Big Big Train
Encyclopedia
Big Big Train is an English
progressive rock
band that was founded in 1990. Based in Bournemouth
, England, the band members are Nick D'Virgilio
, Dave Gregory, David Longdon, Andy Poole and Gregory Spawton.
Their first album, Goodbye To The Age of Steam
was released in 1994 and was co-produced by Martin Orford
of IQ
. Age of Steam established the typical melancholy BBT sound influenced by progressive rock from the mid and early 1970s.
After two releases which featured more accessible music, BBT went back to their roots in 2004 and released a concept album called Gathering Speed
. This album featured layers of 12-string guitar and mellotron
and also hints at a growing post rock influence. Whilst arguably more derivative than some of their earlier releases, Gathering Speed was a very assured album and was critically well received.
With a new singer, Sean Filkins, and with Steve Hughes back on drums after stints with The Enid
and Kino
, BBT released their fifth studio album, The Difference Machine
, in 2007. The album features performances from Nick D'Virgilio
(Spock's Beard
, Genesis
, Tears for Fears
); Dave Meros
(Spock's Beard) and Pete Trewavas
(Marillion
, Transatlantic
, Kino) In 2008 BBT released an updated version of their 1997 album, English Boy Wonders
.
BBT released their sixth studio album, The Underfall Yard
, on 15 December 2009. Steve Hughes and Sean Filkins left the band prior to the recording of The Underfall Yard, with Filkins being replaced by singer David Longdon. Dave Gregory (XTC
), Jem Godfrey
(Frost*) and Francis Dunnery
(It Bites
) make guest appearances on the album.
, Mew
, Sigur Rós
, Oceansize
, Van der Graaf Generator
, King Crimson
and Premiata Forneria Marconi
.
area before splitting up when Spawton went to university in 1984. Meanwhile, Poole and Cooper's band, Archshine, recorded a few demos and occasionally emerged from their home studio to play some gigs.
In 1987, Spawton moved down to Bournemouth. Shortly afterwards, he met Poole and they discovered that they shared a mutual appreciation of Genesis, Van der Graaf Generator and other progressive bands. In particular, they were both fans of a then relatively obscure band called IQ. Indeed, Poole had spent some time as a roadie for The Lens and IQ.
In the late 1980s, they decided to record some demos together. After a few months, the very first Big Big Train songs emerged and In 1990, Arcshine ceased to exist, and Big Big Train (Cooper on keyboards and vocals, Spawton on guitar and Poole taking up the bass guitar) was formed. Various singers were tried out before the band auditioned a young Canadian, Martin Read. Shortly afterwards, the line-up was completed when the then 15 years old Steve Hughes joined on drums.
A demo cassette tape of the band's first songs, recorded on 8-track, was released in October 1991 and was followed by a number of live performances. The demo tape From the River to the Sea
was re-recorded and released as a self-financed CD in May 1992, following which BBT played some higher profile gigs in England.
was released and the band then spent the next six months writing the music for its first studio album, 'Goodbye to the Age of Steam'.
Goodbye To The Age of Steam (BBT's debut studio album) was recorded in a two week period in July 1993. Soon afterwards, BBT signed to the progressive rock label GEP, where they found themselves as label mates of IQ.
Goodbye to the Age of Steam was a significant leap forward for the band, both in terms of songwriting and recording quality. The response to the album was very positive, culminating in a licensing deal in Japan where the CD was re-released in 1995, with the traditional bonus track. In the meantime, Ian Cooper had left the band (for family rather than musical reasons) and live performances were put on hold while a replacement was sought and a new album written.
Tony Müller was recruited in early 1995 and recording of the band's second studio album commenced in July of that year and continued, sporadically, until completion 18 months later. Some of the songs were debuted at the band's only show from this period at The Astoria, London. English Boy Wonders was finally released in autumn 1997, although to a much less positive reaction than Age Of Steam. At this stage, after a less than pleasurable recording experience, a poorly received second album and with a record label which had stopped returning calls, it appeared that the band had run its course.
Steve Hughes left the band in September 1998 and went on to join The Enid
. He was replaced, briefly, by Pete Hibbit.
After a few more live performances, the band's momentum was all but spent and Spawton and Poole retreated back to their studio without the rest of the band. Events had turned full circle; Poole and Spawton, with no particular goal in mind and without a band line-up, slowly began work on some demos, more out of habit than anything else.
