Bézier is the moniker of all live analog electronic wizard Robert Yang from San Francisco. Enchanted by the Cybernetic Broadcasting System (CBS), Robert started DJing as Robot Hustle, joining the Honey Soundsystem collective in 2007. Robert writes hooks, patterns and melodies in an automatic, stream of consciousness fashion. Memory and nostalgia play a big part in constructing his music.“Ensconced” is the follow up to Bezier’s debut cassette, released in 2012 on Break Up records. The tile relates to themes of comfort and safety as well as complacency and entrapment. Influences range from the futuristic landscape of Syd Mead to the melodic energy of Patrick Cowley and the subdued, hidden motifs of My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless.” Bézier blends elements of Hi NRG and dark dance to drive the mysterious underwater instrumentals of “Ensconced.” Bezier’s studio set up includes a variety of vintage Roland and Korg synthesizers as well as the Italo Disco favorite LinnDrum.
Bézier is the moniker of all live analog electronic wizard Robert Yang from San Francisco. Enchanted by the Cybernetic Broadcasting System (CBS), Robert started DJing as Robot Hustle, joining the Honey Soundsystem collective in 2007. Robert writes hooks, patterns and melodies in an automatic, stream of consciousness fashion. Memory and nostalgia play a big part in constructing his music.“Ensconced” is the follow up to Bezier’s debut cassette, released in 2012 on Break Up records. The tile relates to themes of comfort and safety as well as complacency and entrapment. Influences range from the futuristic landscape of Syd Mead to the melodic energy of Patrick Cowley and the subdued, hidden motifs of My Bloody Valentine’s “Loveless.” Bézier blends elements of Hi NRG and dark dance to drive the mysterious underwater instrumentals of “Ensconced.” Bezier’s studio set up includes a variety of vintage Roland and Korg synthesizers as well as the Italo Disco favorite LinnDrum.
Big Ben Tribe are a trio formed in Trieste, Italy in 1983. The line up is: Ricky Persi (bass), Stefano Previsti (computers and drum machine), Renato Posani (guitar & D.J).Their name is taken from the Disco Club ‘Big Ben’ in Trieste, the place where Renato Posani worked every night.“Tarzan Loves The Summer Nights” was recorded in Milan in the Spring of 1983 and released on Gong Records in 1984. The band created their signature sound using a Mini Moog, Prophet 5, Korg Synthesizer, LinnDrum, Alembic Bass and Fender Stratocaster. Guest vocalist Clara Moroni softly sings about a romantic jungle dream adventure where she is living with the handsome and brave Tarzan. Strong LinnDrum percussion serves as a counterpoint to the infectious vocal melody and catchy synth hooks. The B side features an instrumental version with extended breaks and dubbed out bass lines.
Big Ben Tribe are a trio formed in Trieste, Italy in 1983. The line up is: Ricky Persi (bass), Stefano Previsti (computers and drum machine), Renato Posani (guitar & D.J).Their name is taken from the Disco Club ‘Big Ben’ in Trieste, the place where Renato Posani worked every night.“Tarzan Loves The Summer Nights” was recorded in Milan in the Spring of 1983 and released on Gong Records in 1984. The band created their signature sound using a Mini Moog, Prophet 5, Korg Synthesizer, LinnDrum, Alembic Bass and Fender Stratocaster. Guest vocalist Clara Moroni softly sings about a romantic jungle dream adventure where she is living with the handsome and brave Tarzan. Strong LinnDrum percussion serves as a counterpoint to the infectious vocal melody and catchy synth hooks. The B side features an instrumental version with extended breaks and dubbed out bass lines.
