Paul Cook- drums, Tim Esau- bass,
Mike Holmes - guitar,
Martin Orford - keyboards, flute and sax.
Nov 2008
New Martin Orford solo album is out now; "The Old Road".
New live double album of IQ out soon!
End of 2007.
With great sadness, we have to announce that Martin Orford has decided to leave IQ. A founder member of the band since its inception in 1981, his contribution to IQ in the years since then has been incalculable. Everyone will be extremely sorry to see him go but we wish him every success in his future endeavours.
Martin explains the reasons for his decision:
"So...26 years in IQ. Well, it had to end sometime and after a lot of thought I've decided to (metaphorically speaking) hang up my keyboard player's cape and give someone else a chance.
There are lots of factors that contributed to my decision so I won't bore you with too many details, but basically I've just become weary of the whole process of 'being in a band' and I need a bit of time and space to do my own thing, and hopefully to re-discover some of the joy and enthusiasm that brought me into music in the first place. Including The Lens, Jadis and the John Wetton Band I've been in bands continuously for 30 years now with hardly a pause for breath and I urgently need a break from all that intensity.
And it has been incredibly intense and not without a certain amount of friction. IQ has always prided itself on being a democracy but in recent years I've found myself increasingly at odds with the process of all the band members writing together. Having been brought up with classical music where it's perfectly usual for everything to be written by one person, I've never felt at all comfortable with the idea of collective writing. I guess I'm just not a natural team player when it comes to music.
IQ is not something that I walk away from lightly. It's a fantastic band, easily the best of the Class of '83 that came through in the New Wave of Prog Rock, and we've done some brilliant stuff which I'll always be proud of. But as I've grown as a musician and a writer, I've found that I need to work and interact with other musicians less and less, and whilst I remain in a band, the vision I have for a piece of music is often blurred or altered out of all recognition by the intervention of others. So, rather than have a solo career that is almost permanently on hold because of IQ commitments, I now want to seize the opportunity to make my own music in my own way. It may be, of course, that the public deem it to be unmitigated rubbish, but I hope maybe you'll give it a chance.
And it goes without saying that I hope IQ will continue for many more years. Of course it will be different without my involvement, but it might even be better. People almost always overstate the impact of line-up changes - would Pink Floyd have made 'The Dark Side of the Moon' if Syd Barrett had been with them, or would Fleetwood Mac have made 'Rumours' if Peter Green was still in the band? Probably not, but both are iconic albums nonetheless.
Finally, a big thank you to all the band members for their understanding and support following my decision to leave. Everyone has been incredibly sensible and grown-up about the whole thing. Although I won't miss the collective writing process at all, I will miss each and every one of the members of IQ. They're a decent bunch at the end of the day."
Martin's final appearance with IQ will be at the Pierre-Péladeau Center in Montreal on 16th September 2007.
The good news is that IQ will continue and they would like to hear from any keyboard players interested in stepping into Martin's illustrious shoes. Please email us at: iqkeyboards@hotmail.com. Live dates in November and December will still be going ahead. Meanwhile, work progresses on the new studio album, with Martin's involvement, although the release date has been put back while the band concentrate on recruiting a new keyboard player. Full details will be announced nearer the time.
Paul Cook- drums,
Their third studio album, Nomzamo ('87), was
recorded with the new vocalist, Paul Menel.
It seemed that the albums Nomzamo (with the single Promises '87) and Are you
sitting comfortable ('88) IQ reached more audience. Certainly the last mentioned
album is great!
Menet en Essau leave and Nichols sings again in IQ. The bassist Les Marshall died tragically; committing
suicide.
Then Jown Jowitt (ex-Ark, The First) showed up ('91).
The double-live
album from '96 is very enjoyable;
The seventh House ('01) is nice again. Complex riffs of more instruments at the same time are very difficult to play. If you like "Subterranea" and earlier records, this one may not be absent in your collection.
Tony Wright - sax.They' did a wonderful gig in Vervier, Spirit Of 66, ('03) and John came back in his underwear for the last encore....
The 20th Annirversery DVD came out in 2004. with a lot of extra's and a nice setlist.
New IQ album Dark Matter ('04)(seems Peter Nicholls' store of less than joyful lyrical subject matter hasn't been depleted yet). The record will boast five tracks:
News: April 2005:
25.10.05
IQ to contribute to the benefit CD for survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
Mike is currently working on a piece for the benefit CD for survivors of Hurricane Katrina. It’s a reworking
of the track ‘Subterranea’ taken from the album ‘Oh Subterranea, Impala that you are’. The track is called
‘Chemical rain’ and is 5 minutes and 25 seconds long.
