Neo (British band)

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Neo
OriginLondon, England
Genres Glam punk, punk rock, new wave
Years active1977–1979
Labels Jet, Aura
Associated acts Milk 'N' Cookies, Radio, Limmie Funk Limited, Radio Stars, Ultravox, Magazine, Girls at Our Best!, The Fallout Club, Cowboys International, Zzebra, Gillan, Classix Nouveaux, Masterwitch, Psychic TV
Past members Ian North
Paul Simon
Robert Simon
Bryson Graham
Steve Byrd
John McCoy
Steve Wilkin
Nick South
Mik Sweeney
Derek Quinton
Dan Black

Neo was an early new wave band which was part of the English 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.

New wave is a genre encompassing numerous pop-oriented music styles popular in the late 1970s and the 1980s with ties to mid-1970s punk rock. New wave moved away from traditional blues and rock and roll sounds to create rock music or pop music (later) that incorporated disco, mod, and electronic music. Initially new wave was similar to punk rock, before becoming a distinct genre. It subsequently engendered subgenres and fusions, including synth-pop.

Ian North American singer

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.

Contents

History

Early days: Radio

In 1976, Ian North (lead vocals, guitar [1] ) travelled with his band Milk 'N' Cookies to London to record an album for Island Records. The record was recorded, but the release delayed, resulting in the group disbanding.

Milk 'N' Cookies was a power pop band from Long Island, New York. Active during the 1970s, a particularly fertile and creative period in the suburban New York music scene, the band had a loyal following of fans attracted to their unique sound. While many other New York metro-based bands of the time like Ramones and Blue Öyster Cult had edgier personas and harder sounds, Milk 'N' Cookies crafted a more wholesome, pop sensibility. Although they didn't receive the radio airplay and attention from mainstream labels given to many of their peers, they were influential in their time and have since achieved considerable cult fame for contributions in the cross-section of pop, glam, and proto-punk.

Island Records British international record label of Jamaican origin; imprint of Island Records Ltd.

Island Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded in 1959 by Chris Blackwell, Graeme Goodall, and Leslie Kong in Jamaica, and was eventually sold to PolyGram in 1989. Island and A&M Records, another label recently acquired by PolyGram, were both at the time the largest independent record labels in history, with Island in particular having exerted a major influence on the progressive music scene in the United Kingdom in the early 1970s.

North stayed in London, meeting Brian Eno and Martin Gordon (bass), who a few years previously had founded, with ex-John's Children's Andy Ellison, the glam band Jet. North created a new band called Radio and invited Paul Simon (drums), who formed part of Limmie Funk Limited (with Limmie Snell) to join them and completed the line-up. The band was post-punk, [2] but after only one gig, supporting Ultravox! in November 1976, Gordon dropped out. The band recruited George Dyner [3] to replace Gordon. However, in April 1977, North took his place on bass and continuing singing, and Paul's brother Robert was introduced on guitar. [4]

Brian Eno English musician, composer, record producer and visual artist

Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno, RDI is an English musician, record producer, visual artist, and theorist best known for his pioneering work in ambient music and contributions to rock, pop, and electronica. A self-described "non-musician", Eno has helped introduce unique conceptual approaches and recording techniques to contemporary music. He has been described as one of popular music's most influential and innovative figures.

Martin Gordon British musician

Martin Gordon is an English musician, who plays bass guitar, double bass and piano.

John's Children were a 1960s pop art/mod rock band from Leatherhead, England that briefly featured future T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan. John's Children were known for their outrageous live performances and were booted off a tour with The Who in Germany in 1967 when they upstaged the headliners. Their 1967 single "Desdemona", a Bolan composition, was banned by the BBC because of the controversial lyric, "Lift up your skirt and fly." Their US record label delayed the release of their album, Orgasm for four years from its recording date due to objections from Daughters of the American Revolution.

