Eddie Piller
Encyclopedia
Eddie Piller is an English DJ and record label
entrepreneur.
Starting his career in the 1980s as a part of the English mod revival
, Piller launched the underground fanzine
Extraordinary Sensations and operated as a DJ and concert promoter. In 1985, he started the Countdown Records label, through Stiff Records
. That record label gave fresh momentum to the underground mod scene, by signing bands such as The Prisoners
and Makin' Time, and by issuing the mod revival compilation album 5-4-3-2-1 Go!. Piller appeared in the Style Council
's video for their single "A Solid Bond in your Heart". He signed and A and R'd bands like The Untouchables, The Prisoners and Makin' Time for Stiff and set up an indie label called Re-Elect The President who launched the careers of the James Taylor Quartet
and The Jazz Renegades (who featured the Style Council
drummer Steve White)
In 1987, along with DJ Gilles Peterson
, he started a new record label, Acid Jazz
. This soon gave rise to Britain's newest musical movement, the acid jazz scene, which included bands such as the James Taylor Quartet
, Corduroy
, the Brand New Heavies and Galliano
. Piller has been credited with discovering or "breaking" many of these bands. A revival of the record label in the 2000s has resulted in several releases, including a 2006 single by Lord Large, which featured guest vocals from northern soul
singer Dean Parrish
and appearances by guitarist Steve Craddock of Ocean Colour Scene
and Richard Searle of Corduroy
.
Piller has continued to be influential in the underground dance music scene due to his many live DJing appearances and his evening radio show on BBC Radio 6. he is a regular at most of the British festivals and usually appears at The Isle Of Wight, Glastonbury, Bestival and the Isle Of Wight Scooter Rally in August.
Piller is now back on the airwaves with his own show on the new Q Radio
station – allied to the music magazine of the same name, the station is being launched in June 2008 and 'the eddie piller show' is a playlist free musical journey (apparently)
In late 2010, Pillar began to host a regular podcast called "The Modcast". This monthly/bi-monthly podcast is co-hosted with actor Jonny Owen and A&R man Dean Rudland, and features new music, film, sport, fashion and discusses "all things Mod and beyond".
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
entrepreneur.
Starting his career in the 1980s as a part of the English mod revival
Mod Revival
The mod revival was a music genre and subculture that started in England in 1978 and later spread to other countries . The mod revival's mainstream popularity was relatively short, although its influence has lasted for decades...
, Piller launched the underground fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
Extraordinary Sensations and operated as a DJ and concert promoter. In 1985, he started the Countdown Records label, through Stiff Records
Stiff Records
Stiff Records is a record label created in London in 1976, by entrepreneurs Dave Robinson and Andrew Jakeman , and active until 1985. It was reactivated in 2007....
. That record label gave fresh momentum to the underground mod scene, by signing bands such as The Prisoners
The Prisoners
The Prisoners were a band who formed in 1980 in Rochester, Kent, England. Their 1960s garage sound made them a regular live fixture in London's underground "psychedelic revival" and "mod revival" scene of the early 1980s. They often toured with The Milkshakes, who included Billy Childish on guitar...
and Makin' Time, and by issuing the mod revival compilation album 5-4-3-2-1 Go!. Piller appeared in the Style Council
The Style Council
The Style Council were an English band, formed in 1983 by the ex-The Jam singer and guitarist Paul Weller, with keyboardist Mick Talbot. The permanent line-up grew to include drummer Steve White and Weller's then-wife, vocalist Dee C. Lee. Other artists such as Tracie Young and Tracey Thorn also...
