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Alphastone
Bassman
Fan Tan Jack
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Please note, entries on the Spacemen 3 and Darkside are kept to a minimum, mainly because there is too much information to relate here, I am also in the process of writing material for a book which covers the Darkside in detail (see Darkdaze project). This is more an attempt to fill in the gaps, some of these bands never made records and to the outside world mean very little nevertheless they all were a part of my history. I have also included some examples of the songs played.
1980 - Noise on Independant Street
My first band, I played drums, very badly, it all ended when I came home to find my drum kit gone and a pile of tenners on the table, my mother sold them without even consulting me, I had nearly given an elderly neighbour a heart attack whilst practicing in the garden shed.The band featured Gavin Wissen on guitar and vocals, Tim Morris, guitar, Bones bass and Dave Price on harmonica.
Songs performed: The Passenger, 20th Century Zombies.
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1982 - The Spacemen
The first incarnation of the band that later would become Spacemen 3. This line up featured Jason Pierce guitar and vocals Tim Morris drums and Pete Kember guitar.
Songs performed: 2.35, Loose , Funhouse, Somekinda Love.
1984 - The Push
I was anxious to develop my bass playing so The Push happened at the right time for me. Formed by Gavin Wissen and Tim Morris, The Push gave me my first taste of success, we were the first band of our generation to get gigs outside Rugby; at the Princess Charlotte, Leicester, The Black Lion, Northampton,and Warwick University. In our home town we were undoubtedly one of the most popular live bands, eventually we attracted the attention of The Jazz Butcher who was seen at our Northampton gig. By the time Pat Fish [Jazz Butcher] got in contact with us unfortunately the band was no more, he wanted us to support him at The Rock Garden in London, a missed opportunity that could have opened doors. Gavin Wissen split the band to form The Cogs of Tyme, I was disappointed but nevertheless I enjoyed my time with The Push. The band featured Gavin Wissen guitar and vocals, Tim Morris drums, Mick Hurdley guitar. The band eventually went down to a three piece without Mick.
Songs performed: Witchcraft Woman, Rocket Ship, Steppin Stone.
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1986 - Spacemen 3
My second period with the Spacemen began as they were emerging into a much more cohesive force than earlier incarnations.
Line up: Pete Kember/Sonic Boom guitar, vocals, keyboard, Jason Pierce guitar, vocals, Natty followed by Stuart Roswell, on drums.
Songs performed: Walkin with jesus, Take me to the other side Rollercoaster.
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1989 - The Darkside
We were signed by Beggars Banquet in '89, the band's original singer Nick Hayden left after our debut 12'' Highrise Love. This is the point where I took the position of vocalist and songwriter. Despite success, in certain areas the band fragmented, bad management and infighting lead to our demise.
Line up: Kev Cowan guitar, Stuart Roswell drums [guitar in later line up]. Nick Hayden, guitar and
vocals, Craig Wagstaff drums.
Songs performed: Guitar Voodoo, Waiting for the Angels.
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1993 - Supernova/The Supernova Quartet
For a period of time after The Darkside I jammed with local musicians, I decided to take up the guitar and develop a new sound. After many line up changes I eventually developed a song writing partnership with Matt Reid, a young local keyboard player, together with Andy Smith we did most of our progression in the studio. This resulted in Sensitise a song that took months to record and was to be our debut single but sadly was never finished.
Musicians included: Matt Reid keyboard, Andy Smith bass, Ian Mills drums, Pete Prince guitar.
Songs performed: She's Spinning, Sensitise.
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1994 - The Banana Spliffs
This short lived outfit was Rugbys first freeform experimental band, formed by Pete Prince and myself, an idea we hatched out during coffee break whilst at Rugby art college. Our first gig involved as many as seven or eight musicians, all in the required costume of Fez hats or Arab head gear , we had a mandolin, synthesizer, saz, sitar, guitars, bass, percussion and Rugby's own Joe Meek Graham Walker on mixing desk and effects.
Our debut performance at the legendary Flying Teapot created quite an impact, the next gig was at a party in an old nuclear fall out bunker recently purchased by two local drug dealers, the bunker was situated on the outskirts of Rugby in a rural location, surrounded by woods and only accessible via a muddy track and then a climb through a chain link fence. We decided to play in fall out suits complete with skull crushing rubber helmets which made us impervious to radiation but prone to asphixiation. The Spliffs eventually disappeared in smoke leaving no audio evidence.
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1995 - Alphastone
Alphastone appeared live on the Xmas eve of 95/96 at a party, the feedback from the crowd told us we were creating some great music. For a period of time we were voted the best live band in our area, also we were influencing newer generations of musicians, our unique brand of pop art music was an attempt to recreate the classic psychedelic Rugby vibe as well as taking on board the technology dominated climate of those times.
We expanded from a three piece to a five piece, and then back to a three piece for the last period. Alphastone hit some barren times and gradually our output diminished and we went into hibernation mode. We reformed the band for one last European tour last year, a great experience and a good way to end the band.
For more info visit the alphastone site www.alphastone.co.uk
Musicians included; Andy Smith bass, Duncan Coates, Mark Carolan, Dannie Payne, Steve Janes drums,
Digger percussion/keyboard, Chris Brightwell guitar, Pete Prince synthesiser.
Songs performed: Cool Earth Sensation, Getting Close to Nowhere, Transfixed
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EAR/Spectrum
Since leaving the Spacemen in the late eighties I have periodically worked with Sonic, in the case of Spectrum I contributed to some of the recorded output but never played live with the group. I was invited to play with Ear at a gig supporting Pavement in London [1998]. For a period of time after I became a part of the live group, we played some of the most interesting gigs of my career including Arts festivals in Copenhagen Denmark, Vienna Austria, France and one in Scotland's secret bunker. We also toured America with Bowery Electric.
Sonic continues to perform as EAR and Spectrum.
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2001 - Colourslide
It began as a project based on a songwriting partnership between Fiona Mcreath and Jenny King, after recording two songs in my studio we decided to turn it into a live group. The band rehearsed new material and were almost ready to play a live gig when unfortunately Jenny King, erm dropped out, the band ambled on for a while until we gave it up to pursue different things.
The song ''Run Wild'' featured on the Bassman album is from the first initial recording sessions, with Fiona's permission I decided to release it on my album as it would have stayed in the vaults for a long time otherwise.
Songs performed; Run Wild, She's Sweet, Osmosis.
Musicians; Fiona Mcreath organ, vocals, guitar, Jenny King vocals, Tim Morris drums, Adam Fearney guitar.
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Bassman - 2001
After almost eight years working as Alphastone I felt I needed to move on. I put together a small set of songs using basic sequencing and guitar, I played a string of sucessfull live performances including gigs at the Kosmische Club and the Rough Trade ROTA club in London .
In 2002 I went back briefly to work with Alphastone for a final european tour. After the tour I wound Alphastone up, I decided to go back to the sound I had developed with my solo project, along with Andy Smith we formed the Spacejunk Cowboys.
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Spacejunk Cowboys - 2004
Our sound is a continuation of the Alphastone vibe, almost a decade of musical meanderings that have brought us to this point, we are one of the few active bands that has roots in the Rugby Sound, the era of Darkside , Spacemen 3 and psychedelic happenings, it is hard to be sure what relevance we have today amongst the crud of teen mediocrity but we exist and our sound is here to be heard.
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Bassman - 2004
Since writing and recording the first solo record I have devoted much of my creative output into the Spacejunk Cowboy's album and live set, with that project near completion I am working on the next Bassman collection.
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