Steve Gee - A Potted History

Bass Guitar (4/5/6 string & fretless) / Guitar (Elec. and Ac.)
Lead and backing vocals / Tuition for bass gtr and guitar

Early Days…

I FIRST started playing guitar aged 10 and took up bass guitar at 15.
My learning curve began with guitar lessons at school aged 11 with various pop, folk and classical pieces. I soon began teaching myself from books and listening to records (this was way before video!). I bought my first electric guitar around age 12 - a used no-name job for the sum of £10. The bridge fell off the first time I played it! I joined with various school friends to form a number of different bands and  gradually moved over to bass guitar at age 15. Also played double-bass for two years studying with a private tutor (c.1976).

I went on to work with various bands writing and performing original material and ‘covers’ building up an extensive record of live work in turn leading to recording sessions. Among those earlier sessions was an appearance with my first 'serious' rock band, Artemis, on the school TV programme ‘Music Alive’ made by ILEA-TV in 1974 (which also featured Frank Zappa, John Martyn and Kevin Coyne). GAMA Records, run by Max Hole and Geoff Jukes and a part of Decca Records, saw the band and were interested in signing them to the label, having also signed Progressive-rockers Camel. GAMA organised some recording sessions at Decca No. 1 Studio in Hampstead plus a support with Camel and the band almost(!) signed to Decca Records. Unfortunately, GAMA (whose financial hands were tied by Decca) had to concentrate on their previous and more-established signing. C'est la vie!
In my learning curve process, I also attended bass tutor and author Lawrence Canty's course ('Reading for Bass Clef') at Goldsmiths College, London, in the early 90's.

Artists/bands I've previously supported and/or worked with include Camel, Capability Brown, Pacific Eardrum, Ron Geesin (ex-Roger Waters/Pink Floyd), Larry Adler, Danyel Gerard, Anton Karas, Frank Ifield, Rose Marie, Becky Hobbs, The Searchers, The Tremeloes, The Rockin’ Berries, Suzi Quatro, Steve Hackett (ex-Genesis), John Wetton (see below), Peter Banks/The Syn (see below), Marillion, Greenslade, Pendragon, IQ, Arena...

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Paris...

During 1978/79 I lived in Paris, France, recording and playing bass for American singer/songwriter Irv Mowrey on his 1979 album 'Continental Drift' (see discography), produced by Karel Beer and featuring many muso's (including some from the band Bachdenkel) who were in Paris at this time. This also lead to my working with French pop star Danyel Gerard who had the No.1 single ('Melodie, Melodie') in the French charts at the time.
I played bass for Danyel Gerard at various major venues including the Paris Olympia with his own 21-piece orchestra which was directed by French composer Yvan Julien. The finale of this concert featured a circus troupe on stage including high-wire artists, acrobats, etc. This concert was filmed and recorded for a proposed release as a double live L.P. Also worked on occasional recording sessions with other French artists. Various other concerts were played with Danyel Gerard around Paris and in the south of France.

One particular career high-point for me was playing bass for Austrian composer Anton Karas, who was specially flown in from Vienna by Danyel Gerard for his Olympia concert to perform his famous composition ‘The Harry Lime Theme’ (from the 1930’s film ‘The Third Man’). This was, in fact, the very first tune I learned to play on the guitar.

While in France, I played at the 1979 MIDEM music industry festival in Cannes and Grasse (south of France) to promote the Irv Mowrey album, 'Continental Drift'. Time spent in France also includes a short period of busking (with Irv Mowrey and others) playing acoustic bass guitar in – and on – the Paris metro. (I also became quite adept at pinball!).

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Country Music and other stuff…

In 1983 I helped form a Country band, Firewater (1983-89) with Scots vocalist/guitarist Jimmy Nichols and drummer Billy Redif. We toured extensively in the UK and signed to Magnum Records who released our  critically-acclaimed debut album, 'Brand New Vintage', in 1986 on their Sundown label (see discography). The album included covers and original material - including my own ‘Lonely Road Café’. During it's time, Firewater received various awards from many of the Country music clubs around the UK for Best Band/Band of the Year. As well as bass guitar, I also played rhythm and lead guitar in Firewater.

 In 1987 Firewater supported and was also the backing band (I was on guitar at this time) for American Country singer/songwriter Becky Hobbs on her UK tour which was exceptionally well-received.

I've also worked with various ‘covers’ bands playing clubs/pubs/holiday camps performing most styles including ‘standards’, rock & roll, 60s/70s pop, jazz, blues, soul, through to more recent material.

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John Wetton...

In 1995, I played bass for vocalist/bassist John Wetton (ex-Asia, King Crimson, UK, Roxy Music, etc.) at the end of his 'Chasing The Dragon' world tour to promote his much-acclaimed 'Battle Lines' album. The band included members of Landmarq and IQ (also Tracy Hitchings before she joined Landmarq). The line-up was completed by keyboard player Martin Orford (IQ, Jadis, Nolan/Orford). The band played some very successful concerts in Germany and Holland to conclude John's tour. The set included songs by Asia ("Heat of the Moment", "Only Time Will Tell", "Sole Survivor", etc) plus material by King Crimson and UK as well as John's solo material. 

