Nick Abson
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Abson born Michael Nicholas Drinan in
England to parents Pamela Mileece Drinan (nee
l’Anson) and Michael Patrick Drinan. After emigrating to Canada in
1956, Abson was adopted by his then step-father and re-christened
Nicholas Michael Abson.
In 1961, Abson moved to New York City where he attended Brooklyn
Technical High School. He then went on to attend college at CUNY Manhattan and Richmond Colleges.
In 1978, his daughter Mileece was born, to become a recording artist
and leading composer of advanced music followed by his son Miles and
then Lancelot.
fuel cell company, Elenco . After becoming engrossed with the
technology, he rebuilt Elenco when it entered administration from 2
employees to 200 and re-branded it as ZeTek Plc. ZeTek would go on to
become Europe’s largest fuel cell company pioneering London Taxi and a second generation fuel cell designed for automated production, ending the hand production previously required . The first planned expansion began in December 2000 at Oak Ridge, Tennessee with the Department of Energy and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the second plant at Lebanon, Pennsylvania in February 2001, until it lost its investors immediately following the World Trade Center tragedy later that same year. He resurrected
the company as Cenergie Plc and provided shares for all but a few of
the 500 ZeTek shareholders. Following a series of cyber and other
commercially driven attacks, Abson resigned.
Abson continues work on fuel-cell development by publishing papers and
working pro-bono for a number of organisations and universities.
Citing his experiences with Cenergie, he now writes and campaigns for
greater scrutiny of UK money-laundering activities and industrial
espionage. His first political philosophy, titled “Factions and
Pyramids” is set to be released in 2012.
Studios using funds earned from documentaries “The Stonemen” and “The
Earthmovers”, which document St. Paul Cathedral’s masons and the
reclamation of Britain’s largest coal tip (respectively).
Abson went on to make many music concert films during the 1970’s,
starting with Dr. Feelgood's
’s “Going Back Home” and ending with the
Ramones'
“New Year’s Concert”. He pioneered music videos with artists
such as Stevie Wonder, Kate Bush, The Damned, Queen and Lena Lovitch
while Covent Garden’s Freerange recorded Gary Numan
, The Sex Pistols,
Patti Smith
and The Slits
, supporting musicians by subsidizing them
with film profits.
In 1979, he closed Freerange to pursue careers outside of the music
industry after his longtime business partner, Neville Wills (age 36)
died.
with current affairs programs such as ”Left, Right and Centre”,
“Public Eye
” and “The World This Week”. He later went on to direct
light entertainment programs like “Krypton Factor”, “Countdown
,
“Catchphrase” and “Fraggle Rock
”. His interest in science led to
series such as “Where’s There’s Life”, “Discovery”, “Fun and Games”,
“The Haley Comet Show” and “Real World”. Between 1980 and 1990, he
directed more than 2,000 network shows.
England to parents Pamela Mileece Drinan (nee
l’Anson) and Michael Patrick Drinan. After emigrating to Canada in
1956, Abson was adopted by his then step-father and re-christened
Nicholas Michael Abson.
In 1961, Abson moved to New York City where he attended Brooklyn
Technical High School. He then went on to attend college at CUNY Manhattan and Richmond Colleges.
In 1978, his daughter Mileece was born, to become a recording artist
and leading composer of advanced music followed by his son Miles and
then Lancelot.
Fuel Cell Industry
In 1991, Abson started a series for the BBC centering on a Belgianfuel cell company, Elenco . After becoming engrossed with the
technology, he rebuilt Elenco when it entered administration from 2
employees to 200 and re-branded it as ZeTek Plc. ZeTek would go on to
become Europe’s largest fuel cell company pioneering London Taxi and a second generation fuel cell designed for automated production, ending the hand production previously required . The first planned expansion began in December 2000 at Oak Ridge, Tennessee with the Department of Energy and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the second plant at Lebanon, Pennsylvania in February 2001, until it lost its investors immediately following the World Trade Center tragedy later that same year. He resurrected
the company as Cenergie Plc and provided shares for all but a few of
the 500 ZeTek shareholders. Following a series of cyber and other
commercially driven attacks, Abson resigned.
