Spike profile picture

Spike

About Me

My first band was Reptile Ranch - we started the Z Block DIY label in south Wales and organised the Cardiff compilation LP 'Is The War Over?' that brought Young Marble Giants to Rough Trade's attention. After Reptile Ranch and YMGs split in 1980, I started writing with Alison Statton, material that would later find its way onto Weekend's 'La Variete'. Weekend was formed by Alison Statton, Simon Booth and me in Camden Town, London in 1981. Signed to Rough Trade Records. Recorded 2 singles, an album 'La Variete' (produced by Robin Miller) and a mini LP of the last concert at Ronnie Scotts. Simon went on to form Working Week with Larry Stabbins. Later Alison and I had demos turned down by Rough Trade and took a prolonged break from the music industry. I returned to Cardiff and formed Bomb & Dagger (Alison was in the original line-up), a kind of bolshevik dance band drawing heavilly on African influences. Recorded another demo for Geoff Travis in 1991 as Alison Statton & Spike which was again turned down. Recorded Tidal Blues CD for Vinyl Japan, playing concerts in Tokyo and Osaka in 1994. The title track appeared on all the demos - a remix is posted on this site. A second album, The Shady Tree, was recorded in 1997. An 'experimental' album commissioned by Belgian Label, Pretty Inside, has yet to materialise. I have worked on many diverse musical projects over the years, The Gist, Louis Philippe, Charlotte Greig to name a few. My last band, Blackwood, split in 1998. I continue to write eclectic ditties. Recently worked on a couple of tunes with French combo, Watoo Watoo, over the internet (I've not met them yet) - check out their cover of Searching For Mr Right - the misspelled 'La Fuite en Arrière', posted on this site is another collaboration. Currently mastering more material for Z Block Records . So far, the long awaited compilation CD is still in pre-production, DIY format - hopefully, we'll press some up soon (more sponsors required). Also finished, my 'ambient' instrumental CD to be released as 'Evocoteur'. Thanks to all those generous folk who have subscribed to the Z Block compilation.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/05/2006
Band Website: http://www.zblock.co.uk
Band Members: Reptile Ranch: Simon Smith (vocals, keyboards & guitar), Philip John (bass), Andrew Tucker (non-musician/manager) & Spike (vocals & guitar). Weekend members: Alison Statton (vocals & bass), Simon Booth (guitar) & Spike (guitar & viola). Guest musicians included Larry Stabbins (sax), Phil Moxham (bass), Harry Beckett (flugel horn), Roy Dodds (drums) & Dawson Millar (percussion). Keith Tippett (piano) performed with the band at the last concert. Table Table: Debbie 'Debris' (vocals), Lewis Mottram (bass), Dean Reynolds (percussion), Heidi Renton (percussion), Spike (guitar) Bomb & Dagger: Debbie Debris, Spike, Kirby Stevens (drums), Jackie Chambers (vocals & percussion), Phil Moxham (bass), Andrew Moxham (guitar & bass), Dale Reynolds (guitar), Chris Vine (bass), Paula Gardiner (bass) and about 30 others over 7 years. Alison Statton & Spike musicians included Rachel Byrt (viola), Paula Gardiner (bass), Neil Gerstenberg (sax), Andrew Moxham (drums), Phil Moxham (bass), Sarah McGuinness (keyboards) - guest musicians included Harry Beckett (flugel horn), Lol Coxhill (sax) and the late, great Cuban percussionist, Carlos Gonzales
Influences: Velvet Underground, Beatles, Eno, Hatfield & the North, Bowie, Bach, Stockhausen, Sex Pistols, Scritti Politti, Kraftwerk, Desperate Bicycles, Television, Wire, Young Marble Giants, Mahlathini, Ray Lima, Dr Nico, Super Biton du Mali, Getz & Gilberto, Tokyo Cuban Boys, Los Van Van, Arctic Monkeys, Interpol, Sheena Ringo, Bebel Gilberto, Bump of Chicken, Tica, Cornelius
Sounds Like: Eclectic
Record Label: Z Block, Rough Trade, Vinyl Japan, LTM, Cherry Red
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

archive

I was excited to be approached by Dan from the National Library of Wales about my music archive the other day. The only problem is finding enough time to put it all together. A quarter of a century of...
Posted by on Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:07:00 GMT

Quite a while

Yes, it took quite a while, as one of Alison's chorus lines goes. Phil Moxham reckons it was 14 years between gigs... I'm not sure, but it was a long time in coming. You'd have thought that that would...
Posted by on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:22:00 GMT

Ten Feet Tall

How time flies.I can't believe it is over ten years since I played a gig with Alison Statton. Still, it's official... we will be playing a new venue in Cardiff, Ten Feet Tall, (pity Young Marble Giant...
Posted by on Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:30:00 GMT

Z Block Compilation 2007 (just)

Z Block calling, We now have a provisional listing for the compilation CD 'zblock.co.uk'. You can hear it at the Z Block Records site - just click the link to Z Block Compilation 2007. We have had co...
Posted by on Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:05:00 GMT

Cheers Liam

Being bought a drink by one of the world's greatest rock stars is surely worthy of a blog enrty. Last night, Liam Gallagher  popped in to 'The Steeles' pub on Haverstock Hill and unwittingly boug...
Posted by on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:57:00 GMT

Art for art’s sake

I was a little apprehensive about visiting the '121 Women & Computers' event organised by founder Alice Belibi, but I'm so glad that my doubts didn't stop me attending. As well as receiving a warm wel...
Posted by on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:18:00 GMT

Reunited

Reunited I place the blame for the constant rain fairly and squarely on Debbie's (Debris) shoulders. In Wales especially, either of two words, uttered in the days leading up to a bank holiday weeken...
Posted by on Sat, 02 Jun 2007 14:00:00 GMT

tempting fate

About 10 years ago I decided to do a cover of a Willy Wright song. It is a dark little number with lines like 'A mighty little boy is him... when he grows up, he'll be just like me... he swammed acros...
Posted by on Sat, 19 May 2007 09:40:00 GMT

Why?

Hmmm... I guess, if 490 people viewed my virtually non-existent blog, I should actually write something. It was my son's 16th birthday yesterday. 16. God, I'm so glad I'm not 16 again. So much more gl...
Posted by on Sun, 15 Apr 2007 13:26:00 GMT

Xmas

Xmas Phew. My wife has informed me that the next 5 years are going to be considerably better than the last 3. Considering that I lost my flashy jet-setting job and have been struggling to find somethi...
Posted by on Tue, 26 Dec 2006 09:38:00 GMT