Saturday 24 March 2012

Dee Sebastian






Dee Sebastian - born: Derek Anthony Morris - vocalist, guitar player, author, poet, enigma


Derek Anthony Morris aka Derek Morris or Dee Sebastian was a singer/songwriter who resided in Peckham, South London, UK. The son of a military serviceman Derek’s childhood had been spent on a succession of military bases in West Germany. The family later moved to the United Kingdom. Interested in literature, poetry, film, music and performance arts Derek formed the band Electra Vogue in 1976 with Steve Sherlock on saxophone and electronics and himself on guitar and vocals. In 1977 guitarist Steve Parry joined the band having seen an advert in the NME/Melody Maker calling for musicians into The Velvets/Experimentation to form a band. Steve Parry suggested the band change its name to Neu Electric (new electronic music) and this later became the more kraut rock sounding Neu Electrikk. Rehearsals were later held to recruit other musicians and resulted in Barry Deller/Della becoming the drummer/percussionist and Nick Hunt join on Bass Guitar.
Promoting their sound as ‘Surreal Modern Music’ performances were often heralded as chaotic, musical happenings, 4 minute songs often became 30 minutes of free improvisation. The band would take to the stage to the sound of industrial hammers, bird song, Frank Sinatra and John Cage. The band quickly established a cult following. John Peel became a supporter of the band and played Neu Electrikk regularly on his BBC radio show.

Derek supported his musical endeavours by working as a printer/plate maker for various London publications. Towards the end of Neu Electrikk Dee Sebastian secured a solo music publishing deal with Sparta Florida Publishing. Having assembled a band of musicians that included Jak Airport aka Jack Stafford of the band X-Ray Spex he recorded material under the concept, ’The face of a decade sessions’. Unable to secure a solo record deal Derek retreated from the music scene. Additionally Parry left London to live in Yorkshire to work on more abstract music projects. Around 1983 following interest from a major independent record label Parry, Sherlock and Morris, attempted to reform Neu Electrikk. After several abortive recording sessions in a studio in Yorkshire the project was abandoned, Sherlock and Parry utilizing the studio time to work on material together.

Derek, ever the enigma, is believed to be working under a different name as either a poet, author or designer somewhere in England. His name turning up from time to time....................?

Sunday 18 March 2012

45 Revolutions (Featuring an article on Neu Electrikk)


45 Revolutions - (1976/1979) - Volume 1, UK/Ireland [Hardcover]

By:-Mario Panciera

Product details

Hardcover: 1173 pages

ISBN-10: 889559200X

ISBN-13: 978-8895592008

Product Dimensions: 24.8 x 17.1 x 6.4 cm

This book has been described as the best Punk/Post Punk Discography book of past 20+ years, being an essential reference for both the seasoned collector and eager neophyte. This superb, meticulously researched edition features an article on Neu Electrikk and features pictures of the Lust of Berlin 7” single cover. I thoroughly recommend this incredible work - it’s something I return to time and time again. Published by the Italian book publisher Hurdy Gurdy further information can be obtained from:-
Note:- copies can turn up on Amazon or Ebay -



Friday 16 March 2012

Neu Electrikk/Steve Parry Interview

"The Ability to Self Combust"

Extensive interview with Neu Electrikk guitarist Steve Parry (Stefan Jadd) published in SALT (Issue Ten)
The interview was carried out in 2011 by Kevin McCaighy and is notably the most comprehensive article written about the history of the band.

To purchase this zine contact the editor/publisher

kevinmccaighy@yahoo.com

Neu Electrikk - Surreal Modern Music (Artbook Published)


Neu Electrikk - Surreal Modern Music is an artbook edition comprising an essay by Vivian Johns about the history of the band and unpublished photos/images of the band. Neu Electrikk is a post-punk band formed in London in 1978. With little information having surfaced over the years Neu Electrikk remains an enigma. This petite yet concise history in words and images is a real collector’s edition.
The book can be purchased from the following bookstore:-

http://www.blurb.co.uk/bookstore/detail/3039407?redirect=true

Neu Electrikk

 
The story of Neu Electrikk is only one tributary amongst a great wave of untold tales that have gone unheralded amid the recent spate of post-punk recollections. Contrary to what Simon Reynolds may have you believe, the history of that era is still in the process of being written. Neu Electrikk were a group of young men in the mid to late 1970s to be galvanized by a combination of the first stirrings of punk and their own personal creative desires, who sought and found in each-other an energy and spirit that propelled their music forward in a breathless, unheeding rush. Their output during those tumultuous years was slim: just two 7” singles and compilation appearance in three years. Six tracks over seventeen minutes. Not a lot to go on, you might think, but they reveal so much - the influences fighting for space alongside flurries of invention and experimentation that drift onto a distinctive, hard won ground. The instruments are at odds; their vicious edges vie for supremacy, imbuing each track with a rather becoming tension, as befitting the austere times in which they were created. A voice steps forward unafraid of exoticism and seduction, a romantic trace within the prevailing chill of sexless gloom. This is band that existed and then was over, that triumphed amid collapse, that dreamed and made those dreams real, for however brief a moment. Neu Electrikk is a band that deserves to be remembered.

(Kevin McCaighy - Salt 2012)