Big Ben Tribe are a trio formed in Trieste, Italy in 1983. The line up is: Ricky Persi (bass), Stefano Previsti (computers and drum machine), Renato Posani (guitar & D.J).Their name is taken from the Disco Club ‘Big Ben’ in Trieste, the place where Renato Posani worked every night.“Tarzan Loves The Summer Nights” was recorded in Milan in the Spring of 1983 and released on Gong Records in 1984. The band created their signature sound using a Mini Moog, Prophet 5, Korg Synthesizer, LinnDrum, Alembic Bass and Fender Stratocaster. Guest vocalist Clara Moroni softly sings about a romantic jungle dream adventure where she is living with the handsome and brave Tarzan. Strong LinnDrum percussion serves as a counterpoint to the infectious vocal melody and catchy synth hooks. The B side features an instrumental version with extended breaks and dubbed out bass lines.
Big Ben Tribe are a trio formed in Trieste, Italy in 1983. The line up is: Ricky Persi (bass), Stefano Previsti (computers and drum machine), Renato Posani (guitar & D.J).Their name is taken from the Disco Club ‘Big Ben’ in Trieste, the place where Renato Posani worked every night.“Tarzan Loves The Summer Nights” was recorded in Milan in the Spring of 1983 and released on Gong Records in 1984. The band created their signature sound using a Mini Moog, Prophet 5, Korg Synthesizer, LinnDrum, Alembic Bass and Fender Stratocaster. Guest vocalist Clara Moroni softly sings about a romantic jungle dream adventure where she is living with the handsome and brave Tarzan. Strong LinnDrum percussion serves as a counterpoint to the infectious vocal melody and catchy synth hooks. The B side features an instrumental version with extended breaks and dubbed out bass lines.
Blancmange are an English synthpop band who came to prominence with a string of hits in the early to mid 1980s.Blancmange was formed in Harrow, Middlesex, in 1979 by singer Neil Arthur (born 15 June 1958, Darwen, Lancashire), instrumentalists Stephen Luscombe (born 29 October 1954, Hillingdon, Middlesex) and Laurence Stevens. Stevens left shortly after the band was formed, and Arthur and Luscombe continued as a duo. The duo released their first EP, Irene and Mavis, the following year, but their first real exposure came via a track on the seminal Some Bizzare Album, alongside fellow acts Soft Cell and Depeche Mode. This led to them signing a recording contract with London Records.The duo found minor success with their 1982 double A sided single, “God’s Kitchen”/”I’ve Seen the Word”, which peaked at no. 65 in the UK. This was followed by “Feel Me”, which peaked at no. 46. Later that year, they broke through with “Living on the Ceiling”, which reached no. 7 on the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album, Happy Families (which featured a sleeve painting in the style of Louis Wain and of the cover artwork of Enid Blyton’s books), also reached the top 30.Further hits followed with “Waves” (no. 19), “Blind Vision” (no. 10), “That’s Love That It Is” (no. 33) and “Don’t Tell Me” (no. 8), while their second album Mange Tout (1984) also reached no. 8 in the UK Albums Chart. The album featured a cover version of ABBA’s “The Day Before You Came”, which reached no. 22 in the UK (slightly higher than Abba’s original less than two years earlier). However, after this, the band’s fortunes declined. Their 1985 single “What’s Your Problem” only reached no. 40, and the subsequent album Believe You Me spent only two weeks in the UK Albums Chart, peaking at no. 54. The duo announced they were splitting in June 1986.Luscombe released an album of Indian influenced music, New Demons, with Pandit Dinesh, Peter Culshaw, Priya Khajuria and Asha Bhosle under the name West India Company, in 1989. Meanwhile, Arthur released a solo album, Suitcase, in 1994.Following a gap of a quarter of a century, Blancmange reunited and released their fourth studio album, Blanc Burn, in March 2011. Luscombe then left the band again, though Arthur elected to continue recording and performing as Blancmange, with the assistance of session players.Blancmange performed a UK tour in November 2013, during which they played their 1982 debut album (Happy Families) in its entirety at each show. They also released a new album, Happy Families Too…, featuring updated recordings of the original tracks from their 1982 debut album. Initially the new album was only available to buy on the tour, but a digital download followed and a physical CD was released on 7 April 2014 which included four brand new remixes.On 2 December 2014, the official Blancmange website announced details of a new studio album for release on 23 March 2015 on Cherry Red Records. The album, Semi Detached, contains ten tracks. On 9 March 2015, the first single from Semi Detached, “Paddington”, was released as a digital download. The second single from the album, “Useless”, was announced for release on 11 May 2015.On 23 April 2015, Blancmange announced a new album of instrumental music titled Nil by Mouth. This release was initially only available for purchase at the band’s two shows at London’s Red Gallery in May 2015. It subsequently became available as a CD through the official Blancmange website on 25 September 2015.On 29 May 2015, Blancmange announced the release of their cover of Can’s “I Want More” as a limited edition 12″ record for Record Store Day, making it the third single from Semi Detached.Commuter 23, a studio album containing 14 tracks, was released on 11 March 2016.
