Latest information on Ant-Bee, The
Grandmothers, ex-Alice Cooper Group Members, Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth,
Peter Banks, Jan Akkerman, Bill Harkleroad and a host of other weirdos!!!
Ant-Bee
Ant-Bee's third bizarre release, Lunar Muzik, will be released by Divine Records on September 15th!!! Finally!!!
The Ant-Bee is currently recording the fourth album, Electronic Church Muzik. The confirmed guest artists
who will appear on the album so far are The Grandmothers,
Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth of Gong,
Jan Akkerman of Focus, Peter Banks of Yes, ex-Alice Cooper Group members, Bill Harkleroad
(Zoot Horn Rollo) of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band, and Bob and Suzannah Harris of Zappa, to name a few.
Some of the highlights of these monumental recording sessions are: the opening
piece entitled "Birth," a tribute to the Ant-Bee's first child born in July
1996!!! It will feature vocals and space whisper by the magical Gilli Smyth.
Daevid Allen will be performing a far-out poetry piece backed by free-form
improvisations by Bunk Gardner and Don Preston. Don Prestonß is contributing a multi-keyboard extravaganza version of his
classic piece "Eye of Agomoto." It will also feature Bunk. Bill Harkleroad
will be contributing an acoustic slide piece in the classic delta blues style
with a Trout Mask breakdown in the middle. This
piece will be accompanied by a growling Jimmy Carl Black on vocals! Then
cosmically produced by the Ant-Bee to sound like an original 78 record from
the 1930s including scratches, pops and crummy sound. The Ant-Bee/Michael
Bruce collaborations include a new version of the classic Alice Cooper Group
song "Living" and a vocal version of "Titanic Overture." Also, two songs will
contain original unreleased backing tracks featuring Michael Bruce, Neal Smith and Dennis Dunnaway from the Alice Cooper Group from
1975, mixed together with new material from the Ant-Bee. The legendary Peter
Banks has contributed three new compositions featuring some unique volume
pedal and guitar work. These, along with a traditional lute piece by the Dutch
master guitarist Jan Akkerman
will be part of a conceptual,
spiritual extravaganza called "Psalms." The project is being recorded at Flux
Audio with Patrick Ogelvie who will appear on the new album as a musician as
well (Captain Fantasy). We will keep you informed as the recordings progress.
Lunar Muzik is due out very soon -- Finally!!! It
is slated as the next release for Divine Records UK. Also, Billy
James has been corresponding with the legendary Bill Bruford (Yes, King
Crimson) on James' rhythm textbook.
The Grandmothers
Currently, The Grandmothers are in negotiations with a US
management company about a USA tour and re-release of their 1994 release Who Could Imagine and new album. Don Preston has been very busy finishing his new piano concerto entitled The Bride Stripped Bare. It premiered May 28th, 1997 at
the Los Angeles County Museum and will be performed by the California Ear
Council. Also, Don's new CD Hear Me Out has been
released and is available through Glass Onyon Distribution. Also recently, there has been talk of a
Grandmothers movie...we'll keep you posted. Bunk and Don
have also been recently gigging at a new far out nightclub in L.A. aptly
called Lumpy Gravy. Jimmy Carl Black has been gigging in Europe with Richard
Ray Farrell on the heels of their new album Cataract
Jump. This, along with legendary Arthur Brown/Jimmy Carl Black album,
Brown, Black and Blue has now been reissued on
Voiceprint Records UK. Bob Harris (honorary Grandmother) has
finished recording an album with ex-Rose Tattoo member Bobby Barth called
Axxe V. It will be released in Germany on MTM
Records and in Japan on Zero Corporation Records. Also, Bob will be appearing
with Axxe in Europe on several TV and radio shows to promote the release.
Finally, visit the Grandmothers web page.
Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth
Recently, Daevid & Gilli Smyth along with Gong finished a second
successful tour of the USA. Also, their French only 1993 Shapeshifter has now been reissued in the USA on
Viceroy Records. It has been remixed with one bonus live cut. Also, another Gong reunion with original members Pierre Moerlen and Steve Hillage
has been rumored!!! The Gong Appreciation Website web site contains a lot of info to make you Gong freaks drool!!!
Ex-Alice Cooper Group Members
Michael Bruce has been busy promoting his and Billy James' new book No More Mr. Nice Guy (see Bizarre Books) and doing some gigs in mid-America. Michael has completed some
really fantastic new demos which display his artistry in song writing.
Although no news on an Alice Cooper Group reunion, Michael is making his
material available to Alice as well as other legendary artists. Also, keep a
watch for Michael Bruce's new web site up soon!!!. Check out
Neal Smith's web site.
Peter Banks
Voiceprint Records UK have just released a Flash live album of rare T.V. shows
and radio appearances. Also, Peter is still working on his new masterpiece --
a new version of his classic Flash piece, "Small Beginnings." Also, Asia will
be doing a piece written by Peter on their new album called "Foundation."
Finally, the official Peter Banks web site is currently under construction.
We'll keep you posted.
Jan Akkerman
The legendary Dutch guitarist has been busy as ever. He has recently been
touring Europe on the heels of his great new album Focus
in Time and also performed at the recent Midem Convention in France.
His new album (one of his best!!) features his unique style of fusion, baroque
and blues licks, all in one. Also, Jan has given his name to a new guitar
school that started this past January in Hilversum, Netherlands. There will be
workshops featuring guest performers. For further info, contact Robberts
Guitars, Kominginneweg 131, 1211AP Hilversum (Tel/Fax 44 035 623 1431). Visit
Jan Akkerman's elaborate web site,
Akkernet.
Bill Harkleroad
The legendary Magic Band/Mallard guitarist has been very busy recently. He and Billy James have been working on a new book about his Zoot Horn
Rollo/Captain Beefheart days (see Bizarre Books).
Also, other than doing the Ant-Bee session, he has been recording soundtracks
for a UK film company. Also, Bill will have his web site up soon. Check out
his interview soon to be posted on the official Beefheart web site called
Home Page Replica, by Justin Sherrill.
The Ant-Bee is currently recording the fourth album, Electronic Church Muzik. The confirmed guest artists who will appear on the album so far are The Grandmothers, Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth of Gong, Jan Akkerman of Focus, Peter Banks of Yes, ex-Alice Cooper Group members, Bill Harkleroad (Zoot Horn Rollo) of Captain Beefheart's Magic Band, and Bob and Suzannah Harris of Zappa, to name a few.
Lunar Muzik is due out very soon -- Finally!!! It is slated as the next release for Divine Records UK. Also, Billy James has been corresponding with the legendary Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson) on James' rhythm textbook.
