Neo-Prog
United Kingdom
TWELFTH NIGHT emerged from the Andy Revell Band formed at Reading University, where in 1978 they won a talent competition. Geoff MANN was an artist friend of the band from the moment in 1977 that he knocked on Andy's door to find out what record Andy was listening to and discovered that it was just Andy playing guitar! The embryonic band consisted of Andy and Brian Devoil (drums), with Mr Rick Battersby managing the dry ice.
After Clive Mitten joined in 1979, TWELFTH NIGHT as a band were born and got straight down to the work of recording. A live LP followed several tapes and experiments with other musicians, including one Electra Mcleod who performed vocals for one tape only. A vocalist was needed - but where to get one? Many were auditioned - including Geoff, who also performed a gig or two with the band and wrote some words for "Sequences".
A successful series of gigs was followed by the band being booked for the Reading Festival - the first local Reading band to have achieved this in the history of the festival. After much deliberating, Geoff MANN, the backdrop painter became Geoff MANN the poet, lyricist and vocalist.
It's important to consider the musical, social and political climate of the late 1970s - early 1980s to get a handle on what TWELFTH NIGHT were about; The roots of the music lie mainly in Andy Revell's HACKETT/HILLAGE guitar sound, but GENESIS, early PINK FLOYD and WISHBONE ASH are the most obvious influences. It has been said that there is a punk element to TN, and while there is a certain amount of aggression, that energy comes more directly from NWOBHM than punk. MANN's vocal style and lyrics may be laced with anarchism, but they run a whole lot deeper than that - Geoff was a deep thinker and poet, and later became ordained. His words attack the idle non-thinking majority in a cajoling way, they attack the governments at a grass-roots level and they attack the nonsense of war - but also support the positive aspects of life, like love.
After MANN left (amicably) to join the church in 1983, a new era of TN started with Andy Sears as vocalist. TWELFTH NIGHT are still making music in one form or another - but it tends to be fitted around the day jobs. Sadly, Geoff died of cancer in 1993.
The "MANN-era" music will live on in prog as being something particularly special, as it goes several steps further than even FISH-era MARILLION, with whom the band are often (mistakenly) compared.
Mark (Certif1ed), ENGLAND
ALBUMS:
1982 - FACT AND FICTION
Musicians
- Brian Devoil / drums, percussion
- Geoff Mann / vocals, tape effects
- Clive Mitten / bass, keyboards, classical guitar
- Andy Revell / electric and acoustic guitar
with:
- Jane Mann / additional vocals on "World Without End" and "Fact And Fiction"
1. We Are Sane (10:27)
2. Human Being (7:50)
3. This City (4:01)
4. World Without End (1:55)
5. Fact And Fiction (3:59)
6. The Poet Sniffs A Flower (3:51)
7. Creepshow (11:57)
8. Love Song (5:39)
Total Time: 49:37
Look!!
2001 - COLLECTOR'S ITEM (1991)
Musicians
- Rick Battersby / keyboards (3 to 8)
- Brian Devoil / drums, percussion, typewriter
- Geoff Mann / vocals (1-2-7)
- Clive Mitten / bass, keyboards, classical guitar
- Andy Revell / guitar
- Andy Sears / vocals (3 to 6, 8)1. The Ceiling Speaks (6:35)
2. Deep In The Heartland (3:50)
3. We Are Sane (10:19)
4. Art And Illusions (3:44)
5. First New Day (5:51)
6. Take A Look (11:29)
7. Last Song (4:23)
8. Blondon Fair (6:02)
9. The Collector (19:01)
10. Love Song (5:32)
Total Time: 66:46
Look!!
