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You know what?
........I'm just gonna have to send a message of Love to the World!
Big Love and thanks to my dear friend Will Greenwood, for setting this up for me.
I have always been computer phobic, so thanks, Will, for the encouragement.
SO……..
Apparently, I should do a kind of bio for this site……….a daunting prospect, as I feel I could write a book about the multi-dimensional musical Journey I’ve experienced so far. Best to keep it short and sweet, methinks.
I decided on playing Synth after witnessing Roger Powell, of Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, at Hammersmith Odeon in 1975 – totally blew me away and Roger, to this day, remains mymost favourite Synth player in the World……..(I’ll talk about influences later, but that’s how it started.)
………So, joining and forming weird bands became the order of the day, resulting in;
The O’ROONIES:-
notorious Pagan Psychedelic thrash, with profound lyrical content, steeped in humour and wisdom – Some of the maddest gigs EVER witnessed at the festivals……sometimes beautiful, sometimes scary! John Peel liked it, anyway!! Adeep effect on my psyche, this lot…..my original ‘Tribe,’ if you like, and I love and missthem………
OZRIC TENTACLES:-
Ho Humm! What an experience that was!! I don’t know where to start, actually…….So much to say. Fun times….Incredible recording sessions….so many great musicians involved and forming some of the best friendships ever….One of the most major aspects of my musical journey. I learnt so much about music from ED and am eternally grateful for that, but also to everybody involved…..I still hook up with ROLY in dreams and its always a right laugh….Sid Vicious meets Helmut Hattler in outer space……I LOVE YOU ALL!
ps…I will always use my hand as a plate!
The ULLULATORS:-
Formed with my dear friend Gavin…a kind of ‘alternative Ozrics’….maybe more Reggae-fied and lyrical. Including JAYNEY on vocals, KAY (Bass, vox), & GENERATOR JOHN…..altogether possibly the most friendly, family, happy band I’ve ever been in. We lost KAY a few years ago…..track 1 on this site is dedicated to him. Jayney later went on to become the legendary Nana Obscuri, and fronted the CHEAP SUIT O’ROONIES….another twist in the whole scheme of things.
UlL UL UL HE!
ps….thank you, Gavin, for everything,!
NODENS ICTUS:-
Kind of chilled outambient Ozricy synthi stuff, initially…tyet lately becoming a lot more technoid, due to MERVYN joining Ed and myself, and its all going a bit mad, really. Part of me feels that this is some of the coolest and funkiest music I’ve ever been a part of!
So blown awayby our recent gig in Leeds (Cabbage cub)….maybe the future lies here…..OH…just to stop people asking…..NODEN is an ancient Romano/Celtic river God (the Severn, actually) , and ‘Ictus’ means the primordial pulse of the Universe….just so’s you know.
EAT STATIC:-
One night it happened that a couple of friends and myself started doing a dance track!
MERVYN PEPLER is without doubt the most potent, dedicated, conscious and expert computer dance music producer I have ever encountered…….and as a live performer…….!?!?! Well it/he speaks for himself, as t5he energy thrown in by him is beyond belief…and its all very plain to see……on a muzikal level, there is possibly no one closer to my heart….(he’s given me more CDs than I’ve had hot dinners) and he’s taken me round the world…both inside and out!
I love you mate!
STEVE EVERITT is the ‘silent’ third member of Eat Static…and erstwhile TV music producer who to my mind, is one of the most gifted and talented musicians in the world….he canplay anything/everything as good as it gets…and sing, as well….no wonder he stopped gigging with us!
Anyway, the journey with Eat Static has been magical…full of ups, more than downs, and we strive to continue. I am honoured to be a part of this…although it gets a bit hectic at times.
Once, Merv told me that if he had all the money we’d spent at Heathrow airport car park, he’d buy a house!
I said I’d buy a car park!
On it goes!
HERE AND NOW:-
I use to follow this band around in my teens, with my O’Roonie mates, and so, having hooked up with STEFFE SHARPSTRINGS, (Guitar God!) for EAt Static sessions, and becoming close friends…I joined Here and Now in 2003….A dream come true for me!!!!
Most Rockin’ experience of my life….I Love this band……most amazing musicians I’ve ever played with and am totally in love with all of ‘em…..words fail totally….
WE are a HOT COMBO!....WATCH OUT!
EL PLAZMO:-
Weird excursion encouraged by my dear friend CAMERON (Altered Native)……a few gigs with WILL GREENWOOD (Guitar), PAUL DIDGE (extraordinaire) , the amazing TED DUGGAN on drums, and ANTHONY and HELEN (Synth and Bass), and others….not gone far with this, but could go further…..again, Incredible musicians to play with….we spend more time drinking tea than Muzik…we shall see……….We’re all living on Glastonbury time, you know!
DREAM MACHINE:-
Initially joined because my dear friend SEAWEED was unable to do the gig…an incredible Synth player , and much respect and love to him from me….( he replaced me in the Ozics and we are connected like muzikal brothers nad friends…….
Ver spacy band….kind of like the Italian Ozrics, if you like…much jamming and fun…including JUMPIN’ JON (Ozric’s flute), ALEX,. (guitar demon) Gabrielli, (Bass & Pasta chef), JULES,(best keyboard player in the Kennington area)
XXXXXXX,METRO, (drums)
Mental!
WE have a laugh….are you havin’ a laugh!!!!
Love you guys!
PLAZMODIX:-
A cross between the NOMADIX and El Plazmo….just Steffe and me doing a gig as a two piece…..a great honour for me and maybe an endurance test for Steffe, but we pulled it off, and I’m so proud and happy with what happened….
Deep love and respect …….(thanks for looking after my children, Indigo and Azra, in my time of need….Guitar God?.......Azra thinks you’re his girlfriend!.......love to Cheryl.)
ZUB ZUB:-
So far a few gigs with ZIA, dear old friend from Ozric days……I got him to pledge to me everything that he owns……….
Writng this has been a bit of an indulgence…..but apparently, I should submit a list of influences……
SO……..
TODD (is GOD) RUNDGREN
All members of UTOPIA (ROGER POWELL……..KASIM SULTAN et al)
FRANK ZAPPA
MIKE KENEALLY
STEVE VAI
TONY MACALPINE
GREG HOWE
RUSH
ISAO TOMITA
JON HASSEL
SQUAREPUSHER
LUKE VIBERT
CAN
HOLGER CZUKAY
STEVE HILLAGE and MIQUETTE GIRAUDY (SYSTEM 7)
3 MUSTAPHAS 3
BJORK
JONI MITCHELL
STING
RICHARD JAMES (APHEX TWIN)
TIM BLAKE
JEAN PHILLIPPE RYKIEL
MASTER U. SRINIVAS
JOE SATRIANI
………the list could go on forever….So just to say a BIG THANKS to all my friends who have been so supportive…..you all know who you are, and I’m indebted to you!
BIG LOVEON YA!
JWA
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