Ian Prowse
Encyclopedia
Ian Prowse is a singer/songwriter
from Cheshire
, England
who has formed two bands, Pele
, and Amsterdam
.
. Signed by Michael Levy in March 1991 Pele released 3 albums on Polydor
/M&G Records
. Six singles troubled the lower ends of the UK charts but abroad they scored hits in Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Holland and most notably a Number One in South Africa with 'Megalomania'. Pele were a noted live act completing nine tours of the U.K. in their 6 year existence. It was often remarked that Pele sold more of their striking primary colour t-shirts than they did records. Despite Levy picking up the option to make a 3rd studio album the label now wished to market Prowse as a solo singer. This was resisted by the singer which led to a breakdown in the relationship. Pele split in 1996.
drummer Tony Kiley but didn't secure a record deal until September 2004 when the band were signed to new label Beat Crazy. During this time Amsterdam struck up a friendship with Elvis Costello
who used Amsterdam
as his backing band on the Jonathan Ross
television show as well as opening act on several occasions. The relationship was blessed on record when Prowse performed a duet with Costello on a cover of The Searchers 1964 hit 'Don't throw your love away' for the Liverpool Number Ones Project on EMI Records in 2008.
The bands first single for Beat Crazy was a UK top 40 single with 'The Journey' in February 2005. Follow up single 'Does this train stop on Merseyside' also hit the UK Charts. The song regularly elicited an emotional response from Radio 1 DJ John Peel
. Peel's widow Sheila Ravenscroft went on the station after the DJ's death and confirmed that 'He was not capable of playing it without crying'.
The band left Beat Crazy by mutual consent in 2006 and signed to The Stranglers
management company CIA Recordings. The subsequent Amsterdam album Arm in Arm was voted 14th best album of all time out of Liverpool by the readers of Liverpool.com in Dec 2008. Christy Moore
also released his version of "Does This Train Stop on Merseyside?" on Sony Records album Listen on April 17, 2009.
Amsterdam also appeared on the compilation album Mersey Boys and Liverpool Girls with their song "And It Hurts"
, Miles Hunt
and Jim Bob on the acoustic based album 'Shared 2' on IRL Recordings.
Prowse is also a member of the Irish Sea Sessions which is descibed as 'Part super group, part colossal session and part festival, all in a single gig'. The Irish Sea Sessions are due to tour for the first time in October 2011.
A recently recorded pilot TV show entitled 'Under the influence' saw Prowse singing songs written by Paul McCartney in the former Beatles childhood home in Forthlin Road, Liverpool. The show, presented by 'Whispering' Bob Harris
, remains unaired as yet.
Outside of his music career Prowse also graduated with a BA (Hons) History Degree in 2009. He went on to complete a Masters degree in Irish Studies in 2010 at the University of Liverpool. His Masters thesis was entitled 'Locating the role of Christy Moore in Irish folk and traditional music'.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
from Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England
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...
who has formed two bands, Pele
Pele (band)
Pele were an English indie rock band, formed on Merseyside in 1990, by the guitarist and frontman Ian Prowse and keyboard player Andrew Roberts. They were joined by Dally on drums, Jimmy McAllister on bass guitar and finally Nico on violin...
, and Amsterdam
Amsterdam (band)
Amsterdam are a pop/rock group from Liverpool, England. Formed in 1999, they had their first UK Top 40 single with "The Journey" in February 2005...
.
Pele
Pele were a 5 piece formed by Prowse on Merseyside in 1990 following the demise of his first schoolboy bands When in Rome/Joseph Groome Towers in Ellesmere PortEllesmere Port
Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and port in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the south border of the Wirral Peninsula on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, which in turn gives access to the River...
. Signed by Michael Levy in March 1991 Pele released 3 albums on Polydor
Polydor Records
Polydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
/M&G Records
M&G Records
M&G Records was a record label founded by Michael Levy after he sold his previous label Magnet Records in 1988 to WEA for an estimated £10 million.- History :...
