Jeff Cotton-Iconic Guitarist, Captain Beefhearts Magic Band, Trout Mask Replica, MU! Primitive Substance 2026-09-29 | Jeff Cotton-Iconic Guitarist, Captain Beefhearts Magic Band, Trout Mask Replica, MU!
CHRIS SPEDDING-LEGENDARY ENGLISH GUITARIST/COMPOSER MOTOR BIKIN PAUL MCCARTNEY #videopodcast, Primitive Substance 2025-10-03 | In this short Chris talks about recording with Paul McCartney!Chris Spedding Iconic English Guitarist who has played with many of the greats in rock n roll history. In a career spanning more than 50 years! By the early 1970s, he had become one of the most sought-after session guitarists in England. Chris has played on and produced many albums and singles. He has also been a member of eleven rock bands: the Battered Ornaments, Frank Ricotti Quartet, King Mob, Mike Batt and Friends, Necessaries, Nucleus, Ricky Norton, Sharks, Trigger, and the Wombles. In May 1976, he also produced the first Sex Pistols recordings!As well as his celebrated work as a session musician, Chris pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album Songs Without Words in 1970. Since then, he has released fourteen studio albums, and two live albums. His only solo hit was 1975's "Motor Bikin'".Whilst still with the Battered Ornaments, which without the departing Pete Brown left he as their frontman, he joined the Frank Ricotti Quartet and played guitar on the album Our Point of View, released in July 1969. Chris was also invited to play on Jack Bruce's first and third solo albums, Songs for a Tailor (1969) and Harmony Row (1971).During this time, he was also playing jazz-fusion with Nucleus and recorded and toured with Mike Gibbs, featuring as lead soloist on the track "Five for England" on "Gibbs's Tanglewood '63" album. He played guitar on the Pete Atkin/Clive James album "Driving Through Mythical America". He also was a session player on Harry Nilsson's breakthrough album, "Nilsson Schmilsson", recorded in London. In 1970, he played on the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar] and in 1971 Chris played on "Pieces of Me" by Linda Hoyle and "Coming from Reality" by Sixto Rodriguez. During 1972–74, Chris played a central role in Sharks, initially with ex-Free bassist Andy Fraser. They recorded two albums and toured with Roxy Music. After that, he toured and recorded with John Cale. He also played with Roy Harper's occasional backing band Trigger, notably on 1975's HQ album. In 1972–76, he played in Mike Batt's novelty band The Wombles taking part in their UK tour in full costume wielding his trademark Gibson Flying V.In 1975, Chris had a Top 20 solo hit in the UK with "Motor Bikin'", which he promoted with popular television appearances on Top of the Pops and Supersonic, dressed in leather motorcycling gear, with greased hair. On his 1976 single Pogo Dancing he was backed by punk rock band The Vibrators. When further hits failed to materialize, he subsequently became better known as the album "Chris Spedding" (1975) produced by Mickie Most. Spedding recorded a version of the American singer-songwriter Garland Jeffreys' song, "Wild in the Streets".Chris was the producer of the Sex Pistols' first demos, which were recorded on 12 May 1976 at London's Majestic Studios, where he had recorded his contributions to Eno's album Here Come the Warm Jets and the Sharks track "Kung Fu". Chris moved to New York City, joined the Necessaries as a guitarist and songwriter, collaborated with drummer/percussionist David Van Tieghem, and worked extensively with Robert Gordon. Before long he was back in the UK and recorded another album of his own, I'm Not Like Everybody Else" (1980). The same year he appeared on Joan Armatrading's album "Me Myself" I, playing lead guitar on a number of tracks, including the chart-hit title track. His live album, "Friday the 13th" was released in 1981. In 1982 he played on Nina Hagen's recording "NunSexMonkRock", and over the next few years he continued his session work on such albums as Tom Wait's "Rain Dogs", while periodically releasing solo material "Mean and Moody" (1985), "Enemy Within" (1986) and "Cafe Days" (1990). He worked on several solo releases by Jerry Harrison (of Talking Heads) including the critically acclaimed album "Casual Gods" released in 1988, spawning the No. 7 hit on US Album Rock Tracks chart: "Rev It Up".He played on the tracks "Not Such A Bad Boy", "So Bad" and "No Values" on Paul McCartney's Give My Regards to Broad Street released in 1984. In the same year he played on Roger Daltrey's solo album "Parting Should Be Painless". Chris was producer of the first two albums by the Canadian rockabilly band, The Razorbacks, entitled "Go to Town" (1988) and " Live a Little" (1989). In 1995, he played on Willy DeVille's "Big Easy Fantasy", and later that year, on his album "Loup Garou". Chris toured with a reformed Roxy Music in 2001. His own blues rock offerings "One Step Ahead of the Blues" (2002)" and "Click Clack" (2005)" were released, followed by "It's Now Or Never" in 2007. In 2017 and 2019 he toured the world with Bryan Ferry before the pandemic hit. His last show with Bryan was at the Royal Albert Hall in London!Chris continues to play live gigs with the Brighton Beach Boys mostly in the UK. For more information http://www.chrisspedding.com
CHRIS SPEDDING-LEGENDARY ENGLISH GUITARIST/COMPOSER MOTOR BIKIN JACK BRUCE #videopodcast, Primitive Substance 2025-10-02 | In this short Chris talks about working with Jack Bruce bassist from Cream!Chris Spedding Iconic English Guitarist who has played with many of the greats in rock n roll history. In a career spanning more than 50 years! By the early 1970s, he had become one of the most sought-after session guitarists in England. Chris has played on and produced many albums and singles. He has also been a member of eleven rock bands: the Battered Ornaments, Frank Ricotti Quartet, King Mob, Mike Batt and Friends, Necessaries, Nucleus, Ricky Norton, Sharks, Trigger, and the Wombles. In May 1976, he also produced the first Sex Pistols recordings!As well as his celebrated work as a session musician, Chris pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album Songs Without Words in 1970. Since then, he has released fourteen studio albums, and two live albums. His only solo hit was 1975's "Motor Bikin'".Whilst still with the Battered Ornaments, which without the departing Pete Brown left he as their frontman, he joined the Frank Ricotti Quartet and played guitar on the album Our Point of View, released in July 1969. Chris was also invited to play on Jack Bruce's first and third solo albums, Songs for a Tailor (1969) and Harmony Row (1971).During this time, he was also playing jazz-fusion with Nucleus and recorded and toured with Mike Gibbs, featuring as lead soloist on the track "Five for England" on "Gibbs's Tanglewood '63" album. He played guitar on the Pete Atkin/Clive James album "Driving Through Mythical America". He also was a session player on Harry Nilsson's breakthrough album, "Nilsson Schmilsson", recorded in London. In 1970, he played on the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar] and in 1971 Chris played on "Pieces of Me" by Linda Hoyle and "Coming from Reality" by Sixto Rodriguez. During 1972–74, Chris played a central role in Sharks, initially with ex-Free bassist Andy Fraser. They recorded two albums and toured with Roxy Music. After that, he toured and recorded with John Cale. He also played with Roy Harper's occasional backing band Trigger, notably on 1975's HQ album. In 1972–76, he played in Mike Batt's novelty band The Wombles taking part in their UK tour in full costume wielding his trademark Gibson Flying V.In 1975, Chris had a Top 20 solo hit in the UK with "Motor Bikin'", which he promoted with popular television appearances on Top of the Pops and Supersonic, dressed in leather motorcycling gear, with greased hair. On his 1976 single Pogo Dancing he was backed by punk rock band The Vibrators. When further hits failed to materialize, he subsequently became better known as the album "Chris Spedding" (1975) produced by Mickie Most. Spedding recorded a version of the American singer-songwriter Garland Jeffreys' song, "Wild in the Streets".Chris was the producer of the Sex Pistols' first demos, which were recorded on 12 May 1976 at London's Majestic Studios, where he had recorded his contributions to Eno's album Here Come the Warm Jets and the Sharks track "Kung Fu". Chris moved to New York City, joined the Necessaries as a guitarist and songwriter, collaborated with drummer/percussionist David Van Tieghem, and worked extensively with Robert Gordon. Before long he was back in the UK and recorded another album of his own, I'm Not Like Everybody Else" (1980). The same year he appeared on Joan Armatrading's album "Me Myself" I, playing lead guitar on a number of tracks, including the chart-hit title track. His live album, "Friday the 13th" was released in 1981. In 1982 he played on Nina Hagen's recording "NunSexMonkRock", and over the next few years he continued his session work on such albums as Tom Wait's "Rain Dogs", while periodically releasing solo material "Mean and Moody" (1985), "Enemy Within" (1986) and "Cafe Days" (1990). He worked on several solo releases by Jerry Harrison (of Talking Heads) including the critically acclaimed album "Casual Gods" released in 1988, spawning the No. 7 hit on US Album Rock Tracks chart: "Rev It Up".He played on the tracks "Not Such A Bad Boy", "So Bad" and "No Values" on Paul McCartney's Give My Regards to Broad Street released in 1984. In the same year he played on Roger Daltrey's solo album "Parting Should Be Painless". Chris was producer of the first two albums by the Canadian rockabilly band, The Razorbacks, entitled "Go to Town" (1988) and " Live a Little" (1989). In 1995, he played on Willy DeVille's "Big Easy Fantasy", and later that year, on his album "Loup Garou". Chris toured with a reformed Roxy Music in 2001. His own blues rock offerings "One Step Ahead of the Blues" (2002)" and "Click Clack" (2005)" were released, followed by "It's Now Or Never" in 2007. In 2017 and 2019 he toured the world with Bryan Ferry before the pandemic hit. His last show with Bryan was at the Royal Albert Hall in London!Chris continues to play live gigs with the Brighton Beach Boys mostly in the UK. For more information http://www.chrisspedding.com
CHRIS SPEDDING-LEGENDARY ENGLISH GUITARIST/COMPOSER MOTOR BIKIN BRYAN FERRY #videopodcast, #music Primitive Substance 2025-10-01 | In this short Chris talks about recording the Sex Pistols!Chris Spedding Iconic English Guitarist who has played with many of the greats in rock n roll history. In a career spanning more than 50 years! By the early 1970s, he had become one of the most sought-after session guitarists in England. Chris has played on and produced many albums and singles. He has also been a member of eleven rock bands: the Battered Ornaments, Frank Ricotti Quartet, King Mob, Mike Batt and Friends, Necessaries, Nucleus, Ricky Norton, Sharks, Trigger, and the Wombles. In May 1976, he also produced the first Sex Pistols recordings!As well as his celebrated work as a session musician, Chris pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album Songs Without Words in 1970. Since then, he has released fourteen studio albums, and two live albums. His only solo hit was 1975's "Motor Bikin'".Whilst still with the Battered Ornaments, which without the departing Pete Brown left he as their frontman, he joined the Frank Ricotti Quartet and played guitar on the album Our Point of View, released in July 1969. Chris was also invited to play on Jack Bruce's first and third solo albums, Songs for a Tailor (1969) and Harmony Row (1971).During this time, he was also playing jazz-fusion with Nucleus and recorded and toured with Mike Gibbs, featuring as lead soloist on the track "Five for England" on "Gibbs's Tanglewood '63" album. He played guitar on the Pete Atkin/Clive James album "Driving Through Mythical America". He also was a session player on Harry Nilsson's breakthrough album, "Nilsson Schmilsson", recorded in London. In 1970, he played on the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar] and in 1971 Chris played on "Pieces of Me" by Linda Hoyle and "Coming from Reality" by Sixto Rodriguez. During 1972–74, Chris played a central role in Sharks, initially with ex-Free bassist Andy Fraser. They recorded two albums and toured with Roxy Music. After that, he toured and recorded with John Cale. He also played with Roy Harper's occasional backing band Trigger, notably on 1975's HQ album. In 1972–76, he played in Mike Batt's novelty band The Wombles taking part in their UK tour in full costume wielding his trademark Gibson Flying V.In 1975, Chris had a Top 20 solo hit in the UK with "Motor Bikin'", which he promoted with popular television appearances on Top of the Pops and Supersonic, dressed in leather motorcycling gear, with greased hair. On his 1976 single Pogo Dancing he was backed by punk rock band The Vibrators. When further hits failed to materialize, he subsequently became better known as the album "Chris Spedding" (1975) produced by Mickie Most. Spedding recorded a version of the American singer-songwriter Garland Jeffreys' song, "Wild in the Streets".Chris was the producer of the Sex Pistols' first demos, which were recorded on 12 May 1976 at London's Majestic Studios, where he had recorded his contributions to Eno's album Here Come the Warm Jets and the Sharks track "Kung Fu". Chris moved to New York City, joined the Necessaries as a guitarist and songwriter, collaborated with drummer/percussionist David Van Tieghem, and worked extensively with Robert Gordon. Before long he was back in the UK and recorded another album of his own, I'm Not Like Everybody Else" (1980). The same year he appeared on Joan Armatrading's album "Me Myself" I, playing lead guitar on a number of tracks, including the chart-hit title track. His live album, "Friday the 13th" was released in 1981. In 1982 he played on Nina Hagen's recording "NunSexMonkRock", and over the next few years he continued his session work on such albums as Tom Wait's "Rain Dogs", while periodically releasing solo material "Mean and Moody" (1985), "Enemy Within" (1986) and "Cafe Days" (1990). He worked on several solo releases by Jerry Harrison (of Talking Heads) including the critically acclaimed album "Casual Gods" released in 1988, spawning the No. 7 hit on US Album Rock Tracks chart: "Rev It Up".He played on the tracks "Not Such A Bad Boy", "So Bad" and "No Values" on Paul McCartney's Give My Regards to Broad Street released in 1984. In the same year he played on Roger Daltrey's solo album "Parting Should Be Painless". Chris was producer of the first two albums by the Canadian rockabilly band, The Razorbacks, entitled "Go to Town" (1988) and " Live a Little" (1989). In 1995, he played on Willy DeVille's "Big Easy Fantasy", and later that year, on his album "Loup Garou". Chris toured with a reformed Roxy Music in 2001. His own blues rock offerings "One Step Ahead of the Blues" (2002)" and "Click Clack" (2005)" were released, followed by "It's Now Or Never" in 2007. In 2017 and 2019 he toured the world with Bryan Ferry before the pandemic hit. His last show with Bryan was at the Royal Albert Hall in London!Chris continues to play live gigs with the Brighton Beach Boys mostly in the UK. For more information http://www.chrisspedding.com
CHRIS SPEDDING-LEGENDARY ENGLISH GUITARIST/COMPOSER MOTOR BIKIN BRYAN FERRY, PAUL MCCARTNEY, ETC. Primitive Substance 2025-10-01 | Chris Spedding Iconic English Guitarist who has played with many of the greats in rock n roll history. In a career spanning more than 50 years! By the early 1970s, he had become one of the most sought-after session guitarists in England. Chris has played on and produced many albums and singles. He has also been a member of eleven rock bands: the Battered Ornaments, Frank Ricotti Quartet, King Mob, Mike Batt and Friends, Necessaries, Nucleus, Ricky Norton, Sharks, Trigger, and the Wombles. In May 1976, he also produced the first Sex Pistols recordings!As well as his celebrated work as a session musician, Chris pursued a solo career, releasing his debut album Songs Without Words in 1970. Since then, he has released fourteen studio albums, and two live albums. His only solo hit was 1975's "Motor Bikin'".Whilst still with the Battered Ornaments, which without the departing Pete Brown left he as their frontman, he joined the Frank Ricotti Quartet and played guitar on the album Our Point of View, released in July 1969. Chris was also invited to play on Jack Bruce's first and third solo albums, Songs for a Tailor (1969) and Harmony Row (1971).During this time, he was also playing jazz-fusion with Nucleus and recorded and toured with Mike Gibbs, featuring as lead soloist on the track "Five for England" on "Gibbs's Tanglewood '63" album. He played guitar on the Pete Atkin/Clive James album "Driving Through Mythical America". He also was a session player on Harry Nilsson's breakthrough album, "Nilsson Schmilsson", recorded in London. In 1970, he played on the original recording of Jesus Christ Superstar] and in 1971 Chris played on "Pieces of Me" by Linda Hoyle and "Coming from Reality" by Sixto Rodriguez. During 1972–74, Chris played a central role in Sharks, initially with ex-Free bassist Andy Fraser. They recorded two albums and toured with Roxy Music. After that, he toured and recorded with John Cale. He also played with Roy Harper's occasional backing band Trigger, notably on 1975's HQ album. In 1972–76, he played in Mike Batt's novelty band The Wombles taking part in their UK tour in full costume wielding his trademark Gibson Flying V.In 1975, Chris had a Top 20 solo hit in the UK with "Motor Bikin'", which he promoted with popular television appearances on Top of the Pops and Supersonic, dressed in leather motorcycling gear, with greased hair. On his 1976 single Pogo Dancing he was backed by punk rock band The Vibrators. When further hits failed to materialise, he subsequently became better known as the album "Chris Spedding" (1975) produced by Mickie Most. Spedding recorded a version of the American singer-songwriter Garland Jeffreys' song, "Wild in the Streets".Chris was the producer of the Sex Pistols' first demos, which were recorded on 12 May 1976 at London's Majestic Studios, where he had recorded his contributions to Eno's album Here Come the Warm Jets and the Sharks track "Kung Fu". Chris moved to New York City, joined the Necessaries as a guitarist and songwriter, collaborated with drummer/percussionist David Van Tieghem, and worked extensively with Robert Gordon. Before long he was back in the UK and recorded another album of his own, I'm Not Like Everybody Else" (1980). The same year he appeared on Joan Armatrading's album "Me Myself" I, playing lead guitar on a number of tracks, including the chart-hit title track. His live album, "Friday the 13th" was released in 1981. In 1982 he played on Nina Hagen's recording "NunSexMonkRock", and over the next few years he continued his session work on such albums as Tom Wait's "Rain Dogs", while periodically releasing solo material "Mean and Moody" (1985), "Enemy Within" (1986) and "Cafe Days" (1990). He worked on several solo releases by Jerry Harrison (of Talking Heads) including the critically acclaimed album "Casual Gods" released in 1988, spawning the No. 7 hit on US Album Rock Tracks chart: "Rev It Up".He played on the tracks "Not Such A Bad Boy", "So Bad" and "No Values" on Paul McCartney's Give My Regards to Broad Street released in 1984. In the same year he played on Roger Daltrey's solo album "Parting Should Be Painless". Chris was producer of the first two albums by the Canadian rockabilly band, The Razorbacks, entitled "Go to Town" (1988) and " Live a Little" (1989). In 1995, he played on Willy DeVille's "Big Easy Fantasy", and later that year, on his album "Loup Garou". Chris toured with a reformed Roxy Music in 2001. His own blues rock offerings "One Step Ahead of the Blues" (2002)" and "Click Clack" (2005)" were released, followed by "It's Now Or Never" in 2007. In 2017 and 2019 he toured the world with Bryan Ferry before the pandemic hit. His last show with Bryan was at the Royal Albert Hall in London!Chris continues to play guitar live gigs with the Brighton Beach Boys. Check out his website for upcoming shows and further information about his great career in music!http://www.chrisspedding.com