As the demos began to take shape, Greg and Andy called in other musicians as and when required. In February 2002, after three years of irregular writing and recording, Bard
was released. Bard received some excellent reviews. At the same time, The Enid went into hibernation and Steve Hughes rejoined. After that, Poole and Spawton carried on writing and Ian Cooper rejoined.
, was released in March 2004.
A new album titled The Difference Machine was released in September 2007. In 2008, BBT appeared on the Classic Rock Magazine CD for issue 112, with the song Summer's Lease, also found on the album The Difference Machine
.
On BBT's blog, it was announced that they would be re-releasing English Boy Wonders
. They partially re-recorded the album, as well as re-mixing it.
English Boy Wonders
was re-released on 1 December 2008.
BBT released their sixth studio album, The Underfall Yard
, on 15 December 2009. Dave Gregory (XTC
), Jem Godfrey
(Frost*) and Francis Dunnery
(It Bites
) make guest appearances on The Underfall Yard. Last Train from The Underfall Yard
was released on the iTunes
essential compilation album, Modern Prog, on 10 February 2010. The Underfall Yard received significant critical acclaim and the 23 minute title track was featured as Classic Rock's Track of the Day.
Gathering Speed was re-issued in December 2009, in a re-mastered digipack version. The Difference Machine was re-issued in January 2010 with a bonus track from the original sessions.
In October 2010, the band released the 41 minute long EP entitled Far Skies Deep Time containing five tracks including a cover version of Anthony Phillips
’ Master of Time. The EP also includes the 17 minute track, The Wide Open Sea – a story about the Belgian singer songwriter Jacques Brel
which inspired the cover artwork by Jim Trainer. The EP again features Dave Gregory
(XTC
), Nick D'Virgilio
(both now established as part of the band's current line-up) as well as performances from Martin Orford
and Danny Manners (Louis Phillipe band).
The band completed a new arrangement and recording of Kingmaker in June 2011. This track originally appeared on the 1992 demo album, The Infant Hercules. The new recording features the current line-up and will replace Master of Time on the release of Far Skies Deep Time by the Russian label MALS in a mini vinyl album format.
The band are currently working on English Electric, their seventh studio album which is expected to be released in 2012.
A retrospective album entitled Station Masters is also due for release in 2012 which will include new recordings from the 2002 album Bard featuring the current line-up.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band that was founded in 1990. Based in Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
, England, the band members are Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and multi-instrumentalist musician, often referred to as NDV, best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations album...
, Dave Gregory, David Longdon, Andy Poole and Gregory Spawton.
Their first album, Goodbye To The Age of Steam
Goodbye To The Age of Steam
Goodbye To The Age of Steam is the debut studio album of the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1994, by Giant Electric Pea. On the official BBT website, Spawton has revealed that "much of the album was about how people lose their way in their lives; about the...
was released in 1994 and was co-produced by Martin Orford
Martin Orford
Martin Orford is an English keyboard player best known as the keyboardist and founder member of progressive rock bands IQ and Jadis. He also worked with former King Crimson, UK and Asia bassist John Wetton, and released a solo album, Classical Music and Popular Songs in 2000...
of IQ
IQ (band)
IQ are a British neo-progressive rock band founded by Mike Holmes and Martin Orford in 1981 following the dissolution of their original band The Lens...
. Age of Steam established the typical melancholy BBT sound influenced by progressive rock from the mid and early 1970s.
After two releases which featured more accessible music, BBT went back to their roots in 2004 and released a concept album called Gathering Speed
Gathering Speed
Gathering Speed is the fourth studio albums of the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 2004 by Treefrog Records. It is dedicated to the airmen and women who lost their lives in the Battle of Britain . The song The Road Much Further On was originally titled You Can't...
. This album featured layers of 12-string guitar and mellotron
Mellotron
The Mellotron is an electro-mechanical, polyphonic tape replay keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham, England in the early 1960s. It superseded the Chamberlin Music Master, which was the world's first sample-playback keyboard intended for music...
and also hints at a growing post rock influence. Whilst arguably more derivative than some of their earlier releases, Gathering Speed was a very assured album and was critically well received.