Blancmange are an English synthpop band who came to prominence with a string of hits in the early to mid 1980s.Blancmange was formed in Harrow, Middlesex, in 1979 by singer Neil Arthur (born 15 June 1958, Darwen, Lancashire), instrumentalists Stephen Luscombe (born 29 October 1954, Hillingdon, Middlesex) and Laurence Stevens. Stevens left shortly after the band was formed, and Arthur and Luscombe continued as a duo. The duo released their first EP, Irene and Mavis, the following year, but their first real exposure came via a track on the seminal Some Bizzare Album, alongside fellow acts Soft Cell and Depeche Mode. This led to them signing a recording contract with London Records.The duo found minor success with their 1982 double A sided single, “God’s Kitchen”/”I’ve Seen the Word”, which peaked at no. 65 in the UK. This was followed by “Feel Me”, which peaked at no. 46. Later that year, they broke through with “Living on the Ceiling”, which reached no. 7 on the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album, Happy Families (which featured a sleeve painting in the style of Louis Wain and of the cover artwork of Enid Blyton’s books), also reached the top 30.Further hits followed with “Waves” (no. 19), “Blind Vision” (no. 10), “That’s Love That It Is” (no. 33) and “Don’t Tell Me” (no. 8), while their second album Mange Tout (1984) also reached no. 8 in the UK Albums Chart. The album featured a cover version of ABBA’s “The Day Before You Came”, which reached no. 22 in the UK (slightly higher than Abba’s original less than two years earlier). However, after this, the band’s fortunes declined. Their 1985 single “What’s Your Problem” only reached no. 40, and the subsequent album Believe You Me spent only two weeks in the UK Albums Chart, peaking at no. 54. The duo announced they were splitting in June 1986.Luscombe released an album of Indian influenced music, New Demons, with Pandit Dinesh, Peter Culshaw, Priya Khajuria and Asha Bhosle under the name West India Company, in 1989. Meanwhile, Arthur released a solo album, Suitcase, in 1994.Following a gap of a quarter of a century, Blancmange reunited and released their fourth studio album, Blanc Burn, in March 2011. Luscombe then left the band again, though Arthur elected to continue recording and performing as Blancmange, with the assistance of session players.Blancmange performed a UK tour in November 2013, during which they played their 1982 debut album (Happy Families) in its entirety at each show. They also released a new album, Happy Families Too…, featuring updated recordings of the original tracks from their 1982 debut album. Initially the new album was only available to buy on the tour, but a digital download followed and a physical CD was released on 7 April 2014 which included four brand new remixes.On 2 December 2014, the official Blancmange website announced details of a new studio album for release on 23 March 2015 on Cherry Red Records. The album, Semi Detached, contains ten tracks. On 9 March 2015, the first single from Semi Detached, “Paddington”, was released as a digital download. The second single from the album, “Useless”, was announced for release on 11 May 2015.On 23 April 2015, Blancmange announced a new album of instrumental music titled Nil by Mouth. This release was initially only available for purchase at the band’s two shows at London’s Red Gallery in May 2015. It subsequently became available as a CD through the official Blancmange website on 25 September 2015.On 29 May 2015, Blancmange announced the release of their cover of Can’s “I Want More” as a limited edition 12″ record for Record Store Day, making it the third single from Semi Detached.Commuter 23, a studio album containing 14 tracks, was released on 11 March 2016.