John French- Part 2 Captain Beefheart Magic Band! #videopodcast, #music, #interview, #musician Primitive Substance 2025-09-30 | In this short John talks about meeting Fred Frith! John French is an American drummer and former member of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band, where he was known by the nickname "Drumbo". He was the principal drummer on several of Captain Beefheart's albums, including 1969's Trout Mask Replica, for which he also acted as arranger. He later released several albums as a solo artist as well as with the collaborative group French Frith Kaiser Thompson.John grew up in Lancaster, California, the same area of Southern California as Frank Zappa, Don Van Vliet and other members of The Magic Band and The Mothers of Invention. He was interested in the local music scene as a teenager, hanging out with Doug Moon and watching The Omens perform live.Around 1964, he played and recorded with Merrell and The Exiles, a band led by Merrell Fankhauser and featuring Jeff Cotton on guitar. French and Cotton joined Mark Boston in another band in 1966, never recorded, called Blues in a Bottle. Bill Harkleroad aka Zoot Horn Rollo joined later; thus the nucleus of the Trout Mask Replica band was formed.John was invited to join Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band in late 1966, as a replacement for Paul Blakely. Having played on Safe as Milk (1967), his distinctive drumming style moulded the driving heavy psychedelic blues of Strictly Personal (1968) and Mirror Man (1967, but not released till 1971). During the "Trout Mask Replica" sessions, French transcribed the musical ideas Don played for him on piano for the rest of the band. However, shortly after the completion of "Trout Mask Replica", he was booted out of the group rather violently by Don as he was thrown down some stairs and was replaced by the inexperienced Jeff Bruschell. John was also contentiously omitted from the credits of "Trout Mask Replica" and was largely absent from the band photos taken for the artwork. Nevertheless, he was soon invited back and played on the critically acclaimed albums "Lick My Decals Off, Baby" and "The Spotlight Kid", sharing percussion duties with Art Tripp aka Ed Marimba. Then in late 1972, just before an American tour, he left again.Beefheart's contractual problems in 1975 forced him to join Frank Zappa's Bongo Fury tour, but as soon as he was able to, he reformed The Magic Band as their drummer and music director. In 1976 he saw the recording of the original version of "Bat Chain Puller", which due to legal ownership problems remained unreleased until 2012. He also played guitar as well as drums on some of these songs. He walked out when his friend John Thomas (keyboards) was sacked from the band.John visited Don in 1980 looking for work and was hired to take part in the recording of 'Doc at the Radar Station", playing guitar (and drumming on two tracks). He left before the band toured though, when Don handed him a list of 40 songs to learn over a 3-month period. He sealed the walkout the next day by returning the guitar Don had loaned him.John was also briefly involved and co-wrote some songs with Mallard, a group formed by other Magic Band members who left in 1974 after tensions within the band (reportedly caused mainly by Don's domineering, sometimes abusive, behavior finally reached a breaking point. Following Mallard, he joined Rattlesnakes and Eggs on drums and vocals for an extended stay.John has subsequently made solo records, and made two albums with Fred Frith, Henry Kaiser, and Richard Thompson and again with Henry Kaiser in Crazy Backwards Alphabet which we talk about in this interview.In 2000, he was involved in compiling and writing the sleeve notes for the anthology of Captain Beefheart's rarities "Grow Fins". He also gave his insights into the problems of working with Don in the BBC documentary 'The Artist Formerly Known as Captain Beefheart".In 2003 John reform The Magic Band as a live act with Rockette Morton, Denny Walley, and Gary Lucas. They divided the show into an instrumental and a vocal section. He handled the vocals and harmonica, handing over the drum kit to Robert Williams when he was singing. They released an album, "Back to the Front", in 2004 and a live CD, "21st Century Mirror Men", in 2005. In 2008, John released a solo album (under his "Drumbo" moniker) entitled "City of Refuge". The album features other musicians from The Magic Band including John Thomas, Mark Boston (aka Rockette Morton), Bill Harkleroad (aka Zoot Horn Rollo) and Greg Davidson (aka Ella Guru). The album was released on the UK label Proper Records.In 2010 John released this memoir of his time in the Magic Band (Proper Music Publishing, London). A must for Captain Beefheart fans!Also, would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
John French- Part 2 Captain Beefheart Magic Band! #videopodcast, #music, #interview, #musician Primitive Substance 2025-09-29 | In this short John talks about a story related to Richard Thompson John French is an American drummer and former member of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band, where he was known by the nickname "Drumbo". He was the principal drummer on several of Captain Beefheart's albums, including 1969's Trout Mask Replica, for which he also acted as arranger. He later released several albums as a solo artist as well as with the collaborative group French Frith Kaiser Thompson.John grew up in Lancaster, California, the same area of Southern California as Frank Zappa, Don Van Vliet and other members of The Magic Band and The Mothers of Invention. He was interested in the local music scene as a teenager, hanging out with Doug Moon and watching The Omens perform live.Around 1964, he played and recorded with Merrell and The Exiles, a band led by Merrell Fankhauser and featuring Jeff Cotton on guitar. French and Cotton joined Mark Boston in another band in 1966, never recorded, called Blues in a Bottle. Bill Harkleroad aka Zoot Horn Rollo joined later; thus the nucleus of the Trout Mask Replica band was formed.John was invited to join Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band in late 1966, as a replacement for Paul Blakely. Having played on Safe as Milk (1967), his distinctive drumming style moulded the driving heavy psychedelic blues of Strictly Personal (1968) and Mirror Man (1967, but not released till 1971). During the "Trout Mask Replica" sessions, French transcribed the musical ideas Don played for him on piano for the rest of the band. However, shortly after the completion of "Trout Mask Replica", he was booted out of the group rather violently by Don as he was thrown down some stairs and was replaced by the inexperienced Jeff Bruschell. John was also contentiously omitted from the credits of "Trout Mask Replica" and was largely absent from the band photos taken for the artwork. Nevertheless, he was soon invited back and played on the critically acclaimed albums "Lick My Decals Off, Baby" and "The Spotlight Kid", sharing percussion duties with Art Tripp aka Ed Marimba. Then in late 1972, just before an American tour, he left again.Beefheart's contractual problems in 1975 forced him to join Frank Zappa's Bongo Fury tour, but as soon as he was able to, he reformed The Magic Band as their drummer and music director. In 1976 he saw the recording of the original version of "Bat Chain Puller", which due to legal ownership problems remained unreleased until 2012. He also played guitar as well as drums on some of these songs. He walked out when his friend John Thomas (keyboards) was sacked from the band.John visited Don in 1980 looking for work and was hired to take part in the recording of 'Doc at the Radar Station", playing guitar (and drumming on two tracks). He left before the band toured though, when Don handed him a list of 40 songs to learn over a 3-month period. He sealed the walkout the next day by returning the guitar Don had loaned him.John was also briefly involved and co-wrote some songs with Mallard, a group formed by other Magic Band members who left in 1974 after tensions within the band (reportedly caused mainly by Don's domineering, sometimes abusive, behavior finally reached a breaking point. Following Mallard, he joined Rattlesnakes and Eggs on drums and vocals for an extended stay.John has subsequently made solo records, and made two albums with Fred Frith, Henry Kaiser, and Richard Thompson and again with Henry Kaiser in Crazy Backwards Alphabet which we talk about in this interview.In 2000, he was involved in compiling and writing the sleeve notes for the anthology of Captain Beefheart's rarities "Grow Fins". He also gave his insights into the problems of working with Don in the BBC documentary 'The Artist Formerly Known as Captain Beefheart".In 2003 John reform The Magic Band as a live act with Rockette Morton, Denny Walley, and Gary Lucas. They divided the show into an instrumental and a vocal section. He handled the vocals and harmonica, handing over the drum kit to Robert Williams when he was singing. They released an album, "Back to the Front", in 2004 and a live CD, "21st Century Mirror Men", in 2005. In 2008, John released a solo album (under his "Drumbo" moniker) entitled "City of Refuge". The album features other musicians from The Magic Band including John Thomas, Mark Boston (aka Rockette Morton), Bill Harkleroad (aka Zoot Horn Rollo) and Greg Davidson (aka Ella Guru). The album was released on the UK label Proper Records.In 2010 John released this memoir of his time in the Magic Band (Proper Music Publishing, London). A must for Captain Beefheart fans!Also, would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
John French- Part 2 Captain Beefheart Magic Band! Nickname Drumbo! Primitive Substance 2025-09-28 | Part 2 of my interview with John French (Drumbo)! John French is an American drummer and former member of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band, where he was known by the nickname "Drumbo". He was the principal drummer on several of Captain Beefheart's albums, including 1969's Trout Mask Replica, for which he also acted as arranger. He later released several albums as a solo artist as well as with the collaborative group French Frith Kaiser Thompson.John grew up in Lancaster, California, the same area of Southern California as Frank Zappa, Don Van Vliet and other members of The Magic Band and The Mothers of Invention. He was interested in the local music scene as a teenager, hanging out with Doug Moon and watching The Omens perform live.Around 1964, he played and recorded with Merrell and The Exiles, a band led by Merrell Fankhauser and featuring Jeff Cotton on guitar. French and Cotton joined Mark Boston in another band in 1966, never recorded, called Blues in a Bottle. Bill Harkleroad aka Zoot Horn Rollo joined later; thus the nucleus of the Trout Mask Replica band was formed.John was invited to join Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band in late 1966, as a replacement for Paul Blakely. Having played on Safe as Milk (1967), his distinctive drumming style moulded the driving heavy psychedelic blues of Strictly Personal (1968) and Mirror Man (1967, but not released till 1971). During the "Trout Mask Replica" sessions, French transcribed the musical ideas Don played for him on piano for the rest of the band. However, shortly after the completion of "Trout Mask Replica", he was booted out of the group rather violently by Don as he was thrown down some stairs and was replaced by the inexperienced Jeff Bruschell. John was also contentiously omitted from the credits of "Trout Mask Replica" and was largely absent from the band photos taken for the artwork. Nevertheless, he was soon invited back and played on the critically acclaimed albums "Lick My Decals Off, Baby" and "The Spotlight Kid", sharing percussion duties with Art Tripp aka Ed Marimba. Then in late 1972, just before an American tour, he left again.Beefheart's contractual problems in 1975 forced him to join Frank Zappa's Bongo Fury tour, but as soon as he was able to, he reformed The Magic Band as their drummer and music director. In 1976 he saw the recording of the original version of "Bat Chain Puller", which due to legal ownership problems remained unreleased until 2012. He also played guitar as well as drums on some of these songs. He walked out when his friend John Thomas (keyboards) was sacked from the band.John visited Don in 1980 looking for work and was hired to take part in the recording of 'Doc at the Radar Station", playing guitar (and drumming on two tracks). He left before the band toured though, when Don handed him a list of 40 songs to learn over a 3-month period. He sealed the walkout the next day by returning the guitar Don had loaned him.John was also briefly involved and co-wrote some songs with Mallard, a group formed by other Magic Band members who left in 1974 after tensions within the band (reportedly caused mainly by Don's domineering, sometimes abusive, behavior finally reached a breaking point. Following Mallard, he joined Rattlesnakes and Eggs on drums and vocals for an extended stay.John has subsequently made solo records, and made two albums with Fred Frith, Henry Kaiser, and Richard Thompson and again with Henry Kaiser in Crazy Backwards Alphabet which we talk about in this interview.In 2000, he was involved in compiling and writing the sleeve notes for the anthology of Captain Beefheart's rarities "Grow Fins". He also gave his insights into the problems of working with Don in the BBC documentary 'The Artist Formerly Known as Captain Beefheart".In 2003 John reform The Magic Band as a live act with Rockette Morton, Denny Walley, and Gary Lucas. They divided the show into an instrumental and a vocal section. He handled the vocals and harmonica, handing over the drum kit to Robert Williams when he was singing. They released an album, "Back to the Front", in 2004 and a live CD, "21st Century Mirror Men", in 2005. In 2008, John released a solo album (under his "Drumbo" moniker) entitled "City of Refuge". The album features other musicians from The Magic Band including John Thomas, Mark Boston (aka Rockette Morton), Bill Harkleroad (aka Zoot Horn Rollo) and Greg Davidson (aka Ella Guru). The album was released on the UK label Proper Records.In 2010 John released this memoir of his time in the Magic Band (Proper Music Publishing, London). A must for Captain Beefheart fans!Also, would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
