You were invited probably because you are in the music media or connected to it in some way.Or you are a musician,friend or producer that I think very highly of. Maybe you will meet someone you like or would like to know.
The album features songs that I wrote in the early 1970's in amidst the chaos of the Vietnam War and the social impact of the war was tearing apart America and the world.My life was in chaos as well. Disco was King and it was hard for any other music to get heard.
"The 70's were a pretty hard and interesting time for a lot of people including me.That's when I became an International Minstrel so to speak. I decided that there was no place on Earth that I wouldn't consider traveling to, and playing. To try to spread some good vibes.I ended up in Amsterdam and had some wonderful musical adventures in and around this magic city for much of the 70's period. "River Flow It Away" was recorded live in Amsterdam in 1976. It is a raw recording that demonstrates the energy the group had at the time. My son Tristan was born in Amsterdam at this time.I ended up raising him as a single father.My Mom Faye helped me with that. I took him with me on my travels.He turned out to be a fine man.With some things I have been very blessed.
I did that as best I could and the travels led me to experience some both wonderful and terrifying things about the world.From San Francisco to India, I have played for the people who I found along the way. Many great spirits have I met, who have taught me their own unique kind of wisdom and I soaked it up like a sponge, I am still soaking.Still looking for new places and people to play for. Someday, perhaps we will meet." Demian Bell
Liner notes written by Demian Bell
"Falling Angels"
The second Maypole album
Thirty eight years ago my dear friend, colleague and co-founder of The Maypole, Paul Welsh wrote the liner notes for our first album “The Real“. His eventual suicide in 1988 which saddened me deeply all these years, and is all the more poignant for this fact, that for the liner notes for the second Maypole album I must write the notes in his absence.Paul was a true genius and was accomplished in many things among them Music,Literature,Art, Language, and just plain cool people to hang out with.I miss you brother.I dedicate this album to you.
This concept of the Maypole has been existence now for nearly 40 years. I have tried to carry the torch so to speak all this time. The idea of freedom of expression, the search for truth, wisdom, justice and love resides in this album. This is a compilation of some of the songs from the early part of my musical journey. I have explored many different influences and things that have now become known as “genresâ€, for me they were just music that flowed from my heart, head and hands. It documents several years of the seventy’s and bears witness to those times both intellectually and spiritually. In that decade I loved and lost many personal things in my life, travelled extensively and gave my heart to the music. So I had a lot to say and to express. With the help of many friends, I created this music.
This album represents many years of these experiences. The observations of the romantic, the social and political impact the world had upon me, as a writer and a human being, it has been a very rich experience, with so much to do, see and feel, it led me to devote my life totally to the art of writing and performing my music. At times it kicked my ass pretty good and still I believe all in all it has been worth it. I am still in this fight to this day and in the future.
I made a choice a long time ago and stuck to it as faithfully as I could. It hasn’t been the least bit easy, but nothing worth a damn ever is. It has also been my therapy and helped me to remain sane in an insane world. It’s been quite a journey so far.
For the journey is what it is all really about, not just the destination, and people and things will try to stop you or slow you down or even destroy you when they get a chance. Evil things and people really do exist, of this there is no doubt.
The chance to explore oneself in this quest for universal truth and freedom is both wonderful and dangerous. It is easily misunderstood and true freedom bears a heavy price and truth can be fleeting like glory and not very universal at times. I have found a small mixture of both, in this maze called life, and I share it with you now in this music, which, this, the story, is the record of this journey, I have done my best to convey.
I also have had the chance to live and play in many lands and various cultures outside my own, and it has helped me to understand much better the human condition, people in general far better than I ever could have done without.
I have known the love, and open heartedness of many wonderful people and also those of the opposite extreme, on this journey, who took care of me when I needed their help, helped me to get through the rough times and I am so grateful for that. Yes, there are Angels, I have met many. My mom was one. Sometimes they don’t even know they are Angels, they come in many guises, and when the world gets too crazy, cold and hard, they too can fall, through no fault of their own, a sad fact. Sometimes the overwhelming negative forces in life can destroy them and then they are lost to be sure, but not forgotten, or diminished in any way. Never!
This album is dedicated to them, for I was fortunate to know some and be loved by them. I shared the hope and love they have for us all. There is no dishonour or shame in falling, doing what you believe in, for we all fall in the end, as all things do. It is the nature of things. It’s just called life. This is for all the Falling Angels past, present and future. D.B.
************************************************************
*************************************************
"Demian,Man you still got it.You have always been one of my favorite and creative artists. would be a dream to work with you again..cheers"...Gary Vandy
www. garyvandy. com
Gary Vandy-Platinum and Gold Producer and Engineer
************************************************************
*************************************************
Maypole still lives on!!
We are an International Touring Band,based in Colonge,Germany.Our members come from the US,Germany and Rumania.
We are available for Concerts.
Join us at our original site:
The Maypole
www.myspace.com/maypolewithdemianbell
The First Maypole album also on Gear Fab Records
The 2nd Maypole Album coming out July 22nd 2008 on Gear Fab Records.
Hit Play on This Widget Player to hear more of The Maypole Past and Present
<
layout by
static layouts.