With a new singer, Sean Filkins, and with Steve Hughes back on drums after stints with The Enid
The Enid
The Enid is a British rock band founded in 1975 by Robert John Godfrey, Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish. Another early member was William Gilmour, who subsequently founded his own band Craft and now plays keyboards in Lickerish's band Secret Green....
and Kino
Kino
Kino may refer to:In film and theatre:* Kino , a worldwide group of amateur filmmakers* Kino Flo, a manufacturer of lighting equipment for use in motion pictures.* Kino International, a movie theater in Berlin...
, BBT released their fifth studio album, The Difference Machine
The Difference Machine
The Difference Machine is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock band Big Big Train. It was released on 30 August 2007, by English Electric Recordings. TDM is a concept album exploring chaos theory, communication, failure, death, loss, and bereavement. The story is of the death of...
, in 2007. The album features performances from Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and multi-instrumentalist musician, often referred to as NDV, best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations album...
(Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard is a progressive rock band formed in 1992 in Los Angeles by brothers Neal and Alan Morse. Neal played keyboards and was the lead vocalist, as well as being the primary songwriter before leaving the band in 2002 to pursue a solo career. Alan plays electric guitar...
, Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears
Tears for Fears are an English new wave band formed in the early 1980s by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith.Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, they were initially associated with the New Wave synthesiser bands of the early 1980s but later branched out into...
); Dave Meros
Dave Meros
Dave Meros , is an American bass guitar player, best known as the bass player for progressive rock band Spock's Beard...
(Spock's Beard) and Pete Trewavas
Pete Trewavas
Pete Trewavas is an English musician. He joined Marillion in 1982, taking over the role of bassist, from Diz Minnett, while acting occasionally as a backing vocalist and acoustic guitarist.Although he was born in Middlesbrough, Trewavas spent much of his childhood in the Buckinghamshire town of...
(Marillion
Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
, Transatlantic
Transatlantic (band)
Transatlantic is a progressive rock supergroup consisting of Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings, Pete Trewavas of Marillion, Mike Portnoy formerly of Dream Theater and Neal Morse formerly of Spock's Beard. They formed in 1999 as a side project to their full time bands until 2002...
, Kino) In 2008 BBT released an updated version of their 1997 album, English Boy Wonders
English Boy Wonders
English Boy Wonders is the second studio album by the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1997 by Giant Electric Pea.-Track listing:# "Big Empty Skies" – 4:21# "Brushed Aside" – 5:37...
.
BBT released their sixth studio album, The Underfall Yard
The Underfall Yard
The Underfall Yard is the sixth studio album by the English progressive rock band Big Big Train. It was released on 15 December 2009, by English Electric Recordings.http://www.bigbigtrain.com/-Background:...
, on 15 December 2009. Steve Hughes and Sean Filkins left the band prior to the recording of The Underfall Yard, with Filkins being replaced by singer David Longdon. Dave Gregory (XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
), Jem Godfrey
Jem Godfrey
Jeremy "Jem" Godfrey is a British music producer, keyboardist and songwriter.Godfrey was responsible, with Bill Padley at Wise Buddah music, for many UK number one hits including Atomic Kitten's platinum-selling single, "Whole Again", which earned the pair two Ivor Novello Award nominations, and...
(Frost*) and Francis Dunnery
Francis Dunnery
Francis Dunnery is an English musician, singer-songwriter, record producer and record label owner. He is best known as a solo performer , and for fronting the original lineup of the band It Bites between 1982 and 1990 .Dunnery served as a sideman and...
(It Bites
It Bites
It Bites are an English progressive rock and pop fusion band, formed in Egremont, Cumbria, England in 1982 and best known for their 1986 single "Calling All The Heroes", which gained them a Top 10 UK Singles Chart hit...
) make guest appearances on the album.
Influences
Big Big Train has been influenced by many rock bands, including GenesisGenesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, Mew
Mew (band)
Mew is a Danish alternative music band consisting of Jonas Bjerre, Bo Madsen, and Silas Utke Graae Jørgensen. Bassist Johan Wohlert was also a founding member of the band, but left in 2006...
, Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós
Sigur Rós is an Icelandic post-rock band with classicaland minimalist elements. The band is known for its ethereal sound, and frontman Jónsi Birgisson's falsetto vocals and use of bowed guitar. In January 2010, the band announced that they will be on hiatus. Since then, it has since been announced...
