Gregory Spawton
Gregory Spawton (born May 17, 1965) is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the bassist, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and founder of English progressive rock band Big Big Train. Early life Spawton was brought up in Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands (county), West Midlands. The first Progressive rock, prog album he heard was ''Selling England by the Pound'' by Genesis (band), Genesis, which belonged to his brother Nigel, when he was 12. The first album he bought was ''Pawn Hearts'' by Van der Graaf Generator. He also saw Steve Hackett on his ''Defector (Steve Hackett album), Defector'' tour in 1980. A heavy influence of his is Peter Hammill. Before Big Big Train, Spawton was in a band called Equus, which played some shows around Sutton Coldfield in the early 80s. Career Spawton moved to Bournemouth in 1987 after graduating from the University of Reading, Reading University. with a degree in archaeology. He formed Big Big Train with Andy Poole in 1990, t ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Big Big Train
Big Big Train are an English progressive rock band formed in Bournemouth in 1990. The current line-up includes band founder Gregory Spawton (bass, guitars and keyboards), along with Nick D'Virgilio (drums, guitars and keyboards) and Rikard Sjöblom (guitars and keyboards). Until 2009, the band were active as a predominantly studio project led by Spawton and co-founder Andy Poole (guitars, bass and keyboards), who departed the band in 2018, with changing line-ups and guest musicians. They have released fourteen studio albums and six EPs. After starting out as an independent band, Big Big Train were signed to Giant Electric Pea from 1993 to 1998 and distributed their releases through their own website. Since their sixth album, ''The Underfall Yard'', which received critical acclaim from the progressive rock community, a more stable line-up has been established, and the band performed their first live concerts in 17 years at Kings Place, London, in August 2015. The gigs were vot ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Goodbye To The Age Of Steam
''Goodbye To The Age of Steam'' is the debut studio album by the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 1994, by Giant Electric Pea. On the official BBT website, Spawton has revealed that "much of the album was about how people lose their way in their lives; about the tightrope we all walk every day. The album title wasn't linked to this, but it conveyed a feeling of pathos which fitted the mood of the songs." Re-release The original album is out of print. In 2010 it was remastered by members of the band, and the track list has been expanded by three tracks: one being recorded for the 1993 demo The Infant Hercules, one newly recorded instrumental track from the 2010 line-up (including Nick D'Virgilio on drums and David Longdon on keyboards), and an expanded version of the original album track "Losing Your Way". The remastered version was released in 2011 with new artwork and liner notes. Track listing 2011 bonus tracks #Far Distant Thing (Spawton) � ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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David Longdon
David Longdon (17 June 1965 – 20 November 2021) was a British multi-instrumentalist and singer, who was best known as the lead vocalist and co-songwriter of the progressive rock band Big Big Train. Besides singing, Longdon played flute, keyboards, acoustic and electric 6 & 12 string guitars, bass, mandolin, lute, banjo, accordion, percussion, dulcimer, psaltry, vibraphone, theremin and glockenspiel. Early life and career Longdon was born in Nottingham, England, on 17 June 1965. He began writing music at age nine after discovering The Who. He began his career as the lead singer of the band The Gift Horse. Longdon was one of those who auditioned as lead singer of rock band Genesis in 1996, following the departure of Phil Collins. He auditioned during the making of '' Calling All Stations'' (1997), but the role was given to Scottish singer Ray Wilson. He joined Big Big Train in 2009, and performed on numerous instruments in addition to his role as the lead singer begi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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BBT June 09
BBT may refer to: Arts and entertainment * '' The Big Bang Theory'', an American sitcom * "The Big Bang Theory" (''Family Guy''), an episode of ''Family Guy'' * '' Big Biz Tycoon'', a business simulation game by Animedia * ''Bujinkan Budō Taijutsu'', the group which teaches the Bujinkan * Black box theater, a simple performance space, typically a square room with black walls and a flat floor. Music * ''Big Bang Theory'' (Harem Scarem album), a 1998 album by the Canadian hard rock band Harem Scarem * ''Big Bang Theory'' (Styx album), an album by Styx * Big Big Train, an English progressive rock band that was founded in 1990 Organisations * Air Bashkortostan (ICAO code BBT), an airline based in Russia * Barbier, Benard, et Turenne, a French company that specialized in the manufacture of lighthouse lenses * Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, the world's largest publisher of books concerning Krishna * Barclays Bank Tanzania, a commercial bank in Tanzania * Borletti-Buitoni Trust, a c ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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IQ (band)
IQ are a British neo-progressive rock band founded by Mike Holmes and Martin Orford in 1981Official IQ site. Band formed in 1981. following the dissolution of their original band The Lens. Although the band have never enjoyed major commercial success and had several lineup changes, IQ have built up a loyal following over the years and are still active as of 2022, currently with the original recording line-up (with the exception of Orford). In 2021/22, IQ performed a series of concerts in the UK and Europe celebrating their 40th anniversary. Neo-progressive movement IQ were one of a number of British bands formed during the early 1980s, including ,[...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Marillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1979. They emerged from the post-punk music scene in Britain and existed as a bridge between the styles of punk rock and classic progressive rock, becoming the most commercially successful neo-progressive rock band of the 1980s. Marillion's recorded studio output since 1982 is composed of twenty albums and generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original lead singer Fish in late 1988 and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve Hogarth in early 1989. The band achieved eight Top Ten UK albums between 1983 and 1994, including a number one album in 1985 with '' Misplaced Childhood'', and during the period the band were fronted by Fish they had eleven Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart. They are best known for the 1985 singles " Kayleigh" and "Lavender", which reached number two and number five respectively, with "Kayleigh" also entering the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Pete Trewavas
