2018 news

There will be three Steve Hillage Band dates this June at three of our favourite venues - Cambridge Junction, Thursday 6th - Manchester O2 Ritz, Friday 7th - London, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire Saturday 8th.

These are the first full-length, S.H.Band headlining gigs for 40 years, since 1979. Tickets go on sale from this Friday, 14th Dec. A support act has yet to be announced.

The band will be Steve and his synthesiser playing partner Miquette Giraudy joined onstage by the members of Gong:- Kavus Torabi (guitar and vocals), Fabio Golfetti (guitar and vocals), Dave Sturt (bass and vocals), Cheb Nettles (drums) and Ian East (Flute and Saxophone). The set will consist of tracks from all the classic '70s Hillage albums, Fish Rising, L, Motivation Radio, Green, etc.

In exactly 6 months time, 10th June, we can all have been well and truely Hillaged!

Gong have announced their May 2019 UK tour dates. A new album, planned to be released in time for the tour, was recently recorded in London.

To complete the circle of the highest musical adventure your presence is warmly requested - book tickets as soon as you can - it encourages everything.

Prof. John R. R. Searl RIP

I'm saddened to announce the passing of Professor John Searl inventor of the The Searl Effect Generator (S.E.G) and Inverse Gravity Vehicle (I.G.V), and in these parts known as inspiration of three remarkable releases.

John was a close friend of Deborah, creator of the releases. She was companion to JWA (Joie Hinton of Ozric Tentacles and Eat Staic fame), which is how the Professor came to feature on 3 albums, 1 of which featured our own daevid allen and another Steffe Sharpstrings and Keith tha Bass.

Magnetizer 2CD.
Gematria ∼:0:∼ From Zero To Metacube CD.
Cygnus & The White Sow CD.

There's Space Rock and Prog Rock and wearing the right psychedelic trousers while looking at the outer limits through some strong binoculars from the safety of your lap-top - then there's the real thing - Inverse Gravity Vehicle have always been that thing. Vibrate your synapses in memory of the good Professor, our own technological Emperor Norton - probably.

Classic Steve Hillage Band releases re-stocked - if only we could experience some actual gigs as well!

Live at Rockpalast CD+DVD. Super 1977 gig recorded for TV.
Düsseldorf 28.3.79 2CD. Great archive release.
Live at the Gong Family Unconvention CD. Joyful 2006 return.
Live at the Gong Family Unconvention DVD. 2006 on film!
Live in England, 1979 CD+DVD. Classic concert.

Searching For The Spark 22CDs and so much more. The Motherload.

Gong's Beginnings

Some say next year is the 50th anniversary of Gong - that's possible...but when did it actually all begin? There are many theories and dates (daevid favoured Spain sometime around 1200-1232 - they were all Troubadours!).

Here is evidence of one of many possible Gong 'start' points. Christopher David Allen, 'Writer', is refused entry to the UK and returns to Paris and a host of adventures which eventually lead to Gong. You gotta love the neat little 'X' of ruled lines by the immigration chap, No.33 apparently?

Last year, buried at the bottom of a box of daevid's books, I discovered his passport. Actually two passports, his very first one on which he left Oz in 1960 and a 1965 replacement issued in Madrid. They were officially welded together with a red ribbon and a wax seal - looked very Victorian. Stamps for loads of trips to Spain and a couple to N. Africa.

So perhaps the 'beginning' of Gong was 24 August 1967?

Gong have completed recording their new album, entitled, 'The Universe Also Collapses', and are all a-buzz with the results - as it should be. It is now being mixed by noted producer and 'engine-ear', Billy Anderson.

Intriguing to go outside the band for mixing, something that hasn't happen for years, not since some of the classic releases in fact. The album masters are due for delivery to the record label in January. A CD and single LP releases are planned.

L-R in the pic (at the start of the recording process) - Dave Sturt, Ian East, Fabio Golfetti and Kavus Torabi. Drummer Cheb Nettles is just out of shot behind everybody - probably?

Footage of a most wonderful gig from a couple of weeks back mixed and uploaded by Cary - enjoy - and next time come coz it's even more cosmic in the flesh! It was quite a Gong-tinged soiree with the Howletts, Andy Roid, Mark Robson and a host of chums in attendance. But don't just take my word for it, here's an effusive, detailed review of Yamma and The Cary Grace Band.

First part of two

Second part

The utterly superb Cary Grace CD, Uffculme Variations featuring Steffe Sharpstrings and Graham Clark.