1985 IQ 'Live From London' Performance Released on DVD ('05).
The date: 13th May 1985, many hundreds of years ago. The venue: London’s Camden Palace. In
the time of big hair, long fringes and dog collars, IQ were filmed onstage for the TV show
‘Live From London’.
In a 60-minute performance, they played tracks from their brand new smash hit album ‘The
Wake’, together with a selection of old favourites. The full set was: Awake and Nervous,
Outer Limits, It All Stops Here, Just Changing Hands, The Wake, The Magic Roundabout,
Widow’s Peak, The Thousand Days and Corners.
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pictures by Pierre Romainville. |
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Setlist of The Spirit of 66:
01. Failsafe | . |
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12. The Darkest Hour 13. NTOC / TTC 14. Outer Limit / Sweet Caroline States Quo! 15. Gateway. and yes no Wake! | . |
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Wonderful gig!
From the opening images on the three screens till the last hilarious credit titles.
Pete got still that amazing etheral voice (something like Jon Anderson?) and that great
ability to interact with the audience (if nescessseray only with the
his eyes). He's got that stage charisma like a Peter Gabriel, so always nice to watch.
On the right of him was standing Mike Holmes, sometimes the opposite, looks like an older
settled houseman... just doing his job perfectly with amazing guitarriffs and solo's. And then
realizing he's on stage, funny, happy and spreading out that he's got a good time.
Johnny Jowitt (aka Big Bush Pants) and his bass (-es), he walks arround how normally the
leading guitarplayer does.
He stirs up the enthousiasm of the crowed, changes basses like David Gilmour changes
guitars, and plays them like hell. And as always dressed up well. A wonderful chap.
Mr Ken Bodfish (aka Martin Orford) hiding behind his keyboards & organ, sometime jumping of
and showing that he's freaking out too. Don't want to mention his ability on the
keys... that stands for it self.
The new drummer, Andy Edwards... just so short related with the band and playing if he
was there for ages. Great drummer dares to improvise and is well accepted in the band.
The sound was incredible well, thanks to Rob Aubrey.
Mark Westworth is the new keybaord wizard. Mark played in Darwin's Radio.
The much discussed vinyl pressing of IQ's 2004 album Dark Matter will finally be released on the Primal Vinyl label. The record will be pressed on 180g vinyl and presented in a de-luxe gatefold sleeve. Although not strictly a limited edition, the run will be for 1500 albums and at this stage it's not expected to be re-pressed beyond that quantity.
IQ: have now finally finished the mixing of their new album entitled Frequency - their longest single album to date at a running time of 62 minutes and 2 seconds ...
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1. Frequency (8:29) 2. Life support (6:28) 3. Stronger than friction (10:32) 4. One fatal mistake (4:54) 5. Ryker skies (9:45) 6. The province (13:43) 7. Closer (8:11) |
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SOLO / SESSION:
JOHN JOWITT
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Discography: Ark - The Dreams Of Mr. Jones (1988) Jadis - More Than Meets The Eye (1992) IQ - Ever (1993) Jadis - Once Upon A Time (ep) (1993) Jadis - Across The Water (1994) Arena - Pride (1996) IQ - Forever Live (1996) IQ - Subterranea (1997) Arena - Welcome To The Stage (1997) Arena - The Cry (1997) IQ - Seven Stories Into 98 (1998) Arena - The Visitor (1998) IQ - The Lost Attic - A Collection Of Rarities (1983-1999) (1999) Dirtbox - Uneasy Listening (1999) Jadis - Understand (2000) IQ - Seventh House (2000) IQ - Subterranea: The Concert (2000) Jadis - Medium Rare (2001) Jadis - Live Outside (2001) IQ - The Archive Collection - IQ20 (2003) Jadis - Fanatic (2003) John Young Band - Live At The Classic Rock Society 2003 (2003) IQ - Dark Matter (2004) Jadis - Photoplay (2006) Frost* - Milliontown (2006) Blind Ego - Mirror (2007) Caamora - Walk On Water (ep) (2007) IQ - Forever Live (DVD box set) (1996) IQ - Subterranea - The Concert DVD (2002) Jadis - View From Above (DVD) (2003) IQ - IQ20 - The Twentieth Anniversary Show (2004) IQ - Live From London (2005) IQ - Stage (2006) |
Made a solo-album called Dirtbox (1999). With Mark Westwood (best
known as roadie for IQ and Arena). With on guest vocals of
Tracy Hitchings.
Martin Orford plays on one song keys.
The album is a mixture of prog, heavy metal, ska, techno, pop ballads, jazz, piano music
and much more.
He was member of Arena from '96 till '98.
And he has a job in the story Hound of Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Clive Nolan & Oliver Wakeman ('01).More sessions for Ark ('88) (with Steve Harris form Iron Maiden) and Martin Darvill & Friends Greatest Show on Earth (2000).