John French- Part 2 Captain Beefheart Magic Band! #videopodcast, #music, #interview, #musician Primitive Substance 2025-09-28 | In this short John talks about a lifesaving experience John French is an American drummer and former member of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band, where he was known by the nickname "Drumbo". He was the principal drummer on several of Captain Beefheart's albums, including 1969's Trout Mask Replica, for which he also acted as arranger. He later released several albums as a solo artist as well as with the collaborative group French Frith Kaiser Thompson.John grew up in Lancaster, California, the same area of Southern California as Frank Zappa, Don Van Vliet and other members of The Magic Band and The Mothers of Invention. He was interested in the local music scene as a teenager, hanging out with Doug Moon and watching The Omens perform live.Around 1964, he played and recorded with Merrell and The Exiles, a band led by Merrell Fankhauser and featuring Jeff Cotton on guitar. French and Cotton joined Mark Boston in another band in 1966, never recorded, called Blues in a Bottle. Bill Harkleroad aka Zoot Horn Rollo joined later; thus the nucleus of the Trout Mask Replica band was formed.John was invited to join Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band in late 1966, as a replacement for Paul Blakely. Having played on Safe as Milk (1967), his distinctive drumming style moulded the driving heavy psychedelic blues of Strictly Personal (1968) and Mirror Man (1967, but not released till 1971). During the "Trout Mask Replica" sessions, French transcribed the musical ideas Don played for him on piano for the rest of the band. However, shortly after the completion of "Trout Mask Replica", he was booted out of the group rather violently by Don as he was thrown down some stairs and was replaced by the inexperienced Jeff Bruschell. John was also contentiously omitted from the credits of "Trout Mask Replica" and was largely absent from the band photos taken for the artwork. Nevertheless, he was soon invited back and played on the critically acclaimed albums "Lick My Decals Off, Baby" and "The Spotlight Kid", sharing percussion duties with Art Tripp aka Ed Marimba. Then in late 1972, just before an American tour, he left again.Beefheart's contractual problems in 1975 forced him to join Frank Zappa's Bongo Fury tour, but as soon as he was able to, he reformed The Magic Band as their drummer and music director. In 1976 he saw the recording of the original version of "Bat Chain Puller", which due to legal ownership problems remained unreleased until 2012. He also played guitar as well as drums on some of these songs. He walked out when his friend John Thomas (keyboards) was sacked from the band.John visited Don in 1980 looking for work and was hired to take part in the recording of 'Doc at the Radar Station", playing guitar (and drumming on two tracks). He left before the band toured though, when Don handed him a list of 40 songs to learn over a 3-month period. He sealed the walkout the next day by returning the guitar Don had loaned him.John was also briefly involved and co-wrote some songs with Mallard, a group formed by other Magic Band members who left in 1974 after tensions within the band (reportedly caused mainly by Don's domineering, sometimes abusive, behavior finally reached a breaking point. Following Mallard, he joined Rattlesnakes and Eggs on drums and vocals for an extended stay.John has subsequently made solo records, and made two albums with Fred Frith, Henry Kaiser, and Richard Thompson and again with Henry Kaiser in Crazy Backwards Alphabet which we talk about in this interview.In 2000, he was involved in compiling and writing the sleeve notes for the anthology of Captain Beefheart's rarities "Grow Fins". He also gave his insights into the problems of working with Don in the BBC documentary 'The Artist Formerly Known as Captain Beefheart".In 2003 John reform The Magic Band as a live act with Rockette Morton, Denny Walley, and Gary Lucas. They divided the show into an instrumental and a vocal section. He handled the vocals and harmonica, handing over the drum kit to Robert Williams when he was singing. They released an album, "Back to the Front", in 2004 and a live CD, "21st Century Mirror Men", in 2005. In 2008, John released a solo album (under his "Drumbo" moniker) entitled "City of Refuge". The album features other musicians from The Magic Band including John Thomas, Mark Boston (aka Rockette Morton), Bill Harkleroad (aka Zoot Horn Rollo) and Greg Davidson (aka Ella Guru). The album was released on the UK label Proper Records.In 2010 John released this memoir of his time in the Magic Band (Proper Music Publishing, London). A must for Captain Beefheart fans!Also, would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
Abbie from Mars- NYC Electro Acoustic Artist/Composer! Tap Dancing, WFMU radio DJ Radio Activity Primitive Substance 2025-09-26 | In this short Abbie talks about meeting and working with musicians on her latest album, "You Always Wanted to Be a Part of What Went on in Places Like This,"Abbie Minard known as Abbie from Mars is an electroacoustic artist and WFMU radio DJ known for her playful and intense live performances, blending experimental pop with eclectic influences.Abbie originally from Mars, Pennsylvania, has made a name for herself in the New York City music scene since moving there in late 2020. She is recognized for her unique style that combines elements of post-punk, ambient, and experimental pop. Her music often features catchy melodies and introspective lyrics, creating a distinctive sound that resonates with listeners. Her latest album, "You Always Wanted to Be a Part of What Went on in Places Like This," showcases her artistic evolution and reflects her experiences as a transplant in a bustling city. The album is described as a blend of early 1980s post-punk and contemporary pop, featuring confrontational yet catchy compositions. Abbie is also known for her engaging live performances, which often include tap dancing and interactive elements. She hosts a radio show titled "Radioactivity with Abbie from Mars" on WFMU, where she shares her eclectic taste in music and engages with listeners. WFMUHere below you can find the links to social media links including her Bandcamp page!abbiefrommars.bandcamp.comabbiefrommars.cominstagram.com/abbiefrommars
Abbie from Mars- NYC Electro Acoustic Artist/Composer! Tap Dancing, WFMU radio DJ Radio Activity Primitive Substance 2025-09-25 | In this short Abbie talks about her tap-dancing skills!Abbie Minard known as Abbie from Mars is an electroacoustic artist and WFMU radio DJ known for her playful and intense live performances, blending experimental pop with eclectic influences.Abbie originally from Mars, Pennsylvania, has made a name for herself in the New York City music scene since moving there in late 2020. She is recognized for her unique style that combines elements of post-punk, ambient, and experimental pop. Her music often features catchy melodies and introspective lyrics, creating a distinctive sound that resonates with listeners. Her latest album, "You Always Wanted to Be a Part of What Went on in Places Like This," showcases her artistic evolution and reflects her experiences as a transplant in a bustling city. The album is described as a blend of early 1980s post-punk and contemporary pop, featuring confrontational yet catchy compositions. Abbie is also known for her engaging live performances, which often include tap dancing and interactive elements. She hosts a radio show titled "Radioactivity with Abbie from Mars" on WFMU, where she shares her eclectic taste in music and engages with listeners. WFMUHere below you can find the links to social media links including her Bandcamp page!abbiefrommars.bandcamp.comabbiefrommars.cominstagram.com/abbiefrommars
ROINE STALT-SWEDISH GUITARIST, VOCALIST, & COMPOSER THE FLOWER KINGS! Primitive Substance 2025-09-24 | In this short Roine talks about his early years in Swedish developing his music!Roine Stolt-Swedish guitarist, vocalist and composer. A major figure in Sweden's rock history, Stolt led two of his country's most successful progressive rock bands: Kaipa in the 1970s and The Flower Kings in the 1990s onward. In the same vein as frequent collaborator Steven Wilson, Stolt has regularly collaborated with other progressive rock musicians; he has made a guest appearance on several modern progressive rock albums, and multiple progressive rock supergroups include him as a member.Stolt started his career in the late 1960s playing bass guitar in local rock bands. He switched to guitar in 1973 in his brief sojourn with Allman Brothers-influenced Orexis. In 1974 he became the guitarist in Kaipa, a professional progressive rock band. He was 17 years old at that time. The group made three successful albums and toured more than 100 gigs a year, including national TV and radio performances in Scandinavia.In 1979 he left Kaipa to form his own group Fantasia and made two albums. The group split up in 1983, and Stolt started working as a solo and session musician, arranger and producer.It was at this point I felt I had really learned to master the guitar that my career as singer started on the 1985 album "Behind the Walls", which was a melodic and romantic album more in the style of Jackson Browne or Hall & Oates.In the late 80s he started his own publishing and recording label called Foxtrot Music. He was also involved in various projects including live performances and recording sessions with other artists, in styles ranging from symphonic rock towards more traditional rock, funk, pop, folk, blues and jazz. Under the "Stolt" project he released "The Lonely Heartbeat" in 1989: the sound is a mix of pop and complex rock.Witnessing the progressive rock revival of the 1990s, a movement that partly originated from Sweden with bands like Landberk and Änglagård, Roine Stolt was quick to come back to his early love. Recruiting ex-Jonas Hellborg drummer Jaime Salazar and ex-Samla Mammas Manna percussionist Hasse Bruniusson, he released The Flower King in mid-August 1994. Stimulated by the warm response, he enlisted brother Michael Stolt (bass, vocals) and longtime friend Tomas Bodin (keyboards) and formed the Flower Kings, which would remain his principal musical project for years to come.In 1998 he released his second solo album Hydrophonia. This reveals major influences by early progressive musicians such as Frank Zappa and Steve Howe.In the year, 2000 Stolt worked in two different projects: the supergroup Transatlantic, and the re-launch of Kaipa, where he was involved in three albums from 2002–2005. He re-entered the studio with Transatlantic in 2009, for an album release later in the year.In 2013, Stolt and The Flower Kings joined Neal Morse for a co-headlining tour. The members of both bands collaborated for an encore consisting of Transatlantic songs, as 3 of the 4 members of Transatlantic were present (Roine Stolt, Neal Morse, and Mike Portnoy).In 2015 Stolt joined Steve Hackett's touring band as bassist and guitarist for Hackett's Acolyte to Wolflight with Genesis Revisited Tour.[1]On 24 June 2016, the duo Stolt and Jon Anderson had formed released their debut studio album entitled Invention of Knowledge.In 2017, Stolt co-formed the supergroup The Sea Within. They recorded one albumThe Flower Kings with Roine continue to release music on Inside Out Music with the latest "Love" which you can find on the Inside Out Music link below. Also, Roine is working on another The Flower Kings album this time back to his origins with long concept type songs! Check out the links belowroinestolt.cominsideoutmusic.com
Abbie from Mars- NYC Electro Acoustic Artist/Composer! Tap Dancing, WFMU radio DJ Radio Activity Primitive Substance 2025-09-24 | Abbie Minard known as Abbie from Mars is an electroacoustic artist and WFMU radio DJ known for her playful and intense live performances, blending experimental pop with eclectic influences.Abbie originally from Mars, Pennsylvania, has made a name for herself in the New York City music scene since moving there in late 2020. She is recognized for her unique style that combines elements of post-punk, ambient, and experimental pop. Her music often features catchy melodies and introspective lyrics, creating a distinctive sound that resonates with listeners. Her latest album, "You Always Wanted to Be a Part of What Went on in Places Like This," showcases her artistic evolution and reflects her experiences as a transplant in a bustling city. The album is described as a blend of early 1980s post-punk and contemporary pop, featuring confrontational yet catchy compositions. Abbie is also known for her engaging live performances, which often include tap dancing and interactive elements. She hosts a radio show titled "Radioactivity with Abbie from Mars" on WFMU, where she shares her eclectic taste in music and engages with listeners. WFMUHere below you can find the links to social media links including her Bandcamp page!abbiefrommars.bandcamp.comabbiefrommars.cominstagram.com/abbiefrommars
Abbie from Mars- NYC Electro Acoustic Artist/Composer! Tap Dancing, WFMU radio DJ Radio Activity Primitive Substance 2025-09-24 | In this short Abbie talks about her collaborator Bryce Edward (Altimetry). Abbie Minard known as Abbie from Mars is an electroacoustic artist and WFMU radio DJ known for her playful and intense live performances, blending experimental pop with eclectic influences.Abbie originally from Mars, Pennsylvania, has made a name for herself in the New York City music scene since moving there in late 2020. She is recognized for her unique style that combines elements of post-punk, ambient, and experimental pop. Her music often features catchy melodies and introspective lyrics, creating a distinctive sound that resonates with listeners. Her latest album, "You Always Wanted to Be a Part of What Went on in Places Like This," showcases her artistic evolution and reflects her experiences as a transplant in a bustling city. The album is described as a blend of early 1980s post-punk and contemporary pop, featuring confrontational yet catchy compositions. Abbie is also known for her engaging live performances, which often include tap dancing and interactive elements. She hosts a radio show titled "Radioactivity with Abbie from Mars" on WFMU, where she shares her eclectic taste in music and engages with listeners. WFMUHere below you can find the links to social media links including her Bandcamp page!abbiefrommars.bandcamp.comabbiefrommars.cominstagram.com/abbiefrommars
ROINE STALT-SWEDISH GUITARIST, VOCALIST, & COMPOSER THE FLOWER KINGS! Primitive Substance 2025-09-22 | In this short Roine talks about how he started working with Jon Anderson of YES!Roine Stolt-Swedish guitarist, vocalist and composer. A major figure in Sweden's rock history, Stolt led two of his country's most successful progressive rock bands: Kaipa in the 1970s and The Flower Kings in the 1990s onward. In the same vein as frequent collaborator Steven Wilson, Stolt has regularly collaborated with other progressive rock musicians; he has made a guest appearance on several modern progressive rock albums, and multiple progressive rock supergroups include him as a member.Stolt started his career in the late 1960s playing bass guitar in local rock bands. He switched to guitar in 1973 in his brief sojourn with Allman Brothers-influenced Orexis. In 1974 he became the guitarist in Kaipa, a professional progressive rock band. He was 17 years old at that time. The group made three successful albums and toured more than 100 gigs a year, including national TV and radio performances in Scandinavia.In 1979 he left Kaipa to form his own group Fantasia and made two albums. The group split up in 1983, and Stolt started working as a solo and session musician, arranger and producer.It was at this point I felt I had really learned to master the guitar that my career as singer started on the 1985 album "Behind the Walls", which was a melodic and romantic album more in the style of Jackson Browne or Hall & Oates.In the late 80s he started his own publishing and recording label called Foxtrot Music. He was also involved in various projects including live performances and recording sessions with other artists, in styles ranging from symphonic rock towards more traditional rock, funk, pop, folk, blues and jazz. Under the "Stolt" project he released "The Lonely Heartbeat" in 1989: the sound is a mix of pop and complex rock.Witnessing the progressive rock revival of the 1990s, a movement that partly originated from Sweden with bands like Landberk and Änglagård, Roine Stolt was quick to come back to his early love. Recruiting ex-Jonas Hellborg drummer Jaime Salazar and ex-Samla Mammas Manna percussionist Hasse Bruniusson, he released The Flower King in mid-August 1994. Stimulated by the warm response, he enlisted brother Michael Stolt (bass, vocals) and longtime friend Tomas Bodin (keyboards) and formed the Flower Kings, which would remain his principal musical project for years to come.In 1998 he released his second solo album Hydrophonia. This reveals major influences by early progressive musicians such as Frank Zappa and Steve Howe.In the year, 2000 Stolt worked in two different projects: the supergroup Transatlantic, and the re-launch of Kaipa, where he was involved in three albums from 2002–2005. He re-entered the studio with Transatlantic in 2009, for an album release later in the year.In 2013, Stolt and The Flower Kings joined Neal Morse for a co-headlining tour. The members of both bands collaborated for an encore consisting of Transatlantic songs, as 3 of the 4 members of Transatlantic were present (Roine Stolt, Neal Morse, and Mike Portnoy).In 2015 Stolt joined Steve Hackett's touring band as bassist and guitarist for Hackett's Acolyte to Wolflight with Genesis Revisited Tour.[1]On 24 June 2016, the duo Stolt and Jon Anderson had formed released their debut studio album entitled Invention of Knowledge.In 2017, Stolt co-formed the supergroup The Sea Within. They recorded one albumThe Flower Kings with Roine continue to release music on Inside Out Music with the latest "Love" which you can find on the Inside Out Music link below. Also, Roine is working on another The Flower Kings album this time back to his origins with long concept type songs! Check out the links belowroinestolt.cominsideoutmusic.com
ROINE STALT-SWEDISH GUITARIST, VOCALIST, & COMPOSER THE FLOWER KINGS! Primitive Substance 2025-09-21 | Roine talks about meeting and working with Steve Hackett of Genesis!Roine Stolt-Swedish guitarist, vocalist and composer. A major figure in Sweden's rock history, Stolt led two of his country's most successful progressive rock bands: Kaipa in the 1970s and The Flower Kings in the 1990s onward. In the same vein as frequent collaborator Steven Wilson, Stolt has regularly collaborated with other progressive rock musicians; he has made a guest appearance on several modern progressive rock albums, and multiple progressive rock supergroups include him as a member.Stolt started his career in the late 1960s playing bass guitar in local rock bands. He switched to guitar in 1973 in his brief sojourn with Allman Brothers-influenced Orexis. In 1974 he became the guitarist in Kaipa, a professional progressive rock band. He was 17 years old at that time. The group made three successful albums and toured more than 100 gigs a year, including national TV and radio performances in Scandinavia.In 1979 he left Kaipa to form his own group Fantasia and made two albums. The group split up in 1983, and Stolt started working as a solo and session musician, arranger and producer.It was at this point I felt I had really learned to master the guitar that my career as singer started on the 1985 album "Behind the Walls", which was a melodic and romantic album more in the style of Jackson Browne or Hall & Oates.In the late 80s he started his own publishing and recording label called Foxtrot Music. He was also involved in various projects including live performances and recording sessions with other artists, in styles ranging from symphonic rock towards more traditional rock, funk, pop, folk, blues and jazz. Under the "Stolt" project he released "The Lonely Heartbeat" in 1989: the sound is a mix of pop and complex rock.Witnessing the progressive rock revival of the 1990s, a movement that partly originated from Sweden with bands like Landberk and Änglagård, Roine Stolt was quick to come back to his early love. Recruiting ex-Jonas Hellborg drummer Jaime Salazar and ex-Samla Mammas Manna percussionist Hasse Bruniusson, he released The Flower King in mid-August 1994. Stimulated by the warm response, he enlisted brother Michael Stolt (bass, vocals) and longtime friend Tomas Bodin (keyboards) and formed the Flower Kings, which would remain his principal musical project for years to come.In 1998 he released his second solo album Hydrophonia. This reveals major influences by early progressive musicians such as Frank Zappa and Steve Howe.In the year, 2000 Stolt worked in two different projects: the supergroup Transatlantic, and the re-launch of Kaipa, where he was involved in three albums from 2002–2005. He re-entered the studio with Transatlantic in 2009, for an album release later in the year.In 2013, Stolt and The Flower Kings joined Neal Morse for a co-headlining tour. The members of both bands collaborated for an encore consisting of Transatlantic songs, as 3 of the 4 members of Transatlantic were present (Roine Stolt, Neal Morse, and Mike Portnoy).In 2015 Stolt joined Steve Hackett's touring band as bassist and guitarist for Hackett's Acolyte to Wolflight with Genesis Revisited Tour.[1]On 24 June 2016, the duo Stolt and Jon Anderson had formed released their debut studio album entitled Invention of Knowledge.In 2017, Stolt co-formed the supergroup The Sea Within. They recorded one albumThe Flower Kings with Roine continue to release music on Inside Out Music with the latest "Love" which you can find on the Inside Out Music link below. Also, Roine is working on another The Flower Kings album this time back to his origins with long concept type songs! Check out the links belowroinestolt.cominsideoutmusic.com
