Martin Newell (musician)
| Martin Newell | |
|---|---|
Martin Newell in 2007
|
|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | The Psychedelic Gardener, Mr. Mule |
| Born | 4 March 1953 |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, poet, columnist, author |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano, bass, mandolin, harmonica |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | The Cleaners from Venus The Brotherhood of Lizards Gypp Plod |
| Website | www |
| Notable instruments | |
| Rickenbacker | |
Martin Newell (born 4 March 1953) is an English singer-songwriter, poet, columnist, and author. He grew up in an army family in various parts of England and the Far East. His music is guitar pop with jangly, upbeat, guitar-centric arrangements. He is also considered one of the pioneers of cassette culture.
In the summer of 1973, a 20-year-old Newell joined the glam-rock band Plod as their lead singer, replacing founder member and lead singer Steve Travis (Greenfield). Plod was signed to London-based indie label Banjul Records in early 1975, and quickly began recording tracks for an album. However, contractual irregularities and financial problems at the label prevented the album from being finished or released, and the band broke up within a few months of being signed. In 2003, one track from the sessions ("Neo City") was released on a 70s glam-rock compilation CD titled Velvet Tinmine. This track was credited to The Plod, and remains the only officially issued work by the band.
Newell then joined Gypp, a pop-oriented progressive rock band, as lead singer. Gypp also played abroad and became popular in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia area thanks to their live performances. Gypp issued one 3-song 7-inch EP in 1978, but their music was out of step with the punk-oriented trends of the UK music scene at the time and the EP received a negative review in the New Musical Express. Demoralised, Newell left the band. By his own account, he then became a "musical recluse", staying in the studio and creating new songs but not playing live gigs for many years.
In the late seventies, Newell led a four-piece rock combo called The Stray Trolleys. They recorded material in 1979 and 1980, but it was not released until 1982 after the band had broken up.
In the meantime, Newell issued his first solo single ("Young Jobless" b/w "Sylvie in Toytown") on vinyl in 1980. By the end of 1980, he was collaborating with Lawrence "Lol" Elliot as The Cleaners from Venus, a band that mostly released their work on cassettes outside the traditional music distribution channels.
By 1983, The Cleaners from Venus had evolved into a band with a floating line-up that featured Newell as its only constant. The band still primarily issued material on cassette, got signed to the West German independent label Modell Records for one vinyl album (Under Wartime Conditions) and ultimately to the German leg of RCA Records which released two albums (Going to England, Town and Country).
...
Wikipedia