was miked up and recorded on four track. The tape was then transferred to the studio sixteen track tape and guitar, bass and vocals were added and the first demo tape was born. A couple of sessions recording and a few more for mixing and the result was quite good, considering the budget, which was the price of tape. Having a tape that sounded pretty cool was great and it certainly had plenty of use amonst ourselves, but did not go the usual route of trying to convince other people, especially music biz people, that it is worth listening to, we loved it so that was enough. The line up continued to change with the addition of Ian Thompson, playing a second bass guitar or keyboards and adding serious amounts of volume to the musical proceedings as well as skillful playing that worked in many places, considering that he just came along to make some noise for fun like the rest of us. We continued at our own pace, and no attempt was made to further our musical careers because we just enjoyed playing, our musical ability can keep improving as the latest riffs and grooves are usually more complicated and faster than the old ones, but that’s the fun of playing music!
