Long before I turned on an AM radio and discovered TOP 40 music I was mesmerized by the sweeping filmscores of composer Bernard Herrmann. Much of my childhood was spent in movie theaters, and there is where my love of music developed. I learned how music could manipulate the emotions - get the adrenalin pumping, lift us from our seats, send a shiver up the spine, or bring a tear to the eye.
Music had the power to move people. And I wanted that power.
In the 60s I immersed myself in the psychedelic music of the era. These Nuggets got me through my teenage years.
As the 60s neared the end, Progressive Rock came of age, and with it, the introduction of the Mellotron and the Moog Synthesizer.
Prog/Rock combined all my favorite musical elements - incorporating traditional rock sensibilities with psychedelic experimentation, and symphonic filmscore. And the introduction of these amazing keyboard instruments into the rock arsenal made the marriage complete.
Mike Pinder and his Mellotron transformed The Moody Blues from a five piece band into a symphony orchestra. And Keith Emerson and his Modular Moog Synthesizer brought the voice of interstellar space into a concert hall.
The wheels were set in motion, and I wanted in.
My major influences include the Prog Rock Pioneers:
Genesis, ELP, Yes, King Crimson, The Moody Blues, Gentle Giant, Happy The Man, The Strawbs, Nektar, Mike Oldfield, Van Der Graaf Generator, Gryphon, Larry Fast/Synergy, Camel, Argent, Roxy Music, Saga, The Enid, Kansas, Iron Butterfly, Spirit, Renaissance, Tomita, Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, Ethos, Fireballet, Gong, Hawkwind, Focus, Eloy, Passport, Tangerine Dream, Solaris, Triumvirat, Trace, PFM, Bo Hansson, and Goblin.
And the Prog/Rock Revivalists who have come on strong to fortify the gene pool for the new Millennium:
Karda Estra, IQ, Marillion, The Flower Kings, Galahad, Porcupine Tree, Devil Doll, Univers Zero, RPWL, Echolyn, Spocks Beard, Pallas, Arena, It Bites, Ozric Tentacles, Anglard, Symphony X, Dream Theater, Edhels, Kenso, Mastermind, Pendragon, Egdon Heath and many, many others which have temporarily escaped my mind.
An idea can be expressed without articulating a solitary word.
With a series of brush strokes upon canvas an abstract artist can stir the imagination, leaving us to interpret his or her vision ... or better yet conjure up an interpretation uniquely our own.
The same can be said of music ... instrumental music.
The musician can convey a sense of foreboding, joy, aggression, romance, high adventure, or wonderment within a piece of music. The listener becomes an interactive participant; creating the visuals and directing the action as the soundtrack for this one act play dances from speaker to speaker. With no words to impede the story line the plots are infinite.
With this concept in mind I created Ghosts Of Pompeii as my vehicle for composing.
Ghosts Of Pompeii is an ever-changing work in progress. A tonal experiment in melody, harmony, nature, and rhythm; cross-pollinating and fusing genres to create a distinctive style apart from others in the progressive/art rock field; combining elements of old school prog/rock, jazz-fusion, Industrial mayhem, hypnotic ambience, avant-garde dissonance, aggressive electronics, and orchestral filmscores.
Drawing inspiration from pioneers like YES, E.L.P., King Crimson, and Genesis; obscure artists like Univers Zero, Devil Doll, and Ozric Tentacles; and the power and passion of composer Bernard Herrmann whose filmscores stimulate and challenge the imagination; the music of Ghosts Of Pompeii provides the soundtrack for your dreams and nightmares.
Many titles in the Ghosts Of Pompeii discography are currently available at Big Balloon Music.
http://www.bigballoonmusic.com
Ghosts of Pompeii Releases
Our Past Is Cast In Stone - 1998
Awaken The Ghosts - 1999
Angels Devils And The Fork In The Road - 1999
Themes From The Secret Cinema - 2000
A Voyage Beyond The Looking Glass - 2000
A Fistful Of Smoke And A Pocketful Of Promises - 2001
In These Quiet Moments After Midnight (The Best Of Vol. 1) - 2001
Bonjour ! merci pour l'ajout... Le MOTS PAUMÉS Trio (slaMusic) a mis en écoute 4 titres pour la sortie du 1er album SONGES DÉMENTS à bientôt... http://motspaumestrio.com
Greetings. I just wanted to thank you for your continued support and invite you to have a first listen on myspace to the tracks off the new EP "Monster & Minstrel" due out later this month. Bright stars to you! Ahmond
in 2012 our world will change positively for the human mankind!
drink clear water. breath deep and slowly. go outside and enjoy the nature. don't trust your ego - trust your fellings. follow your dreams. beware of illusions. if you do this i promise you: your life will change the best way!
kind regards! wolfgang
DREAMSCAPE (progressive metal from germany) new cd february 2010!
Thanks for Adding STONEBREED to your circle of friends! We really appreciate the opportunity to share our music with you, and hopefully you will like it! Our next show is Thursday October 22 at PALADINOS in Tarzana CA If you get a chance give us a listen and give us a little feedback! Thanks again for your Time, and Your Friendship! STONEBREED
The new True Margrit CD - The Juggler's Progress - is now available for pre-order, along with t-shirts and artwork, photo and drumheads, as we get ready for our monthlong tour of the Great Northwest! Check it out here: http://bit.ly/7Cu8J
Look for us in Washington, Oregon and California between October 15 and November 15, when our tour wraps up with the big show at San Francisco's best rock club, Bottom of the Hill! For the complete show schedule, check here: http://bit.ly/1UgGqQ
will be vailable soon. 3 euros of every sold copy will be donated to the German section of Plan International.
Plan is one of the largest child-centred community development organisations in the world, helping children and their families in 49 of the poorest countries to break the cycle of poverty.
Hi Ghosts of Pompeii, Heaven & Earth is on hiatus now as Stuart Smith and Richie Onori have joined forces with bassist Steve Priest to reform "Sweet". For those of you unfamiliar with the band, Sweet originally formed in the early 70s and went on to sell over 40,000,000 albums with 11 International Top Ten Hits such as "Ballroom Blitz", "Little Willy", "Love is Like Oxygen", "Fox on the Run", "Teenage Rampage", "Action", "Blockbuster", "Hellraiser" and many others.
This reincarnation of the band reformed last year, playing their first show in June, and went on to play festivals throughout Canada and the States and had played to over 300,000 people before the year was out. During this tour last year they recorded a live CD available on Amazon entitled "Sweet, Live in America" which has received rave reviews - pick up a copy and please Add Sweet As Your Friend On Myspace!
![Warclub Radio [Request Line 405-633-3705 24/7 365]](http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/91/s_4dc3f2fa98414a939c1c1829539d2105.png)
