Simon House
Encyclopedia
Simon House is a composer and classically trained violin
ist and keyboard player, perhaps best known for his work with space rock
band Hawkwind
. His arrival in 1974 introduced a new element to the band's style. He was the first conspicuously trained musician, and the sound which emerged on Hall of the Mountain Grill
was a previously unheard, lush chaos which sounded a little like Black Sabbath
meets The Moody Blues
.
Before Hawkwind, House played in High Tide and the Third Ear Band
, who contributed the soundtrack to Roman Polanski
's Macbeth
. Guitarist Tony Hill recounted how House became a member of High Tide: "[Pete Pavli and I were] hanging out with and crashing where we could at Mike's or Wayne's. Simon ended up crashing there as well. Simon was playing bass then. He said: 'I used to play violin, you know?' So I said 'Get it!' That was basically it."
He joined Hawkwind in 1974, playing on some of their albums, before leaving for David Bowie
's band in 1978, which, along with Robert Calvert
's depressive phase led to Hawkwind breaking up in mid-tour.
Along with other Hawkwind members, he guested on science fiction
author Michael Moorcock
's New World's Fair in 1975 and has also played on solo projects by former Hawkwind members Robert Calvert
and Nik Turner
.
Since the 1970s, as well as cutting an album (Interesting Times) with Tony Hill under the High Tide banner and rejoining Hawkwind during 1989-91 and 2001-03, House has released several solo albums.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and keyboard player, perhaps best known for his work with space rock
Space rock
Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
band Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind 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....
. His arrival in 1974 introduced a new element to the band's style. He was the first conspicuously trained musician, and the sound which emerged on Hall of the Mountain Grill
Hall of the Mountain Grill
Hall of the Mountain Grill is the fourth studio album by space rock band Hawkwind, released in 1974. It is regarded by many critics and fans as a career highlight.-Overview:...
was a previously unheard, lush chaos which sounded a little like Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
meets The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues
The Moody Blues are an English rock band. Among their innovations was a fusion with classical music, most notably in their 1967 album Days of Future Passed....
.
Before Hawkwind, House played in High Tide and the Third Ear Band
Third Ear Band
Third Ear Band evolved within the London alternative and free-music scene of the mid 1960s.-History:Members came from The Giant Sun Trolley and The People Band to create an improvised music drawing on Eastern raga forms, European folk, experimental and medieval influences...
, who contributed the soundtrack to Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is a French-Polish film director, producer, writer and actor. Having made films in Poland, Britain, France and the USA, he is considered one of the few "truly international filmmakers."...
's Macbeth
Macbeth (1971 film)
Macbeth is a 1971 British-American drama film directed by Roman Polanski, based on William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth, about the Highland lord who becomes King of Scotland through treachery and murder. It features Jon Finch as Macbeth and Francesca Annis as Lady Macbeth...
. Guitarist Tony Hill recounted how House became a member of High Tide: "[Pete Pavli and I were] hanging out with and crashing where we could at Mike's or Wayne's. Simon ended up crashing there as well. Simon was playing bass then. He said: 'I used to play violin, you know?' So I said 'Get it!' That was basically it."
He joined Hawkwind in 1974, playing on some of their albums, before leaving for David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's band in 1978, which, along with Robert Calvert
Robert Calvert
Robert Calvert was a writer, poet, and musician.-Biography:Born Robert Newton Calvert in Pretoria, South Africa, Calvert's parents moved to England when he was two years of age and later attended school in London and Margate. He began his career by writing poetry and in 1967 formed a Street...
's depressive phase led to Hawkwind breaking up in mid-tour.
Along with other Hawkwind members, he guested on science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
author Michael Moorcock
Michael Moorcock
Michael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
's New World's Fair in 1975 and has also played on solo projects by former Hawkwind members Robert Calvert
Robert Calvert
Robert Calvert was a writer, poet, and musician.-Biography:Born Robert Newton Calvert in Pretoria, South Africa, Calvert's parents moved to England when he was two years of age and later attended school in London and Margate. He began his career by writing poetry and in 1967 formed a Street...
and Nik Turner
Nik Turner
Nik Turner is a British musician, best known as a founding member of space rock pioneers Hawkwind. Turner plays saxophones, flute, sings and is a composer...
.
Since the 1970s, as well as cutting an album (Interesting Times) with Tony Hill under the High Tide banner and rejoining Hawkwind during 1989-91 and 2001-03, House has released several solo albums.
External links
- Myspace page for Simon House Official web site
- Dark Chemistry Official web site
- Myspace page for Dark Chemistry Official web site
- Myspace page for Psychestra Official web site
- Astralasia Official web site