, Oceansize
Oceansize
Oceansize were a British rock band, formed in Manchester, England on 19th October 1998. The band consisted of Mike Vennart , Steve Durose , Richard "Gambler" Ingram , Mark Heron and Jon Ellis for the majority of its career, with Steve Hodson replacing Ellis on bass in 2006...
, Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator
Van der Graaf Generator are an English progressive rock band, formed in 1967 in Manchester. They were the first act signed to Charisma Records. The band achieved considerable success in Italy during the 1970s...
, King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
and Premiata Forneria Marconi
Premiata Forneria Marconi
Premiata Forneria Marconi is an Italian progressive rock band. They were the first Italian group to have success abroad, entering both the British and American charts. Between 1973 and 1977 they released five albums with English lyrics...
.
Early history
The roots of Big Big Train go back into the 1980s, when Andy Poole formed a songwriting partnership in Bournemouth, England, with his childhood friend, Ian Cooper. At around the same time, Greg Spawton had also formed his first band, Equus. Equus played a few local gigs around the BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
area before splitting up when Spawton went to university in 1984. Meanwhile, Poole and Cooper's band, Archshine, recorded a few demos and occasionally emerged from their home studio to play some gigs.
In 1987, Spawton moved down to Bournemouth. Shortly afterwards, he met Poole and they discovered that they shared a mutual appreciation of Genesis, Van der Graaf Generator and other progressive bands. In particular, they were both fans of a then relatively obscure band called IQ. Indeed, Poole had spent some time as a roadie for The Lens and IQ.
In the late 1980s, they decided to record some demos together. After a few months, the very first Big Big Train songs emerged and In 1990, Arcshine ceased to exist, and Big Big Train (Cooper on keyboards and vocals, Spawton on guitar and Poole taking up the bass guitar) was formed. Various singers were tried out before the band auditioned a young Canadian, Martin Read. Shortly afterwards, the line-up was completed when the then 15 years old Steve Hughes joined on drums.
A demo cassette tape of the band's first songs, recorded on 8-track, was released in October 1991 and was followed by a number of live performances. The demo tape From the River to the Sea
From the River to the Sea (album)
From the River to the Sea is the first early demo of the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was first released on tape in 1991, and later in 1992, on CD.-CD:# "To The Sea"# "Returning To The Fold"# "Jas"# "Full Head of Steam"...
was re-recorded and released as a self-financed CD in May 1992, following which BBT played some higher profile gigs in England.
1993–2003
In January 1993, a second demo tape, The Infant HerculesThe Infant Hercules
The Infant Hercules is the second early demo from the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1993.-CD:# "Far Distant Thing"# "Dismounting Tigers"# "Lincoln Green"# "Shadow of Strength"# "Red Five"# "Sky End Fall"...
was released and the band then spent the next six months writing the music for its first studio album, 'Goodbye to the Age of Steam'.
Goodbye To The Age of Steam (BBT's debut studio album) was recorded in a two week period in July 1993. Soon afterwards, BBT signed to the progressive rock label GEP, where they found themselves as label mates of IQ.
Goodbye to the Age of Steam was a significant leap forward for the band, both in terms of songwriting and recording quality. The response to the album was very positive, culminating in a licensing deal in Japan where the CD was re-released in 1995, with the traditional bonus track. In the meantime, Ian Cooper had left the band (for family rather than musical reasons) and live performances were put on hold while a replacement was sought and a new album written.
Tony Müller was recruited in early 1995 and recording of the band's second studio album commenced in July of that year and continued, sporadically, until completion 18 months later. Some of the songs were debuted at the band's only show from this period at The Astoria, London. English Boy Wonders was finally released in autumn 1997, although to a much less positive reaction than Age Of Steam. At this stage, after a less than pleasurable recording experience, a poorly received second album and with a record label which had stopped returning calls, it appeared that the band had run its course.
Steve Hughes left the band in September 1998 and went on to join The Enid
The Enid
The Enid is a British rock band founded in 1975 by Robert John Godfrey, Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish. Another early member was William Gilmour, who subsequently founded his own band Craft and now plays keyboards in Lickerish's band Secret Green....
. He was replaced, briefly, by Pete Hibbit.