Blipblop is a Swedish synth pop duo. They made their 12“ album recording around 1984 1987.
Blue Mathue: A duo with Jan Berg born June 24 1963 Oslo Norway and Pål Kristian Bauge Helmersen February 1965 Mandal Norway.Info pre history of Blue Mathue: A band from Oslo, started up by Geir Ødegård, Sven Erik Harberg, Pål Helmersen and Jan Berg in 1981. After three months of arguments between Harberg and Ødegård, the latter left the band. The trio Harberg/ Helmersen/ Berg recorded a demo, and in the summer of 1982 played at the Cafe De Stijl club in Oslo. At this time they called themselves Art of JPS, but they changed name to Blue Mathue before their next gig – a warm up for Thanasis Zlatanos’ band Nekropolis at Club 7 in December. (The name was taken from a French poem they found in a magazine). Uniton Records’ Tormod Opedal met the band at the Club 7 gig and proposed BM to send him a demo casette. However, within days after the Club 7 concert, Harberg and Helmersen had a large falling out, and Berg and Helmersen continued the band as a duo. Blue Mathue got a full LP and EP contract with Uniton records.Blue Mathue delivered Uniton 2 demo’s, first one as a trio the second one as a duo. It took almost another year before the band released anything, and then they opted for a set of home recordings. The 12” EP ‘Perfect Pictures’ b/w ‘In Our Dream’ and ‘The Vision’. Berg provided lead vocals for “Perfect Pictures” and “The Vision”, while Helmersen sang the lead on “In Our Dream”. Berg wrote the lyrics, while the music was a result of huge rewriting process (two of the tracks began life back in the Art Of JPS days, but were re written after the split). The EP got a few reviews in Norway the music press was deriding the vocals or ridiculing the style of music.While in England the band was looked upon as a fresh breath as a dark mixture of Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode and got only good reviews in NME, Sound and Melody Maker.The EP hitted the indie chart in NME, along with Depress and Fra Lippo Lippi, top ranking was fourth place and stayed there for 8 weeks.Tormod Opedal label manager in Uniton Records informed Blue Mathue in week 4 after the release, the record sales was as following. In Norway barely noticed 150 records sold while 850 records was sold abroad and out of stock within the fourth week. Mostly to England, Benelux and 250 records went over to USA.Since Blue Mathue got slaughtered by the music press in Norway, the band decided to hold no concerts.Blue Mathue gave 2 interviews one to a local television network the second interview was given to Nye Takter.The equipment used on the EP was a classic set of analogue synthesizers & suchlike: Roland SH101 Prophet One Roland Vocoder Plus Roland Tr808 Roland Promars. The band had used Korg MS 10 and MS 20 on demos, but mostly for harsh, noisy parts, and by the time of the EP, they wanted a fuller, ‘darker’ sound.In 1984, the band disbanded – loyal to band tradition, the members had a huge argument regarding what was promised from BM in the record contract and decided to call it quits. By this time, Berg had met Tor Dybdahl, and soon the two started Clockwork Orange together with Erik Avnskog. Helmersen’s carreer as a recording artist came to a full stop when, a while after Blue Mathue’s demise, he became a christian believer.Releases”Perfect Pictures”; 12″, Uniton 1983″Burning The Midnight Sun”, compilation LP, Uniton Records U 020, 1984 (track: “In Our Dream”)Known demos/ Unreleased materialArt Of JPS demo cassette (4 5 tracks, 1981)Untitled demo cassette (4 5 tracks, 1982, including “Perfect Pictures, “In Our Dream”” and “The Vision” in different versions to the 12″)Live recording, Club 7, 01.12.1982Untitled demo cassette (1984, Helmersen plays bass guitar)(all these recordings are thought to be lost)
Borghesia is a Slovenian electronic music/rock music group, created in Ljubljana in 1982. The band was formed by members of the alternative theatre group Theatre FV 112/15. Borghesia created its aesthetics using the imagery of what was prohibited, tabooed, and repressed. Their sound is often compared to that of other groups in the period such as D.A.F., Manufacture, and Front 242, whom many cite as the chief instigators of the Electronic Body Music label used to describe such music.Borghesia went on several Europe wide concert tours, mainly in 1988 91, which were reviewed in large music magazines in England, Germany etc., such as NME, Melody Maker, New Life Soundmagazine,better source and Zillo. They released four albums on Play It Again Sam, one of the more important indie labels, which were also licensed to Wax Trax in the USA and Canada. Further interviews and articles can be found in the aforementioned magazines. Aldo Ivancic later formed the band Bast, and is famous in the Slovenian music scene today as a producer. Borghesia together with Laibach were prominent representatives of Slovenian alternative pop music, and topped the bill on the compilation albums Trans Slovenia Express, released on Mute Records. A Borghesia live show in Gothenburg, Sweden in October 1988 was the subject of an hour long broadcast on Swedish national radio, on the show P3 Live.
