Steve Swindells grew up in the Bath and Bristol area of England before dropping-out of art college to join his first band Squidd(www.rodneymatthews.com). He moved to London and lived in a squat in 1973 and soon had a solo deal with RCA, which led to the album 'Messages. A follow up album 'Swallow' was recorded, mastered and test pressings manufactured. However, Steve's abusive manager/producer Mark Edwards blew his deal with RCA by sweeping everything off the managing director’s desk with his umbrella in a drunken/druggy rage and, not surprisingly, Steve was dropped by RCA (both these albums are reissued on double CD as 'Messages' on Esoteric/Cherry Red on October 26th, 2009 and will also be available to download on iTunes etc in due course). http://cherryred.co.uk/esoteric/artists/steveswindells.htm#
Having escaped from Edwards' evil grasp, in 1976 Swindells found himself recording 'Two's A Crowd' with Pilot, at Abbey Road Studio 2, produced by Alan Parsons. This was to prove to be their swansong.
In 1978 he joined Hawkwind, who were then named Hawklords, for the '25 Years On' album and tour. When singer Robert Calvert left the band after the tour, he was offered the job of lead singer. Steve declined, as the band had no record deal and were broke.
In 1979, he was taken to New York for the first time by an Italian Count(as you do), and within three days was signed by Doug Morris to Atco/Wea (now Warner Music). The result was the self-produced, classic album 'Fresh Blood' which was recently reissued on CD for the first time on Atomhenge/Cherry Red (http://cherryred.co.uk/atomhenge/product.php?display=ATOMCD1015). It reached #3 on the US airplay charts in 1980 and garnered rave reviews. Despite this, and some excellent follow-up material (soon to resurface!), Steve's option was inexplicably not taken up. Fresh Blood will available to download from Dec 15th 2009 exclusively on Amazon for a month then on all the others thereafter.
So the disillusioned thirty year-old switched careers into club promotion and party-organising by creating the ground-breaking club nights The Lift, Jungle, Bad, Babylon and the original jamming nights Downbeat and Groove. Some of these were under the unbrella of The Pure Organisation, his company with Kevin Millins, which also organised parties for Prince, Madonna and The Face and Time Out magazines, amongst many others.
In 1995, Steve Swindells reinvented himself as a journalist (Time Out and Attitude magazines), after having moved back to his home town of Bath for a while. His musical ouput there, prior to it and right up to the present day is featured on his new online double album 'Demos For The Departed' (www.isound.com/steve_swindells_gb). It's rapidly heading for 50,000 plays and has regularly featured in this huge site's top ten most-played.
In the late 90s, Steve found himself collaborating and recording with the legendary German pruducer Zeus B Held, as they both lived close to each other in NW London. This led to Steve's friend, Culture Club's Jon Moss, asking to play drums on the track 'Now Voyager'. The result is DanMingo and their double album 'Leap Of Faith - The Prequel', which is rapidly heading for 120,000 plays on www.isound.com/danmingo
Steve also collaborated heavily with Jerry Richards on his excellent Earth Lab album 'Element'(www.myspace.com/earthlab)
Playing on this MySpace Page is Steve Swindells 'Demos For The Departed' Double Album which is available for download at www.isound.com for just $9.99.
The Who's Roger Daltrey's versions of Steve's songs 'Bitter And Twisted','Martyrs And Madmen' and 'Treachery' are now all available on iTunes.
There are TWO free, live tracks from the Hawklords' legendary Hernia Bay to download for a limited period on www.ilike.com/artist/hawklords
Word the spread!
www.hawklords.com
Who I'd like to meet:
Steve Swindells and DanMingo's Music can be heard and downloaded on the following sites by clicking on the links:
Where: 229 Club 229 GREAT PORTLAND ST LONDON W1W5PN.
Description: A memorial concert in appreciation of the late great MR BARNEY BUBBLES, the very creative multi-media artist, featuring some of Barney’s design projects:
Congratulations to IMRADIO's Promoter Barbara Sobel who has four of her artists placed on the 2010 Grammy Award Ballot! These artists can be heard on IMRADIO!
