I guess if you know me its maybe from the 'mod band' Squire, or Walking Down The Kings Road or the Mods Mayday album. Well there's more - lots more!
There was The Numbers, pre-Squire pop which tried to fuse teen enthusiasm with some punky attitude and ended up sounding like the Banana Splits held together with safety pins.
There was stuff before that even, an Elton John/Bernie Taupin style collaboration when melodies were first written to exercise books full of lyrics and writing songs suddenly made sense. Tapes exist!
Squire of course, 5 albums, 11 singles (so far), stripy blazers, amazing fan club, Get Ready To Go - first single, that Mods Mayday album - it seems everyone has a copy!, 'Kings Road'/Its' A Mod Mod World, Hi-Lo Records - my record company, Get Smart!, September Gurls covers album, gigs all over the world, by 1986 last original mod band standing! Time for a new generation - move on.....
Post Squire - the aborted Smash album (my 'Smile'?), the unreleased Spring Collection - some played live or on radio. Another change in direction...
Pop / folk of Cartoon Mayhem - a live band and a great sound - I got to sing harmonies for a change. Acoustic 12 string guitars, harmonies, tangled lyrics. Finally, first solo album Passengers On Trains, a mix of pop, folk and optimism and melancholy.
Next up, a blaze of psychedelic pop with Sugarplum - Blue Summer Days.
A return to Squire, headlining at the London 1999 Mods Mayday London, and captured on a live album, more live dates, more solo, a Sugarplum live debut, more Squire and still more songs!
Hmmmm, thats what's been driving me for most of my life, and when I think I'll never write another song, suddenly I'm not paying attention to anyone anymore 'cos I've got a song in my head!
Hope you do too!
ABOUT THE SONGS
Here are some songs, something old, something new , something demoed etc.
In chronological order, first up is All I Wanna Do (Is Sniff Some Glue), from The Numbers - thats me & kevin. At the time I thought the lyrics were dead serious with a comedic twist, now it just sounds hilarious!
Next up, England's Finest Son. from the Cartoon Mayhem era, this one came in on a flaming pie. I thought about changing the chorus to make it less obvious - but what the hell, its heartfelt and about the reason why.
Then Tapestry Of Fire, from the solo album, Passengers On Trains, you probably won't find this record anywhere outside Japan. This is a nice little song about alienation & solitude, one of my favorite subjects!
Finally, a recent one - My Car Is Dead, I love songs that aren't boy/girl (I have my fair share of them too). I just noticed the second verse spins off into solitude/alienation as well, At least you can clap along to it this time!