Borghesia is a Slovenian electronic music/rock music group, created in Ljubljana in 1982. The band was formed by members of the alternative theatre group Theatre FV 112/15. Borghesia created its aesthetics using the imagery of what was prohibited, tabooed, and repressed. Their sound is often compared to that of other groups in the period such as D.A.F., Manufacture, and Front 242, whom many cite as the chief instigators of the Electronic Body Music label used to describe such music.Borghesia went on several Europe wide concert tours, mainly in 1988 91, which were reviewed in large music magazines in England, Germany etc., such as NME, Melody Maker, New Life Soundmagazine,better source and Zillo. They released four albums on Play It Again Sam, one of the more important indie labels, which were also licensed to Wax Trax in the USA and Canada. Further interviews and articles can be found in the aforementioned magazines. Aldo Ivancic later formed the band Bast, and is famous in the Slovenian music scene today as a producer. Borghesia together with Laibach were prominent representatives of Slovenian alternative pop music, and topped the bill on the compilation albums Trans Slovenia Express, released on Mute Records. A Borghesia live show in Gothenburg, Sweden in October 1988 was the subject of an hour long broadcast on Swedish national radio, on the show P3 Live.
Boris Badenough / Betanoff was a name used by Dean Anderson for the tune “What’s Up Rocky” AKA “Hey Rocky” which used samples from the carton “Rocky & Bullwinkle” and was supposedly a taunt to the boss of DJ International, Rocky Jones.
This artist (real name Boris Monastyrev) mixed the melodic style of Jarre with some unique influences. On Galaxy… some tracks have a techno beat, while others have slight Laserdance vibes. There are also numbers that are awfully cheesy, so beware. Overall, it’s nice music for traveling. Completely another matter is 665, though. This suite, apparently dedicated to a small plane, is nothing short of brilliant. It consists of several sections encompassing different styles, from the weird sampling / electroacoustic stuff to the spacey / melodic synth. In fact, it’s hard to believe that these two albums were created by the same person they are so different. The second album is very recommendable. Unfortunately, Boris Deart died somewhere in 2006.
Box of Toys were born from the ashes of A Select Committee (1981 83), a powerpop band formed by Brian Jones, Tim Lees (both later of Something French), Steve Downey (later of Come in Tokyo) and Andy Redhead (on drums, percussion and synth). Even before the band broke up in 1983,in 1982 Redhead teamed up with Phil Martin (on sax, keys and vocals, formerly of 3D), Roy Campbell (on bass and vocals) and Brian Atherton (on vocals and synth, later of The Light).Before releasing any single, the quartet recorded a session with John Peel in April 1983.Peel Session (April 1983) When Daylight Is Over (Sunset) Time Takes Me Back Precious Is The Pearl I’m Thinking Of You NowWithin a few months (august 1983) I’m Thinking of You now would be the band’s first single (b/w Old Man Rome) and other two tracks performed during the session. Precious Is The Pearl and When Daylight Is Over (Sunset) appeared on the second single (the 12” single had an additional b side It Goes Without Saying). The band split in late 1984, and Andy Redhead joined a later version of 3D.
