Neo (album)

Last updated
Neo
Neo (album).jpg
Studio album by
Released1979
Recorded1978
StudioKingsway Studios, London; DJM Studios, London
Genre Punk rock, new wave, power pop, hard rock
Label Aura Records
Producer Ian North
Ian North and Neo chronology
Neo
(1979)
My Girlfriend's Dead
(1982)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Record Mirror Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Neo is a 1979 debut solo album by the American punk musician Ian North. It was recorded in 1978 in Ian Gillan's studio and released in 1979 by Aura Records. Although the album was released as a solo work of Ian North, he recorded it with three session musicians: Steve Byrd on guitar, John McCoy on drums and Bryson Graham on drums and they later formed Neo, as a "semi-band", because they were paid by North. Many songs were written by North while the band comprised him and the brothers Robin and Paul Simon. This line-up, the band's first played a gig during 1977. In early 1978, Robin Simon left to join Ultravox and, shortly afterwards, his brother Paul was sacked by North and joined Cowboys International. [2]

Contents

North said in a 2007 interview that while the album was being recorded, ex-Deep Purple member Ian Gillan was watching Neo, and after the recording was finished, Byrd, McCoy and Graham left North, because Gillan invited to them to join his fledgling band Gillan. Shortly afterwards, North renewed Neo with true band members until 1978 when North returned to the USA.

It was not released on CD.

Track listing

All songs written by Ian North

A-side
  1. "If You Gotta Go"
  2. "She Kills Me"
  3. "Don't Dance"
  4. "Heart"
  5. "Tran-Sister"
  6. "Heaven On Earth"
  7. "The Robots"
B-side
  1. "No Sound from 25"
  2. "Hollywood Babylon"
  3. "Girls in Gangs"
  4. "Texas Modern"
  5. "Kamikaze"

Personnel

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magazine (band)</span> English post-punk rock band

Magazine were an English rock band formed in 1977 in Manchester in England by singer Howard Devoto and guitarist John McGeoch. After leaving the punk group Buzzcocks in early 1977, Devoto decided to create a more progressive and less "traditional" rock band. The original lineup of Magazine was composed of Devoto, McGeoch, Barry Adamson on bass, Bob Dickinson on keyboards and Martin Jackson on drums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Gillan Band</span>

The Ian Gillan Band were an English progressive jazz-rock band formed by singer Ian Gillan of Deep Purple in 1975. Their sound is a departure from the heavy metal of Deep Purple by featuring a progressive jazz fusion sound, more similar to bands such as Brand X.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gillan (band)</span> English rock band fronted by Ian Gillan

Gillan was an English rock and metal band formed in 1978 by Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan. Gillan was one of the hard rock bands to make a significant impact and commercial success in the United Kingdom during the early 1980s, with five silver albums. They sold over 10 million LPs worldwide.

Pete Barnacle is an English rock drummer who has played for various bands including Gillan, Girl, Broken Home, Spear of Destiny, Theatre of Hate, Yngwie Malmsteen, Sheer Greed, and Soldiers of Fortune. Barnacle now lives in Japan, teaching English, and occasionally working as a drummer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Fenwick</span> English guitarist (1946–2022)

Raymond John Fenwick was an English guitarist and session musician, best known for his work in The Syndicats and in The Spencer Davis Group in the 1960s, and as the lead guitarist of Ian Gillan's post-Deep Purple solo project, the Ian Gillan Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Gillan</span> English singer

Ian Gillan is an English singer who is best known as the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band Deep Purple. He is known for his powerful and wide-ranging singing voice.

Cowboys International were a new wave and synthpop band formed by vocalist and songwriter Ken Lockie that put out one album in 1979, The Original Sin, and a handful of 45s before dissolving in 1980.

<i>Gillan</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Gillan

Gillan is the debut studio album by British hard rock band Gillan, released in September 1978 only in Japan then later in Australia and New Zealand. Although not released domestically in the UK, the album sold well as an import, aided by positive press reviews. The sleeve notes of the original release credit Liam Genocky as playing drums and percussion, while the 1993 release "Gillan – The Japanese Album" instead credits Pete Barnacle.

<i>Mr. Universe</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Gillan

Mr. Universe is the second studio album by the British hard rock band Gillan, and the first with the classic line-up with Ian Gillan, Colin Towns, John McCoy, Bernie Tormé and Mick Underwood. Released in October 1979. The album reached No. 11 in the UK Albums Chart, and sold over 2 million copies worldwide.

Bernie Tormé was an Irish rock guitarist, songwriter, record label and recording studio owner. Tormé is best known for his work with Gillan, as well as his brief stint with Ozzy Osbourne replacing Randy Rhoads. He formed the band Desperado with Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider. He also toured with Atomic Rooster.

Guy McCoy Tormé is a British rock band, formed by Robin Guy and former Gillan members John McCoy and Bernie Tormé.

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 also played 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mick Underwood</span> English drummer

Michael John Underwood is an English drummer. He first played drums at the age of 14 and was a professional musician by the time he left school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When a Blind Man Cries</span> 1972 single by Deep Purple

"When a Blind Man Cries" is a song by English rock band Deep Purple, originally only available as the B-side of the single "Never Before", released in 1972. It was recorded during the Machine Head sessions in December 1971.

Robin Simon is a British guitarist who was a member of Ultravox, Magazine and Visage.

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.

Tran-Sister was the first and only single released by the new wave band Neo, fronted by ex-Milk 'N' Cookies guitarist Ian North (vocals). Then, North, born in New York, was living in England since 1976, after the demise of his proto punk band Milk 'N' Cookies. Recorded by North and session musicians, who were Steve Byrd (guitar), John McCoy (bass) and Bryson Graham (drums). Byrd and McCoy left to join Gillan shortly afterwards. North returned to USA in 1979, after his VISA ran out.

Al B. Romano is a musician. At age 14, he was taught guitar by Leslie West of Mountain.

Stephen John "Steve" Byrd was an English guitarist and session musician who has worked with artists including Kim Wilde, Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, ZZebra and many others.

<i>What I Did On My Vacation</i> 1986 compilation album by Ian Gillan

What I Did on My Vacation is an official compilation album from Ian Gillan, released in 1986 in UK by 10 Records. The album covers Gillan's recordings between 1977 and 1982 and was released in three formats. All songs from the album had been previously released. Although not credited on the cover, "Scarabus" is preceded by an instrumental piece by Colin Towns, which was used as the intro to "On The Rocks". The LP version set boasts four more tracks than the CD version.

References

  1. Hall, Philip (12 January 1980). "Ian North: Neo". Record Mirror . p. 14.
  2. "Neo - A Punk History with Pictures". Punk77.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-03-03.

.