ROINE STOLT-SWEDISH GUITARIST, VOCALIST, & COMPOSER THE FLOWER KINGS, TRANSATLANTIC, JON ANDERSON! Primitive Substance 2025-09-21 | E.P.#160 Roine Stolt-Swedish guitarist, vocalist and composer. A major figure in Sweden's rock history, Stolt led two of his country's most successful progressive rock bands: Kaipa in the 1970s and The Flower Kings in the 1990s onward. In the same vein as frequent collaborator Steven Wilson, Stolt has regularly collaborated with other progressive rock musicians; he has made a guest appearance on several modern progressive rock albums, and multiple progressive rock supergroups include him as a member.Stolt started his career in the late 1960s playing bass guitar in local rock bands. He switched to guitar in 1973 in his brief sojourn with Allman Brothers-influenced Orexis. In 1974 he became the guitarist in Kaipa, a professional progressive rock band. He was 17 years old at that time. The group made three successful albums and toured more than 100 gigs a year, including national TV and radio performances in Scandinavia.In 1979 he left Kaipa to form his own group Fantasia and made two albums. The group split up in 1983, and Stolt started working as a solo and session musician, arranger and producer.It was at this point I felt I had really learned to master the guitar that my career as singer started on the 1985 album "Behind the Walls", which was a melodic and romantic album more in the style of Jackson Browne or Hall & Oates.In the late 80s he started his own publishing and recording label called Foxtrot Music. He was also involved in various projects including live performances and recording sessions with other artists, in styles ranging from symphonic rock towards more traditional rock, funk, pop, folk, blues and jazz. Under the "Stolt" project he released "The Lonely Heartbeat" in 1989: the sound is a mix of pop and complex rock.Witnessing the progressive rock revival of the 1990s, a movement that partly originated from Sweden with bands like Landberk and Änglagård, Roine Stolt was quick to come back to his early love. Recruiting ex-Jonas Hellborg drummer Jaime Salazar and ex-Samla Mammas Manna percussionist Hasse Bruniusson, he released The Flower King in mid-August 1994. Stimulated by the warm response, he enlisted brother Michael Stolt (bass, vocals) and longtime friend Tomas Bodin (keyboards) and formed the Flower Kings, which would remain his principal musical project for years to come.In 1998 he released his second solo album Hydrophonia. This reveals major influences by early progressive musicians such as Frank Zappa and Steve Howe.In the year, 2000 Stolt worked in two different projects: the supergroup Transatlantic, and the re-launch of Kaipa, where he was involved in three albums from 2002–2005. He re-entered the studio with Transatlantic in 2009, for an album release later in the year.In 2013, Stolt and The Flower Kings joined Neal Morse for a co-headlining tour. The members of both bands collaborated for an encore consisting of Transatlantic songs, as 3 of the 4 members of Transatlantic were present (Roine Stolt, Neal Morse, and Mike Portnoy).In 2015 Stolt joined Steve Hackett's touring band as bassist and guitarist for Hackett's Acolyte to Wolflight with Genesis Revisited Tour.[1]On 24 June 2016, the duo Stolt and Jon Anderson had formed released their debut studio album entitled Invention of Knowledge.In 2017, Stolt co-formed the supergroup The Sea Within. They recorded one albumThe Flower Kings with Roine continue to release music on Inside Out Music with the latest "Love" which you can find on the Inside Out Music link below. Also, Roine is working on another The Flower Kings album this time back to his origins with long concept type songs! Check out the links belowroinestolt.cominsideoutmusic.com
Kevin Trimmel Canadian Visual Artist/ Musician! Peggy Shippen, Star Trek, # music, #interview Primitive Substance 2025-09-20 | Kevin Trimmel is a Canadian musician gifted with skills creating unique videos using his computer to create fantastic visual works of art to go along with his original music! Check out his website especially the 50 minute "Star Trek" video! We also discussed the free tools he uses from the internet to create your unique video/music creations! Finally, we talked about Kevin's lucid dreams and how to you can also start doing this with meditation!Here is his video YouTube Channelyoutube.com/@SB07851/videosHere is the free music editing site we spoke aboutwww.hooktheory.com
Kevin Trimmel Canadian Visual Artist/ Musician! Peggy Shippen, Star Trek, # music, #interview Primitive Substance 2025-09-19 | Kevin Trimmel is a Canadian musician gifted with skills creating unique videos using his computer to create fantastic visual works of art to go along with his original music! Check out his website especially the 50 minute "Star Trek" video! We also discussed the free tools he uses from the internet to create your unique video/music creations! Finally, we talked about Kevin's lucid dreams and how to you can also start doing this with meditation!Here is his video YouTube Channelyoutube.com/@SB07851/videosHere is the free music editing site we spoke aboutwww.hooktheory.com
Kevin Trimmel Canadian Visual Artist/ Musician! Peggy Shippen, Star Trek Primitive Substance 2025-09-17 | E.P.#159 Kevin Trimmel is a Canadian musician gifted with skills creating unique videos using his computer to create fantastic visual works of art to go along with his original music! Check out his website especially the 50 minute "Star Trek" video! We also discussed the free tools he uses from the internet to create your unique video/music creations! Finally, we talked about Kevin's lucid dreams and how to you can also start doing this with meditation!Here is his video YouTube Channelyoutube.com/@SB07851/videosHere is the free music editing site we spoke aboutwww.hooktheory.com
Kevin Trimmel Canadian Visual Artist/ Musician! Peggy Shippen, Star Trek, # music, #interview Primitive Substance 2025-09-17 | Kevin Trimmel is a Canadian musician gifted with skills creating unique videos using his computer to create fantastic visual works of art to go along with his original music! Check out his website especially the 50 minute "Star Trek" video! We also discussed the free tools he uses from the internet to create your unique video/music creations! Finally, we talked about Kevin's lucid dreams and how to you can also start doing this with meditation!Here is his video YouTube Channelyoutube.com/@SB07851/videosHere is the free music editing site we spoke aboutwww.hooktheory.com
DOUBLEVEE-ROCK/ POP DUO FROM OKLAHOMA! STARLIGHT MINTS, TIM BURTON, BEYOND BLUE! Primitive Substance 2025-09-14 | DoubleVee launched in 2012 when Allan Vest and Barb [Hendrickson] Vest began creating music together, noting how their musical backgrounds complemented each other. The pair married in October of 2015 and went on to release their debut album "The Moonlit Fables of Jack the Rider" on February 10, 2017. The concept album follows the story of the title character, with his tales being told in a theatrical style with Jack at the handlebars. He’s a traveler who descends into a world reminiscent of The Twilight Zone where nothing is exactly as it seems, with pieces of his history unfolding over the course of the album.Their follow-up EP Songs for "Birds and Bats" was released April 12, 2019. The five-song release concluded with Last Castaways, selected the next year to be featured on the soundtrack for the immersive video game Beyond Blue. On July 15th, 2022, doubleVee released their album Treat Her Strangely, nine songs whose conception began during the height of the pandemic. Later that yearThe sixth track, "Your Love Is It Real?", was included in episode seven of season one of Tim Burton, Alfred Gough, and Miles Millar’s Netflix series :"Wednesday". The pair released new EP "Periscope" at Midnight on July 25th, 2025, with three singles: "Submarine Number", "Three Vee, Everyone's Lonely Under the Sea" and "Maybe Tonight (What's Inside of Me?)".Allan was the primary songwriter, lead vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist for indie/orchestral pop band Starlight Mints, producing and releasing four albums between 2000 and 2009, with legendary producer Dave Sardy co-producing the critically acclaimed debut album, "The Dream that Stuff Was Made Of". Major motion pictures and television series have utilized his music, with TV shows including Malcolm in the Middle, Californication, One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl and movies including Barnyard, Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj and The Art of Getting By. The BBC mini-series Demons effectively used Eyes of the Night off the 2006 album "Drowaton" as the series' theme song. Allan's instrumental scores have been featured in Disney animated shorts, writer/director Mickey Reece's movies Seducers Club and Punch Cowboy and in projects by Canada-based writer/director Erahm Christopher and features helmed by award-winning director Bradley Beesley among other productions. Allan has produced and arranged music for clients including Francine, Skating Polly, Student Film and Bishop Allen. He also composed the theme music for the podcast In Sickness and In Health with Dr. Céline Gounder.Barb’s diverse background includes sixteen years in public radio where her achievements included writing, hosting, and producing in Oklahoma!"Filmscapes", a nationally syndicated film music program. She edited a music webzine for several years and marketed and produced eight garage sale/shows featuring local bands and merchants. While Barb’s vocal music history includes appearing in themed cover shows and providing backing vocals on recordings for local bands, her love of music began with her family, with her grandmother regularly putting a tape recorder on her piano bench and singing along to her original compositions, before she passed away after a sudden heart attack at the age of 57. Barb grew up singing around the piano with her mother and sister. She enjoyed writing poetry and short stories during her younger years and loves exploring the inventive worlds of lyrics and songwriting with Allan.Check out the social media links below to find out more about them!doublevee.netfacebook.com/doubleVeeSongs
DOUBLEVEE-ROCK/ POP DUO FROM OKLAHOMA! STARLIGHT MINTS, TIM BURTON, BEYOND BLUE! Primitive Substance 2025-09-12 | DoubleVee launched in 2012 when Allan Vest and Barb [Hendrickson] Vest began creating music together, noting how their musical backgrounds complemented each other. The pair married in October of 2015 and went on to release their debut album "The Moonlit Fables of Jack the Rider" on February 10, 2017. The concept album follows the story of the title character, with his tales being told in a theatrical style with Jack at the handlebars. He’s a traveler who descends into a world reminiscent of The Twilight Zone where nothing is exactly as it seems, with pieces of his history unfolding over the course of the album.Their follow-up EP Songs for "Birds and Bats" was released April 12, 2019. The five-song release concluded with Last Castaways, selected the next year to be featured on the soundtrack for the immersive video game Beyond Blue. On July 15th, 2022, doubleVee released their album Treat Her Strangely, nine songs whose conception began during the height of the pandemic. Later that yearThe sixth track, "Your Love Is It Real?", was included in episode seven of season one of Tim Burton, Alfred Gough, and Miles Millar’s Netflix series :"Wednesday". The pair released new EP "Periscope" at Midnight on July 25th, 2025, with three singles: "Submarine Number", "Three Vee, Everyone's Lonely Under the Sea" and "Maybe Tonight (What's Inside of Me?)".Allan was the primary songwriter, lead vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist for indie/orchestral pop band Starlight Mints, producing and releasing four albums between 2000 and 2009, with legendary producer Dave Sardy co-producing the critically acclaimed debut album, "The Dream that Stuff Was Made Of". Major motion pictures and television series have utilized his music, with TV shows including Malcolm in the Middle, Californication, One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl and movies including Barnyard, Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj and The Art of Getting By. The BBC mini-series Demons effectively used Eyes of the Night off the 2006 album "Drowaton" as the series' theme song. Allan's instrumental scores have been featured in Disney animated shorts, writer/director Mickey Reece's movies Seducers Club and Punch Cowboy and in projects by Canada-based writer/director Erahm Christopher and features helmed by award-winning director Bradley Beesley among other productions. Allan has produced and arranged music for clients including Francine, Skating Polly, Student Film and Bishop Allen. He also composed the theme music for the podcast In Sickness and In Health with Dr. Céline Gounder.Barb’s diverse background includes sixteen years in public radio where her achievements included writing, hosting, and producing in Oklahoma!"Filmscapes", a nationally syndicated film music program. She edited a music webzine for several years and marketed and produced eight garage sale/shows featuring local bands and merchants. While Barb’s vocal music history includes appearing in themed cover shows and providing backing vocals on recordings for local bands, her love of music began with her family, with her grandmother regularly putting a tape recorder on her piano bench and singing along to her original compositions, before she passed away after a sudden heart attack at the age of 57. Barb grew up singing around the piano with her mother and sister. She enjoyed writing poetry and short stories during her younger years and loves exploring the inventive worlds of lyrics and songwriting with Allan.Check out the social media links below to find out more about them!doublevee.netfacebook.com/doubleVeeSongs
DOUBLEVEE-ROCK/ POP DUO FROM OKLAHOMA! STARLIGHT MINTS, TIM BURTON, BEYOND BLUE! Primitive Substance 2025-09-11 | E.P. #158 DoubleVee launched in 2012 when Allan Vest and Barb [Hendrickson] Vest began creating music together, noting how their musical backgrounds complemented each other. The pair married in October of 2015 and went on to release their debut album "The Moonlit Fables of Jack the Rider" on February 10, 2017. The concept album follows the story of the title character, with his tales being told in a theatrical style with Jack at the handlebars. He’s a traveler who descends into a world reminiscent of The Twilight Zone where nothing is exactly as it seems, with pieces of his history unfolding over the course of the album.00:00 DoubleVee Origins04:10 Starlight Mints Journey08:37 Album Creation10:36 Beyond Blue Feature12:54 Pandemic Challenges17:40 Tim Burton Break21:24 Creative Process24:55 What's Next26:24 FarewellTheir follow-up EP Songs for "Birds and Bats" was released April 12, 2019. The five-song release concluded with Last Castaways, selected the next year to be featured on the soundtrack for the immersive video game Beyond Blue. On July 15th, 2022, doubleVee released their album Treat Her Strangely, nine songs whose conception began during the height of the pandemic. Later that yearThe sixth track, "Your Love Is It Real?", was included in episode seven of season one of Tim Burton, Alfred Gough, and Miles Millar’s Netflix series :"Wednesday". The pair released new EP "Periscope" at Midnight on July 25th, 2025, with three singles: "Submarine Number", "Three Vee, Everyone's Lonely Under the Sea" and "Maybe Tonight (What's Inside of Me?)".Allan was the primary songwriter, lead vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist for indie/orchestral pop band Starlight Mints, producing and releasing four albums between 2000 and 2009, with legendary producer Dave Sardy co-producing the critically acclaimed debut album, "The Dream that Stuff Was Made Of". Major motion pictures and television series have utilized his music, with TV shows including Malcolm in the Middle, Californication, One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl and movies including Barnyard, Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj and The Art of Getting By. The BBC mini-series Demons effectively used Eyes of the Night off the 2006 album "Drowaton" as the series' theme song. Allan's instrumental scores have been featured in Disney animated shorts, writer/director Mickey Reece's movies Seducers Club and Punch Cowboy and in projects by Canada-based writer/director Erahm Christopher and features helmed by award-winning director Bradley Beesley among other productions. Allan has produced and arranged music for clients including Francine, Skating Polly, Student Film and Bishop Allen. He also composed the theme music for the podcast In Sickness and In Health with Dr. Céline Gounder.Barb’s diverse background includes sixteen years in public radio where her achievements included writing, hosting, and producing in Oklahoma!"Filmscapes", a nationally syndicated film music program. She edited a music webzine for several years and marketed and produced eight garage sale/shows featuring local bands and merchants. While Barb’s vocal music history includes appearing in themed cover shows and providing backing vocals on recordings for local bands, her love of music began with her family, with her grandmother regularly putting a tape recorder on her piano bench and singing along to her original compositions, before she passed away after a sudden heart attack at the age of 57. Barb grew up singing around the piano with her mother and sister. She enjoyed writing poetry and short stories during her younger years and loves exploring the inventive worlds of lyrics and songwriting with Allan.Check out the social media links below to find out more about them!doublevee.netfacebook.com/doubleVeeSongs