Brian Albert Gordon Auger (born 18 July 1939 in Hammersmith London) is an English jazz and rock keyboardist, who has specialised in playing the Hammond organ.A jazz pianist, bandleader, session musician and Hammond B3 player, Auger has played or toured with artists such as Rod Stewart, Tony Williams, Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Sonny Boy Williamson, Led Zeppelin, Eric Burdon and others. He has incorporated jazz, early British pop, R&B, soul music and rock, and he has been nominated for a Grammy.
Brian Laurence Bennett OBE (born 9 February 1940 in Palmers Green, North London, England) is an English drummer, pianist, composer, arranger and record producer of popular music. He is best known as the drummer of the UK rock and roll group, The Shadows. He is father of musician and Shadows band member Warren Bennett.Educated at Hazlewood Lane School, Palmers Green, London and Winchmore Council School, he finished school at the age of sixteen to play drums in a Ramsgate skiffle group performing for holiday makers. After returning to London he became the in house drummer at The 2i’s Coffee Bar in Soho and was a regular performer on Jack Good’s TV show Oh Boy!He then became a member of Marty Wilde’s Wildcats in 1959. After a successful period with the Wildcats, during which he appeared on their instrumental record without Wilde (recorded as the Krew Kats), “Trambone”, he backed Tommy Steele for some of his London stage performances, and then in October 1961 he joined Cliff Richard and The Shadows as the replacement for Tony Meehan.In 1967, Bennett released a solo album of jazz music, entitled Change of Direction, in mono and stereo (neither charted). This was the first solo album by a member of The Shadows.[citation needed] In the 1970s, music by Bennett was selected for several Radley Metzger films, including Barbara Broadcast and The Opening of Misty Beethoven.He stayed with the group throughout all of their subsequent line ups, and in May 2005 took part in The Shadows’ European tour. During a show in Reykjavík, Iceland he sustained what was thought to be a minor injury to a finger. A splinter from a drumstick pierced under his fingernail on his right hand, he removed it with a pair of old pliers and applied a plaster. A few days later after arriving in Paris, France he was in so much pain he called a doctor. The doctor diagnosed a bad infection and recommended Bennett go to hospital immediately. Thinking it would be a short visit he attended only to find out that it would involve a minor, but very painful, operation to remove the poison. He was due to be playing on stage that evening and had already missed the soundcheck. He arrived at the theatre 15 minutes before the show with his right hand bandaged and still numb from the anaesthetic. He managed to play for the whole show using an altered playing style.In addition to his work with the Shadows he has also appeared in Cliff Richard’s backing band and plays piano and occasionally vibraphone.He has composed many popular TV theme tunes including BBC sports themes such as Rugby Special (“Holy Mackerel”) and BBC Golf (“Chase Side Shoot Up”), the sitcoms Robin’s Nest and Birds of a Feather, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Pulaski, Close to Home, Murder in Mind and, with his son Warren, composed and played the incidental music in New Tricks. Two of his most famous works were “The Journey” and “Just a Minute” written under the alias James Aldenham and used for the ITV Schools on 4 broadcasts between 1987–1993. He scored the British German film The Harpist in 1999.He is also an orchestral conductor, having learned how to arrange and conduct music for orchestras from a correspondence course. His son Warren Bennett formerly played keyboards for the band Glass Ties, and is also a composer and producer.