After a few more live performances, the band's momentum was all but spent and Spawton and Poole retreated back to their studio without the rest of the band. Events had turned full circle; Poole and Spawton, with no particular goal in mind and without a band line-up, slowly began work on some demos, more out of habit than anything else.
As the demos began to take shape, Greg and Andy called in other musicians as and when required. In February 2002, after three years of irregular writing and recording, Bard
Bard (album)
Bard is the third studio album by the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 2002 by Treefrog Records.-Track listing:# "The Last English King" – 5:50# "Broken English" – 14:09...
was released. Bard received some excellent reviews. At the same time, The Enid went into hibernation and Steve Hughes rejoined. After that, Poole and Spawton carried on writing and Ian Cooper rejoined.
2004–2008
A new vocalist, Sean Filkins, was recruited to replace Müller, who had sung most of the vocals on Bard, and Gathering SpeedGathering Speed
Gathering Speed is the fourth studio albums of the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 2004 by Treefrog Records. It is dedicated to the airmen and women who lost their lives in the Battle of Britain . The song The Road Much Further On was originally titled You Can't...
, was released in March 2004.
A new album titled The Difference Machine was released in September 2007. In 2008, BBT appeared on the Classic Rock Magazine CD for issue 112, with the song Summer's Lease, also found on the album The Difference Machine
The Difference Machine
The Difference Machine is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock band Big Big Train. It was released on 30 August 2007, by English Electric Recordings. TDM is a concept album exploring chaos theory, communication, failure, death, loss, and bereavement. The story is of the death of...
.
On BBT's blog, it was announced that they would be re-releasing English Boy Wonders
English Boy Wonders
English Boy Wonders is the second studio album by the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1997 by Giant Electric Pea.-Track listing:# "Big Empty Skies" – 4:21# "Brushed Aside" – 5:37...
. They partially re-recorded the album, as well as re-mixing it.
English Boy Wonders
English Boy Wonders
English Boy Wonders is the second studio album by the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1997 by Giant Electric Pea.-Track listing:# "Big Empty Skies" – 4:21# "Brushed Aside" – 5:37...
was re-released on 1 December 2008.
2009-2010
Both Steve Hughes and Sean Filkins left the band in February 2009, with Filkins being replaced by singer David Longdon.BBT released their sixth studio album, The Underfall Yard
The Underfall Yard
The Underfall Yard is the sixth studio album by the English progressive rock band Big Big Train. It was released on 15 December 2009, by English Electric Recordings.http://www.bigbigtrain.com/-Background:...
, on 15 December 2009. Dave Gregory (XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
), Jem Godfrey
Jem Godfrey
Jeremy "Jem" Godfrey is a British music producer, keyboardist and songwriter.Godfrey was responsible, with Bill Padley at Wise Buddah music, for many UK number one hits including Atomic Kitten's platinum-selling single, "Whole Again", which earned the pair two Ivor Novello Award nominations, and...
(Frost*) and Francis Dunnery
Francis Dunnery
Francis Dunnery is an English musician, singer-songwriter, record producer and record label owner. He is best known as a solo performer , and for fronting the original lineup of the band It Bites between 1982 and 1990 .Dunnery served as a sideman and...
(It Bites
It Bites
It Bites are an English progressive rock and pop fusion band, formed in Egremont, Cumbria, England in 1982 and best known for their 1986 single "Calling All The Heroes", which gained them a Top 10 UK Singles Chart hit...
) make guest appearances on The Underfall Yard. Last Train from The Underfall Yard
The Underfall Yard
The Underfall Yard is the sixth studio album by the English progressive rock band Big Big Train. It was released on 15 December 2009, by English Electric Recordings.http://www.bigbigtrain.com/-Background:...
was released on the iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
essential compilation album, Modern Prog, on 10 February 2010. The Underfall Yard received significant critical acclaim and the 23 minute title track was featured as Classic Rock's Track of the Day.
Gathering Speed was re-issued in December 2009, in a re-mastered digipack version. The Difference Machine was re-issued in January 2010 with a bonus track from the original sessions.
In October 2010, the band released the 41 minute long EP entitled Far Skies Deep Time containing five tracks including a cover version of Anthony Phillips
Anthony Phillips
Anthony Edwin "Ant" Phillips is an English multi instrumentalist, best known as a founding member of the band Genesis. He played guitar and sang backing vocals until leaving in 1970, following the recording of their second album, Trespass...
