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JOHN HARDMAN - BIOG PAGE - John Hardman - guitarist, keyboard player, songwriter, producer, member of rock band 'Beats Working' and solo artist. John started his music career professionally in the middle seventies, after being in several young band incarnations as he grew up and learned his trade. Very early bands such as 'Friction' and 'Indigo Blue' with his friend/guitarist Thomas Crimble (later of Skin Alley & Hawkwind fame - and currently a founder member of Space Ritual) were his training ground, and along the way he played guitar/keyboards in such bands as Clayson & The Argonauts (Alan Clayson music biographer) and other college bands. This led him to start working at Sun Studios in Reading with fellow writer Rob Boughton, and formed the beginnings of a band later to be called Sunfighter (talent spotted and produced by Roy Thomas Baker - Queen, Foreigner, Alice Cooper, Ozzie Osbourne, Cars etc) and later on by Chris Rainbow(Alan Parsons Project, Jon Anderson, Camel, Runrig, River Detectives). Sunfighter were signed to EMI Records and released a number of singles backed with appearances on Top Of The Pops, 'Supersonic' and other shows. Through this period John did a fair amount of session work and touring on guitar, sessioning, producing and recording in most major London studios of the day, as well as collaborating & recording with UK female duo 'Blonde On Blonde', and recording, touring and TV appearances (Royal Variety/Pebble Mill & others) on bass guitar for a couple of years with Welsh musician/comedian Max Boyce. Behind the scenes John always worked at his songwriting and production work, linking up with his brother Bob for a while during the late seventies and early eighties with several acts signed to their newly formed indie label Swamp Records. Around 1980 John released his first solo single on Gallery Records through WEA - a double A sided song titled 'Little Comfort In The Night' & 'She's Leaving You'. For a while John was also signed to Kennedy Street Artistes (and Stuart Littlewood), a well known Manchester based artist agency and management company who numbered amongst its roster 10cc, Sad Cafe and many other artistes. A number of solo songs were demoed at this time. As Swamp Records, John & Bob signed and produced a number of artistes including Small Change, Ian Lang, Susie Hep, Telephone Bill & The Smooth Operators(album 'Pretty Slick Huh?'), Neil Lewis (album 'Profile'), Dave Cartwright and others (including a one-off single of his own called 'Don't Touch The Receiver' under the name 'The Chief'!!) gaining releases on other major labels for them in the UK, USA and most of Europe, at that time. John worked with many acts and different producers over the next few years, as well as his own solo projects, most notably with producers John Acock (Steve Hackett/Marillion/Dik Cadbury) and Gus Dudgeon (Elton John/Elkie Brooks/David Bowie/Chris Rea). In 1986, John decided to put a rock band on the road and formed Beats Working. Although there have been one or two line up changes over time, the core members (John) and in particular drummer Chris Glover (previously of rock band Last Straw and Paris) - have been there in the band from day one. Also, check out spoof 70's glam-rock band The Glamsters. Passing through members of Beats Working were Dave Rea (guitar/vocal), Andy Finlay (Bass Guitar) - now playing bass in the excellent Hendrix tribute band 'The Fire' led by Jonny Cranmer, and several different keyboard players over time. Lynn Sheppard(previously from band Kaz/Eddie Hardin) joined the band on bass guitar/vocals in the late 80's, and along with John & Chris has proved to be a long term member of the band producing some outstanding vocals on some of their tracks. Later on Simon Prickett was added to the band on guitar/vocals. The band has so far made 6 albums Beats Working on My Space and also an album of their single releases.Beats Working@LastFM Currently their latest album 'Perspection' is still planned and after some number of years has still not been finished! It is hoped that one day it will finally appear!! They have just re-released the EP 'No More Tomorrows' Download 'No More Tomorrows' from Soundclick John will also be posting some of his solo projects here in due course .... ..JANUARY 2009.. - John's ROCKBARN STUDIO is now very nearly completed, and he has also been working with the Denny Lloyd band Denny Lloyd websiteand has recently played the Farmer Phil festival in Shropshire as guitarist in the band Denny Lloyd band live @ Farmer Phil's Festival, and several live recordings from this gig will be available soon.
Over the last few years John has also collaborated with songwriter Jeff Ross, working with various acts including the UK rock band 'The Rushing' (previously Asono) who are releasing their first full length debut album 'Summon The Heroes' on Fishface Records in April 2009.The Rushing
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