Brian Laurence Bennett OBE (born 9 February 1940 in Palmers Green, North London, England) is an English drummer, pianist, composer, arranger and record producer of popular music. He is best known as the drummer of the UK rock and roll group, The Shadows. He is father of musician and Shadows band member Warren Bennett.Educated at Hazlewood Lane School, Palmers Green, London and Winchmore Council School, he finished school at the age of sixteen to play drums in a Ramsgate skiffle group performing for holiday makers. After returning to London he became the in house drummer at The 2i’s Coffee Bar in Soho and was a regular performer on Jack Good’s TV show Oh Boy!He then became a member of Marty Wilde’s Wildcats in 1959. After a successful period with the Wildcats, during which he appeared on their instrumental record without Wilde (recorded as the Krew Kats), “Trambone”, he backed Tommy Steele for some of his London stage performances, and then in October 1961 he joined Cliff Richard and The Shadows as the replacement for Tony Meehan.In 1967, Bennett released a solo album of jazz music, entitled Change of Direction, in mono and stereo (neither charted). This was the first solo album by a member of The Shadows.[citation needed] In the 1970s, music by Bennett was selected for several Radley Metzger films, including Barbara Broadcast and The Opening of Misty Beethoven.He stayed with the group throughout all of their subsequent line ups, and in May 2005 took part in The Shadows’ European tour. During a show in Reykjavík, Iceland he sustained what was thought to be a minor injury to a finger. A splinter from a drumstick pierced under his fingernail on his right hand, he removed it with a pair of old pliers and applied a plaster. A few days later after arriving in Paris, France he was in so much pain he called a doctor. The doctor diagnosed a bad infection and recommended Bennett go to hospital immediately. Thinking it would be a short visit he attended only to find out that it would involve a minor, but very painful, operation to remove the poison. He was due to be playing on stage that evening and had already missed the soundcheck. He arrived at the theatre 15 minutes before the show with his right hand bandaged and still numb from the anaesthetic. He managed to play for the whole show using an altered playing style.In addition to his work with the Shadows he has also appeared in Cliff Richard’s backing band and plays piano and occasionally vibraphone.He has composed many popular TV theme tunes including BBC sports themes such as Rugby Special (“Holy Mackerel”) and BBC Golf (“Chase Side Shoot Up”), the sitcoms Robin’s Nest and Birds of a Feather, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Pulaski, Close to Home, Murder in Mind and, with his son Warren, composed and played the incidental music in New Tricks. Two of his most famous works were “The Journey” and “Just a Minute” written under the alias James Aldenham and used for the ITV Schools on 4 broadcasts between 1987–1993. He scored the British German film The Harpist in 1999.He is also an orchestral conductor, having learned how to arrange and conduct music for orchestras from a correspondence course. His son Warren Bennett formerly played keyboards for the band Glass Ties, and is also a composer and producer.
Brian Laurence Bennett OBE (born 9 February 1940 in Palmers Green, North London, England) is an English drummer, pianist, composer, arranger and record producer of popular music. He is best known as the drummer of the UK rock and roll group, The Shadows. He is father of musician and Shadows band member Warren Bennett.Educated at Hazlewood Lane School, Palmers Green, London and Winchmore Council School, he finished school at the age of sixteen to play drums in a Ramsgate skiffle group performing for holiday makers. After returning to London he became the in house drummer at The 2i’s Coffee Bar in Soho and was a regular performer on Jack Good’s TV show Oh Boy!He then became a member of Marty Wilde’s Wildcats in 1959. After a successful period with the Wildcats, during which he appeared on their instrumental record without Wilde (recorded as the Krew Kats), “Trambone”, he backed Tommy Steele for some of his London stage performances, and then in October 1961 he joined Cliff Richard and The Shadows as the replacement for Tony Meehan.In 1967, Bennett released a solo album of jazz music, entitled Change of Direction, in mono and stereo (neither charted). This was the first solo album by a member of The Shadows.[citation needed] In the 1970s, music by Bennett was selected for several Radley Metzger films, including Barbara Broadcast and The Opening of Misty Beethoven.He stayed with the group throughout all of their subsequent line ups, and in May 2005 took part in The Shadows’ European tour. During a show in Reykjavík, Iceland he sustained what was thought to be a minor injury to a finger. A splinter from a drumstick pierced under his fingernail on his right hand, he removed it with a pair of old pliers and applied a plaster. A few days later after arriving in Paris, France he was in so much pain he called a doctor. The doctor diagnosed a bad infection and recommended Bennett go to hospital immediately. Thinking it would be a short visit he attended only to find out that it would involve a minor, but very painful, operation to remove the poison. He was due to be playing on stage that evening and had already missed the soundcheck. He arrived at the theatre 15 minutes before the show with his right hand bandaged and still numb from the anaesthetic. He managed to play for the whole show using an altered playing style.In addition to his work with the Shadows he has also appeared in Cliff Richard’s backing band and plays piano and occasionally vibraphone.He has composed many popular TV theme tunes including BBC sports themes such as Rugby Special (“Holy Mackerel”) and BBC Golf (“Chase Side Shoot Up”), the sitcoms Robin’s Nest and Birds of a Feather, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Pulaski, Close to Home, Murder in Mind and, with his son Warren, composed and played the incidental music in New Tricks. Two of his most famous works were “The Journey” and “Just a Minute” written under the alias James Aldenham and used for the ITV Schools on 4 broadcasts between 1987–1993. He scored the British German film The Harpist in 1999.He is also an orchestral conductor, having learned how to arrange and conduct music for orchestras from a correspondence course. His son Warren Bennett formerly played keyboards for the band Glass Ties, and is also a composer and producer.
