Mindwire

NEWS - A Message from Jim - One off Summer show & Spread It Around on iTunes
Hey Guys!
Get ready to get Mindwired again this July ! ! !
We've been booked to reform for a one-off performance at this years Westival on July the 3rd at, our favourite venue, The West End Centre, Aldershot.
As you may imagine, this will be a very special/rare live performance and we'll be playing as many mindwire crowd favourites as we can fit into the set, so, fix it in your calendar today!
To mark this very 'citing occasion I have uploaded & registered our album SPREAD IT AROUND to itunes & it will be available to buy there in 4 - 6 weeks!
This will give everyone a chance to refamiliarise themselves with our tunes & we can all have a mass singalong when we hit the Westival stage! ;)
Big Love,
Jim Lee
Spread It Around - The Greatest Hits, available NOW
Please send cheques payable to James Lee for 8 GBP (Includes P&P) to 30 Hazel Avenue, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1NS. All proceeds go towards Jim's recovery.

NEWS - BBC SOUTHERN COUNTIES FM INTERVIEW
As a result of the Eagle FM session BBC Southern Counties radio decided they liked the story so much they invited Si to be interviewed. The interview took place in the morning of Monday 11th December. More details and hopefully a recording of the interview to follow.
NEWS - 96.4 EAGLE FM Session 6/12/06
Si recorded an acoustic version of Bottled Sunshine and a short interview Tuesday 5th December for 96.4 Eagle FM which will be aired Sunday 10th December @ 9.30pm, so tune in!
TICKET NEWS 29/11/06
Tickets are now available for the December 17th gig £8 in advance (+ postage) or £10 on the door. Available online via www.myspac.com/jimaid (see top friends) or in person at the Rock Box in Camberely.
NEWS 24/11/06
The Aldershot News will be running a feature on Jim this Tuesday (28th) so look out for that. The Camberley Star will also be doing an article on Jim closer to ther gig date.
NEWS 20/11/06
JIM LEE BENEFIT GIG DATE CHANGE - Due to the Council not processing the licence in time the gig has been put back a week to Sunday 17th December.
NEWS 13/11/06
Big news folks, the "Jim Lee Benefit concert" is taking place at the Agincourt, Camberley on Sunday 17th December featuring Mindwire (minus Jim), Septembre, Hip Slinky, Babydriver (Feat: Septembre's Sammy Lee and which Jim was originally part of and wrote some songs), a reunion show from Redwood and possibly some VERY special guests. Miss this at your peril!
NEWS 9/11/06
Apologies for only posting this message now but I..ve recently moved house and been off line ever since. On Saturday 23rd September Mindwire, Septembre bassist and curently My Wave frontman/bassist Jim Lee was involved in a serious car accident whilst on holiday with his brother Rich in Torrevieja, Spain. Whilst crossing the road he was hit by a car while looking the other way. He was taken by helicopter to Alicante General Hospital where he was in a coma and spent several weeks in intensive care. I..ve since received the great news from his brother Rich that he..s recovering and is now back in England but it..s going to be a long slow road to recovery so the family are asking for everyone..s understanding and patience. From what I gather he..s suffered some memory loss and all his friends and family are rallying to the cause trying to help him as much as they can by showing him photos and letters of fond memories, trying to trigger his memory. Rich has asked me to post this message on this site to let everyone know how he's doing, so we can all give him some lovin. So get posting away your messages of love and well wishing, feel free to post on his site and other related Jim sites like My Wave..s. I..ll do my best to post periodical updates to keep you all posted on his recovery.Check out Si and Jim's new band MY WAVE
MY WAVE are a brand new rock band based in Surrey, England. Featuring ex-members of MINDWIRE and HEADNOISE. Combining the vocal and guitar chemistry of the former with the dynamic rhythm section of the later, MY WAVE have been busy writing, recording and evolving behind the scenes over the first half of '06 and are set to crash the live scene this autumn. WATCH THIS SPACE FOR NEW SOUNDS AND GIG UPDATES: COMING SOON."More punishing melodies from Guildford's own Alt. rock combo"
PROCOL HARUM
Mindwire formed in Guildford, Surrey sometime in 1994 under the name Bleed the Stone with the original line up consisting of Elijah Crawley (Vocals), Ali Morrow (Guitar), Matt Nice (Guitar), Ian Meek (Drums) and bassist, Sam Goodchild, who was soon replaced by Jim Lee.
Sometime around 1994 Ian and Ali approached Simon Morton on Guildfords High Street while he was busking and asked if he'd like to come and try out as singer for the band. Simon came along to Ali's house where they ran through Pearl Jam's 'Animal'. Everyone was highly impressed and so Elijah was ejected although he was never officially told of this.
In the spring of 1995 the band recorded its first demo the Gin Palace EP at Trinity Studios in Woking. Nobody was happy with the name Bleed the Stone but a name was needed to go on the cassette cover. The first suggestion was Mind Riot but everyone felt that would label them as nothing more than Soundgarden wannabes due to their song of the same name on their 1991 Badmotorfinger album, and so settled on Mindwire.
Playing around the Surrey, Hampshire and London area, they were part of a thriving local scene which included Redwood/Lazydog, Hip Slinky, Reuben, Vex Red, Mushroom, Headnoise, Inertia, Hotel Lounge, Kilter and many others including Jetpak and Floor who later amalgamated to form Hundred Reasons.
The core of these bands could often be found playing with each other at events such as Splatch, a monthly line up of 4 bands playing at Guildfords Civic Hall and later Wokings HG Wells Suite or other festivals such as the Big Day in held at Farnham Maltings . Mindwire played several high profile support shows including Athlete, Straw, Abdoujaparov ( Carter USM ), Biffy Clyro, Oceansize, Hugh Cornwall ( The Stranglers ), River, Jolt (Mark Keds, Senseless Things ) and Earthtone9.