Peter Trewavas (born 15 January 1959) is an English musician, known as the bassist of Marillion. He joined in 1982, replacing Diz Minnitt, while acting occasionally as a backing vocalist and acoustic guitarist. Trewavas was born in Middlesbrough, but spent much of his childhood in the Buckinghamshire town of Aylesbury. It was in Aylesbury that he became involved in several bands, having most success with The Metros, before taking up his long term role in Marillion. Trewavas is also a member of the progressive rock supergroup Transatlantic. In 2004, he co-founded another group called Kino, with John Mitchell (Arena), John Beck (It Bites) and Chris Maitland (ex-Porcupine Tree). In 2011, Pete Trewavas joined up with his longtime friend Eric Blackwood to form the duo Edison's Children. The new project was designed to be a creative outlet for Pete Trewavas (who has traditionally recorded in a "band" or "group" format on bass and acoustic guitar), in which he could also play le ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Spock's Beard
Spock's Beard is an American progressive rock band formed in Los Angeles. The band was formed in 1992 by brothers Neal Morse, Neal (lead vocals, keyboards) and Alan Morse (vocals, guitars), John Ballard (bass) and Nick D'Virgilio (drums). Ballard was replaced by Dave Meros before the release of their debut album, ''The Light (Spock's Beard album), The Light'' (1995), and Ryo Okumoto (keyboards) joined soon after. Neal Morse left the band following the release of their sixth album, ''Snow (Spock's Beard album), Snow'' (2002), and D'Virgilio took over as the band's frontman. In 2011, D'Virgilio also left and was replaced by Jimmy Keegan (drums) and Ted Leonard (lead vocals) from ''Brief Nocturnes and Dreamless Sleep'' (2013) onwards. To date, the band have released thirteen studio albums, and numerous live releases. The band, particularly the Neal Morse line-up, are considered to be at the forefront of modern progressive rock music. Four of their first six albums featured in th ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Dave Meros
Dave Meros (born 8 February 1956), is an American bass guitar player, best known as the bass player for progressive rock band Spock's Beard. Meros has also played or recorded with such artists as Gary Myrick, Bobby Kimball of Toto, Simon Phillips, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders and Big Big Train, and played for Eric Burdon and The Animals from 1990 through the end of 2005, and was the bass player for Iron Butterfly from 2015 through 2021. He was also tour manager for Eric Burdon and has worked as a tour manager for further artists as well. As a bassist, Meros' musical influences are varied, including Paul McCartney, John Entwistle, Chris Squire, James Jamerson, Marcus Miller, Francis "Rocco" Prestia of Tower of Power, Chuck Rainey and David Hungate. Early life Dave Meros was born in Salinas, California. He has a Business Degree from U.C. Berkeley with Music Minor. Musical history Meros began studying classical piano at age 9, five years formal training. • Studi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Nick D'Virgilio
Nicholas D'Virgilio (born November 12, 1968), often referred to as NDV, is an American drummer, singer and guitarist, best known as a member of the progressive rock band Spock's Beard. He was also one of two drummers chosen to replace Phil Collins in Genesis on the '' Calling All Stations'' album. He has also done session work with many artists including Tears for Fears and Mystery, and is an official member of Big Big Train. Career D'Virgilio was the drummer in Spock's Beard since the band began in the early 1990s. After Neal Morse left in 2002, D'Virgilio took over on lead vocals and became their frontman during live performances. In this line-up, Spock's Beard subsequently recorded four albums, ''Feel Euphoria'', '' Octane'', the self-titled '' Spock's Beard'', and '' X'', prior to D'Virgilio's departure in 2011. In 1994, D'Virgilio joined Kevin Gilbert's reformed band Giraffe for a one-off performance of the Genesis piece "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway" at Progfest '94. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Difference Machine
''The Difference Machine'' is the fifth studio album by the English progressive rock band Big Big Train. It was released on 30 August 2007, by English Electric Recordings. TDM is a concept album exploring chaos theory, communication, failure, death, loss, and bereavement. The story is of the death of an individual, which was linked to an exploding star in a distant galaxy. There are more influences of Van der Graaf Generator, Genesis, Mew, Sigur Rós and King Crimson throughout the album. Track listing Personnel *Sean Filkins - lead vocals (tracks 2, 4, 6-8) *Gregory Spawton - guitars (tracks 1-4, 6-8), keyboards (all tracks), backing vocals (tracks 2, 4) *Andy Poole - bass (tracks 6-8) *Steve Hughes - drums (tracks 7, 8) ;Guest musicians *Becca King - viola (tracks 1, 2, 4, 7, 8) *Tony Wright - alto saxophone (tracks 1, 8), tenor saxophone (tracks 2, 4, 6, 8), flute (track 4) *Nick D'Virgilio Nicholas D'Virgilio (born November 12, 1968), often referred to as NDV, is ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Gathering Speed
''Gathering Speed'' is the fourth studio album of the English progressive rock band, Big Big Train. It was released in 2004 by Treefrog Records. It is dedicated to the airmen and women who lost their lives in the Battle of Britain. The song ''The Road Much Further On'' was originally titled ''You Can't Draw Love''. It was inspired by Spawton's then seven-year-old daughter. The album as a whole was a return to progressive rock for the band. It is the first album in which Sean Filkins recorded vocals, replacing Martin Read. It is also the only album in which Laura Murch recorded vocals, and the only Big Big Train album not to feature any songs solely written by Greg Spawton. Track listing Personnel *Ian Cooper - keyboards *Sean Filkins - lead vocals, blues harp, percussion *Steve Hughes - drums, percussion *Andy Poole - bass *Gregory Spawton - guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's bo ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |