Big Big Train

Big Big Train is an English retro prog band that was founded in 1990 by members of the band Arcshine and changing line - has released seven studio albums and one EP - with Gregory Spawton and Andy Poole as a solid core.

• 3.1 Studio albums
• 3.2 EPs
• 3.3 demo recordings

History

1987-1994

Andy Poole, who played at this time with Ian Cooper together in the band Arcshine, met in 1987 to Gregory Spawton, who had left his band Equus three years earlier because of his studies, and they discovered that they predilection for progressive rock bands like Van der Graaf Generator and IQ shared. Soon they started to record some demo tracks, and founded following the dissolution of Arcshine with Ian Cooper together in 1990 finally Big Big Train. Drummer Steve Hughes and vocalist Martin Read was followed a little later. In October 1991, the quintet recorded an 8-track demo tape, which was re-recorded and released on CD under the name From the River to the Sea 1992. The following year, the band released their second demo recording The Infant Hercules and 1994 finally captured two weeks later in 1993 their debut album Goodbye to the Age of Steam, which was soon followed by a record deal with the progressive rock near record company GEP.

1995-2002

For family reasons, keyboardist and founding member Ian Cooper got out a little later, as the successor rose during filming of the second album English Boy Wonders Tony Mueller. English Boy Wonders was finally published in 1997. In September 1998, Steve Hughes left the band to play with The Enid ( s), and was replaced by Pete Hibbit. After several concerts in this lineup GEP ended the collaboration with the band. Couple Andy Poole and Gregory Spawton then worked on other pieces and finally decided to be independent to build his own recording studio and record together with fellow musicians changing the pieces on their own. In February 2002, the resulting album Bard was published in the now self founded label Treefrog. Around the same time Steve Hughes met again at Big Big Train as The Enid paused for the time being, and also Ian Cooper was again a member of the band.

2003 to 2008

With the new singer Sean Filkins, who had now been replaced Tony Müller, followed in March 2004 the fourth studio album Gathering speed, which was built as a concept album, and on the post-rock influences were first heard. Again without Ian Cooper then began working on the next album, The Difference Machine. The private label Treefrog was renamed English Electric Recordings. About Rob Aubrey, the mixte all BBT albums and has worked, for Transatlantic, the band came into contact with Pete Trewavas ( Marillion ), Dave Meros ( Spock 's Beard ) and Nick D' Virgilio ( Spock 's Beard, Genesis, Tears for Fears ) who then participated as a guest musician on the album the Difference Machine, which was released on 30 August 2007. A revised version of the album English Boy Wonders was followed on 1 December 2008.

Since 2009

In February 2009, Gregory Spawton announced that Sean Filkins and Steve Hughes were replaced by David Longdon and Nick D' Virgilio; both had been for Genesis ' latest album Calling All Stations worked ( Longdon was to last in the competition as a replacement for Phil Collins, ultimately, however, Banks and Rutherford chose Ray Wilson as the new vocalist, as Longdons voice sounded from Collins to similar and the should sound new Genesis otherwise). Since August 2009, Dave Gregory ( XTC formerly ) belongs to the band. With this lineup the album The Underfall Yard was recorded and released on 15 December 2009, it was widely positive reviews; Critics also reported on the often curious similarity of Longdons voice with which replaced Phil Collins in the 70s out, as this Peter Gabriel in Genesis. In 2010, the EP Far Skies Deep Time was released. The next album English Electric was a " split " double album: The first part was published on 3 September 2012, the second followed on March 4, 2013 In January 2013 announced Big Big Train, Danny Manners (keyboards, bass) a permanent member. is. Danny Manners had already helped out on Far Skies Deep Time and at work to English Electric Part One, he was also a composer has already become active. In addition, Station Masters in Planning, a CD the pieces of the older albums should include - but completely re-recorded by the current lineup.

Style

The music direction by Big Big Train has been since the creation of Neo -Prog with indie pop elements, similar to bands like Jadis to retro prog with influences from Van der Graaf Generator, Genesis and Yes, as well as King Crimson, Steve Hackett and Sigur Rós developed.

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

• 2010: Far Skies Deep Time
• 2013: Make Some Noise

Demo recordings

Trivia

Gregory Spawtons grandfather and his uncle all worked on the railroad. One of them bought Greg a Spielzeugeisenbahnset called " Big Big Train". Greg's brother was drummer was named in the New Wave band after this set. After the dissolution of the band of brother Greg kept the name in memory and finally used it again for his band.