According to Paul Simon, Radio (now credited as Ian North's Radio) recorded some songs in the studio, which he remastered in 2007. [5] In mid 1977, Paul Simon accompanied Martin Gordon, forming part of Radio Stars and recording with them "Good Personality", a 7-inch single, and other tracks, some of which were eventually released on Radio Stars' compilation Somewhere There's A Place For Us. He was asked to stay with them, but preferred continuing with North in Neo.

Neo

As a three piece band, Radio immediately transformed to Neo. [6] North became the bassist, and in this way the group continued until February/March 1978, when Robert Simon dropped out and formed part of Ultravox. North sacked Paul Simon, [7] and included session players in his project: ex-ZZebra members, Steve Byrd on guitar and John McCoy on bass, and Bryson Graham on drums. They recorded an album in Ian Gillan's studio, and after Gillan heard them, he hired Byrd and McCoy away from North. Gillan and the ex-Neo musicians formed Gillan. Only Graham stayed with North.

Stephen John "Steve" Byrd was a British guitarist and session musician who has worked with artists including Kim Wilde, Ian Gillan, ZZebra and many others.

John Matthew McCoy, is an English bass guitarist, who is best known for his work with Ian Gillan and Mammoth as well as numerous other bands and sessions since the late 1960s. He currently plays in British rock trio Guy McCoy Tormé with former Gillan/Ozzy guitarist Bernie Tormé and Bruce Dickinson/Sack Trick drummer Robin Guy. He is also an accomplished guitar, drum, trumpet, cello, and double bass player. Nearly as well known as his music is his appearance: he is always pictured wearing sunglasses, with the striking contrast of bald head and robust chin beard. Along with guitarist Vic Elmes and ZZebra colleague Liam Genockey on drums, McCoy can also be heard playing in the intro and end titles theme of the 1970s cult TV series Space: 1999.

Bryson Macrae Graham was an English rock drummer, most notable as a member of Mainhorse, Spooky Tooth and Girl, and as a session musician.

North renewed Neo again with Steve Wilkin (ex-Wired and Masterwitch) on guitar, Nick South on bass and Graham on drums, but shortly afterwards South and Graham were replaced by Mik Sweeney and Derek Quinton, respectively. Dan Black completed the line-up as keyboardist. That line-up toured with Magazine, doing gigs promoting their single "Tran-Sister", released that year.

Dan Black British singer-songwriter

Daniel Black is a British recording artist and vocalist. He was also a member of alternative rock band The Servant, before their split in 2007. He has also been a guest vocalist for the Italian British group Planet Funk. After releasing his breakthrough song "HYPNTZ", he signed to The:Hours, releasing his first two singles – "Alone" and "Yours" – in 2008. The following year, he released his most commercially successful single to date, "Symphonies".

Magazine (band) English rock band

Magazine were an English post-punk band active from 1977 to 1981, then again from 2009 to 2011. The band was formed by Howard Devoto after leaving punk band Buzzcocks in early 1977. Devoto had decided to create a more progressive and less "traditional" rock band.

After changes of line-ups, Neo split up in 1979 because North had to return to the US. Sweeney joined The News and, later, Classix Nouveaux, Steve Wilkin joined Random Hold, Quinton joined Sector 27, with Tom Robinson, and Black formed Psychic TV.

Discography

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References

  1. ↑ Metamatic: Forum "(...)my then band Radio. Band members were Ian North, (...)" Paul Simon, ex-Neo member
  2. ↑ PUNK77: Neo Post punk
  3. ↑ Modpoppunk Archives Archived 14 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine Neo history
  4. ↑ [punkmodpop.free.fr/neo_pic.htm Modpoppunk Archives: Neo history]
  5. ↑ Metamatic: Forum "I recently re-mastered some demos by the four piece Radio with the help of Morrissey guitarist Boz Boorer." Paul Simon, ex-Radio and Neo member, 1 February 2007
  6. ↑ Metamatic: Forum "In early 77 my brother Robin joined and the band eventually changed its name to Neo." Paul Simon, ex-Neo member
  7. ↑ PUNK77: Neo Rob left to join Ultravox – so I decided to replace his brother as well.
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