Influences: Steve Cobby

Becoming a Dad – The biggest shift in perception I’ve experienced in my life. The penny dropped that everything else is a distraction and we’re here solely to pass on our DNA. I sensed it almost as soon as I cut Herbie’s umbilical cord. Becoming a parent made me a better man and a lot less self centred. Blessed I am with the fam I have. ..Everyone thought this was in praise of weed but it’s 100% dedicated to my first born. Thats him gurgling and laughing in the tune.

23 years after first clapping eyes on her beautiful little face, I’m still lovingly ensconced with my guardian angel Deb. She said I wasn’t her type when I first tried to chat her up and I’ve been trying to prove her wrong ever since.
Bjork – Debut, Underworld – dubnobasswithmyheadman and Massive Attack – Protection were highlights of the soundtrack to our courting. She’s stood beside me through thick and thin, so this is apt.

David Cobby – In the late 70’s my elder brother formed a penchant for rock and started bringing LPs home that I got properly lost in as a young teen. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Santana, Genesis. Captain Beefheart and Steely Dan later on. Loved it all. Its why I took this career path so I have our kid to thank for that.

I’m tuned into Channel 4 in the small hours watching the highlights of JFL when out walks a comic unlike anyone I’d heard before. More like a preacher in fact. Dropping truth bombs left right and centre. Counter cultural gold. He seemed almost uninterested in the audiences response. I fell in love with him there and then.
Left a yawning chasm that’s never been filled when he passed away.
Rest in power brother

I’d lost all hope of any change to the neo liberal status quo when along comes Jeremy, literally out of left field. Morals and ethos soundly intact.
To then weather the tsunami of flak and subterfuge from all quarters, still retain party leadership and almost win the GE is simply heroic.

I was honoured to be asked to warm up for him at his pre election Rally in Hull. I did a DJ set culled from conscious and political tuneage and then performed two tunes with Russ Litten. We wrote and recorded a new tune for the occasion entitled For The Many and donated all proceeds to the LAbour Party. Much to our surprise, when we met Jeremy after the gig he told us it was already in his phone and asked if the party could use it at forthcoming rallies.
A life affirming moment.

Chris Wardell – First person to properly open my ears and start listening to different music. At the age of 15 I’d confined my listening to the charts, stuff my Mum and Dad bought or what my elder brother brought into the house. Chris was a couple of years older then me and appeared about as cool as was humanly possible and had an enviable record collection. I will be forever grateful to him for introducing me to the likes of Byrne and Eno, Bill Nelson and Magazine; all inestimable influences on my work.

One flew over the cuckoos nest. Classic anti authoritarian flick that helped cement a bolshy attitude I was fomenting and never really relinquished. It will never leave my all time top ten films. – illegitimi non carborundum people.

Martin Moscrop 1989 – Martin was the first proper producer I ever worked with. I learned shitloads from just watching him in the studio and discussing and listening to music in general. He kindly used to put me up at his house whenever I was over working with him in Manchester and when we got back from the studio he would commandeer the turntable in the small hours and drop endless righteous tuneage. . All this amazing stuff I’d never come across before…Hermeto Pascoal, Azymuth, McCoy Tyner, Pharaoh Sanders, Airto…a proper education. Wish I still had the mix tapes he did for me but I literally played them to death.
What a don of the highest order that man is.

Richard Kirk _ I recorded an EP with Richard under the name Citrus in 93. We spent three days in his / Cabaret Voltaires studio putting it together. I was fascinated how quickly he worked and his almost situationist approach. Some time late on in the session he turned to me and drawled “We’re making music from garbage Steve”. I couldn’t stop smiling.
I’d seen and appreciated the meticulous approach with Martin but this was the polar opposite. After that I tried to integrate both approaches. Being more instinctive and less caught up in the minutae of production but without losing quality control.

Didn’t know who he was until I saw this tiny desk concert. I love drumming but my playing had been far too sporadic to improve. Watching his effortless style inspired me to get my kit set up again and play on it every day. I’ve improved.