Tension was beginning to mount within the band between Ali and some of the other members and after drawing straws it was Jim who had the job of telling Ali he was out of the band. But this wasn't to be the last change in the band's line up.
Simon happily took on his new, dual role of singer and second guitarist, completing a line up that was again ready to enter the studio. While the 1996 Drown Me Out demo was still a little raw, it clearly displayed growing talent. Re-recorded versions of 'Touch the Other Side' and 'Skullcap' from the Gin Palace EP sat nicely along side new songs 'Dilemma' and 'Ten Feet High'. Around this time, it was apparent that Jim was the strongest lyricist within the band, and from this point on, penned the words and vocal melodies, which would become synonymous with the Mindwire sound. The new material sounded great at the live shows, which were beginning to take the band to London more and more frequently. One memorable night at the Kings Head , Fulham in 96 brought a case of mistaken identity during a cover of Bushs 'Machine Head,' when a group of Americans walked in off the street, believing Gavin Rossdale and co were actually playing inside! But Mindwire were beginning to rock the stage in their own right, with their own material.
Sometime around 1997 Matt went on holiday and with the band having an important gig coming up they decided to draft in another guitarist for the occasion rather than cancel the gig. This time it was Simons turn to break the bad news, although it was a hard decision to make, it was felt that it was in the bands best interests and Matt was duly replaced by Mike Goodman.
Mike was the best guitarist they knew and was a teacher at Woking College and later, Guildford Academy of Contemporary Music . His playing and his onstage energy (reminiscent of Pearl Jam's Mike McCready) gave the band's performance something they felt that they had been missing.
During the period Mike was in the band, Mindwire had a lot of fun and recorded some of their best music at studios in Liverpool and South Hill Park, Bracknell. At a summer studio session in Bracknell, 'Daywaster,' 'Overide,' and 'Stuck in Reverse' were borne, along with a song called 'I Remain' (re-recorded version) which would become a fan favourite and a live staple.
They played loads of gigs and were arguably the most proactive that they ever were in their whole time together. More recordings followed, again raising the standard of musicianship in the form of 'Antedote,' 'Beales Kitchen,' and the sublime 'Finger.' However, it became clear that Mike had different ideas about where the band was going. This time it was Ians turn to do the firing! Mike left the band on 4th May 1998.
Mindwire had gone from being a five piece to a four piece and now finally, a three piece. During this time they were managed and produced by Redwood/Lazydog guitarist, Rob Blackham. After recording another demo of songs, including the much loved ballad 'Bottled Sunshine' and early versions of 'Bed Head' and live favourite 'Control' (which was included on the Farnborough Groove vol 9 compilation CD) and playing more gigs it was time for another member to leave the band but this time it was of his own accord. Ian was falling out of love with rock music and eventually decided he had to leave. Around spring/summer of 2001 he broke the news to his band mates Simon and Jim.
"...for me that was the time that I think we sounded the best. I love the stuff we came out with during that period. However, I was beginning to fall out of love with rock music and became less and less enthusiastic about the band. Eventually I had to leave when I realised that I just wasn't enjoying it anymore." Ian Meek (15th May 2006)
At Ians final gig former Skunk Anansie (and soon to be Feeder ) drummer Mark Richardson was present at the gig and offered his drumming services to the band, however nothing came of this as he had touring commitments by the time Simon called him. Thankfully this was not the end of the band as, good friend and Redwood/Lazydog drummer, Chris Hughes came to the rescue and joined the band.
During Chris reign on drums the band once again enjoyed some glory years, playing some incredible gigs and recording some of their best music to date (including 'Pretty,' 'Autopilot' and 'Bentley,' the only video they would make, recorded at Londons Dublin Castle and was reportedly sighted on a number of digital music channels including MTV2. They even got their own website and Simon even performed two songs in a solo acoustic session for the Musicians Channel, which is still receiving airplay.
On 9th July 2004 the news that no Mindwire fans wanted to hear came when they posted a message on the official Mindwire message board.
"WELL GUYS, It breaks our hearts to have to say it, but its true, after all these years MINDWIRE is finally coming to an end! We've had the most amazing time being in this band and are really proud of the fact that, while so many other bands and trends come and gone, Mindwire has stuck together for the best part of ten years for the love of the music and each other. BUT every good thing has to come to an end, the band all feel it has run its course now and its time to try new things! Jim is focusing on his new band, Septembre , and we wish him all the best with that. Si and Chris are going to put their feet up for a while!"
The only good news being that there was to be ONE final gig.
"So heres the good news! You've still got one more chance to see the 'Wire kick it live one last time at the WEST END CENTRE , Aldershot, on WEDNESDAY 21st JULY!!!"
There was a mention of a farewell E.P but so far nothing has come of it and so after the official Mindwire site shut down and with permission from the band, I stepped in and decided to do this in order to create a lasting legacy of a truly GREAT and underrated band, one that should have done so much more.
On March 5th 2005 Mindwire performed a reunion show at Farmboroughs Tumbledown Dick supporting Wherewithal and Without Grace. Jim who had since teamed up with former Vex Red frontman Terry Abbot in Septembre roped in band mate and drummer Sammy Lee Tomlinson especially for this one off show. Simon has also been playing in his cover band and performed a number of Mindwire songs at the Lapagestock Festival with the help of members of other local heroes Redwood and Hip Slinky.
Any stories or info on gigs you have on Mindwire would be greatly appreciated.
More MINDWIRE PICTURES can be found HERE including a few gems from former drummer Ian Meek's personal collection.
Mindwire's Bentley video as featured on MTV 2
Feel free to post any comments below on any past Mindwire experiences you had or any love you have for the guys