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Paul Manzi - Vocals
Paul Manzi was born in 1963, London. He bought his first guitar
when he was fifteen (A Flying V copy inspired by KK Downing of
Judas Priest) and proceeded to play guitar in his school band.
Paul’s early influences were Led Zepplin, Deep Purple, Rush, Queen
to name but a few.
Paul found his voice and started singing at age 23 (late starter)
and 2 years later joined progressive rock band ‘Barchetta’. He
gained notable recording experience at Abbey Road Studios, (only
because Pete the guitarist worked as an accountant there) and
equally notable live experience including playing at the Old Marquee
supporting progressive rock band ‘Pallas’.
Since then Paul has kept busy doing session vocals and working
in various successful cover bands/trios/duos/solo as a singer/guitarist
(one has to pay the rent). More recently Paul has performed lead
vocals on the soundtrack of 2 rock/pop musicals ‘Phantasmagoria’
and Space Family Robinson, which was in production in 2003. He
is also an aspiring actor, and has performed in theatre and on
film.
Although Paul’s versatility as a musician has enabled him to cross
musical styles including soul, jazz, latin, pop and musical theatre,
he has now come full circle back to his rock roots.
Paul Brown - Bass
Paul began playing bass at the age of fourteen to join a less
than impressive school band, and despite being all but pushed
into the position, quickly developed a strong interest playing
music. The band lasted about 2 years (which was 23 months too
long), but in that time he had learned the basics to give him
the confidence to find a more ‘serious’ band.
Over the next couple of years he played in several bands which
failed to get off the ground. One of these ill-fated bands was
Event Horizon. Despite being doomed from the outset, it was here
that he played alongside keyboard player Dave Boland, with whom
he formed Hybrid soon after the band’s predictable demise.
Hybrid were a progressive four piece heavily influenced by Rush,
which gave Paul an opportunity to experiment with more complex
and creative bass playing. The band briefly gigged and recorded
a demo but fell apart after the departure of a key member (the
band have since reformed with most of the original members and
have recorded two albums with a third on the way).
Before his departure from Hybrid, Paul was introduced to Clive
Nolan by a singer who had auditioned for the band. Clive had just
finished producing the first Medicine Man album in his studio
and was aware they needed a bass player to play the material live.
The position was offered to Paul, he accepted, and went on to
play on the next two albums.
During this time Paul was also introduced to another band who
were recording at Thin Ice studios by the name of Janison Edge.
He met with the keyboard player during a drum recording session
(involving a certain Dave Wagstaffe) and after hearing the music
quickly agreed to join, playing on the bands only album to date.
It was through meeting Dave in this band that Paul was recommended
to Oliver some six years later.
As well playing in the Oliver Wakeman band, Paul is currently
playing in Merchants Vice, a progressive rock band he was invited
into by former Medicine Man guitarist Nick Martin. He has gigged
and recorded one album with the band and is currently involved
in the writing of the second album.
David Mark Pearce - Guitars
Born in Penzance, Cornwall. After starting to play the drums at
an early age and a false start at the guitar, Dave started playing
the guitar properly at the age of 15. He joined his first band
at 18 after being given two weeks to learn the material (playing
bass and lead guitar). Dave then appeared in a succession of bands,
settling in a house band called ‘The Jam Tarts’, a rock covers
band in which Dave shared guitar duties.
Dave left to attend the London College of Music & Media, where
he achieved a ‘Diploma in Music Technology’. He returned home
after two extremely hard, but fruitful years, engineering and
producing many projects and bands. He also wrote and recorded
an EP, ‘1997’ and his debut album ‘Pleasure Palace’.
Dave engineered and co-produced a CD single for the band ‘Union
Jane’ and was asked to join the band after the original guitarist
left. He left the band after a change of direction was announced
and was then asked to join the band ‘Naked Feet’ after helping
them out on a succession of gigs. Having completed a period of
gigging with the band, Dave decided he needed a break to re-assess
his musical direction.
Following a meeting with an Allen & Heath work colleague who was
a personal friend of Oliver Wakeman, Dave asked to listen to some
of Oliver’s work. Dave also cheekily asked if Oliver needed a
guitarist. The answer was yes, so after submitting his album and
a minidisc of about 20 new ideas Dave was offered the enviable
guitarist slot in the new band. Their first meeting was at Oliver’s
studio to mix the (original!) Anam Cara album. Dave also contributed
acoustic guitar to this album.