Abson continues work on fuel-cell development by publishing papers and
working pro-bono for a number of organisations and universities.
Citing his experiences with Cenergie, he now writes and campaigns for
greater scrutiny of UK money-laundering activities and industrial
espionage. His first political philosophy, titled “Factions and
Pyramids” is set to be released in 2012.
Fuel Cell Firsts
Music
In 1970, Abson returned to Britain and launched Freerange SoundStudios using funds earned from documentaries “The Stonemen” and “The
Earthmovers”, which document St. Paul Cathedral’s masons and the
reclamation of Britain’s largest coal tip (respectively).
Abson went on to make many music concert films during the 1970’s,
starting with Dr. Feelgood's
Dr. Feelgood
Dr. Feelgood may refer to:In music:*Dr. Feelgood , an album by American band Mötley Crüe**"Dr. Feelgood" , a single and the title track from that album*"Dr. Feel Good", a song by Travie McCoy on the album Lazarus...
’s “Going Back Home” and ending with the
Ramones'
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
“New Year’s Concert”. He pioneered music videos with artists
such as Stevie Wonder, Kate Bush, The Damned, Queen and Lena Lovitch
while Covent Garden’s Freerange recorded Gary Numan
Gary Numan
Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
, The Sex Pistols,
Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
and The Slits
The Slits
The Slits were a British punk rock band. The quartet was formed in 1976 by members of the bands The Flowers of Romance and The Castrators. The members were Ari Up , who died of cancer in October 2010, and Palmolive , with Viv Albertine and Tessa Pollitt replacing founding members, Kate Korus and...
, supporting musicians by subsidizing them
with film profits.
In 1979, he closed Freerange to pursue careers outside of the music
industry after his longtime business partner, Neville Wills (age 36)
died.
Music Videos
- The Alan Parsons ProjectThe Alan Parsons ProjectThe Alan Parsons Project was a British progressive rock band, active between 1975 and 1990, consisting of singer Eric Woolfson and keyboardist Alan Parsons surrounded by a varying number of session musicians....
“I Robot” - Diana RossDiana RossDiana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
“My Old Piano” - Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
“Happy Birthday”, “Masterblaster” - Kate Bush “Wuthering Heights”
- QueenQueen-In government and monarchy:* Queen regnant, a female monarch of equivalent power to a male king* Any of the three currently living queens regnant:** Beatrix of the Netherlands , Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba** Elizabeth...
“We Will Rock You” - Silicon TeensSilicon TeensSilicon Teens were a virtual British electronic new wave pop group. The project was the creation of Mute Records founder Daniel Miller.-Background:...
“Memphis” - Lena Lovitch “Lucky Number”
- Eddie and the Hot Rods “Out of the City”
- BaccaratBaccaratBaccarat is a card game, played at casinos and by gamblers. It is believed to have been introduced into France from Italy during the reign of King Charles VIII , and it is similar to Faro and Basset...
“Loredo” - The DamnedThe DamnedThe Damned are an English gothic punk band formed in London in 1976. They were the first punk rock band from the United Kingdom to release a single , an album , to have a record on the UK music charts, and to tour the United States...
"New Rose" - Graham Parker & The Rumour "New York Shuffle"
Concert Films
- James GalwayJames Galway- External links : IMGArtists.com 15 September 2008. AllAboutJazz.com 5 August 2008.*...
- The Ramones
- Dr. FeelgoodDr. FeelgoodDr. Feelgood may refer to:In music:*Dr. Feelgood , an album by American band Mötley Crüe**"Dr. Feelgood" , a single and the title track from that album*"Dr. Feel Good", a song by Travie McCoy on the album Lazarus...