DOUBLEVEE-ROCK/ POP DUO FROM OKLAHOMA! STARLIGHT MINTS, TIM BURTON, BEYOND BLUE! Primitive Substance 2025-09-11 | DoubleVee launched in 2012 when Allan Vest and Barb [Hendrickson] Vest began creating music together, noting how their musical backgrounds complemented each other. The pair married in October of 2015 and went on to release their debut album "The Moonlit Fables of Jack the Rider" on February 10, 2017. The concept album follows the story of the title character, with his tales being told in a theatrical style with Jack at the handlebars. He’s a traveler who descends into a world reminiscent of The Twilight Zone where nothing is exactly as it seems, with pieces of his history unfolding over the course of the album.Their follow-up EP Songs for "Birds and Bats" was released April 12, 2019. The five-song release concluded with Last Castaways, selected the next year to be featured on the soundtrack for the immersive video game Beyond Blue. On July 15th, 2022, doubleVee released their album Treat Her Strangely, nine songs whose conception began during the height of the pandemic. Later that yearThe sixth track, "Your Love Is It Real?", was included in episode seven of season one of Tim Burton, Alfred Gough, and Miles Millar’s Netflix series :"Wednesday". The pair released new EP "Periscope" at Midnight on July 25th, 2025, with three singles: "Submarine Number", "Three Vee, Everyone's Lonely Under the Sea" and "Maybe Tonight (What's Inside of Me?)".Allan was the primary songwriter, lead vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist for indie/orchestral pop band Starlight Mints, producing and releasing four albums between 2000 and 2009, with legendary producer Dave Sardy co-producing the critically acclaimed debut album, "The Dream that Stuff Was Made Of". Major motion pictures and television series have utilized his music, with TV shows including Malcolm in the Middle, Californication, One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl and movies including Barnyard, Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj and The Art of Getting By. The BBC mini-series Demons effectively used Eyes of the Night off the 2006 album "Drowaton" as the series' theme song. Allan's instrumental scores have been featured in Disney animated shorts, writer/director Mickey Reece's movies Seducers Club and Punch Cowboy and in projects by Canada-based writer/director Erahm Christopher and features helmed by award-winning director Bradley Beesley among other productions. Allan has produced and arranged music for clients including Francine, Skating Polly, Student Film and Bishop Allen. He also composed the theme music for the podcast In Sickness and In Health with Dr. Céline Gounder.Barb’s diverse background includes sixteen years in public radio where her achievements included writing, hosting, and producing in Oklahoma!"Filmscapes", a nationally syndicated film music program. She edited a music webzine for several years and marketed and produced eight garage sale/shows featuring local bands and merchants. While Barb’s vocal music history includes appearing in themed cover shows and providing backing vocals on recordings for local bands, her love of music began with her family, with her grandmother regularly putting a tape recorder on her piano bench and singing along to her original compositions, before she passed away after a sudden heart attack at the age of 57. Barb grew up singing around the piano with her mother and sister. She enjoyed writing poetry and short stories during her younger years and loves exploring the inventive worlds of lyrics and songwriting with Allan.Check out the social media links below to find out more about them!doublevee.netfacebook.com/doubleVeeSongs
Keith Christmas-English Guitarist, Singer/Songwriter, David Bowie, Space Oddity, #videopodcast Primitive Substance 2025-09-04 | Keith in this tells how he got to open for The Who in 1971!Keith Christmas is an English singer and songwriter. He attended Bath University to read architecture but, because the Architecture School was, at that time, based in Kingsweston House, Bristol, he became part of that city's folk set.In 1969, his first album, "Stimulus", was released on RCA Victor via a production deal with Sandy Roberton's September Productions, to whom Christmas was signed. Christmas played acoustic guitar on David Bowie's Space Oddity album and appeared at the first Glastonbury Festival in 1970. Through the 1970s he released albums on B&C and Manticore, while touring with and supporting bands such as The Who, King Crimson, Ten Years After, Frank Zappa, Roxy Music, Hawkwind, Captain Beefheart and The Kinks. Among the musicians who contributed to his recordings were Mighty Baby, Pat Donaldson, Keith Tippett, Gerry Conway, Shelagh McDonald, Rod Argent, Peter Sinfield, Greg Lake, Mel Collins, Cat Stevens, Adrian Shaw (Magic Muscle and, later, Hawkwind), and Michael Boshears.Although predominantly an acoustic guitarist, he was not averse to playing electric guitar and regularly jammed with Bristol-based, acid rock band, Magic Muscle. He can be heard on the retrospective compilation, "The Pipe, the Roar, the Grid". The photograph on the front of his second LP, "Fable of the Wings", was taken inside part of Magic Muscle's squat in Cotham, Bristol in 1971, he released "Pigmy", which included one side of acoustic songs, and one side of band pieces which have a very free, jamming feel to the instrumental sections. The choral and string parts were arranged by Robert Kirby, better known for his arrangements for Nick Drake. The 2004 retrospective album, Timeless and Strange, was named after a track on Pigmy, which featured, then Bristol-based artist, Bob Stewart on psaltery.In 1972, he was voted one of six favorite international artists by writers of Sounds magazine.The irony was that he was effectively unsigned at this point because his record label, B&C, had recently ceased trading. He was signed by the recently formed Manticore label, which was set up by Emerson, Lake & Palmer and their manager, Stewart Young, for whom he recorded "Brighter Day and Stories" from the Human Zoo. He also sang on Danse Macabre, by Esperanto, in 1974,[ the connection being that the LP was produced by Manticore artist/producer, Pete Sinfield. A further Pete Sinfield connection is that Christmas wrote the lyrics for the English language release of Angelo Branduardi's "Life Is the Only Teacher".In 1976, after recording "Stories from the Human Zoo with Donald 'Duck" Dunn and Steve Cropper from Booker T. & the MGs, at Indigo Ranch Studios, in America, he came back to England and, with Manticore becoming inactive for new releases,[12] after a few years he stopped playing. In 1983, his composition, "Fable of the Wings", was covered by 'folk-rock' supergroup, Brass Monkey,[13which featured Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick.In the late 1980s, he moved back to Bristol and began playing solo acoustic sets, as well as sets with his blues band, Red House. During this time, he released two limited edition cassettes, one solo and one with the band. He formed the blues band, Weatherman, in 1991 with some friends and an album of the same name was released in 1992.In 1996, he started to write a different kind of acoustic material, which led to the release of an album "Love Beyond Deals" on HTD Records.In January 2003, Christmas released an instrumental CD, "Acoustica". The opening track was used on the BBC documentary Hidden Gardens. In 2006, he recorded and produced his first ever solo CD called "Light of the Dawn".In 2011, Christmas released a five-track solo acoustic EP called "Fat Cat Big Fish" and, in 2012, released his first live CD, "Live at the Pump". In December 2016, Christmas released a new CD, "Crazy Dancing Days".He also played at a fundraising festival, Bowie's Beckenham Oddity in Beckenham, to help raise funds for the Bowie Bandstand. The bandstand was the same edifice that Christmas performed on in 1969, as part of the Growth Summer Festival and Free Concert, (which was co-organized by David Bowie). Christmas performed at the 2017 and 2019 festivals. His latest album, "Life, Life", was released on 1 September 2019 and he continues to play live tours!For more information check out the links below!keithchristmas.bandcamp.com
Keith Christmas-English Guitarist, Singer/Songwriter, David Bowie, Space Oddity, #videopodcast Primitive Substance 2025-09-02 | In this short Keith talks about his tour with King Crimson in 1971Keith Christmas is an English singer and songwriter. He attended Bath University to read architecture but, because the Architecture School was, at that time, based in Kingsweston House, Bristol, he became part of that city's folk set.In 1969, his first album, "Stimulus", was released on RCA Victor via a production deal with Sandy Roberton's September Productions, to whom Christmas was signed. Christmas played acoustic guitar on David Bowie's Space Oddity album and appeared at the first Glastonbury Festival in 1970. Through the 1970s he released albums on B&C and Manticore, while touring with and supporting bands such as The Who, King Crimson, Ten Years After, Frank Zappa, Roxy Music, Hawkwind, Captain Beefheart and The Kinks. Among the musicians who contributed to his recordings were Mighty Baby, Pat Donaldson, Keith Tippett, Gerry Conway, Shelagh McDonald, Rod Argent, Peter Sinfield, Greg Lake, Mel Collins, Cat Stevens, Adrian Shaw (Magic Muscle and, later, Hawkwind), and Michael Boshears.Although predominantly an acoustic guitarist, he was not averse to playing electric guitar and regularly jammed with Bristol-based, acid rock band, Magic Muscle. He can be heard on the retrospective compilation, "The Pipe, the Roar, the Grid". The photograph on the front of his second LP, "Fable of the Wings", was taken inside part of Magic Muscle's squat in Cotham, Bristol in 1971, he released "Pigmy", which included one side of acoustic songs, and one side of band pieces which have a very free, jamming feel to the instrumental sections. The choral and string parts were arranged by Robert Kirby, better known for his arrangements for Nick Drake. The 2004 retrospective album, Timeless and Strange, was named after a track on Pigmy, which featured, then Bristol-based artist, Bob Stewart on psaltery.In 1972, he was voted one of six favorite international artists by writers of Sounds magazine.The irony was that he was effectively unsigned at this point because his record label, B&C, had recently ceased trading. He was signed by the recently formed Manticore label, which was set up by Emerson, Lake & Palmer and their manager, Stewart Young, for whom he recorded "Brighter Day and Stories" from the Human Zoo. He also sang on Danse Macabre, by Esperanto, in 1974,[ the connection being that the LP was produced by Manticore artist/producer, Pete Sinfield. A further Pete Sinfield connection is that Christmas wrote the lyrics for the English language release of Angelo Branduardi's "Life Is the Only Teacher".In 1976, after recording "Stories from the Human Zoo with Donald 'Duck" Dunn and Steve Cropper from Booker T. & the MGs, at Indigo Ranch Studios, in America, he came back to England and, with Manticore becoming inactive for new releases,[12] after a few years he stopped playing. In 1983, his composition, "Fable of the Wings", was covered by 'folk-rock' supergroup, Brass Monkey,[13which featured Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick.In the late 1980s, he moved back to Bristol and began playing solo acoustic sets, as well as sets with his blues band, Red House. During this time, he released two limited edition cassettes, one solo and one with the band. He formed the blues band, Weatherman, in 1991 with some friends and an album of the same name was released in 1992.In 1996, he started to write a different kind of acoustic material, which led to the release of an album "Love Beyond Deals" on HTD Records.In January 2003, Christmas released an instrumental CD, "Acoustica". The opening track was used on the BBC documentary Hidden Gardens. In 2006, he recorded and produced his first ever solo CD called "Light of the Dawn".In 2011, Christmas released a five-track solo acoustic EP called "Fat Cat Big Fish" and, in 2012, released his first live CD, "Live at the Pump". In December 2016, Christmas released a new CD, "Crazy Dancing Days".He also played at a fundraising festival, Bowie's Beckenham Oddity in Beckenham, to help raise funds for the Bowie Bandstand. The bandstand was the same edifice that Christmas performed on in 1969, as part of the Growth Summer Festival and Free Concert, (which was co-organized by David Bowie). Christmas performed at the 2017 and 2019 festivals. His latest album, "Life, Life", was released on 1 September 2019 and he continues to play live tours!For more information check out the links below!keithchristmas.bandcamp.com
Keith Christmas-English Guitarist, Singer/Songwriter, David Bowie, Space Oddity, The Who! Primitive Substance 2025-09-01 | E.P. #157 Keith Christmas is an English singer and songwriter. He attended Bath University to read architecture but, because the Architecture School was, at that time, based in Kings Weston House, Bristol, he became part of that city's folk set.00:00 Keith Christmas Begins01:21 Bowie & Space Oddity03:14 Glastonbury Memories04:40 Stimulus Album Origins06:34 Touring With Legends11:13 King Crimson Tour15:51 Solo Acoustic Journey22:03 Health & Resilience24:00 Bandcamp & Music25:56 Lasting LegacyIn 1969, his first album, "Stimulus", was released on RCA Victor via a production deal with Sandy Roberton's September Productions, to whom Christmas was signed. Christmas played acoustic guitar on David Bowie's Space Oddity album and appeared at the first Glastonbury Festival in 1970. Through the 1970s he released albums on B&C and Manticore, while touring with and supporting bands such as The Who, King Crimson, Ten Years After, Frank Zappa, Roxy Music, Hawkwind, Captain Beefheart and The Kinks. Among the musicians who contributed to his recordings were Mighty Baby, Pat Donaldson, Keith Tippett, Gerry Conway, Shelagh McDonald, Rod Argent, Peter Sinfield, Greg Lake, Mel Collins, Cat Stevens, Adrian Shaw (Magic Muscle and, later, Hawkwind), and Michael Boshears.Although predominantly an acoustic guitarist, he was not averse to playing electric guitar and regularly jammed with Bristol-based, acid rock band, Magic Muscle. He can be heard on the retrospective compilation, "The Pipe, the Roar, the Grid". The photograph on the front of his second LP, "Fable of the Wings", was taken inside part of Magic Muscle's squat in Cotham, Bristol in 1971, he released "Pigmy", which included one side of acoustic songs, and one side of band pieces which have a very free, jamming feel to the instrumental sections. The choral and string parts were arranged by Robert Kirby, better known for his arrangements for Nick Drake. The 2004 retrospective album, Timeless and Strange, was named after a track on Pigmy, which featured, then Bristol-based artist, Bob Stewart on psaltery.In 1972, he was voted one of six favorite international artists by writers of Sounds magazine.The irony was that he was effectively unsigned at this point because his record label, B&C, had recently ceased trading. He was signed by the recently formed Manticore label, which was set up by Emerson, Lake & Palmer and their manager, Stewart Young, for whom he recorded "Brighter Day and Stories" from the Human Zoo. He also sang on Danse Macabre, by Esperanto, in 1974,[ the connection being that the LP was produced by Manticore artist/producer, Pete Sinfield. A further Pete Sinfield connection is that Christmas wrote the lyrics for the English language release of Angelo Branduardi's "Life Is the Only Teacher".In 1976, after recording "Stories from the Human Zoo with Donald 'Duck" Dunn and Steve Cropper from Booker T. & the MGs, at Indigo Ranch Studios, in America, he came back to England and, with Manticore becoming inactive for new releases,[12] after a few years he stopped playing. In 1983, his composition, "Fable of the Wings", was covered by 'folk-rock' supergroup, Brass Monkey,[13which featured Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick.In the late 1980s, he moved back to Bristol and began playing solo acoustic sets, as well as sets with his blues band, Red House. During this time, he released two limited edition cassettes, one solo and one with the band. He formed the blues band, Weatherman, in 1991 with some friends and an album of the same name was released in 1992.In 1996, he started to write a different kind of acoustic material, which led to the release of an album "Love Beyond Deals" on HTD Records.In January 2003, Christmas released an instrumental CD, "Acoustica". The opening track was used on the BBC documentary Hidden Gardens. In 2006, he recorded and produced his first ever solo CD called "Light of the Dawn".In 2011, Christmas released a five-track solo acoustic EP called "Fat Cat Big Fish" and, in 2012, released his first live CD, "Live at the Pump". In December 2016, Christmas released a new CD, "Crazy Dancing Days".He also played at a fundraising festival, Bowie's Beckenham Oddity in Beckenham, to help raise funds for the Bowie Bandstand. The bandstand was the same edifice that Christmas performed on in 1969, as part of the Growth Summer Festival and Free Concert, (which was co-organized by David Bowie). Christmas performed at the 2017 and 2019 festivals. His latest album, "Life, Life", was released on 1 September 2019 and he continues to play live tours!For more information check out the links below!keithchristmas.bandcamp.com