Brian Laurence Bennett OBE (born 9 February 1940 in Palmers Green, North London, England) is an English drummer, pianist, composer, arranger and record producer of popular music. He is best known as the drummer of the UK rock and roll group, The Shadows. He is father of musician and Shadows band member Warren Bennett.Educated at Hazlewood Lane School, Palmers Green, London and Winchmore Council School, he finished school at the age of sixteen to play drums in a Ramsgate skiffle group performing for holiday makers. After returning to London he became the in house drummer at The 2i’s Coffee Bar in Soho and was a regular performer on Jack Good’s TV show Oh Boy!He then became a member of Marty Wilde’s Wildcats in 1959. After a successful period with the Wildcats, during which he appeared on their instrumental record without Wilde (recorded as the Krew Kats), “Trambone”, he backed Tommy Steele for some of his London stage performances, and then in October 1961 he joined Cliff Richard and The Shadows as the replacement for Tony Meehan.In 1967, Bennett released a solo album of jazz music, entitled Change of Direction, in mono and stereo (neither charted). This was the first solo album by a member of The Shadows.[citation needed] In the 1970s, music by Bennett was selected for several Radley Metzger films, including Barbara Broadcast and The Opening of Misty Beethoven.He stayed with the group throughout all of their subsequent line ups, and in May 2005 took part in The Shadows’ European tour. During a show in Reykjavík, Iceland he sustained what was thought to be a minor injury to a finger. A splinter from a drumstick pierced under his fingernail on his right hand, he removed it with a pair of old pliers and applied a plaster. A few days later after arriving in Paris, France he was in so much pain he called a doctor. The doctor diagnosed a bad infection and recommended Bennett go to hospital immediately. Thinking it would be a short visit he attended only to find out that it would involve a minor, but very painful, operation to remove the poison. He was due to be playing on stage that evening and had already missed the soundcheck. He arrived at the theatre 15 minutes before the show with his right hand bandaged and still numb from the anaesthetic. He managed to play for the whole show using an altered playing style.In addition to his work with the Shadows he has also appeared in Cliff Richard’s backing band and plays piano and occasionally vibraphone.He has composed many popular TV theme tunes including BBC sports themes such as Rugby Special (“Holy Mackerel”) and BBC Golf (“Chase Side Shoot Up”), the sitcoms Robin’s Nest and Birds of a Feather, The Ruth Rendell Mysteries, Pulaski, Close to Home, Murder in Mind and, with his son Warren, composed and played the incidental music in New Tricks. Two of his most famous works were “The Journey” and “Just a Minute” written under the alias James Aldenham and used for the ITV Schools on 4 broadcasts between 1987–1993. He scored the British German film The Harpist in 1999.He is also an orchestral conductor, having learned how to arrange and conduct music for orchestras from a correspondence course. His son Warren Bennett formerly played keyboards for the band Glass Ties, and is also a composer and producer.