Robin Simon
Encyclopedia
For the art historian and critic Robin Simon, editor of The British Art Journal, see Robin JH Simon
Robin Simon (born Robert Simon 12 July 1956, Halifax, West Yorkshire
, England
is a British guitarist who was a member of both Ultravox
and Magazine
. He currently is member of Ajanta Music, alongside his brother Paul.
had played in a number of bands in and around Halifax in the mid-1970s, including one which featured future Ultravox
member Billy Currie
. The brothers toured the UK with Limmie Funk Limited, before joining the punk rock
band Ian North's Radio (later called Neo
) in 1976, along with American
singer and Brian Eno
protégé Ian North
, the band supporting Ultravox! at their London
performance that year.
, replacing Stevie Shears
, in 1978, bringing a looser, more multi-dimensional sound to the band. When he was part of that band, he changed his name to Robin Simon in the music world.
He played guitar on the album Systems Of Romance
and co-produced it with the band, Conny Plank
(of Kraftwerk
fame) and Dave Hutchins. He also pioneered the use of multi-effects for guitar on the album to create an early Grunge/Metal type of sound using the Electro Harmonix and MXR effect pedals such as Fuzz compressor, wah-wah and flanging, tremolo and chorus. These were sent through a Music Man amplifier and cab, then to tape and also fed back to be re-recorded through a vintage Fender Champion amp. On Ultravox's hit single "Slow Motion", the song he instigated and co-wrote with the band, he added extra delay at the mixdown. Other effects such as flanging and ring modulation were added at mixdown to create occasional keyboard like guitar sounds.
During the American tour in 1979, John Foxx
left Ultravox and Robin Simon decided the same idea, asking the other members to stay in the USA, being both replaced by Midge Ure
shortly afterwards. While on tour with Ultravox Robin Simon met Grace Weisbard who was writing an article on the band for her college newspaper at the nightclub Hurrah
and came back three months later and married her on April 25, 1979 in New York. He lived in New York and played with a local electro post-punk band called The Futants (along with Defunkt
keyboardist Martin Fischer). Grace Simon, formerly Weisbard moved to England with him before and during his years with Magazine but she went back to New York and divorced him by proxy on 14 June 1982. They remain friends to this day. Grace Simon went on to marry again and then became Grace Hudson in 6 June 1987. After Grace Simon left England and moved back to New York, Robin Simon and Billy Currie began regularly visiting the Billy's nightclub
in Soho
, which was at the heart of a new electronic music scene which was inspired by all thing European and cinematic, and would be a major influence on the burgeoning New Romantic
scene.
in 1980 replacing John McGeoch
. Magazine's tour of the United States
and Australia
led to Simon's departure from the band.
reformed Ultravox with Simon, although the band's name soon changed to Humania due to outcry from fans. The band was short-lived, with Currie subsequently forming another incarnation of Ultravox without Simon. Simon also worked with Ian North and former Ultravox frontman John Foxx during their solo careers.
He collaborated with his Magazine ex bandmate Dave Formula
in the song "The Saddest Quay" for his solo album Satellite Sweetheart, which was released in 2009.
With Ultravox:
With Magazine:
With John Foxx:
With Humania:
With Ajanta Music:
Robin JH Simon
Robin Simon , FSA, DLitt, art historian and critic, editor of , is the son of the late Archbishop Glyn Simon. Since 2007 he has been Visiting Professor in the Department of English at University College London...
Robin Simon (born Robert Simon 12 July 1956, Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax, West Yorkshire
Halifax is a minster town, within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire, England. It has an urban area population of 82,056 in the 2001 Census. It is well-known as a centre of England's woollen manufacture from the 15th century onward, originally dealing through the Halifax Piece...
, 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...
is a British guitarist who was a member of both Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
and Magazine
Magazine (band)
Magazine are an English post-punk group active from 1977 to 1981, then reformed in 2009. Their debut single, "Shot by Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time...
. He currently is member of Ajanta Music, alongside his brother Paul.