He joined ProgAID ('05 you'll find a interview with Martin and John) and
And of course John is known as the bass player of Jadis.
New Super Group Part called Neo:
More Info about Neo + DVD.
John was awarded as best bass player for the year 2005 by The Classic Rock Society, congratulations John!
He joined Kalle Wallner (guitarist of RPWL) in
Blind Ego with John Mitchel ('08). He toured with Kalle too. He joined again on the second album called "Numb" ('09).
He will join BPII on their new album, that will apear end of 2009.
Frost*:
Together with Mark and Andy Edwards they'll playing on Clive Nolan's new album later i n the year.
Experiments In Mass Appeal ('08).
The new album of Frost. Again a bit harder and more experimental.
Jm is also present @ Big Big Train ('09)(with Nick D'Virgilio and It Bites gitarist Francis Dunnery)
Blind Ego ('07) a project from the great guitarist of
RPWL
Kalle Wallner.
John will be present at Kalle Wallners new solo album. Kalle iss the lead gitarist of
RPWL. They, Jadis & RPWL,
met at the Rosfest-festival 2 years ago. Last year there was another meting at the
Eclipsed festival with Arena and RPWL. So indeed a small world.
MARTIN ORFORD made one solo album: Classical Music and Popular Songs.
It resulted in a wonderful mixture of some light classical piano pieces, a couple of lost
IQ tracks, some nice pop songs and a few prog rock pieces with folky influences. Martin Orford has released his solo album called The Old Road. At the time of writing, the Aubitt-website informs us that there's just one more part to lay down, which is a vocal by John Wetton. Martin's employed an all star cast, including Peter Nichols (vocals on one track), Paul Cook, Nick d'Virgilio Spocks Beard and Steve Christey on drums, Gary Chandler, and Mike Holmes (guitars), Steve Thorne (acoustic guitars) and John Jowitt on bass.
News August 2007:
Martin has left IQ.
October 2007;
All the best,
Martin Orford."
About downloading:
"With regard to the downloading thing, personally I'm not impressed if we have 2 million fans that download for free - they're no use to us whatsoever and I'd rather have just one that actually buys the CDs. Because if everyone expects to get music for free, all the middle ground of the music business (and that includes IQ) will disappear. And all that will be left are the amateur no-hopers and the superstars. The rest of us will all have given up due to lack of funding. This is not something that could happen, it's happening already, and based on current trends I give bands like IQ and record companies like GEP a life-expectancy of 5 years at best.
Rob Audrey - enginering & mixing &
Tony Lythgoe - beautiful artwork.
01. Grand Designs 02. Power And Speed 03. Ray Of Hope 04. Take It To The Sun 05. Prelude 06. The Old Road 07. Out In The Darkness 08. The Time And The Season 09. Endgame |
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Session for:
Martin Darvill & Friends Greatest Show on Earth (2000).
Ayeron ('04).
Lee Abraham ('04), see Galahad.
Martin Orford, Pete Nicholls & John Jowitt are joining ProgAID ('05 you'll find a interview with Martin there too) and
The Tsunami Project with Spocks Beard ('05).
Martin, John and Paul did some session for Steve Thorne ('05).
The sad news is that you Paul will leave the band...
Martin will play flute on Guy Manning's new album (end '05 /begin 2006).
Symfo-Index.
Thanks to John Jowitt & Pierre, please take a look at his site &
Jean Luc's site.
These Tour CDs (Archive Collection Volumes 2 and 3) will be limited to 1000 copies each and will be on sale at the concerts in November and December. For those of you unable to attend these shows, the discs will also be available by mail order at a later date, details to be announced shortly.
The full track listings are as follows:
1. Frequency (Alternative Mix, from ‘Frequency’ sessions, 2008)
2. Already Gone (From ‘Frequency’ sessions, 2008)
3. Lost In Paradise (From 'The Tsunami Projekt', 2005)
4. Crazy Horses (Live at the Mean Fiddler, London: December 15, 2001)
5. Corners (Original Demo, January 1985)
6. Suffragette City (From ‘Frequency’ sessions, 2008)
7. Crashed And Burned (Stronger Than Friction) (Live at De Boerderij, Zoetermeer: December 1, 2007
1. The Province (Studio Outtake, from ‘Frequency’ sessions, 2008)
2. One Fatal Mistake (Extended Version, from ‘Frequency’ sessions, 2008)
3. Chemical Rain (From ‘After The Storm’, 2005)
4. Jet (Live at the Mean Fiddler, London: December 15, 2001)
5. Outer Limits (Original Demo, January 1985)
6. Frequency (Live at De Boerderij, Zoetermeer: December 1, 2007)