’ Master of Time. The EP also includes the 17 minute track, The Wide Open Sea – a story about the Belgian singer songwriter Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer-songwriter who composed and performed literate, thoughtful, and theatrical songs that generated a large, devoted following in France initially, and later throughout the world. He was widely considered a master of the modern chanson...
which inspired the cover artwork by Jim Trainer. The EP again features Dave Gregory
Dave Gregory
Dave Gregory is an English rock lead guitarist known best for his work with Swindon-based new wave band XTC.-Career:...
(XTC
XTC
XTC were a New Wave band from Swindon, England, active between 1976 and 2005. The band enjoyed some chart success, including the UK and Canadian hits "Making Plans for Nigel" and "Senses Working Overtime" , but are perhaps even better known for their long-standing critical success.- Early years:...
), Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio
Nick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and multi-instrumentalist musician, often referred to as NDV, best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations album...
(both now established as part of the band's current line-up) as well as performances from Martin Orford
Martin Orford
Martin Orford is an English keyboard player best known as the keyboardist and founder member of progressive rock bands IQ and Jadis. He also worked with former King Crimson, UK and Asia bassist John Wetton, and released a solo album, Classical Music and Popular Songs in 2000...
and Danny Manners (Louis Phillipe band).
2011
The band’s first album, Goodbye to the Age of Steam, was remixed from the original 2 inch, 24 track master tapes from January to July 2010 by Rob Aubrey and Andy Poole. No new parts were added although some keyboard sounds were replaced. The original artwork was also replaced with new images by Jim Trainer inspired by the lyrical themes of the album, which was released in April 2011 in a digipack format. The album includes three additional tracks. Far Distant Thing was recorded in 1992 with Rob Aubrey for a local radio station. Expecting Dragons is a new arrangement and recording of themes from both Dragon Bone Hill and Expecting Snow. Losing Your Way incorporates an instrumental section excluded from the original album version of the track.The band completed a new arrangement and recording of Kingmaker in June 2011. This track originally appeared on the 1992 demo album, The Infant Hercules. The new recording features the current line-up and will replace Master of Time on the release of Far Skies Deep Time by the Russian label MALS in a mini vinyl album format.
The band are currently working on English Electric, their seventh studio album which is expected to be released in 2012.
A retrospective album entitled Station Masters is also due for release in 2012 which will include new recordings from the 2002 album Bard featuring the current line-up.
Current
- Greg Spawton – guitars, keyboards, bass, backing vocals (co-founder, 19901990 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
– present) - Andy Poole – bass, keyboards (co-founder, 19901990 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
– present) - David Longdon – vocals, flute, keyboards, guitars (20092009 in musicThe following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year...
– present) - Dave Gregory - guitars (20102010 in music2010 in music may refer to:*2010 in American music*2010 in Australian music*2010 in British music*2010 in Canadian music*2010 in European music *2010 in Irish music*2010 in Japanese music*2010 in New Zealand music...
- present) - Nick D'VirgilioNick D'VirgilioNick D'Virgilio is an American drummer and multi-instrumentalist musician, often referred to as NDV, best known as a former member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the Calling All Stations album...
- drums (20102010 in music2010 in music may refer to:*2010 in American music*2010 in Australian music*2010 in British music*2010 in Canadian music*2010 in European music *2010 in Irish music*2010 in Japanese music*2010 in New Zealand music...
- present)
Former
- Ian Cooper – keyboards (co-founder, 19901990 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1990.-Events:*January 21 – MTV's Unplugged premieres on cable television with British band Squeeze...
– 19951995 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
, 20032003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
– 20042004 in musicSee also:* 2004 in music Record labels established in 2004-January:*January 1**The Vienna New Year's Concert is conducted by Riccardo Muti.**Kurt Nilsen wins World Idol....
) - Martin Read – vocals (19911991 in musicSee also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...
– 19991999 in music-Events:*January 7**After eight years of marriage, Rod Stewart and supermodel wife Rachel Hunter announce their separation.**Paul McCartney attends the first of his stepdaughter Heather's first housewares collection in Georgia....
) - Steve Hughes – drums (19911991 in musicSee also:* 1991 in music Record labels established in 1991-Summary:The year 1991 is the year that grunge music made its popular breakthrough. Nirvana's Nevermind, led by the surprise hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit", becomes the most popular U.S. album of the year...
