Kit Watkins on Happy the Man Auditioning for Peter Gabriel's Backing Band

[arise_shine]

<3 Kit Watkins.

I have his Works CD, and I like most of it. Yeah, last decade or so of his recorded output was mostly ethereal improv/ambient/soundscape stuff, sometimes with beat, sometimes without. But a lot of his 80s and early 90s stuff is pretty solid techno-prog.

But yeah, I'd love to hear more Kit music.

[calyx]

An interesting aside - National Health were another band who got the same offer from Peter Gabriel, just before his aborted alliance with HTM. As it turned out, only Dave Stewart was interested in pursuing the offer; the others (Alan Gowen, Mont Campbell & Phil Miller) were against it. (btw this wouldn't have involved Bill Bruford as this was inbetween his stints with NH, while he was away touring with... Genesis !)

[Steve F.]

^ ^ ^ ^

I don't think I knew this.

That's really interesting. I have trouble believing that it would have worked out well had they done it.

[Dave (in MA)]

It's too bad Gabe didn't end up using HTM instead of those bums that he eventually went with.

[Innerviews]

An interesting aside - National Health were another band who got the same offer from Peter Gabriel, just before his aborted alliance with HTM. As it turned out, only Dave Stewart was interested in pursuing the offer; the others (Alan Gowen, Mont Campbell & Phil Miller) were against it. (btw this wouldn't have involved Bill Bruford as this was inbetween his stints with NH, while he was away touring with... Genesis !)

Wow, really? I had no idea -- and I thought I knew the guy's career inside and out. Where was this chronicled? So, Gabriel went bandhopping during 1976 looking for established acts to piggyback on?

[calyx]

Wow, really? I had no idea -- and I thought I knew the guy's career inside and out. Where was this chronicled? So, Gabriel went bandhopping during 1976 looking for established acts to piggyback on?

This I learned from a reliable source (and their diaries for the period) from around the band (NH) at the time. This has never been mentioned in interviews etc. I believe I did read in other places about how PG wanted to work with bands that way rather than get together his own backing group, probably at much greater expense. This is what he went with in the end though. But I don't know how many bands he approached. In NH's case, it didn't go as far as it did with HTM as they never even did a test rehearsal. This may have happened with other bands.

Interestingly, Steve Hillage had a similar plan - to use National Health as his occasional live backing group and possibly record his "L" album with them - but in the end he worked with Todd Rundgren who supplied his own Utopia for the sessions. And the album did so well that Hillage formed a full-time backing band, touring extensively for six months (in Europe and the US) although his initial plan was to only perform a handful of selected shows.

[srtd4]

I don't believe Kit has released any New music in quite some time now.
He was so kind as to re-release quite a bit of his music (free downloads) on the
Earth Mantra label ( http://relaxedmachinery.com/earthmantra/ ). Also some collab
releases with John Tlusty & Brad Allen, under the name " Tone Ghost Ether "

Scott
http://www.stillstream.com (24/7 All Ambient Internet Radio )
http://relaxedmachinery.com/earthmantra/

[Sean]

I'd just like to say that he was one of the most unique stylists on the Moog ever and it's a shame we only have memories of that to go on at this point. Though better than nothing!

[Steve F.]

I'd just like to say that he was one of the most unique stylists on the Moog ever...

The second time I visited Kit in the mid 80s (?), he was showing off his (fairly amazing and up to date) home studio set up and I said something about the Mini-Moog and how I guess he had sold it a long time ago.

and he said, "Oh, no! I didn't sell it! There's Mini!" and he points to the floor.

And it was being used as a doorstop....

Truth.

[Sean]

Well so much for that! Sometimes you just don't know how good you really are (or care).

[syncopatico]

I do wish somehow that Phil Miller had achieved more recognition, especially in the US. I prefer his tone to Holdsworth's.

[Innerviews]

I'd just like to say that he was one of the most unique stylists on the Moog ever and it's a shame we only have memories of that to go on at this point. Though better than nothing!

How about a few more encouraging notes about wanting new music people? :-)

[Innerviews]

This I learned from a reliable source (and their diaries for the period) from around the band (NH) at the time.

If I ever interview Gabriel (still the big fish that keeps getting away), a question about this era of soul searching will be at the top of the list.

[Sean]

"How about a few more encouraging notes about wanting new music people?" :-)- Anil

That was a hope. Though the doorstop comment made me figure it was in vain at best.

If me saying it again helps I will.

[battema]

How about a few more encouraging notes about wanting new music people? :-)

Has Watkins indicated why he stopped making music?

[gpeccary]

I mentioned it in my post back there somewhere, but will re-voice my desire for more Kit Watkins music! If only he'd listen to me!!