. Six singles troubled the lower ends of the UK charts but abroad they scored hits in Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Holland and most notably a Number One in South Africa with 'Megalomania'. Pele were a noted live act completing nine tours of the U.K. in their 6 year existence. It was often remarked that Pele sold more of their striking primary colour t-shirts than they did records. Despite Levy picking up the option to make a 3rd studio album the label now wished to market Prowse as a solo singer. This was resisted by the singer which led to a breakdown in the relationship. Pele split in 1996.
Amsterdam
He formed Amsterdam in 1999 with cousin Johnny Barlow and former Blow MonkeysThe Blow Monkeys
The Blow Monkeys are a British new wave band that formed in 1981 as a new wave-oriented act. The first single, "Live Today Love Tomorrow" was released in 1982. They subsequently recorded more commercial pop rock hit makers, and finally became a dance group, shortly before splitting up at the...
drummer Tony Kiley but didn't secure a record deal until September 2004 when the band were signed to new label Beat Crazy. During this time Amsterdam struck up a friendship with Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
who used Amsterdam
Amsterdam (band)
Amsterdam are a pop/rock group from Liverpool, England. Formed in 1999, they had their first UK Top 40 single with "The Journey" in February 2005...
as his backing band on the Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross may refer to:* Jonathan Ross , English television and radio personality* Jonathan Ross , United States Senator, Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court* Jonathon Ross , former Australian rules footballer...
television show as well as opening act on several occasions. The relationship was blessed on record when Prowse performed a duet with Costello on a cover of The Searchers 1964 hit 'Don't throw your love away' for the Liverpool Number Ones Project on EMI Records in 2008.
The bands first single for Beat Crazy was a UK top 40 single with 'The Journey' in February 2005. Follow up single 'Does this train stop on Merseyside' also hit the UK Charts. The song regularly elicited an emotional response from Radio 1 DJ John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
. Peel's widow Sheila Ravenscroft went on the station after the DJ's death and confirmed that 'He was not capable of playing it without crying'.
The band left Beat Crazy by mutual consent in 2006 and signed to The Stranglers
The Stranglers
The Stranglers are an English punk/rock music group.Scoring some 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning five decades, the Stranglers are the longest-surviving and most "continuously successful" band to have originated in the UK punk scene of the mid to late 1970s...
management company CIA Recordings. The subsequent Amsterdam album Arm in Arm was voted 14th best album of all time out of Liverpool by the readers of Liverpool.com in Dec 2008. Christy Moore
Christy Moore
Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is a popular Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts...
also released his version of "Does This Train Stop on Merseyside?" on Sony Records album Listen on April 17, 2009.
Amsterdam also appeared on the compilation album Mersey Boys and Liverpool Girls with their song "And It Hurts"
Other work
Prowse is appearing alongside Boo Hewerdine, Damien DempseyDamien Dempsey
Damien Dempsey is an Irish singer and songwriter who mixes traditional Irish folk with contemporary lyrics to deliver social comment on the positive and negative aspects arising from Ireland's Celtic Tiger society.-Early life:...
, Miles Hunt
Miles Hunt
Miles Hunt is the singer / guitarist and songwriter for the Stourbridge, England-based Alternative Rock band The Wonder Stuff.- Early life :His father was a union official for the TGWU...
and Jim Bob on the acoustic based album 'Shared 2' on IRL Recordings.
Prowse is also a member of the Irish Sea Sessions which is descibed as 'Part super group, part colossal session and part festival, all in a single gig'. The Irish Sea Sessions are due to tour for the first time in October 2011.
A recently recorded pilot TV show entitled 'Under the influence' saw Prowse singing songs written by Paul McCartney in the former Beatles childhood home in Forthlin Road, Liverpool. The show, presented by 'Whispering' Bob Harris
Bob Harris
Bob Harris may refer to:In sport:* Bob Harris , American baseball player* Robert Harris , Scottish footballerIn TV and radio:...
, remains unaired as yet.
Outside of his music career Prowse also graduated with a BA (Hons) History Degree in 2009. He went on to complete a Masters degree in Irish Studies in 2010 at the University of Liverpool. His Masters thesis was entitled 'Locating the role of Christy Moore in Irish folk and traditional music'.