- Graham ParkerGraham ParkerGraham Parker is a British rock singer and songwriter, who is best known as the lead singer of the popular British band Graham Parker & the Rumour.-Early career :...
- Motorhead
- HawkwindHawkwindHawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
Television Career
Abson’s strong political and social interests lead him to televisionwith current affairs programs such as ”Left, Right and Centre”,
“Public Eye
Public Eye
Public Eye is a British television series that ran from 1965 to 1975 . It was produced by ABC Television for three series, and Thames Television for a further four series...
” and “The World This Week”. He later went on to direct
light entertainment programs like “Krypton Factor”, “Countdown
Countdown
A countdown is a sequence of counting backward to indicate the seconds, days, or other time units remaining before an event occurs or a deadline expires. Typical events for which a countdown is used include the launch of a rocket or spacecraft, the detonation of a bomb, the start of a race, and the...
,
“Catchphrase” and “Fraggle Rock
Fraggle Rock
Fraggle Rock is a children's live action puppet television program series created by Jim Henson. The central characters were a set of "Muppet" creatures called Fraggles. The show ran from January 10, 1983, to March 30, 1987, on CBC Television in Canada, ITV in the UK, HBO in the United States,...
”. His interest in science led to
series such as “Where’s There’s Life”, “Discovery”, “Fun and Games”,
“The Haley Comet Show” and “Real World”. Between 1980 and 1990, he
directed more than 2,000 network shows.
Television Programs
- News and Current Affairs
- Public EyePublic EyePublic Eye is a British television series that ran from 1965 to 1975 . It was produced by ABC Television for three series, and Thames Television for a further four series...
- Left Right and CentreLeft Right and CentreLeft Right and Centre is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Sidney Gilliat and starring Ian Carmichael, Patricia Bredin, Richard Wattis, Eric Barker and Alastair Sim. It was produced by Frank Launder...
- Jimmy Young Show
- The World This Week
- The Story of Fun and Games
- Public Eye
- Light Entertainment
- CountdownCountdownA countdown is a sequence of counting backward to indicate the seconds, days, or other time units remaining before an event occurs or a deadline expires. Typical events for which a countdown is used include the launch of a rocket or spacecraft, the detonation of a bomb, the start of a race, and the...
- Krypton Factor
- Fraggle RockFraggle RockFraggle Rock is a children's live action puppet television program series created by Jim Henson. The central characters were a set of "Muppet" creatures called Fraggles. The show ran from January 10, 1983, to March 30, 1987, on CBC Television in Canada, ITV in the UK, HBO in the United States,...
- Paperchase
- Countdown
- Science
- Where There’s Life
- Discovery (British TV programme)
- Fun and Games
- Real WorldReal WorldThe real world is another term for reality. It may also refer to:-Television:* The Real World, a television show* "The Real World" , a television episode-Music:* "Real World" , an album by Kokia...
Documentaries
- Stonemen of Saint Paul’s
- The Earthmovers
- If it Ain’t Stiff…Stiff RecordsStiff 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....
- Lean Burn Engine
- Going Back Home
External links
- United Press International
- International Herald Tribune
- The Economist
- Reuters
- British Film Institute filmography
- Kate Bush "Wuthering Heights"
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipgtPCrd1O0
- http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdfwfe_silicon-teens-memphis-tennessee_music
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OQ9h16pTAs
- http://equinox.virtek.com/Equinox-Programme-133-the+lean+burn+engine.html
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2738542/Zetek-braces-itself-for-receivership.html
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2738542/Zetek-braces-itself-for-receivership.html
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3511925/
- http://siteselection.com/ssinsider/bbdeal/bd010528.htm
- http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/hydrogen-and-fuelcells-x2013-the-latest-2000-11-03
- http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2000-12/ORNL-UZOt-1312100.php
- http://ornl.gov/info/press_releases/get_press_release.cfm?ReleaseNumber=mr20001217-00
- http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/97749
- http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/194357
- http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/98037