Category 1 Record Of The Year 031. "Will U B Mine" - Beatnik Castle Featuring Francillia
Category 3 Song Of The Year 704. "Will U B Mine" - Quincy B Scovill, songwriter (Beatnik Castle Featuring Francillia)
Category 12 Best Dance Recording .013 "Will U B Mine" - Beatnik Castle Featuring Francillia .026 "Rise" - Cyon Flare .074 "Brand New Day" - Georgie Porgie .048 "I Believe In Love" - Georgie Porgie .049 "So In Love" - Godwin
Bay Area artist Beatnik Castle featuring Francillia grabs three nominations on the Official 2010 Grammy Ballot!
The third time is always the charm! For the third consecutive year, Bay Area songwriter/producer/and owner of Mad Monk LTDQuincy B. Scovill and musical songwriting partner and Beatnik Castle band mate - US Virgin Islands-born singing sensation Francillia, have been placed on the Official Ballot for the 2010 Grammy Awards by the National Academy of Arts and Sciences. The Grammy Categories for Beatnik Castle’s debut single “Will U B Mine” are as follows:
Category 1: Record of the Year # 031
Category 3: Song of the Year # 704
Category 12: Best Dance Recording # 013
“It’s definitely an honor for Francillia and me to be nominated,” exclaims Scovill. “It’s even more special because Francillia is perhaps the most talented person I’ve ever worked with!”
Mad Monk LTD Recording artist Beatnik Castle featuring Francillia - the Bay Area’s coolest, hipp
PEPPER MASHAY IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS AND BOOKINGS NOW!
For further information please contact Barbara Sobel at:
Email: BarbaraJSobel@gmail.com
MySpace: www.myspace.com/BarbaraSobel
DANCE ARTIST PEPPER MASHAY’S “FREEWAY OF LOVE” OUT NOW
Single is MaShay’s first release on San Francisco’s CAPP Records
Dance recording artist Pepper MaShay is returning to
airwaves and dance floors across the country this week with her latest
single, Freeway of Love, to be released through dance record label CAPP
Records—the first time MaShay has worked with CAPP, which is known for
its energetic releases that range in style from progressive house to
techno.
The inimitable Pepper MaShay draws throngs of loyal fans
during her frequent appearances around the world, and has been
performing Freeway of Love throughout the summer to enthusiastic
reviews. Penned by Narada Michael Walden and Jeffrey Cohen for Aretha
Franklin’s legendary 1985 album Who’s Zoomin’ Who, fans and DJs alike
have been clamoring for the release of Pepper’s take on the song.
MaShay—globally known and universally loved—brings
attitude, heart and soul to every release that’s been graced by her
vocals, and Freeway of Love is no exception. Originally a session
singer for the likes of Tina Turner, Cher, Mick Jagger, Celine Dion and
others, Pepper has gone on to establish herself as a true dance diva.
Perhaps best-known for her contributions to Barry Harris’ dance
mega-hit Dive in the Pool (the unofficial anthem from Showtime
Television’s Queer as Folk), Pepper has recorded dozens of songs over
her career, including I Got My Pride, Lost Yo Mind, and the incredible
I Can’t Stop.
CAPP Records’ release of Freeway of Love includes
remixes from Steely M. & Cary August, Germany’s Dany Wild, Spain’s
Oscar Salguero, and many more, with the
12 tracks including a brandnew song by Ex-Hawkwind singer BRIDGET WISHART and EVERLING. I'm on it, too, with great BIANCA ARISTIA on vocals. The track's called 'Kepler Mission' celebrating the International Year of Astronomy.
Hey there, just thought we'd let you know that we're throwing a party at The Dublin Caste (Camden) on the 30th of September, a week on Wednesday to launch our new EP. Everyone's invited!
If you venture out to listen to live music, make sure you don't miss out on a great gig & after party...
Thanks for being our friend :) We're currently booking gigs up and down the UK. If you like what you hear, and know any venues where you think we'd go down well, ideas (and bookings lol!) are always welcome!
Hawkind is one of our inspirations. I am hoping you will listen to our music and critique it. Peasants Of Posture was on the Grammy Ballot in 2008. Demos on the player, soon to be remixed and mastered.
I am so glad to have you as a new friend on myspace. I am checking out your profile now. I just put five new videos up on my page and I would LOVE it if you would take a look :) It would be great to hear from you! Hope you are having a great week! =) Hugs, Zoe
Online Now!