Early career
Robert Simon and his drummer brother PaulPaul Simon (UK musician)
Paul Simon is a British drummer born in Halifax, Calderdale, West Yorkshire, who played with different punk and New Wave artists, like Ian North, Radio Stars, John Foxx and Glen Matlock...
had played in a number of bands in and around Halifax in the mid-1970s, including one which featured future Ultravox
Ultravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
member Billy Currie
Billy Currie
Billy Currie is an English violist, violinist, pianist, keyboardist, and songwriter...
. The brothers toured the UK with Limmie Funk Limited, before joining the punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Ian North's Radio (later called Neo
Neo (UK band)
Neo was an early New Wave band which was part of the Engish musical scene originated by punk in the 1970s. The group was formed by the American-born singer Ian North, who was the frontman and the only continuous member from the band formation in 1977 to the end in 1979.-Early days: Radio:In 1976,...
) in 1976, along with American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer and Brian Eno
Brian Eno
Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno , commonly known as Brian Eno or simply as Eno , is an English musician, composer, record producer, singer and visual artist, known as one of the principal innovators of ambient music.Eno studied at Colchester Institute art school in Essex,...
protégé Ian North
Ian North
Ian North is an American musician, producer and painter known for being part of the bohemian punk movement in United States with his power pop band Milk 'N' Cookies. A self-taught artist, he was also interested in painting....
, the band supporting Ultravox! at their London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
performance that year.
Ultravox
Simon joined UltravoxUltravox
Ultravox is a British New Wave rock band. They were one of the primary exponents of the British electronic pop music movement of the late 1970s/early 1980s. The band was particularly associated with the New Romantic and New Wave movements....
, replacing Stevie Shears
Stevie Shears
Stevie Shears is a musician known for playing in english rock bands Tiger Lily and Ultravox! , alongside electronic musician John Foxx.-Tiger Lily and Ultravox!:...
, in 1978, bringing a looser, more multi-dimensional sound to the band. When he was part of that band, he changed his name to Robin Simon in the music world.
He played guitar on the album Systems Of Romance
Systems of Romance
Systems of Romance, released on 8 September 1978, is the third album by British band Ultravox...
and co-produced it with the band, Conny Plank
Conny Plank
Konrad "Conny" Plank was a German record producer and musician. He was born in Hütschenhausen. His creativity as a sound engineer and producer helped to shape some of the most important and innovative recordings of postwar European popular music, covering a wide range of genres including...
(of Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk
Kraftwerk is an influential electronic music band from Düsseldorf, Germany. The group was formed by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider in 1970, and was fronted by them until Schneider's departure in 2008...
fame) and Dave Hutchins. He also pioneered the use of multi-effects for guitar on the album to create an early Grunge/Metal type of sound using the Electro Harmonix and MXR effect pedals such as Fuzz compressor, wah-wah and flanging, tremolo and chorus. These were sent through a Music Man amplifier and cab, then to tape and also fed back to be re-recorded through a vintage Fender Champion amp. On Ultravox's hit single "Slow Motion", the song he instigated and co-wrote with the band, he added extra delay at the mixdown. Other effects such as flanging and ring modulation were added at mixdown to create occasional keyboard like guitar sounds.
During the American tour in 1979, John Foxx
John Foxx
John Foxx is an English singer, artist, photographer and teacher. He was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox before being replaced by Midge Ure, when he left to embark on a solo career in 1979...
left Ultravox and Robin Simon decided the same idea, asking the other members to stay in the USA, being both replaced by Midge Ure
Midge Ure
James "Midge" Ure, OBE is a Scottish guitarist, singer, keyboard player, and songwriter...
shortly afterwards. While on tour with Ultravox Robin Simon met Grace Weisbard who was writing an article on the band for her college newspaper at the nightclub Hurrah
Hurrah (nightclub)
Hurrah was a nightclub located at 32 West 62nd Street in New York City from 1976 until 1980. Under the management of Jim Fouratt it became known as the first rock disco in New York, and pioneered the use of music videos in nightclubs, placing video monitors around the club, over a year before the...
and came back three months later and married her on April 25, 1979 in New York. He lived in New York and played with a local electro post-punk band called The Futants (along with Defunkt
Defunkt
Defunkt is a musical group founded by trombonist/singer Joseph Bowie 1978 in New York, United States, and still active. Their music touches on elements of punk rock, funk and jazz....