Keith Christmas-English Guitarist, Singer/Songwriter, David Bowie, Space Oddity, #videopodcast Primitive Substance 2025-09-01 | In this short Keith Christmas talks about playing on David Bowie's "Space Oddity" song!Keith Christmas is an English singer and songwriter. He attended Bath University to read architecture but, because the Architecture School was, at that time, based in Kingsweston House, Bristol, he became part of that city's folk set.In 1969, his first album, "Stimulus", was released on RCA Victor via a production deal with Sandy Roberton's September Productions, to whom Christmas was signed. Christmas played acoustic guitar on David Bowie's Space Oddity album and appeared at the first Glastonbury Festival in 1970. Through the 1970s he released albums on B&C and Manticore, while touring with and supporting bands such as The Who, King Crimson, Ten Years After, Frank Zappa, Roxy Music, Hawkwind, Captain Beefheart and The Kinks. Among the musicians who contributed to his recordings were Mighty Baby, Pat Donaldson, Keith Tippett, Gerry Conway, Shelagh McDonald, Rod Argent, Peter Sinfield, Greg Lake, Mel Collins, Cat Stevens, Adrian Shaw (Magic Muscle and, later, Hawkwind), and Michael Boshears.Although predominantly an acoustic guitarist, he was not averse to playing electric guitar and regularly jammed with Bristol-based, acid rock band, Magic Muscle. He can be heard on the retrospective compilation, "The Pipe, the Roar, the Grid". The photograph on the front of his second LP, "Fable of the Wings", was taken inside part of Magic Muscle's squat in Cotham, Bristol in 1971, he released "Pigmy", which included one side of acoustic songs, and one side of band pieces which have a very free, jamming feel to the instrumental sections. The choral and string parts were arranged by Robert Kirby, better known for his arrangements for Nick Drake. The 2004 retrospective album, Timeless and Strange, was named after a track on Pigmy, which featured, then Bristol-based artist, Bob Stewart on psaltery.In 1972, he was voted one of six favorite international artists by writers of Sounds magazine.The irony was that he was effectively unsigned at this point because his record label, B&C, had recently ceased trading. He was signed by the recently formed Manticore label, which was set up by Emerson, Lake & Palmer and their manager, Stewart Young, for whom he recorded "Brighter Day and Stories" from the Human Zoo. He also sang on Danse Macabre, by Esperanto, in 1974,[ the connection being that the LP was produced by Manticore artist/producer, Pete Sinfield. A further Pete Sinfield connection is that Christmas wrote the lyrics for the English language release of Angelo Branduardi's "Life Is the Only Teacher".In 1976, after recording "Stories from the Human Zoo with Donald 'Duck" Dunn and Steve Cropper from Booker T. & the MGs, at Indigo Ranch Studios, in America, he came back to England and, with Manticore becoming inactive for new releases,[12] after a few years he stopped playing. In 1983, his composition, "Fable of the Wings", was covered by 'folk-rock' supergroup, Brass Monkey,[13which featured Martin Carthy and John Kirkpatrick.In the late 1980s, he moved back to Bristol and began playing solo acoustic sets, as well as sets with his blues band, Red House. During this time, he released two limited edition cassettes, one solo and one with the band. He formed the blues band, Weatherman, in 1991 with some friends and an album of the same name was released in 1992.In 1996, he started to write a different kind of acoustic material, which led to the release of an album "Love Beyond Deals" on HTD Records.In January 2003, Christmas released an instrumental CD, "Acoustica". The opening track was used on the BBC documentary Hidden Gardens. In 2006, he recorded and produced his first ever solo CD called "Light of the Dawn".In 2011, Christmas released a five-track solo acoustic EP called "Fat Cat Big Fish" and, in 2012, released his first live CD, "Live at the Pump". In December 2016, Christmas released a new CD, "Crazy Dancing Days".He also played at a fundraising festival, Bowie's Beckenham Oddity in Beckenham, to help raise funds for the Bowie Bandstand. The bandstand was the same edifice that Christmas performed on in 1969, as part of the Growth Summer Festival and Free Concert, (which was co-organized by David Bowie). Christmas performed at the 2017 and 2019 festivals. His latest album, "Life, Life", was released on 1 September 2019 and he continues to play live tours!For more information check out the links below!keithchristmas.bandcamp.com
PSYMON SPINE-Brooklyn band with members Noah Prebish & Brother Michael Rudinski Primitive Substance 2025-08-30 | In this short Noah talks about working with their current label Northern Spy.Psymon Spine is a Brooklyn-based band known for their unique fusion of psychedelic pop and dance music! The core members of the band Noah Prebish, Peter Spears, and Brother Michael grew up with a deep appreciation for the art of “the remix,” and after the release of "Charismatic Megafauna", the group found themselves craving longer and more dance-floor friendly versions of their songs! There latest "Head Body Connector" saw the induction of two longtime friends of the band, drummer Zebadiah Stern and singer/guitarist Sarah Aument, both on tour and in the studio. “Wizard Acid,” opens with Stern’s h-hats beneath a wall of Abba-esque string synths, brings a lighter, almost campy tone to similar feelings of isolation, with Spears chronicling being eaten alive by a haunted house! A US tour starts in September with a new recording almost completed that will be out soon on their current label "Northern Sky" records.A US tour starts in September with a new recording almost completed that will be out soon on their current label "Northern Sky" records.Here is where to keep up on the band!psymonspine.bandcamp.com/musicnorthernspyrecs.com/psymon-spineinstagram.com/psymonspine.llcWe would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
PSYMON SPINE-Brooklyn band with members Noah Prebish & Brother Michael Rudinski Primitive Substance 2025-08-28 | In this short Brother Michael talks about playing in Psymon SpinePsymon Spine is a Brooklyn-based band known for their unique fusion of psychedelic pop and dance music! The core members of the band Noah Prebish, Peter Spears, and Brother Michael grew up with a deep appreciation for the art of “the remix,” and after the release of "Charismatic Megafauna", the group found themselves craving longer and more dance-floor friendly versions of their songs! There latest "Head Body Connector" saw the induction of two longtime friends of the band, drummer Zebadiah Stern and singer/guitarist Sarah Aument, both on tour and in the studio. “Wizard Acid,” opens with Stern’s h-hats beneath a wall of Abba-esque string synths, brings a lighter, almost campy tone to similar feelings of isolation, with Spears chronicling being eaten alive by a haunted house! A US tour starts in September with a new recording almost completed that will be out soon on their current label "Northern Sky" records.A US tour starts in September with a new recording almost completed that will be out soon on their current label "Northern Sky" records.Here is where to keep up on the band!psymonspine.bandcamp.com/musicnorthernspyrecs.com/psymon-spineinstagram.com/psymonspine.llcWe would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
PSYMON SPINE-Brooklyn band with members Noah Prebish & Brother Michael Rudinski Primitive Substance 2025-08-27 | In this short Psymon Spine member Noah Prebish talks about the early Psymon Spine recording!Psymon Spine is a Brooklyn-based band known for their unique fusion of psychedelic pop and dance music! The core members of the band Noah Prebish, Peter Spears, and Brother Michael grew up with a deep appreciation for the art of “the remix,” and after the release of "Charismatic Megafauna", the group found themselves craving longer and more dance-floor friendly versions of their songs! There latest "Head Body Connector" saw the induction of two longtime friends of the band, drummer Zebadiah Stern and singer/guitarist Sarah Aument, both on tour and in the studio. “Wizard Acid,” opens with Stern’s h-hats beneath a wall of Abba-esque string synths, brings a lighter, almost campy tone to similar feelings of isolation, with Spears chronicling being eaten alive by a haunted house! A US tour starts in September with a new recording almost completed that will be out soon on their current label "Northern Sky" records.A US tour starts in September with a new recording almost completed that will be out soon on their current label "Northern Sky" records.Here is where to keep up on the band!psymonspine.bandcamp.com/musicnorthernspyrecs.com/psymon-spineinstagram.com/psymonspine.llcWe would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
PSYMON SPINE-Brooklyn band with members Noah Prebish & Brother Michael Rudinski Primitive Substance 2025-08-27 | E.P.#156 Psymon Spine is a Brooklyn-based band known for their unique fusion of psychedelic pop and dance music! The core members of the band Noah Prebish, Peter Spears, and Brother Michael grew up with a deep appreciation for the art of “the remix,” and after the release of "Charismatic Megafauna", the group found themselves craving longer and more dance-floor friendly versions of their songs! There latest "Head Body Connector" saw the induction of two longtime friends of the band, drummer Zebadiah Stern and singer/guitarist Sarah Aument, both on tour and in the studio. “Wizard Acid,” opens with Stern’s h-hats beneath a wall of Abba-esque string synths, brings a lighter, almost campy tone to similar feelings of isolation, with Spears chronicling being eaten alive by a haunted house! A US tour starts in September with a new recording almost completed that will be out soon on their current label "Northern Sky" records.Here is where to keep up on the band!psymonspine.bandcamp.com/musicnorthernspyrecs.com/psymon-spineinstagram.com/psymonspine.llcWe would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
Neil Nail Alexander World-Renowned Pianist, Synthesist, Keyboardist & Compose! #videopodcast Primitive Substance 2025-08-26 | In this short Neil explains how he got the word "Nail" in his professional name!Neil "Nail" Alexander is a world-renowned Pianist, Synthesist, Keyboardist & Composer who works with music in all forms and styles (including jazz, rock, funk, blues, electronica, ambient and contemporary classical). In a career spanning more than 4 decades Neil has made his mark on the local and international music scenes, having toured the US, Europe, Mexico and Canada. In addition to his long running original music project Neil Alexander & NAIL he has toured with successful acts such as The Machine, The Mahavishnu Project, Marty Balin, Corey Glover (among others) and performed with a who’s who of local artists such as Tim Moore, local hip hop phenom Decora (for whom he was musical director for 4 years), Pee Wee Ellis, Ted Orr, Jesse Gress, Blue Food, Jeff Siege Segal, Tony “Thunder” Smith and many others.In September 2024 Neil celebrated his 50th Year as a composer and performer with a sold-out show at the Falcon in Marlboro NY that included a 17-piece ensemble with strings, winds, guitars and multiple percussionistsNeil’s current performing ensembles include “Cloudburst “, the “X Ensemble”, “Mr. GONE“and Supercluster, and he performs experimental electronic music under the name “Nail Jung“. His most recent self-produced CD releases include “The Album That Never Was: Live Tracks 2022 (NAIL)“, “Check Your Vibration” (Nail Jung), “Solos/Duos/Trios” (Neil Alexander) and many others, including a A Solo Piano performance of the “Rite Of Spring” from 2013, the 100th Anniversary of the piece. In October of 2016 Neil premiered the “X Ensemble“, an 11 piece acoustic/electric Chamber music group in a concert of contemporary and original chamber works at the Ritz Theater in Newburgh NY. In 2021 the X Ensemble premiered a new piece entitled “Convergence: Series A”, composed by Neil for an octet, and in 2018 they appeared at the Interactive art festival “Dusklit” in Sugar Loaf NY where they performed a site-specific work played at the moment of Sunset. in 2019 Neil Alexander & NAIL celebrated their 20th anniversary with multiple shows around the region. Their most recent CD is titled “Live at the Blue Note“.Neil’s other projects include Solo performances (both acoustic and/or electronic) and “Scene Re-seen”, live electronic scoring of silent films. In addition, Neil teaches Master Classes in Synthesizer Programming and Music Performance Technology and heads up the Ableton Hudson Valley Users Group.For more information where to buy his recordings and future tour dates check out the links below!nailmusic.comnailmusic.bandcamp.com/music
Neil Nail Alexander World-Renowned Pianist, Synthesist, Keyboardist & Compose! #videopodcast Primitive Substance 2025-08-25 | In this short Neil talks his time with the Pink Floyd tribute band The Machine!Neil "Nail" Alexander is a world-renowned Pianist, Synthesist, Keyboardist & Composer who works with music in all forms and styles (including jazz, rock, funk, blues, electronica, ambient and contemporary classical). In a career spanning more than 4 decades Neil has made his mark on the local and international music scenes, having toured the US, Europe, Mexico and Canada. In addition to his long running original music project Neil Alexander & NAIL he has toured with successful acts such as The Machine, The Mahavishnu Project, Marty Balin, Corey Glover (among others) and performed with a who’s who of local artists such as Tim Moore, local hip hop phenom Decora (for whom he was musical director for 4 years), Pee Wee Ellis, Ted Orr, Jesse Gress, Blue Food, Jeff Siege Segal, Tony “Thunder” Smith and many others.In September 2024 Neil celebrated his 50th Year as a composer and performer with a sold-out show at the Falcon in Marlboro NY that included a 17-piece ensemble with strings, winds, guitars and multiple percussionistsNeil’s current performing ensembles include “Cloudburst “, the “X Ensemble”, “Mr. GONE“and Supercluster, and he performs experimental electronic music under the name “Nail Jung“. His most recent self-produced CD releases include “The Album That Never Was: Live Tracks 2022 (NAIL)“, “Check Your Vibration” (Nail Jung), “Solos/Duos/Trios” (Neil Alexander) and many others, including a A Solo Piano performance of the “Rite Of Spring” from 2013, the 100th Anniversary of the piece. In October of 2016 Neil premiered the “X Ensemble“, an 11 piece acoustic/electric Chamber music group in a concert of contemporary and original chamber works at the Ritz Theater in Newburgh NY. In 2021 the X Ensemble premiered a new piece entitled “Convergence: Series A”, composed by Neil for an octet, and in 2018 they appeared at the Interactive art festival “Dusklit” in Sugar Loaf NY where they performed a site-specific work played at the moment of Sunset. in 2019 Neil Alexander & NAIL celebrated their 20th anniversary with multiple shows around the region. Their most recent CD is titled “Live at the Blue Note“.Neil’s other projects include Solo performances (both acoustic and/or electronic) and “Scene Re-seen”, live electronic scoring of silent films. In addition, Neil teaches Master Classes in Synthesizer Programming and Music Performance Technology and heads up the Ableton Hudson Valley Users Group.For more information where to buy his recordings and future tour dates check out the links below!nailmusic.comnailmusic.bandcamp.com/music
Neil Nail Alexander World-Renowned Pianist, Synthesist, Keyboardist & Compose! #videopodcast Primitive Substance 2025-08-23 | In this short Neil talks about the influence of a Bork recording had on him!Neil "Nail" Alexander is a world-renowned Pianist, Synthesist, Keyboardist & Composer who works with music in all forms and styles (including jazz, rock, funk, blues, electronica, ambient and contemporary classical). In a career spanning more than 4 decades Neil has made his mark on the local and international music scenes, having toured the US, Europe, Mexico and Canada. In addition to his long running original music project Neil Alexander & NAIL he has toured with successful acts such as The Machine, The Mahavishnu Project, Marty Balin, Corey Glover (among others) and performed with a who’s who of local artists such as Tim Moore, local hip hop phenom Decora (for whom he was musical director for 4 years), Pee Wee Ellis, Ted Orr, Jesse Gress, Blue Food, Jeff Siege Segal, Tony “Thunder” Smith and many others.In September 2024 Neil celebrated his 50th Year as a composer and performer with a sold-out show at the Falcon in Marlboro NY that included a 17-piece ensemble with strings, winds, guitars and multiple percussionistsNeil’s current performing ensembles include “Cloudburst “, the “X Ensemble”, “Mr. GONE“and Supercluster, and he performs experimental electronic music under the name “Nail Jung“. His most recent self-produced CD releases include “The Album That Never Was: Live Tracks 2022 (NAIL)“, “Check Your Vibration” (Nail Jung), “Solos/Duos/Trios” (Neil Alexander) and many others, including a A Solo Piano performance of the “Rite Of Spring” from 2013, the 100th Anniversary of the piece. In October of 2016 Neil premiered the “X Ensemble“, an 11 piece acoustic/electric Chamber music group in a concert of contemporary and original chamber works at the Ritz Theater in Newburgh NY. In 2021 the X Ensemble premiered a new piece entitled “Convergence: Series A”, composed by Neil for an octet, and in 2018 they appeared at the Interactive art festival “Dusklit” in Sugar Loaf NY where they performed a site-specific work played at the moment of Sunset. in 2019 Neil Alexander & NAIL celebrated their 20th anniversary with multiple shows around the region. Their most recent CD is titled “Live at the Blue Note“.Neil’s other projects include Solo performances (both acoustic and/or electronic) and “Scene Re-seen”, live electronic scoring of silent films. In addition, Neil teaches Master Classes in Synthesizer Programming and Music Performance Technology and heads up the Ableton Hudson Valley Users Group.For more information where to buy his recordings and future tour dates check out the links below!nailmusic.comnailmusic.bandcamp.com/music