Dave then recorded electric and acoustic guitar sections for CD
single ‘The View from Here’ as well as mixing it. Dave is also
an integral member of the live band supporting this project and
played at the Oakwood center on their debut gig in December 2002.
He also appeared at Oliver and Lisa's wedding supporting Steve
Howe on guitar!
Dave has also mixed Oliver’s latest commissioned album ‘Angels'
(released in Jan 2003) as well as Oliver's relaxation album 'Purification
by Sound' (also released in 2003). Dave also performed electric
guitar duties on the new 'Mother's Ruin' album. He also performed
with Oliver at the CRS acoustic evening last year on Classical
Guitar.
Dave Wagstaffe - Drums
Born in Washington, Sussex, but spent school years in Yorkshire
and Lincolnshire respectively. Started playing guitar at age eleven
before switching to drums. Left school on a mad impulse to join
the Army as a boy entrant, with a short spell in the regimental
band. Left two years later to join his first gigging and recording
band The Clouds and shortly after moved to London in the seventies
to 'seek his fortune'!
After going to every jam session and audition he could blag his
way into, Dave eventually formed Blues Rock band 'Argus' with
future Paul Young/Q tips/Hackensack bassist Mick Pearl and guitarist
Del Watkins (Ben E King/Julian's Treatment) They spent the next
two years doing the rock clubs and universities around the country,
getting good reviews from Bob Harris on 'The Old Grey Whistle
Test' and then scoring a spectacular 'own goal' by folding up
after being invited to record their debut album for Elton John's
newly formed 'Rocket Records'!
Since then, Dave's drumming has covered a wide range of styles
over the years, playing with a variety of bands and artists including
, John Wetton, Ken Hensley, Patrick Moraz , Dave Kilminster, Danny
Kirwan, James Litherland , Peter Haycock , Peter Banks, Brian
Willoughby , John Mizzaroli, Jamie West-Oran , Andy Pyle, Hugh
McDowell, jazz-rock band 'Anaconda', heavy-metal outfit 'Gaskin',
progressive rock bands 'Quasar', Landmarq and Janison Edge, 'world
music' star Cyrus Khajavi , played in the musicals 'Billy’ and
‘Grease’, and drummer/vocalist in tribute band 'The Illegal Eagles'.
Dave has toured alongside many bands and artists including Jazz
artists Joe Pass and Sarah Vaughn, Thin Lizzie, Lindisfarne, Wishbone
Ash, Steve Hackett , Then Jericho, Nick Lowe and Brinsley Schwartz,
Greenslade, Pink Fairies, Shakin' Stevens, Suzi Quatro, The Equals,
'I.Q', Pendragon, and many more. Dave was also drum teacher for
Ivor Arbiter's Fender Rock School for 1999/2000. 2001 saw Dave
appear on Oliver's '3 Ages of Magick' album with Steve Howe and
he also played on the subsequent 'The View from Here' single as
well as the new 'Mother's Ruin' album.
Dave and Oliver first met when Oliver journeyed to Virginia Water
for the Jabberwocky sessions. Keen eyed album inlay readers will
have noted that Dave also sang in the Jabberwocky choir!
Oliver Wakeman - Piano & Keyboards
Oliver Wakeman was born into a musical family and is the eldest
son of rock musician Rick Wakeman. He has written and appeared
on various albums, all of which have been released to critical
acclaim.
Oliver's musical career started at about the age of 5 with piano
lessons taken during break time at New Gregories School in Beaconsfield.
As a child, Oliver would often sit at his dad's grand piano in
the lounge and run his fingers haphazardly over the keys thinking
that if he did it enough times them something tuneful would happen
and one day it did - only briefly, but it was enough to make the
young Oliver sit there all day, annoying everyone, trying to 'guess-play'.
Eventually Oliver realised that he was just going to have to learn
to play properly.
Oliver's classical training has been a bit 'on and off' for years.
However, he has now become a trained player, much to his satisfaction,
and can claim a few distinctions along the way.
