Kev Ward
Encyclopedia
Kevin James Ward was a bassist
who played in Big in Japan. A fellow student of the Liverpool School of Art, he did artwork for the mid 1970s Liverpool
band, Deaf School
. Later, in May 1977, he founded Big In Japan along with Bill Drummond
(later in The KLF
), with whom he attended art school, and Phil Allen
(brother of Enrico Cadillac, frontman of Deaf School), after seeing The Clash
in concert
. When Ambrose Reynolds
joined by mid-to-late 1977, Ward was placed on backing vocals
, but quit around December. The only released Big In Japan recording
in which he participated was "Suicide A Go Go", featured on the From Y to Z and Never Again
EP
, released in 1978.
After Big In Japan, Ward never played with any other band, but did artwork for many Liverpool bands, before moving to Kent
, where, as for early 1990s, he made models for petro-chemical engineers.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
who played in Big in Japan. A fellow student of the Liverpool School of Art, he did artwork for the mid 1970s Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
band, Deaf School
Deaf School
Deaf School are an English rock band, formed in the mid 1970s and hailing from Liverpool. Their style is somewhere in between pub rock, punk, glam rock and art rock. They originally disbanded after their third album but their influence lived on...
. Later, in May 1977, he founded Big In Japan along with Bill Drummond
Bill Drummond
William Ernest Drummond is a Scottish artist, musician, writer and record producer. He was the co-founder of late 1980s avant-garde pop group The KLF and its 1990s media-manipulating successor, the K Foundation, with which he burned a million pounds in 1994...
(later in The KLF
The KLF
The KLF were one of the seminal bands of the British acid house movement during the late 1980s and early 1990s....
), with whom he attended art school, and Phil Allen
Phil Allen
Phil Allen was a drummer in Liverpool new wave bands. He is the brother of Enrico Cadillac Jr. , the frontman of Deaf School...
(brother of Enrico Cadillac, frontman of Deaf School), after seeing The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
in concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
. When Ambrose Reynolds
Ambrose Reynolds
-Early years:Began making music as a chorister at Liverpool Cathedral at the age of 7. A few years later, teaming up with David Knopov in a street busking band called The O'Boogie Brothers. The O'Boogie Brothers expanded its membership to include an Ian Broudie on Guitar and Nathan McGough...
joined by mid-to-late 1977, Ward was placed on backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
, but quit around December. The only released Big In Japan recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
in which he participated was "Suicide A Go Go", featured on the From Y to Z and Never Again
From Y to Z and Never Again
From Y To Z and Never Again is an EP released by the seminal punk band Big in Japan. It includes four out of their six recorded songs and is most notable for being the first release on Zoo Records, the label created by band members Bill Drummond and David Balfe. It was also one of the first...
EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, released in 1978.
After Big In Japan, Ward never played with any other band, but did artwork for many Liverpool bands, before moving to Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
, where, as for early 1990s, he made models for petro-chemical engineers.