ABOUT THE MUSIC

GARY MOORE

Gary Moore's career as a professional musician began when, at 16, he joined Dublin-based 'Skid Row', whose singer at that time was Phil Lynott. After leaving to form the 'Gary Moore Band' (which toured the USA twice and opened for the 'Allman Brothers Band' ), Moore played briefly with 'Thin Lizzy' before forming two seminal '70s bands, 'Colosseum II' (jazz-rock fusion) and 'G-Force' (one of the first bands to explore a mixture of heavy metal, soul and funk), then made two albums with 'Greg Lake'.

Moore went solo in 1982 with 'Corridors Of Power', taking the charts by storm with a series of hugely successful albums and singles like 'Empty Rooms' and 'Out In The Fields' (another collaboration with Phil Lynott ). At the close of the '80s, Moore explored his Celtic roots with 'Wild Frontier'.

In 1990, Moore re-discovered one of his early musical inspirations - the blues, "I just felt I had nothing more to say in heavy rock and I needed a new direction" he observes. Moore's commercially-and-critically-acclaimed blues albums concluded with 'Blues For Greeny', his moving tribute to one of his musical influences and early mentor, Peter Green.

In 1994, Moore formed BBM with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker (rhythm- section of the legendary 'Cream'), recording an album, 'Around The Next Dream', and thus fulfilling a long-wished-for musical experience.

Then, Gary Moore embarked on his most exciting musical exploration. "I found myself being drawn back to a more song-orientated style" he says. "When I made the new album, it really felt like starting over." Moore assembled a band of world-class musicians, including drummer Gary Husband, bassist Guy Pratt and Magnus Fiennes on keyboards and programming. "This album encompasses everything I've ever played: Irish Folk, jazz, ballads, Eastern music; there's even a touch of aboriginal on the track 'Cold Wind Blows'." 'Dark Days In Paradise' has influences as diverse as its melodic scope is intoxicating, and will attract an entirely new generation of Gary Moore fans with its touches of hip-hop and jungle, but Moore's unique, instantly- recognisable lyricism also ensures that the album will delight his long-term fans. 'When you've been playing as long as I have, there's no point in standing still - I'm not the same person as I was 10 years ago and I hope this album reflects that".

BRIAN GRAY

Bright young composer Brian Gray had contacted the production on its return from shooting in Spain, enthusiastically offering to compose the soundtrack. At the time twelve Hendrix tracks had been selected, and therefore no original score was required. Two years later, when the rights to Jimi's music were lost, Marcus Thompson began his search for a composer who could produce the haunghting score required. Strangely, Brian Gray was that man. "The whole thing had actually been cut to the Hendrix tracks, so I pretty much had the timing of the music set by what had been previously there. The score to the film contains a mixture of styles, as the images require, and that's where it comes from. I based a lot in classical music, but there's bits of flamenco and other things in there as well."

JOHN COOPER CLARKE

John Cooper Clarke is an impossibly skinny dapper man with a razor sharp mind and the complexion of a compulsive blood donor. He has worked and ligged with some of the biggest names in avant garde, rock and poetry and fought and won a battle with heroin that many of his contemporaries lost.

Climbing to prominence in the late 70's punk explosion, John Cooper Clarke has become a legend. The Godfather of the performance poetry movement still has a suave swagger that today's up and coming pop-stars could hold a candle to.

Drawing from his catalogue of infamous poetry the Salford Cowboy rattles off cracking and witty pieces at breakneck speed with ad lib interludes worthy of the finest alternative comedians. He was one of the first poets to actually have records in the chart and - though many of his earthy works were as shocking as anything punk produced - he has actually appeared on the syllabus in school GCSE's.

Having published very little since his seminal '10 years in an open necked shirt' more than ten years ago, the demand for Johnnie can not only be satisfied live at one of his rare and remarkable shows, but now also enjoyed in 'Middleton's Changeling'.