Neil Nail Alexander- World-Renowned Pianist, Synthesist, Keyboardist & Compose! Primitive Substance 2025-08-23 | E.P.#155 Neil "Nail" Alexander is a world-renowned Pianist, Synthesist, Keyboardist & Composer who works with music in all forms and styles (including jazz, rock, funk, blues, electronica, ambient and contemporary classical). In a career spanning more than 4 decades Neil has made his mark on the local and international music scenes, having toured the US, Europe, Mexico and Canada. In addition to his long running original music project Neil Alexander & NAIL he has toured with successful acts such as The Machine, The Mahavishnu Project, Marty Balin, Corey Glover (among others) and performed with a who’s who of local artists such as Tim Moore, local hip hop phenom Decora (for whom he was musical director for 4 years), Pee Wee Ellis, Ted Orr, Jesse Gress, Blue Food, Jeff Siege Segal, Tony “Thunder” Smith and many others.In September 2024 Neil celebrated his 50th Year as a composer and performer with a sold-out show at the Falcon in Marlboro NY that included a 17-piece ensemble with strings, winds, guitars and multiple percussionistsNeil’s current performing ensembles include “Cloudburst “, the “X Ensemble”, “Mr. GONE“and Supercluster, and he performs experimental electronic music under the name “Nail Jung“. His most recent self-produced CD releases include “The Album That Never Was: Live Tracks 2022 (NAIL)“, “Check Your Vibration” (Nail Jung), “Solos/Duos/Trios” (Neil Alexander) and many others, including a A Solo Piano performance of the “Rite Of Spring” from 2013, the 100th Anniversary of the piece. In October of 2016 Neil premiered the “X Ensemble“, an 11 piece acoustic/electric Chamber music group in a concert of contemporary and original chamber works at the Ritz Theater in Newburgh NY. In 2021 the X Ensemble premiered a new piece entitled “Convergence: Series A”, composed by Neil for an octet, and in 2018 they appeared at the Interactive art festival “Dusklit” in Sugar Loaf NY where they performed a site-specific work played at the moment of Sunset. in 2019 Neil Alexander & NAIL celebrated their 20th anniversary with multiple shows around the region. Their most recent CD is titled “Live at the Blue Note“.Neil’s other projects include Solo performances (both acoustic and/or electronic) and “Scene Re-seen”, live electronic scoring of silent films. In addition, Neil teaches Master Classes in Synthesizer Programming and Music Performance Technology and heads up the Ableton Hudson Valley Users Group.For more information where to buy his recordings and future tour dates check out the links below!nailmusic.comnailmusic.bandcamp.com/musicWe would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!00:00 Musical Origins04:12 Tribute Bands06:09 Signature Records13:56 Ambient Explorations18:33 Synth Talk26:09 Notable Performances30:56 Future Projects37:04 Final Thoughts
Ernie Brooks-Pioneer Bassist, MODERN LOVERS, ARTHUR RUSSELL, JERRY HARRISON! #videopodcast, #music Primitive Substance 2025-08-18 | Part 2 Interview Ernie Brooks is a bass pioneer his playing you may recognize from the Modern Lovers, one of the great proto-punk albums of all-time released in 1976. This is just one highlight in Ernie’s career… he has performed with some of the real music legends — Jerry Harrison, New York Dolls… even Allen Ginsberg. He has also performed or recorded with John Sherman, Ed Tomney, Randy Gunn, Jesse Chamberlain and English guitar legend Chris Spedding. Arthur Russell and Elliott Murphy nurtured Ernie’s songwriting skills (separately) and their influence remains intact today, after a dozen records and countless tours. His limits are boundaryless — recording and performing with David Johansen, Peter Gordon’s “Love of Life Orchestra” and minimalist composer Rhys Chatham’s ensemble, which later expanded to a 100-200 guitar orchestras! Ernie regrouped with Jerry Harrison in the eighties for his Casual Gods albums, touring with Chris Spedding, Bernie Worrell and Joyce Bowden. He then moved to France where he worked with Elliott Rhys, Tony Truant and free-jazz grunge guitarist Jean Francoid Pauvros. He currently lives in New York and often performs with Gods and Monsters and various formations with trombone wizard PeterZummo.We would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
Ernie Brooks-Pioneer Bassist, MODERN LOVERS, ARTHUR RUSSELL, JERRY HARRISON! #videopodcast, #music Primitive Substance 2025-08-17 | Part 2 Interview Ernie Brooks is a bass pioneer his playing you may recognize from the Modern Lovers, one of the great proto-punk albums of all-time released in 1976. This is just one highlight in Ernie’s career… he has performed with some of the real music legends — Jerry Harrison, New York Dolls… even Allen Ginsberg. He has also performed or recorded with John Sherman, Ed Tomney, Randy Gunn, Jesse Chamberlain and English guitar legend Chris Spedding. Arthur Russell and Elliott Murphy nurtured Ernie’s songwriting skills (separately) and their influence remains intact today, after a dozen records and countless tours. His limits are boundaryless — recording and performing with David Johansen, Peter Gordon’s “Love of Life Orchestra” and minimalist composer Rhys Chatham’s ensemble, which later expanded to a 100-200 guitar orchestras! Ernie regrouped with Jerry Harrison in the eighties for his Casual Gods albums, touring with Chris Spedding, Bernie Worrell and Joyce Bowden. He then moved to France where he worked with Elliott Rhys, Tony Truant and free-jazz grunge guitarist Jean Francoid Pauvros. He currently lives in New York and often performs with Gods and Monsters and various formations with trombone wizard PeterZummo.We would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
Ernie Brooks-Pioneer Bassist MODERN LOVERS, ARTHUR RUSSELL, JOHN CAGE, JERRY HARRISON! Primitive Substance 2025-08-17 | EP # 154 Part 2 Interview Ernie Brooks is a bass pioneer his playing you may recognize from the Modern Lovers, one of the great proto-punk albums of all-time released in 1976. This is just one highlight in Ernie’s career… he has performed with some of the real music legends — Jerry Harrison, New York Dolls… even Allen Ginsberg. He has also performed or recorded with John Sherman, Ed Tomney, Randy Gunn, Jesse Chamberlain and English guitar legend Chris Spedding. Arthur Russell and Elliott Murphy nurtured Ernie’s songwriting skills (separately) and their influence remains intact today, after a dozen records and countless tours. His limits are boundaryless — recording and performing with David Johansen, Peter Gordon’s “Love of Life Orchestra” and minimalist composer Rhys Chatham’s ensemble, which later expanded to a 100-200 guitar orchestras! Ernie regrouped with Jerry Harrison in the eighties for his Casual Gods albums, touring with Chris Spedding, Bernie Worrell and Joyce Bowden. He then moved to France where he worked with Elliott Rhys, Tony Truant and free-jazz grunge guitarist Jean Francoid Pauvros. He currently lives in New York and often performs with Gods and Monsters and various formations with trombone wizard Peter Zummo.We would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
Gregory Spawton-BIG BIG TRAIN, English musician, composer, and songwriter! #videopodcast, #music Primitive Substance 2025-08-13 | In this short Gregory talks about Dave Gregory (XTC) playing in Big Big Train!Gregory Spawton is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and founder of English progressive rock band Big Big Train.He was brought up in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands. The first prog album he heard was Selling England by the Pound by Genesis, which belonged to his brother Nigel, when he was 12. The first album he bought was Pawn Hearts by Van der Graaf Generator. He also saw Steve Hackett on his Defector tour in 1980. A heavy influence of his is Peter Hammill.Greg moved to Bournemouth in 1987 after graduating from the Reading University. with a degree in archaeology. He formed Big Big Train with Andy Poole in 1990, taking on the role of lead guitarist. They were soon joined by Poole's friend, Ian Cooper, on keyboards, Steve Hughes on drums, and Canadian vocalist Martin Read,[4] who also played acoustic guitar.Their debut album, "Goodbye to the Age of Steam", was released in 1994, with Gregory writing or co-writing all the tracks. He also filled the role of keyboardist after the departure of Cooper for sessions of 1997's English Boy Wonders, before Tony Müller joined as Cooper's replacement for a rare live show at the Astoria, London.Big Big Train became an independent band after their label GEP dropped them due to disappointing sales. They continued and released "Bard", in February 2002. They also released "Gathering Speed" (2004) and "The Difference Machine" (2007) with new vocalist Sean Filkins. The former is the only album not to feature any songs solely written by him, and the latter feature guest appearances from Nick D'Virgilio and Dave Meros of Spock's Beard, Pete Trewavas of Marillion,] and Mike Holmes of IQ also having some involvement.In 2009, the band had a fresh start with Sean Filkins and Steve Hughes leaving and being replaced by David Longdon and Nick D'Virgilio. Their resulting breakout album, T"he Underfall Yard", included Gregory taking up the role of guitarist, keyboardist and bass, with Poole playing additional keyboards and bass. The album also featured Dave Gregory of XTC on guitars, sitar, Mellotron, with Jem Godfrey playing a synth solo and Francis Dunnery playing a guitar solo on the title track.The album also featured a four-piece brass section. He also wrote all of the tracks on "The Underfall Yard" recording!Dave Gregory joined the band full time to work on their follow-up albums "English Electric Part One and Two". The band rehearsed for possible future live performances at Real World Studios with new members keyboardist Danny Manners, violinist Rachel Hall (ex-Stackridge) and guitarist/keyboardist Rikard Sjöblom (Beardfish). This line-up continued and released "Folklore" (2016), "Grimspound" (2017) and "The Second Brightest Star" (2017) before Poole departed in January 2018, with Robin Armstrong joining on tour in his place. They released "Grand Tour" in 2019, which was the last for Hall, Manners and Gregory who all departed in 2020.The band was rebuilt with Dave Foster (guitars), Carly Bryant (vocals & keyboards) and new violinist Clare Lindley (also ex Stackridge). The former two had performed on "Common Ground" (2021) and all performed on "Welcome to the Planet "(2022) which was the last of new material to feature David Longdon, who died in November 2021.The band has since continued with lead vocalist Alberto Bravin, whom Ggregory had seen performing with PFM in 2015 in Camden Town, London.The band continues with work on a new untitled recording along with a European tour taking shape!Check out the website for more information about the next tour and new recording!bigbigtrain.com
Gregory Spawton-BIG BIG TRAIN, English musician, composer, and songwriter! #videopodcast, #music Primitive Substance 2025-08-11 | In this short Gregory talks about touring with Big Big TrainGregory Spawton is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and founder of English progressive rock band Big Big Train.He was brought up in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands. The first prog album he heard was Selling England by the Pound by Genesis, which belonged to his brother Nigel, when he was 12. The first album he bought was Pawn Hearts by Van der Graaf Generator. He also saw Steve Hackett on his Defector tour in 1980. A heavy influence of his is Peter Hammill.Greg moved to Bournemouth in 1987 after graduating from the Reading University. with a degree in archaeology. He formed Big Big Train with Andy Poole in 1990, taking on the role of lead guitarist. They were soon joined by Poole's friend, Ian Cooper, on keyboards, Steve Hughes on drums, and Canadian vocalist Martin Read,[4] who also played acoustic guitar.Their debut album, "Goodbye to the Age of Steam", was released in 1994, with Gregory writing or co-writing all the tracks. He also filled the role of keyboardist after the departure of Cooper for sessions of 1997's English Boy Wonders, before Tony Müller joined as Cooper's replacement for a rare live show at the Astoria, London.Big Big Train became an independent band after their label GEP dropped them due to disappointing sales. They continued and released "Bard", in February 2002. They also released "Gathering Speed" (2004) and "The Difference Machine" (2007) with new vocalist Sean Filkins. The former is the only album not to feature any songs solely written by him, and the latter feature guest appearances from Nick D'Virgilio and Dave Meros of Spock's Beard, Pete Trewavas of Marillion,] and Mike Holmes of IQ also having some involvement.In 2009, the band had a fresh start with Sean Filkins and Steve Hughes leaving and being replaced by David Longdon and Nick D'Virgilio. Their resulting breakout album, T"he Underfall Yard", included Gregory taking up the role of guitarist, keyboardist and bass, with Poole playing additional keyboards and bass. The album also featured Dave Gregory of XTC on guitars, sitar, Mellotron, with Jem Godfrey playing a synth solo and Francis Dunnery playing a guitar solo on the title track.The album also featured a four-piece brass section. He also wrote all of the tracks on "The Underfall Yard" recording!Dave Gregory joined the band full time to work on their follow-up albums "English Electric Part One and Two". The band rehearsed for possible future live performances at Real World Studios with new members keyboardist Danny Manners, violinist Rachel Hall (ex-Stackridge) and guitarist/keyboardist Rikard Sjöblom (Beardfish). This line-up continued and released "Folklore" (2016), "Grimspound" (2017) and "The Second Brightest Star" (2017) before Poole departed in January 2018, with Robin Armstrong joining on tour in his place. They released "Grand Tour" in 2019, which was the last for Hall, Manners and Gregory who all departed in 2020.The band was rebuilt with Dave Foster (guitars), Carly Bryant (vocals & keyboards) and new violinist Clare Lindley (also ex Stackridge). The former two had performed on "Common Ground" (2021) and all performed on "Welcome to the Planet "(2022) which was the last of new material to feature David Longdon, who died in November 2021.The band has since continued with lead vocalist Alberto Bravin, whom Ggregory had seen performing with PFM in 2015 in Camden Town, London.The band continues with work on a new untitled recording along with a European tour taking shape!Check out the website for more information about the next tour and new recording!bigbigtrain.com
Gregory Spawton- BIG BIG TRAIN, English Musician, composer, & songwriter! Primitive Substance 2025-08-10 | E.P. #153 Gregory Spawton is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and founder of English progressive rock band Big Big Train.He was brought up in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands. The first prog album he heard was Selling England by the Pound by Genesis, which belonged to his brother Nigel, when he was 12. The first album he bought was Pawn Hearts by Van der Graaf Generator. He also saw Steve Hackett on his Defector tour in 1980. A heavy influence of his is Peter Hammill.Greg moved to Bournemouth in 1987 after graduating from the Reading University. with a degree in archaeology. He formed Big Big Train with Andy Poole in 1990, taking on the role of lead guitarist. They were soon joined by Poole's friend, Ian Cooper, on keyboards, Steve Hughes on drums, and Canadian vocalist Martin Read,[4] who also played acoustic guitar.00:00 Band Origins02:04 Building a Fanbase03:08 Lineup Changes04:46 Brass Band Experiment06:15 Collaborative Songwriting09:23 Life on Tour11:30 Current Lineup12:28 Musical Equipment14:05 Rhythm Section Sync16:06 Upcoming Album18:05 Prog Rock Reflections22:15 Musical Legacy23:18 Record Label Journey25:16 YouTube & Audience28:12 Finding the Band28:45 ConclusionTheir debut album, "Goodbye to the Age of Steam", was released in 1994, with Gregory writing or co-writing all the tracks. He also filled the role of keyboardist after the departure of Cooper for sessions of 1997's English Boy Wonders, before Tony Müller joined as Cooper's replacement for a rare live show at the Astoria, London.Big Big Train became an independent band after their label GEP dropped them due to disappointing sales. They continued and released "Bard", in February 2002. They also released "Gathering Speed" (2004) and "The Difference Machine" (2007) with new vocalist Sean Filkins. The former is the only album not to feature any songs solely written by him, and the latter feature guest appearances from Nick D'Virgilio and Dave Meros of Spock's Beard, Pete Trewavas of Marillion,] and Mike Holmes of IQ also having some involvement.In 2009, the band had a fresh start with Sean Filkins and Steve Hughes leaving and being replaced by David Longdon and Nick D'Virgilio. Their resulting breakout album, T"he Underfall Yard", included Gregory taking up the role of guitarist, keyboardist and bass, with Poole playing additional keyboards and bass. The album also featured Dave Gregory of XTC on guitars, sitar, Mellotron, with Jem Godfrey playing a synth solo and Francis Dunnery playing a guitar solo on the title track.The album also featured a four-piece brass section. He also wrote all of the tracks on "The Underfall Yard" recording!Dave Gregory joined the band full time to work on their follow-up albums "English Electric Part One and Two". The band rehearsed for possible future live performances at Real World Studios with new members keyboardist Danny Manners, violinist Rachel Hall (ex-Stackridge) and guitarist/keyboardist Rikard Sjöblom (Beardfish). This line-up continued and released "Folklore" (2016), "Grimspound" (2017) and "The Second Brightest Star" (2017) before Poole departed in January 2018, with Robin Armstrong joining on tour in his place. They released "Grand Tour" in 2019, which was the last for Hall, Manners and Gregory who all departed in 2020.The band was rebuilt with Dave Foster (guitars), Carly Bryant (vocals & keyboards) and new violinist Clare Lindley (also ex Stackridge). The former two had performed on "Common Ground" (2021) and all performed on "Welcome to the Planet "(2022) which was the last of new material to feature David Longdon, who died in November 2021.The band has since continued with lead vocalist Alberto Bravin, whom Ggregory had seen performing with PFM in 2015 in Camden Town, London.The band continues with work on a new untitled recording along with a European tour taking shape!Check out the website for more information!bigbigtrain.comWe would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
