madfiddler profile picture

madfiddler

madfiddler: electric violinist, session musician, composer, sound designer, teacher

About Me


Personal Stuff
35 years old. Married and living in Wellesbourne, near Stratford, England - although originally from Brighton, Sussex.After multiple redundancies with games studios getting closed during the past (if EA can't keep a studio open, then who can?), and then trying to be a full time musician, I'm back full time in Video Games development, this time at Codemasters. Past work includes work as a media composer and sound designer (Dungeon Keeper 2, Theme Park World, Formula 1, Sudeki, Dark Omen, Cyberspeed).
Other Stuff
My evening time is spent trying to earn cash from anyone who will pay me half decent money, be it from public or private gigs, weddings, functions, etc. etc. Previous history includes Moondance, Silver Dogs, Danko, Tricks Upon Travellers, K-Passa, Blue Horses, C64 Audio, Stuck in D 80's, Pepe Delux, Massive Attack, Laura Kenny, and Divine Comedy.
I also run the popular Fiddle and Alternative Strings Forum.
I play instruments made by Bridge Electric and Wood Violins , with acoustic pickups by Headway Electronics .
So, how about some sound files then....
madfiddler - Rock Improv
Tricks Upon Travellers - Knocker Boys
Tricks Upon Travellers - Despots Dead
Tricks Upon Travellers - Spartacus
madfiddler - Aquilyra
K-Passa - Whispered Light
Silver Dogs - Blacksmith
Silver Dogs - Child
Silver Dogs - Poison Jester's Mask
Or you could buy the Tricks Upon Travellers Album, Where the Skeletons Dance, in mp3 form by clicking HERE
And some interesting links
http://www.madfiddler.co.uk - my personal website
http://www.fiddleforum.com - Fiddle and Alternative Strings forum
http://www.gamesounds.co.uk - download my game music from here (www.myspace.com/gamesounds)
http://www.tricksupontravellers.co.uk - My old Folk Punk band (www.myspace.com/tricksupontravellers)
http://www.myspace.com/thesilverdogs - Silver Dogs - I'm currently playing with these great guys, based in Chorley, up in the North West.
http://www.myspace.com/dankoband - Danko - and I'm playing with awesome guys too.
Just remember, there's more to a real performance than just standing dead still on stage looking like you've got stage fright. If you want someone to give not only a musical performance, but an entertaining visual performance.. then the madfiddler is the one to call! (but you have to like purple people ;)

My Interests

Electric violins naturally, folk punk, video game music, sound design, F1, Rally,

I'd like to meet:

Any string players of any style, any bands who have a string instrument in their line-up or recording, basically anyone needing a mad-fiddling purple bloke. Or, I can do weddings and parties and wear one of those suit things ;)

Music:

violin, electric violin, fiddle, folk punk, amiga mods, video games soundtracks, film soundtracks

Movies:

Terminator 2, Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Sith, Leon, True Romance, The Crow

Television:

24, Lost, Invasion, Knight Rider, Heroes, Prison Break

Books:

PHP, HTML, MYSQL, Apache and all other boring anoraky books to help me keep my forum running.

Heroes:

Ed Alleye Johnson, Jon Sevink, Mark Wood, Dave Swarbrick, Angus Grant.

My Blog

Myspace Electric Violinist/Fiddle player Jeremy Sharp Music, ripping me off!!!!

So, I get a PM about this guy on myspace called Jeremy Sharphttp://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.vi ewprofile&friendID=97810588It pointed out that, that Jeremy has included one of m...
Posted by madfiddler on Sat, 13 Oct 2007 09:37:00 PST

Reality steps in :(

Well, I've had an enjoyable 15 months with Silver Dogs, but unfortunately I need to be in a position to earn more cash playing the violin. Since I was made redundant I have had to rely on earning cash...
Posted by madfiddler on Sun, 14 Oct 2007 05:59:00 PST

About time for an update

Hey ho peeps, I've been a tad lax updating things, and so much has happened since the last update, which was almost a year ago I'm sorry to say. Well, was made redunant AGAIN! EA shut down the studio....
Posted by madfiddler on Sat, 28 Apr 2007 06:13:00 PST

Rock God again?

2 1/2 weeks ago I agreed to start playing with a band based in Chorley called Silver Dogs and last night (well tonight cos I haven't gone to bed yet) I did my first gig with them - a rather lovely fes...
Posted by madfiddler on Sat, 28 Apr 2007 06:14:00 PST

New solo 'madfiddler' recording

Was testing out a new piece of effects software on the PC today, and decided to turn it into a quick track for all to here - the website is in serious need of some more up to date recordings anyway. n...
Posted by madfiddler on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST

Fiddle and Alternative Strings Forum

If you're a violinist, violist, cellist, bassist etc... then you need to join my Fiddle and Alternative Strings forum. Doesn't matter if you play acoustic or electric instruments, there's something th...
Posted by madfiddler on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST