About Me
Alex Ward & The Dead Ends were formed in early 2004, initially to perform songs from the album "HAPLESS DAYS" (by Alex Ward, released on Copepod in 2005). By August 2004, another album's worth of songs had been written, and the initial steps towards recording them were undertaken. The first Dead Ends gig was at the Bull And Gate in Kentish Town, London, in January 2005. Over the next couple of years various line-ups of the Dead Ends continued to perform semi-regularly, playing material drawn from both albums along with covers and improvisation. Meanwhile, work on the recordings proceeded at a laggardly pace. The current line-up consists of Alex Ward (guitar & vocals), James Sedwards (guitar), Joe Williamson (bass) and Jem Doulton (drums). (Ward and Doulton also perform under the name Dead Days Beyond Help, mixing Dead Ends material with new, mainly instrumental compositions). The recordings, however, feature the original line-up of Ward, Sedwards and Greig Stewart, and are finally nearing completion, to be released later in 2007 as an album entitled "SNARES AND DELUSIONS". The purpose of this page is to promote this album, as well as providing information about Dead Ends live performances. As a sneak preview, the 6th track from the 8-song album has been posted on this page. This song (entitled "2039", and conceived as a result of some unpleasant premonitions, February through June 2004) takes the listener on a trip into the author's grim future as a decrepit recluse sunk in failure and bitterness, finding solace only in his own arrogance and misanthropy. (All premonitions continuing to come true.) Also posted are the song "Sounds Like Someone We Know" from "HAPLESS DAYS" (a regular fixture of Dead Ends sets, although the version here does not feature the band), and an improvised encore performed at Ryan's Bar on June 5th, 2008, incorporating the lyrics from "What Is The Soul Of A Man?" by Blind Willie Johnson. For (infrequently updated) information on Alex Ward's other activities, go to www.alexward.org. To buy "HAPLESS DAYS" and other Alex Ward music, go to www.copepod.co.uk. For rules determining MySpace behaviour, consult www.myspace.com/deaddaysbeyondhelp. To see the song "Good Advice" performed live at the Exeter Hall, Oxford, 6th May 2006, click below.