– 19981998 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...
, 20032003 in music-January:* January – following an investigation by The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry and London detectives, police raids in England and the Netherlands recover nearly 500 original Beatles studio tapes, recorded during the Let It Be sessions. Five people are arrested...
– 20092009 in musicThe following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year...
) - Tony Müller – keyboards (19951995 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
– 20012001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
) - Pete Hibbit – drums (19981998 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...
) - Sean Filkins – vocals (20012001 in musicSee also:* 2001 in music Record labels established in 2001-Events:*January 1**Comeback of Guns N' Roses in House of Blues**Hum disbands.*January 17 – Bass player Jason Newsted leaves Metallica after 14 years with the band....
– 20092009 in musicThe following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year...
) - Phil Hogg – drums (20022002 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI...
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Demos & EPs
- From the River to the SeaFrom the River to the Sea (album)From the River to the Sea is the first early demo of the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was first released on tape in 1991, and later in 1992, on CD.-CD:# "To The Sea"# "Returning To The Fold"# "Jas"# "Full Head of Steam"...
(1991) - The Infant HerculesThe Infant HerculesThe Infant Hercules is the second early demo from the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1993.-CD:# "Far Distant Thing"# "Dismounting Tigers"# "Lincoln Green"# "Shadow of Strength"# "Red Five"# "Sky End Fall"...
(1993) - Far Skies Deep Time (2010)
Albums
- Goodbye To The Age of SteamGoodbye To The Age of SteamGoodbye To The Age of Steam is the debut studio album of the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1994, by Giant Electric Pea. On the official BBT website, Spawton has revealed that "much of the album was about how people lose their way in their lives; about the...
(1994) - English Boy WondersEnglish Boy WondersEnglish Boy Wonders is the second studio album by the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1997 by Giant Electric Pea.-Track listing:# "Big Empty Skies" – 4:21# "Brushed Aside" – 5:37...
(1997) - BardBard (album)Bard is the third studio album by the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 2002 by Treefrog Records.-Track listing:# "The Last English King" – 5:50# "Broken English" – 14:09...
(2002) - Gathering SpeedGathering SpeedGathering Speed is the fourth studio albums of the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 2004 by Treefrog Records. It is dedicated to the airmen and women who lost their lives in the Battle of Britain . The song The Road Much Further On was originally titled You Can't...
(2004) - The Difference MachineThe Difference MachineThe Difference Machine is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock band Big Big Train. It was released on 30 August 2007, by English Electric Recordings. TDM is a concept album exploring chaos theory, communication, failure, death, loss, and bereavement. The story is of the death of...
(2007) - The Underfall YardThe Underfall YardThe Underfall Yard is the sixth studio album by the English progressive rock band Big Big Train. It was released on 15 December 2009, by English Electric Recordings.http://www.bigbigtrain.com/-Background:...
(2009) - English Electric (2011/12)
- Station Masters (B-sides) (2011/12)
Re-releases and compilations
- English Boy WondersEnglish Boy WondersEnglish Boy Wonders is the second studio album by the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1997 by Giant Electric Pea.-Track listing:# "Big Empty Skies" – 4:21# "Brushed Aside" – 5:37...
(2008) re-mixed and partially re-worked version of 1997 release - Gathering SpeedGathering SpeedGathering Speed is the fourth studio albums of the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 2004 by Treefrog Records. It is dedicated to the airmen and women who lost their lives in the Battle of Britain . The song The Road Much Further On was originally titled You Can't...
(2009) - The Difference MachineThe Difference MachineThe Difference Machine is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock band Big Big Train. It was released on 30 August 2007, by English Electric Recordings. TDM is a concept album exploring chaos theory, communication, failure, death, loss, and bereavement. The story is of the death of...
(2010) - Goodbye to the Age of SteamGoodbye To The Age of SteamGoodbye To The Age of Steam is the debut studio album of the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1994, by Giant Electric Pea. On the official BBT website, Spawton has revealed that "much of the album was about how people lose their way in their lives; about the...
(2010)
External links
- Big Big Train on neformat.com.ua
- www.bigbigtrain.com – Big Big Train's official websiteWebsiteA website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
- www.bigbigtrain.blogspot.com – Gregory Spawton's blog