keyboardist Martin Fischer). Grace Simon, formerly Weisbard moved to England with him before and during his years with Magazine but she went back to New York and divorced him by proxy on 14 June 1982. They remain friends to this day. Grace Simon went on to marry again and then became Grace Hudson in 6 June 1987. After Grace Simon left England and moved back to New York, Robin Simon and Billy Currie began regularly visiting the Billy's nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, which was at the heart of a new electronic music scene which was inspired by all thing European and cinematic, and would be a major influence on the burgeoning New Romantic
New Romantic
New Romanticism , was a pop culture movement in the United Kingdom that began around 1979 and peaked around 1981. Developing in London nightclubs such as Billy's and The Blitz and spreading to other major cities in the UK, it was based around flamboyant, eccentric fashion and new wave music...
scene.
Magazine
Returned to England, Simon joined MagazineMagazine (band)
Magazine are an English post-punk group active from 1977 to 1981, then reformed in 2009. Their debut single, "Shot by Both Sides", is now acknowledged as a classic and their debut album, Real Life, is still widely admired as one of the greatest albums of all time...
in 1980 replacing John McGeoch
John McGeoch
John Alexander McGeoch, , was a Scottish guitarist who played with a number of bands of the post-punk era, including Magazine, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Visage and Public Image Ltd....
. Magazine's tour of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
led to Simon's departure from the band.
John Foxx
He returned with John Foxx in 1981 and collaborated with him in his solo career (including his 1983 tour) until 1985, when Foxx retired from the popular scene.Humania
Ultravox had gone on to greater success with Midge Ure fronting the band, but when he left the band in 1988, Billy CurrieBilly Currie
Billy Currie is an English violist, violinist, pianist, keyboardist, and songwriter...
reformed Ultravox with Simon, although the band's name soon changed to Humania due to outcry from fans. The band was short-lived, with Currie subsequently forming another incarnation of Ultravox without Simon. Simon also worked with Ian North and former Ultravox frontman John Foxx during their solo careers.
Ajanta Music
In the early 1990s, Robin Simon began working again with his brother Paul, in AjantaMusic.He collaborated with his Magazine ex bandmate Dave Formula
Dave Formula
Dave Formula, , is an English keyboardist and film-soundtrack composer from Manchester, who played with the post-punk band Magazine, and New Romantic ensemble Visage during the end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s and in the "world music" band The Angel Brothers.-Early Years and St...
in the song "The Saddest Quay" for his solo album Satellite Sweetheart, which was released in 2009.
Discography
With Neo:- Live At The Vortex (1977) (compilation of various artists)
With Ultravox:
- Systems Of RomanceSystems of RomanceSystems of Romance, released on 8 September 1978, is the third album by British band Ultravox...
(1978)
With Magazine:
- Play (1980)
With John Foxx:
- The GardenThe Garden (John Foxx album)The Garden is a 1981 album by John Foxx, the follow-up to his debut solo album Metamatic, released the previous year. However its instrumentation and highly romantic style is more comparable to Systems of Romance, his last album with former band Ultravox, released in 1978.-Production and style:The...
(1981) - The Golden SectionThe Golden SectionThe Golden Section is a 1983 album by English musician John Foxx. A progression from the sound of The Garden , Foxx called The Golden Section "a roots check: Beatles, Church music, Psychedelia, The Shadows, The Floyd, The Velvets, Roy Orbison, Kraftwerk, and cheap pre-electro Europop".The album was...
(1983) - In Mysterious WaysIn Mysterious WaysIn Mysterious Ways is a 1985 album by John Foxx, the follow-up to his album The Golden Section, released two years previously. It features some of the highly romantic style similar to 1981's The Garden album, although in many ways lacking the finesse of the earlier record...
(1985) - The Golden Section Tour + Omnidelic Exotour (2001) (Only the first CD)
With Humania:
- Sinews Of The Soul
With Ajanta Music:
- And Now We Dream
External links
- Robin Simon at shotbybothsides.com - Unofficial Magazine website
- AjantaMusic official website
- http://www.mp3.com/artist/ultravox/summary/
- http://www.last.fm/music/Ultravox/+wiki
- http://music.msn.com/music/artist-biography/ultravox/?silentchk=1&