The Band

Becoming the lead vocalist for Nursery Cryme back in 2016 was a departure, having been behind the instruments for most of my life – keys, drums, a little guitar and (way back when) Oboe, to the dizzy heights of grade 3 (noting that at the time, there were no grades 1 or 2 for the instrument).

At school, a couple of friends and I formed a band Barock – our influences being, amongst others, George F.W. Handel, and Rush. My next regular band, decades later, was a Funk band called In The Groove, from 2010-12 (just before Daft Punk came out with Get Lucky; I like to think we inspired them…). In the meantime, over the years I have performed at countless events, sung in a couple of musicals, and acted as a reserve keyboard player for the band of singer songwriter Noel Richards.

Thinking I might go into music full-time, I spent a year out early in my career earning a Diploma in Recording, Music Technology and Music Business Studies from Kingston University. Although I came top in the year, it didn’t lead to the career as a record producer I was looking for; the Internet arrived while I was doing the course, and being a computer scientist was suddenly cool, so my gainful employment took a different direction. In the meantime I continued to be involved with music as a hobby, with occasional semi-pro engagements.

Genesis is the band I listened to the most when growing up. I became aware of Abacab through a school friend, and when exploring the back catalogue, I became impressed with a band that could variously belt out grooves (albeit impossible to dance to), gentle folk, and complex classical tunes. I also have a particular weakness for the irregular time signatures. The folky lyrics are also more interesting than your average pop song – as well as more challenging to sing, I have since discovered!

Right, then: probably time I went off to learn the flute!

When I was about five, I used to pick out tunes on my parents’ old piano in their front room and a couple of years later was encouraged to take piano lessons which I continued well into my twenties.

Although my early influences were Bach and Chopin, as a teenager I was fascinated by the musicality of Genesis’s Tony Banks, the keyboard wizardry of Rick Wakeman, the technicality of Keith Emerson and the creative artistry of Elton John who unlike the others could sing and play the piano brilliantly at the same time. At various times during the 70s and 80s I found myself trying to emulate all their keyboard styles and this has probably influenced my own natural playing style.

I was introduced to Genesis with their album Selling England By The Pound and having listened to Firth of Fifth I was instantly hooked. Trick of the Tail was the first album of theirs I actually bought followed by the live album Seconds Out . Since joining Nursery Cryme I have also revisited many of their early albums and have discovered some great music, which although being technically difficult and challenging to learn, is great to perform live.

I’m pleased that all our hard work has come to good effect and the feedback we receive at all our gigs is very satisfying.

I joined the band in the summer of 2015 when, by chance, I heard Nursery Cryme playing at a rehearsal studio whilst down the corridor massacring some rock standards with a pub rock band.

As a young lad I split my time musically between playing Classical guitar and jumping around my bedroom screaming to Deep Purple and dreaming of being a rock star.

When my version of ‘Tubular Bells’ for 2 Guitars recorded with my mate Brian in his front room, was rejected by Virgin, it became clear the world wasn’t ready for my immense talent, so I decided I’d better get a job instead.

As the years passed my musical tastes evolved to various prog rock bands, especially Genesis, and many years later after a succession of pub bands, by good fortune I found Nursery Cryme.

Gear:
Gibson Les Paul 57 reissue
Home-made Guitar
Amalio Burguet Classical
Freshman 12 string
Line 6 Helix

My musical journey started at a young age in the early 1960s, learning to play the piano to grade 6 and singing soprano in the church choir.  That was until my voice broke, after which it has only been safe for me to sing in the shower. With ‘big’ school, my piano lessons came to an end, but a brief flirtation with double bass in the school orchestra and my parents’ jazz and pop LP collections kept my interest alive until the arrival of my teenage years. 

It was then that a neighbour for whom I was doing occasional babysitting duties introduced me to Prog Rock through her record collection (her brother was playing for King Crimson at the time). Inspired by the music I was hearing, I picked up a dusty acoustic guitar that we had in the house and, armed with a copy of Bert Weedon’s guitar tutor book “Play in a Day”, I taught myself a few chords. Thus, I had taken the first step on my inevitable journey towards super-stardom.

I’m sure you won’t be surprised to hear, though, that my life went in a totally different direction, with family and career taking priority for the next forty or so years and musical pursuits taking a distinctly back seat role.  That is, until my retirement, and the forbearance of the fine fellows who make up the NC team, gave me the opportunity to re-imagine a long forgotten dream.

My first love of music started at about 3 years old thanks to Chad Valley and a scratchy old wind-up gramophone that I still have today.

I first started playing drums at the age of 8 years old or so back in the early 70’s, initially playing the air drums to my elder sister’s copy of Nursery Cryme at any opportunity. I loved ‘Harold the Barrel’.

At 14 I started my own band at school, Requiem, which gave me an identity other than being the guy who always comes last in exams. After leaving school I joined a pub band called Catch 22, and had my first recording studio experience in Godalming, Surrey (Charterhouse country!).

My interest in Genesis started on Tuesday evening, May 6th 1980, when Tommy Vance on Radio 1 was broadcasting Genesis Live at the Lyceum in London. As I already mentioned, I loved Harold the Barrel so was keen to hear what other stuff they did. Wow! How did they play those drum grooves? How did they get the changing time signatures so tight? I was in awe and to this day never looked back.

I picked up the sticks again in 2007 and passed some grades (it was good to know how it felt to pass an exam at last) and after joining a couple of bands and gigging again, decided to follow my passion and formed the Genesis tribute band – Nursery Cryme.

I really enjoy being part of a great band and playing alongside such brilliant musicians and now run the band full-time….which is the best job ever!