Reptile Ranch: Simon Smith (vocals, keyboards & guitar), Philip John (bass), Andrew Tucker (non-musician/manager) & Spike (vocals & guitar).
Weekend members: Alison Statton (vocals & bass), Simon Booth (guitar) & Spike (guitar & viola). Guest musicians included Larry Stabbins (sax), Phil Moxham (bass), Harry Beckett (flugel horn), Roy Dodds (drums) & Dawson Millar (percussion). Keith Tippett (piano) performed with the band at the last concert.
Table Table: Debbie 'Debris' (vocals), Lewis Mottram (bass), Dean Reynolds (percussion), Heidi Renton (percussion), Spike (guitar)
Bomb & Dagger: Debbie Debris, Spike, Kirby Stevens (drums), Jackie Chambers (vocals & percussion), Phil Moxham (bass), Andrew Moxham (guitar & bass), Dale Reynolds (guitar), Chris Vine (bass), Paula Gardiner (bass) and about 30 others over 7 years.
Alison Statton & Spike musicians included Rachel Byrt (viola), Paula Gardiner (bass), Neil Gerstenberg (sax), Andrew Moxham (drums), Phil Moxham (bass), Sarah McGuinness (keyboards) - guest musicians included Harry Beckett (flugel horn), Lol Coxhill (sax) and the late, great Cuban percussionist, Carlos Gonzales
Influences
Velvet Underground, Beatles, Eno, Hatfield & the North, Bowie, Bach, Stockhausen, Sex Pistols, Scritti Politti, Kraftwerk, Desperate Bicycles, Television, Wire, Young Marble Giants, Mahlathini, Ray Lima, Dr Nico, Super Biton du Mali, Getz & Gilberto, Tokyo Cuban Boys, Los Van Van, Arctic Monkeys, Interpol, Sheena Ringo, Bebel Gilberto, Bump of Chicken, Tica, Cornelius
Sounds Like
Eclectic
Record Label
Z Block, Rough Trade, Vinyl Japan, LTM, Cherry Red
My first band was Reptile Ranch - we started the Z Block DIY label in south Wales and organised the Cardiff compilation LP 'Is The War Over?' that brought Young Marble Giants to Rough Trade's attention. After Reptile Ranch and YMGs split in 1980, I started writing with Alison Statton, material that would later find its way onto Weekend's 'La Variete'.
Weekend was formed by Alison Statton, Simon Booth and me in Camden Town, London in 1981. Signed to Rough Trade Records. Recorded 2 singles, an album 'La Variete' (produced by Robin Miller) and a mini LP of the last concert at Ronnie Scotts.
Simon went on to form Working Week with Larry Stabbins.
Later Alison and I had demos turned down by Rough Trade and took a prolonged break from the music industry.
I returned to Cardiff and formed Bomb & Dagger (Alison was in the original line-up), a kind of bolshevik dance band drawing heavilly on African influences.
Recorded another demo for Geoff Travis in 1991 as Alison Statton & Spike which was again turned down. Recorded Tidal Blues CD for Vinyl Japan, playing concerts in Tokyo and Osaka in 1994. The title track appeared on all the demos - a remix is posted on this site.
A second album, The Shady Tree, was recorded in 1997.
An 'experimental' album commissioned by Belgian Label, Pretty Inside, has yet to materialise.
I have worked on many diverse musical projects over the years, The Gist, Louis Philippe, Charlotte Greig to name a few. My last band, Blackwood, split in 1998. I continue to write eclectic ditties. Recently worked on a couple of tunes with French combo, Watoo Watoo, over the internet (I've not met them yet) - check out their cover of Searching For Mr Right - the misspelled 'La Fuite en Arrière', posted on this site is another collaboration.
Currently mastering more material for Z Block Records. So far, the long awaited compilation CD is still in pre-production, DIY format - hopefully, we'll press some up soon (more sponsors required). Also finished, my 'ambient' instrumental CD to be released as 'Evocoteur'. Thanks to all those generous folk who have subscribed to the Z Block compilation.
Enjoyed the tracks Spike. Always been a big fan of La Variete - what a great album. And yes, I admit I sometimes lay in bed dreaming of writing "eclectic ditties" :-)
Oh, how I would *love* to attend the upcoming show...sadly, so far away from Minnesota and money wouldn't avail itself to follow a whim and fly. I can however wish the very best and feel pleased in knowing beautiful music will ensue. All the best to you!
Just under three weeks to go and only a handful of public sale tickets are still available for the Wales versus Scotland RBS Six Nations international at the Millennium Stadium after a huge demand from fans.
Less than 1,000 tickets are still for sale as the big game on February 9th is now just 23 days away.
Demand has surged after the announcement of new Head Coach Warren Gatland's first squad which features Ryan Jones as skipper and the return to international rugby of Martyn Williams.
Tickets are available online via www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling the Millennium Stadium ticket hotline on 08705 582 582. Personal callers can visit Ticketline at 47 Westgate Street, Cardiff.
We are extremely pleased to announce the release of our Debut-Album, and newest Steve Reich album on the market, available worldwide now! Please feel free to have a Listen Online
Wishing you a ravishing career and music that enriches the mind and soul.
'Cwm Rhondda 2007' - The Anthem for Wales in the Rugby World Cup is available as a digital download for mobile phones, iPods, Mp3 players and computers and you can get it by texting the word WALES to 78789
Texts cost £1.50 including the download and the money is going to Ty-Hafan and The Toby Lloyd cockbain Foundation so get texting!
We want to show the team that the Nation is behind them by getting 'Cwm Rhondda ' into the UK Top 40 so please pass the message on!
Spike, I bought the itunes downloads of the '81 Weekend demos the other day, and it was such a joy to hear different versions of the songs I've loved so long. Please let me know if you're ever passing through New York City on a reunion tour of that peacefully beautiful and refreshing music. It remains among my top 20 all-time favorites. Took your advice and created a music page for myspace.com/rlcrutchfieldsdarkday. Couldn't do that for my recent work as the page was already created a non-music one. But you asked about hearing my music and my stuff's at itunes and CDbaby.com to sample, both Dark Day and Robin Crutchfield.
Thanks for the friendly advice and support. Keep me posted of your efforts.
thanks a lot for your friendship
I absolutely love your music
you shoud come to Barcelona to play, and bring allison, and stuart too, we really like everything you do
i can't stop listenning to the records you made with allison statton
stuart moxham's too
ap, last week bought 'maple snow', lucky peolpe in those gigs
hey spike, i thought l21 was getting a bit boring. but you can still call me l21 in the article as my name on the space is L21/Toy Car. the lack of hearing tunes is probably just myspace being silly as per usual. i would be extremely interested in putting a track on ur record label and selling some cds online! wikid stuff. dude. hehe louxxxxxxx