's video for their single "A Solid Bond in your Heart". He signed and A and R'd bands like The Untouchables, The Prisoners and Makin' Time for Stiff and set up an indie label called Re-Elect The President who launched the careers of the James Taylor Quartet
James Taylor Quartet
The James Taylor Quartet are a British four-piece jazz funk band who have become renowned for their live performances. They were formed by Hammond organ player James Taylor following the break-up of his former band The Prisoners in the wake of Stiff Records' bankruptcy...
and The Jazz Renegades (who featured the Style Council
The Style Council
The Style Council were an English band, formed in 1983 by the ex-The Jam singer and guitarist Paul Weller, with keyboardist Mick Talbot. The permanent line-up grew to include drummer Steve White and Weller's then-wife, vocalist Dee C. Lee. Other artists such as Tracie Young and Tracey Thorn also...
drummer Steve White)
In 1987, along with DJ Gilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson
Gilles Peterson , is a DJ, record collector and record label owner from London, UK. Through his labels Acid Jazz, Talkin' Loud, and latterly Brownswood Recordings, he has been associated with the careers of well-known artists of the 1990s such as Erykah Badu, Roni Size and Jamiroquai...
, he started a new record label, Acid Jazz
Acid jazz
Acid jazz is a musical genre that combines elements of jazz, funk and hip-hop, particularly looped beats. It developed in the UK over the 1980s and 1990s and could be seen as tacking the sound of jazz-funk onto electronic dance: jazz-funk musicians such as Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd and Grant Green are...
. This soon gave rise to Britain's newest musical movement, the acid jazz scene, which included bands such as the James Taylor Quartet
James Taylor Quartet
The James Taylor Quartet are a British four-piece jazz funk band who have become renowned for their live performances. They were formed by Hammond organ player James Taylor following the break-up of his former band The Prisoners in the wake of Stiff Records' bankruptcy...
, Corduroy
Corduroy (band)
Corduroy were a four-piece acid jazz outfit based in London, formed around twins Ben Addison and Scott Addison , who were previously in Sire Records act Boys Wonder . Joining the twins in the band were Richard Searle and guitarist Simon Nelson-Smith...
, the Brand New Heavies and Galliano
Galliano (band)
Galliano were a London-based acid jazz group, which started in 1988. The group was the first signing to Eddie Piller and Gilles Peterson's Talkin' Loud label. The original members were Rob Gallagher , Constantine Weir , Michael Snaith , and Crispin Robinson...
. Piller has been credited with discovering or "breaking" many of these bands. A revival of the record label in the 2000s has resulted in several releases, including a 2006 single by Lord Large, which featured guest vocals from northern soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
singer Dean Parrish
Dean Parrish
Dean Parrish is an American soul singer from New York, best known for the song, "I'm On My Way", which became famous for being the last record that was played at Northern Soul all-nighters at the Wigan Casino.-Career:Anastasi was born to Italian and Spanish parents and was raised in Little Italy,...
and appearances by guitarist Steve Craddock of Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
and Richard Searle of Corduroy
Corduroy (band)
Corduroy were a four-piece acid jazz outfit based in London, formed around twins Ben Addison and Scott Addison , who were previously in Sire Records act Boys Wonder . Joining the twins in the band were Richard Searle and guitarist Simon Nelson-Smith...
.
Piller has continued to be influential in the underground dance music scene due to his many live DJing appearances and his evening radio show on BBC Radio 6. he is a regular at most of the British festivals and usually appears at The Isle Of Wight, Glastonbury, Bestival and the Isle Of Wight Scooter Rally in August.
Piller is now back on the airwaves with his own show on the new Q Radio
Q (radio station)
Q Radio is an online and DTV radio station, broadcasting on digital television across the UK and online. The station launched in June 2008 as an alternative to the UK's rock and alternative stations, with a strong relationship with Q magazine...
station – allied to the music magazine of the same name, the station is being launched in June 2008 and 'the eddie piller show' is a playlist free musical journey (apparently)
In late 2010, Pillar began to host a regular podcast called "The Modcast". This monthly/bi-monthly podcast is co-hosted with actor Jonny Owen and A&R man Dean Rudland, and features new music, film, sport, fashion and discusses "all things Mod and beyond".
External links
- http://www.baltic-soul.de/ Eddie Piller (DJ) in Europe
- Eddie Piller's Funk and Soul show on BBC 6 Music
- http://www.modculture.co.uk/piller/ An Interview with Eddie Piller
- http://www.themodcast.co.uk/ The Modcast homepage