BLUE EPITAPH
Blue Epitaph consisted for PETE HOWELLS and JAMES GORDON, plus a handful of supporting musicians. Pete wrote most of the material on Ode, and was the lead singer. James played guitar and sang harmony. Without the quirky lyrics and odd tangents the music took, they would have been like any other two piece, but it was these features, augmented by Holyground's psych credentials and Mike Levon's production style which made their album, ODE, a folk-psych masterpiece. Throw in a few Welsh chickens, Holyground's drawing pin treated piano, a touch of phasing by headphone manimpulation, and you have it.

PETE HOWELLS recalls that "About four years after leaving college Blue Epitaph went 'on the road' for just over three years playing Britain and Norway mainly. We did some more recording and got very close to a major deal with CBS when deals were deals. I'm currently living in Brighton. I have recently written some songs but have not yet got round to recording them. I am also writing a novel (ho hum) ..... hard work. At a Bretton College reunion recently, I am still recognisable as me apparently!"

JAMES writes, "I am now living in Norway....still playing and plugging away at it all . I did a solo CD a couple of years back produced by Doug Morter (previously from the AlbionBand) and a few of the old timers." And as for Ode, James is amazed "after all these years there is interest in an album from so long ago".

PEOPLE FROM THE PAST . . .
In the last few years we have made major attempts to contact everyone who recorded with us, however large of small their contribution was.

Some have found us first! It has been great to re-meet, and pick up with some where we left off - including recording them again, see page three!

Each issue we will list a few past Holygrounders, and from time to time do a profile like that of the guys from Blue Epitaph opposite.

This issue's blasts from the past are:

from LAST THING ON MY MIND :
Bob Hart ::: Steve Ringsell ::: Jenny Tarren ::: Lesley Guest (now Swire) :::

from GAGALACTYCA :
Ted Hepworth ::: Biff Byford ::: Dave Millen ('Ginner') of Thundermother :::
Pete Duce (photographer)

from LOOSE ROUTES vols 1 & 2 :
Steve Channing ::: Dave Wilson :::
Peter Morton (of Sidewinder) :::
Frank Newbould (Thundermother) :::
Clive Colling (from 9 Bread Street) :::
Dave Nuttall ::: Ian Jones (drummer) :::

. . . more next time

::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: ::: :: go to page three