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Landmarq…

I'm a founder member of rock band Landmarq. The band was formed in 1990 and signed to the Dutch SI Records label in 1991. The band formed their own label (Synergy Records) after SI were wound up in 1996. Landmarq have released six CD albums to date and have proved very popular abroad, particularly in Holland, Germany, France and Italy. North and South America, Scandinavia, Japan and Australia are now showing an interest. They have also been featured on a number of compilation releases from around the world (Holland, France, Germany, and Argentina). Landmarq CD’s are now mainly distributed throughout the world by GFT/Cyclops (UK), SPV (Germany), Midstream (Holland), Musea (France) and Pendragon Merchandising (USA). Live dates have included various music venues in and around London, including the west end's famous Marquee Club, The Astoria Theatre (LA2) and The Standard music venue in east London.

In 1998, to promote the release of their CD "Science Of Coincidence", the band played a support slot in Holland with Marillion, then returned to Holland to headline at the ‘ProgHeaven 98’ festival.

Landmarq's other concerts included London's Astoria Theatre, The Hermit Club, Brentwood, the Paulusfeesten Festival 1999 in Oostende, Belgium, ProgDay 2000 festival in North Carolina, USA.

The next Landmarq album, 'Thunderstruck' -- their 5th -- was released in 1999 and is the bands first live album. The band are currently writing and preparing material for their 6th studio album with the second part of the live album to follow, along with re-issues of the first two CDs, 'Solitary Witness' and 'Infinity Parade'.

In recent years, Landmarq has played gigs in the UK, Holland, Italy, Belgium, France, Mexico, the USA. There are also offers to play in South America (Chile, Brazil, Argentina) and also in Sweden which the band are looking into.

At the time of writing, the second live album (Aftershock) has now been released on the Cyclops label (GFT Ltd.) along with Landmarq's five other albums. Work is also currently under way for a brand new studio album which we hope to start recording in 2004. Landmarq also played at the UK Spring Rock Festival, Rotherham, England in April 2002 but then a major change occurred in the band when keyboardist Steve Leigh 'retired' from the band. Steve was eventually replaced by Spanish keyboardist Gonzalo Carrera (ex-Galadriel) who toured with Landmarq in 2003/4 but left the band in 2005 due to other commitments. Gonzalo was then replaced by keyboardist/producer Mike Varty (Credo, Janison Edge) who has since accompanied the rest of the band to Poland to film a concert for DVD release in 2006. The DVD will be issued through the Polish label Metal Mind Productions. Meanwhile, Landmarq are also working on their latest, as yet untitled, 7th CD album.

(Landmarq biography, discography and other information can be found at the official website, 'The Spiral Staircase').

Peter Banks / The Syn...

Early in 2004, I was invited to play bass for original Yes guitarist Peter Banks in some recording sessions that saw the revival of his pre-Yes band, The Syn (c.1967). The original bass player was, in fact, Yes bassist Chris Squire who was contacted for these new sessions but due to a forthcoming Yes tour (and the fact that he lives in L.A.) he was unavailable.
Original members Steve Nardelli (vocals) and Martyn Adelman (drums) were available, however, and along with Gerard Johnson (Saint Etienne, Funky Monkey) on keyboards and sound engineering, recording went ahead at Paul (Oasis, The Finn Brothers, Chris Robinson) Stacey's Strangeways Studio in south London; Paul provided additional technical assistance and a rather good 'rocket fuel' coffee!

Top (l to r): Chris Squire, Martyn Adelman, Peter Banks.
Bottom (l to r) Stephen Nardelli, Gerard Johnson & Steve Gee, Gerard Johnson

A CD, entitled 'Original Syn 1965-2004', was released in September 2005 which is a retrospective of the band Syn including early recordings plus a bonus CD with the newer above-mentioned session material. This features re-workings of two Syn songs, 'Grounded' and 'Illusions' plus a new epic version of the Yes classic, 'Time And A Word'.

At the time of writing and following a number of changes for their 2005 tour, the current line-up of The Syn is Steve Nardelli (voc), Chris Squire (bass), Gerard Johnson (keys), Paul Stacey (gtr), Jeremy Stacey or Gary Husband (dms).
The Syn official website

ProgAID...

"... ProgAID was set-up in the wake of the terrible earthquake and Tsunami disaster that tragically struck on the 26th December 2004. The sheer destruction and loss of human life was of a scale that shook the world. It was therefore decided, that maybe the Progressive Rock Community could do something, even in a small way, to help alleviate some of the suffering endured and therefore help towards the rebuilding of lives and communities..." (source: www.progaid.com)

Consequently, "All Around The World" - the Official ProgAID single - was released on Monday 14th March 2005.

The CD was recorded on the 29th and 30th January 2005 and features many guest musicians from the Progressive Rock World. ALL proceeds will go to the Tsunami / Earthquake Disaster fund.

The single includes various mixes plus a "Making of..." video documentary filmed during the recording sessions which has a number of the artists featured (after which they probably made a hasty retreat back to the pub!!).

Price is just GBP3.50. Visit the ProgRock.co.uk website for details.

- Currently, aside from writing and performing with Landmarq, I am also a full-time member of covers/function band Shout!

- Another project I have been involved with is for singer-songwriter Jeanette Murphy having contributed a bit of bass to her latest album, 'Sugar and Spice' (2002) plus a demo of her jazz-tinged, 'Too Busy'. The album was debuted at London's 12-Bar Club in 2002.

- Recent projects have also included 'Audiovert', a three-piece instrumental band writing original material, featuring Paul Greenstein (guitar, guitar-synth, loops) and David Bouet (drums and percussion).

- My involvement with a new line-up of 60's band The Honeycombs (remember 'Have I The Right'?) with founder member, Martin Murray, has been shelved due to other commitments.

- Enquiries regarding bass and guitar lessons can also be made via the Contact page.

October 2007

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