Gregory Spawton-BIG BIG TRAIN, English musician, composer, and songwriter! #videopodcast, #music Primitive Substance 2025-08-10 | In this short Gregory talks about doing progrock music!Gregory Spawton is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and founder of English progressive rock band Big Big Train.He was brought up in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands. The first prog album he heard was Selling England by the Pound by Genesis, which belonged to his brother Nigel, when he was 12. The first album he bought was Pawn Hearts by Van der Graaf Generator. He also saw Steve Hackett on his Defector tour in 1980. A heavy influence of his is Peter Hammill.Greg moved to Bournemouth in 1987 after graduating from the Reading University. with a degree in archaeology. He formed Big Big Train with Andy Poole in 1990, taking on the role of lead guitarist. They were soon joined by Poole's friend, Ian Cooper, on keyboards, Steve Hughes on drums, and Canadian vocalist Martin Read,[4] who also played acoustic guitar.Their debut album, "Goodbye to the Age of Steam", was released in 1994, with Gregory writing or co-writing all the tracks. He also filled the role of keyboardist after the departure of Cooper for sessions of 1997's English Boy Wonders, before Tony Müller joined as Cooper's replacement for a rare live show at the Astoria, London.Big Big Train became an independent band after their label GEP dropped them due to disappointing sales. They continued and released "Bard", in February 2002. They also released "Gathering Speed" (2004) and "The Difference Machine" (2007) with new vocalist Sean Filkins. The former is the only album not to feature any songs solely written by him, and the latter feature guest appearances from Nick D'Virgilio and Dave Meros of Spock's Beard, Pete Trewavas of Marillion,] and Mike Holmes of IQ also having some involvement.In 2009, the band had a fresh start with Sean Filkins and Steve Hughes leaving and being replaced by David Longdon and Nick D'Virgilio. Their resulting breakout album, T"he Underfall Yard", included Gregory taking up the role of guitarist, keyboardist and bass, with Poole playing additional keyboards and bass. The album also featured Dave Gregory of XTC on guitars, sitar, Mellotron, with Jem Godfrey playing a synth solo and Francis Dunnery playing a guitar solo on the title track.The album also featured a four-piece brass section. He also wrote all of the tracks on "The Underfall Yard" recording!Dave Gregory joined the band full time to work on their follow-up albums "English Electric Part One and Two". The band rehearsed for possible future live performances at Real World Studios with new members keyboardist Danny Manners, violinist Rachel Hall (ex-Stackridge) and guitarist/keyboardist Rikard Sjöblom (Beardfish). This line-up continued and released "Folklore" (2016), "Grimspound" (2017) and "The Second Brightest Star" (2017) before Poole departed in January 2018, with Robin Armstrong joining on tour in his place. They released "Grand Tour" in 2019, which was the last for Hall, Manners and Gregory who all departed in 2020.The band was rebuilt with Dave Foster (guitars), Carly Bryant (vocals & keyboards) and new violinist Clare Lindley (also ex Stackridge). The former two had performed on "Common Ground" (2021) and all performed on "Welcome to the Planet "(2022) which was the last of new material to feature David Longdon, who died in November 2021.The band has since continued with lead vocalist Alberto Bravin, whom Ggregory had seen performing with PFM in 2015 in Camden Town, London.The band continues with work on a new untitled recording along with a European tour taking shape!Check out the website for more information!bigbigtrain.com
MOONJUNE RECORFDS-Leonardo Pavkovic Soft Machine, Stickman, etc. #videopodcast, #interview, #music Primitive Substance 2025-08-09 | Born in Jajce in 1962 when Bosnia & Herzegovina was still a part of Yugoslavia, from an early age Leonardo Pavkovic yearned to discover the unknown lands on the “other side of the mountain.” Gradually forging his own path with serendipity on his side, this polyglot citizen of the world, who lived in late 1970s and in the 1980s in Italy has relocated to New York City in 1990, and went on to build an improbably successful one-man international music enterprise in defiance of standard music-biz practice – remarkably, with no concession of musical excellence and imagination. Along the way, he gathered around himself an ever-expanding constellation of adventurous musicians ranging from gifted lesser-known talents to such zeitgeist-defining figures as drum exemplar Bill Bruford, who hailed Leonardo’s abilities as an “enabler” of aspiring musicians, and guitar avatar Allan Holdsworth, who affectionately dubbed him “Nardini” and his singular approach to life “Nardinism.”Leonardo runs MoonJune Music (booking and management) and MoonJune Records (independent record label) since 2001. In 2021, He has moved his life and his business adventures to the historic city of Toledo, in the Spanish region of Castilla La Mancha.MOONJUNE RECORDS came into being in 2001. The focus of MoonJune is to discover and release music by artists from a variety of international settings -- The ongoing goal of MoonJune is to support music that transcends stylistic pigeon-holing, but operates within an evolutionary progressive musical continuum that explores boundaries of jazz, rock, avant, ethno, the unknown and anything in between. Along with running MoonJune Records he also is a booking and management company MoonJune Music since 2001. In 2021, He has moved his life and his business adventures to the historic city of Toledo, in the Spanish region of Castilla La Mancha.So many amazing MoonJune recordings too many to list so go to both his website and bandcamp links for more information!
Leonardo Pavkovic- Owner/Founder of the Progressive Music Label MOONJUNE RECORDS! Primitive Substance 2025-08-07 | E.P. #152 Born in Jajce in 1962 when Bosnia & Herzegovina was still a part of Yugoslavia, from an early age Leonardo Pavkovic yearned to discover the unknown lands on the “other side of the mountain.” Gradually forging his own path with serendipity on his side, this polyglot citizen of the world, who lived in late 1970s and in the 1980s in Italy has relocated to New York City in 1990, and went on to build an improbably successful one-man international music enterprise in defiance of standard music-biz practice – remarkably, with no concession of musical excellence and imagination. Along the way, he gathered around himself an ever-expanding constellation of adventurous musicians ranging from gifted lesser-known talents to such zeitgeist-defining figures as drum exemplar Bill Bruford, who hailed Leonardo’s abilities as an “enabler” of aspiring musicians, and guitar avatar Allan Holdsworth, who affectionately dubbed him “Nardini” and his singular approach to life “Nardinism.”Leonardo runs MoonJune Music (booking and management) and MoonJune Records (independent record label) since 2001. In 2021, He has moved his life and his business adventures to the historic city of Toledo, in the Spanish region of Castilla La Mancha.MOONJUNE RECORDS came into being in 2001. The focus of MoonJune is to discover and release music by artists from a variety of international settings -- The ongoing goal of MoonJune is to support music that transcends stylistic pigeon-holing, but operates within an evolutionary progressive musical continuum that explores boundaries of jazz, rock, avant, ethno, the unknown and anything in between. Along with running MoonJune Records he also is a booking and management company MoonJune Music since 2001. In 2021, He has moved his life and his business adventures to the historic city of Toledo, in the Spanish region of Castilla La Mancha.So many amazing MoonJune recordings too many to list so go to both his website and bandcamp links for more information!We would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!
MOONJUNE RECORFDS-Leonardo Pavkivic Soft Machine, Stickman, etc. #videopodcast, #interview, #music Primitive Substance 2025-08-07 | Leonardo talks about Gary Husband!Born in Jajce in 1962 when Bosnia & Herzegovina was still a part of Yugoslavia, from an early age Leonardo Pavkovic yearned to discover the unknown lands on the “other side of the mountain.” Gradually forging his own path with serendipity on his side, this polyglot citizen of the world, who lived in late 1970s and in the 1980s in Italy has relocated to New York City in 1990, and went on to build an improbably successful one-man international music enterprise in defiance of standard music-biz practice – remarkably, with no concession of musical excellence and imagination. Along the way, he gathered around himself an ever-expanding constellation of adventurous musicians ranging from gifted lesser-known talents to such zeitgeist-defining figures as drum exemplar Bill Bruford, who hailed Leonardo’s abilities as an “enabler” of aspiring musicians, and guitar avatar Allan Holdsworth, who affectionately dubbed him “Nardini” and his singular approach to life “Nardinism.”Leonardo runs MoonJune Music (booking and management) and MoonJune Records (independent record label) since 2001. In 2021, He has moved his life and his business adventures to the historic city of Toledo, in the Spanish region of Castilla La Mancha.MOONJUNE RECORDS came into being in 2001. The focus of MoonJune is to discover and release music by artists from a variety of international settings -- The ongoing goal of MoonJune is to support music that transcends stylistic pigeon-holing, but operates within an evolutionary progressive musical continuum that explores boundaries of jazz, rock, avant, ethno, the unknown and anything in between. Along with running MoonJune Records he also is a booking and management company MoonJune Music since 2001. In 2021, He has moved his life and his business adventures to the historic city of Toledo, in the Spanish region of Castilla La Mancha.So many amazing MoonJune recordings too many to list so go to both his website and bandcamp links for more information!
MOONJUNE RECORFDS-Leonardo Pavkovic Soft Machine, Stickman, etc. #videopodcast, #interview, #music Primitive Substance 2025-08-06 | Born in Jajce in 1962 when Bosnia & Herzegovina was still a part of Yugoslavia, from an early age Leonardo Pavkovic yearned to discover the unknown lands on the “other side of the mountain.” Gradually forging his own path with serendipity on his side, this polyglot citizen of the world, who lived in late 1970s and in the 1980s in Italy has relocated to New York City in 1990, and went on to build an improbably successful one-man international music enterprise in defiance of standard music-biz practice – remarkably, with no concession of musical excellence and imagination. Along the way, he gathered around himself an ever-expanding constellation of adventurous musicians ranging from gifted lesser-known talents to such zeitgeist-defining figures as drum exemplar Bill Bruford, who hailed Leonardo’s abilities as an “enabler” of aspiring musicians, and guitar avatar Allan Holdsworth, who affectionately dubbed him “Nardini” and his singular approach to life “Nardinism.”Leonardo runs MoonJune Music (booking and management) and MoonJune Records (independent record label) since 2001. In 2021, He has moved his life and his business adventures to the historic city of Toledo, in the Spanish region of Castilla La Mancha.MOONJUNE RECORDS came into being in 2001. The focus of MoonJune is to discover and release music by artists from a variety of international settings -- The ongoing goal of MoonJune is to support music that transcends stylistic pigeon-holing, but operates within an evolutionary progressive musical continuum that explores boundaries of jazz, rock, avant, ethno, the unknown and anything in between. Along with running MoonJune Records he also is a booking and management company MoonJune Music since 2001. In 2021, He has moved his life and his business adventures to the historic city of Toledo, in the Spanish region of Castilla La Mancha.So many amazing MoonJune recordings too many to list so go to both his website and bandcamp links for more information!
Rebecca Pidgeon- Acclaimed Actress and Grammy nominated Singer/Songwriter! #videopodcast ,#music Primitive Substance 2025-08-01 | Rebecca Pidgeon is an acclaimed actress and Grammy nominated singer/songwriter.Born in Cambridge, MA and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, she gravitated towards music as a child. Her parents introduced her to the likes of The Beatles, while she eventually discovered artists ranging from Kate Bush to Siousxie and the Banshees on her own. She fronted the band Ruby Blue for two records before relocating to the United States where she launched her solo careerShe has starred in acclaimed feature films (including The Spanish Prisoner, State and Main, Heist, Red), TV shows (including Phil Spector, The Unit), and on stage at venerable theatres across the globe (including productions of Speed the Plow, Royal National Theatre, London; and The Old Neighborhood, The Booth Theatre, Broadway).Rebecca has released critically acclaimed studio albums including "Sudden Exposure to Light", "Slingshot" (Grammy award nominated), "The Raven" (used on the soundtrack of the film Phil Spector) and "Behind the Velvet Curtain" (used on the soundtrack of the film Redbelt), with producers such as Thomas Bartlett (St Vincent, Antony and the Johnsons) and Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Nora Jones).In autumn 2022, Rebecca released her album, Parts of Speech, Pieces of Sound — an ambitious album featuring lush string arrangements, drum ensembles, and Eastern-leaning instrumentation under the co-production mastery of Pidgeon and Fernando Perdomo. In February 2024 she released her latest album Songs of L.A. again partnering with longtime collaborator Perdomo.For further information please check out her website & social media links below!www.rebeccapigeonmusic.cominstagram.com/rebeccapidgeon/?hl=enrebeccapidgeon.bandcamp.com
Rebecca Pidgeon- Acclaimed Actress and Grammy nominated Singer/Songwriter! #videopodcast ,#music Primitive Substance 2025-07-30 | Rebecca Pidgeon is an acclaimed actress and Grammy nominated singer/songwriter.Born in Cambridge, MA and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, she gravitated towards music as a child. Her parents introduced her to the likes of The Beatles, while she eventually discovered artists ranging from Kate Bush to Siousxie and the Banshees on her own. She fronted the band Ruby Blue for two records before relocating to the United States where she launched her solo careerShe has starred in acclaimed feature films (including The Spanish Prisoner, State and Main, Heist, Red), TV shows (including Phil Spector, The Unit), and on stage at venerable theatres across the globe (including productions of Speed the Plow, Royal National Theatre, London; and The Old Neighborhood, The Booth Theatre, Broadway).Rebecca has released critically acclaimed studio albums including "Sudden Exposure to Light", "Slingshot" (Grammy award nominated), "The Raven" (used on the soundtrack of the film Phil Spector) and "Behind the Velvet Curtain" (used on the soundtrack of the film Redbelt), with producers such as Thomas Bartlett (St Vincent, Antony and the Johnsons) and Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Nora Jones).In autumn 2022, Rebecca released her album, Parts of Speech, Pieces of Sound — an ambitious album featuring lush string arrangements, drum ensembles, and Eastern-leaning instrumentation under the co-production mastery of Pidgeon and Fernando Perdomo. In February 2024 she released her latest album Songs of L.A. again partnering with longtime collaborator Perdomo.For further information please check out her website & social media links below!www.rebeccapigeonmusic.cominstagram.com/rebeccapidgeon/?hl=enrebeccapidgeon.bandcamp.com
Rebecca Pidgeon- Acclaimed Actress & Grammy nominated Singer/Songwriter! Primitive Substance 2025-07-30 | E.P.#151 Rebecca Pidgeon is an acclaimed actress and Grammy nominated singer/songwriter.Born in Cambridge, MA and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, she gravitated towards music as a child. Her parents introduced her to the likes of The Beatles, while she eventually discovered artists ranging from Kate Bush to Siousxie and the Banshees on her own. She fronted the band Ruby Blue for two records before relocating to the United States where she launched her solo careerShe has starred in acclaimed feature films (including The Spanish Prisoner, State and Main, Heist, Red), TV shows (including Phil Spector, The Unit), and on stage at venerable theatres across the globe (including productions of Speed the Plow, Royal National Theatre, London; and The Old Neighborhood, The Booth Theatre, Broadway).Rebecca has released critically acclaimed studio albums including "Sudden Exposure to Light", "Slingshot" (Grammy award nominated), "The Raven" (used on the soundtrack of the film Phil Spector) and "Behind the Velvet Curtain" (used on the soundtrack of the film Redbelt), with producers such as Thomas Bartlett (St Vincent, Antony and the Johnsons) and Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Nora Jones).In autumn 2022, Rebecca released her album, Parts of Speech, Pieces of Sound — an ambitious album featuring lush string arrangements, drum ensembles, and Eastern-leaning instrumentation under the co-production mastery of Pidgeon and Fernando Perdomo. In February 2024 she released her latest album Songs of L.A. again partnering with longtime collaborator Perdomo.For further information please check out her website & social media links below!www.rebeccapigeonmusic.cominstagram.com/rebeccapidgeon/?hl=enrebeccapidgeon.bandcamp.comWe would love your comments and please subscribe to the channel if not already as some more great podcasts guests and videos to follow in the coming months! If you missed any of the podcasts here is the link to the past interviews www.dennisyoungmusic.net/podcastThank you for your support!00:00 Musical Beginnings03:36 Ruby Blue Era06:41 Touring Highlights07:56 Celtic Influences09:05 Jazz Fusion13:36 Songwriting Process14:50 Acting Journey22:09 Current Projects27:34 Closing Thoughts