Oliver's recording career started in 1984 when he and his younger
brother Adam contributed backing vocals to a track on father Rick's
"Cost of Living" album. The track is called 'Bedtime Stories"
and to this day is the only track that features Oliver, Adam and
Rick Wakeman on the same track.
At age 17 Oliver started to gig regularly in pubs in the Devon
area and considers those experiences to be as important as the
formal musical training he has received. 1989 saw Oliver's own
personal recording debut as part of the band 'Obssession'. He
featured on the cassette-only release "Debut of Desire'". Oliver
wrote one song for the album called 'Into the Mirror' which he
is still threatening to re-record one of these days. Oliver left
'Obssession' and started college in his late teens. He trained
as a graphic design artist and holds a diploma in the subject.
He continued to perform on the North Devon music scene as an integal
part of the Rock Blues band "Smokestack" which was well regarded
by the public and fellow musicians alike. Oliver left the band
in early 2002 although he was re-united with the members of the
band when they were the backing band at his wedding reception!
1997 saw the release of Oliver's first solo album "Heaven's Isle".
"Heaven's Isle" was written at the request of the Landmark Trust
to promote their 1997 season of Lundy Island. The album was re-released
throughout Europe by Verglas music in late 1999. Music from this
album has been used by BBC 1 & Independent Television for various
programmes. The Tarka Tourism board's video "The Secret Country
of the Two Rivers" also features music from this album.
His second album 'Jabberwocky' (a collaboration with London based
musician Clive Nolan) was released in early 1999 and featured
an all star cast, including Peter Banks (Yes), Tony Fernandez
(Strawbs), Rick Wakeman, Tracey Hitchings (Landmarq) & Bob Catley
(Magnum).
Oliver's 3rd album, "The 3 Ages of Magick", an instrumental work,
was recorded with Steve Howe (Yes, Asia), who contributed guitars
and executive production duties. This album was released in July
2001 to ecstatic reviews. The album was launched at the well known
London music venue “The 12 Bar Club” where Oliver performed to
an invited audience.
Oliver and Clive released the follow up to 1999’s “Jabberwocky”
album with "The Hound of the Baskervilles" in early 2002. The
album featured a similar cast plus Arjen Lucassen (Aryeon), Ashley
Holt (Rick Wakeman Band), Karl Groom (Threshold) as well as Robert
Powell, the world renowned actor, narrating as Dr Watson. Again
this album received rave reviews.
A commissioned new age album, "Chakras", was released in early
2002 and a further commissioned work ‘Spiritual Enlightenment’
was released in early 2003. His album ‘Purification by Sound’
was released by President Records in May 2003 and has received
glowing reviews from various magazines. 2003 also saw Oliver team
up with the Celtic singer Rachel for the 'The View from Here'
single which was followed by a live performance from the band
at the CRS Awards night in 2002.
Oliver was also commissioned to write a variety of incidental
music for six poetry CD’s. One of which features the voice of
Derek Jacobi who is well known for his various film roles, most
recently ‘Gladiator’. Oliver has also written music for various
corporate companies in order to launch or promote their products
including the pro-audio company Allen & Heath. Oliver recently
composed the jingle for the CD version of the TV show ‘Name That
Tune’.
Oliver has been nominated for the Classic Rock Society's best
keyboard player award for the last six years and in 1999 his first
two albums were nominated for best album award. He was also voted
best newcomer in the Dutch Progressive Rock annual poll in 1999.
2002 & 2003 saw his most recent albums nominated for the best
album award.
2004 saw the piece of music 'The Progress of the Soul' from the
Divine Harmonies album feature as the title music for the 'A Guide
to Spiritual Healing' DVD. 2004 also saw Oliver appear on Ayreon's
"The Human Equation" album along with other musicians such as
James LaBrie (Dream Theatre), Ken Hensley (ex-Uriah Heap) and
Heather Findlay (Mostley Autumn. This also had the excitement
of Oliver's first appearance on a top 10 album.
Oliver is currently working rehearsing up the band for a series
of shows in late 2004 and early 2005 as well as working to secure
a release for his latest album - the band driven "Mother's Ruin"
album from which music will feature in the set for the upcoming
concerts!
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