Thomas Crimble
Bass and Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards & Vocals
Born & raised in Staines
& Given a guitar by his Grandfather when 12, played in various bands at school & in the holidays with John Hardman (X-Tension, The Ho-Dads and The Other Side).
Formed Skin Alley with Drummer Giles Pope and Manager Richard Thomas (of Clearwater fame), a progressive Jazz-Rock band later to be signed to the Stax Label after leaving CBS. Whilst in Skin Alley Thomas & Giles jammed with Jimmy Hendrix and Stephen Stills at the Revolution Club in London.Played on “skin Alley†and “to Pagham and Beyond†the first two Skin Alley albums for CBS Records.
After leaving Skin Alley, was asked to join Hawkwind as bass player replacing John Harrison who had just completed the 1st album. Played in Hawkwind for about 8 months, playing live every night and helping create tracks on the ‘In Search of Space‘ album.
Left Xmas 1970 having been asked to help organise the 1971 Free Glastonbury Festival with Andrew Kerr, Jytte Piggot, Mark Irons and Arabella Churchill. During this time formed the festival farm house band ‘The Worthy Farm Windfuckers’ who played on the original iconic Pyramid stage with Johnny Hodge. Thomas also played with Hawkwind at that festival Continued to work with Michael Eavis and the team every Glastonbury Festival until 1999. The Windfuckers also played with - Robin Lawrence and Michael Wildings Band in Wales. ‘Solar Ben’.
During the 80’s ran Mountain studios a rehearsal /recording set up in Wales, used by bands to include the Thompson Twins, Killing Joke, Marillion, Roy Harper, Saxon, China Crisis, The Slits with Neneh Cherry, Pig Bag, The Pop Group, Max Splodge, Doll by Doll and the Gang of Four. Wrote songs with John Otway on the ‘Where Did I Go right?’ Album, produced by Neil Innes.
In the ninetys formed a band with Bob James from Skin Alley called “Virtual Reality†and later on another band called “the Steddingâ€.
A founder member of Space Ritual along with Nik Turner & Terry Ollis and Huw Langton . Starting on Bass guitar, moving to Rhythm Guitar and 12 string guitar (to accommodate Dave Anderson playing with the band) and have now evolved to playing Hammond Organ & Roland XP80 synth keyboards. Currently writing film music, songs & jingles. When not gardening and restoring a Victorian garden in Wales and making apple juice!!
