Tim Hall - Biography

Born: Leicester, 29^th August 1965, a double Virgo and Wood Snake. Lilly the Pink was at no.1.
I grew up listening to the strains of Joan Baez, the Seekers and the Galliards. This music became my surrogate folk roots.

1975: Made performing debut in a BBC2 centreplay - Gambit's Move. The play featured Bill TREACHER (Arthur in Eastenders) and was directed by John REARDON of Black Beauty fame. I remember hearing "Good Vibrations" for the first time at one of John Reardon's drama classes. Also appeared as an extra in one episode of The Sweeny.

I discovered Rachmaninov at the time Punk was sweeping the nation. I had just started Grammar school, one of my favourite memories is being allowed to listen to the orchestra rehearse, eventually I was allowed to join as a percussionist, but I had already decided that what I wanted was to write music. I Studied Classical Guitar from the age of 13 and began avidly composing music, winning a local radio competition with first proper composition - a trio for flute oboe and cello, called Forsaken Garden retrospectively, after the MIRO sketch. It was performed at St. John's church in Windsor by chamber ensemble Collage, and broadcast in its entirety on Radio 210. I was subsequently commissioned to write Snow Piece for my school orchestra by the Head of the Music Department. During this time I also sang in local choirs led by Gillian DIBDEN, who now leads the Berkshire Youth Choir.

Acquired 8 'O' levels and cultivated an interest in songwriting. Between acting in school plays and competing for the school as a Public Speaker, secretly bought a cheap bass guitar and hid away between lessons learning to play it. Left school with one 'A' level - in music, and formed first band Pelican Crossing with a couple of mates from school. My musical tastes had broadened to include bands like Can and Gong, Stockhausen, Fela Kuti and Elvis Costello

1983: Enrolled at Reading Technical College in the autumn to study electrical and mechanical engineering, becoming the Student Association's Functions Organiser for four months before dropping out due to a deep loathing of mechanics and some of the dullest lecturers ever! It was long enough however, to meet Ricky van SPALL, who became the drummer for the Urban Schoolgirls. Ricky had been playing guitar in a dodgy Goth Punk band, but was easily persuaded to take up the drums instead, which he did like a fish to water. Sadly the rest of the band were either Tory voters or Chealsea supporters, so the band split due to inevitable personal and musical differences after a year or so slogging it out around the Thames Valley pop & prole scene.

Got a job digging gardens for the elderly and handicapped on a government training scheme, underwent a traumatic crash course in Radical Feminism, formed an anarcho - vegan branch of the GMBATU, crewed Windsor Arts Centre gigs, got to see loads of bands and blag support slots with bands like the Magic Mushroom Band. Worked briefly with Martin FRANKLIN who went on to form ambient innovators TUU, Ricky went on to play with Soul Family Sensation and Airstream with Steve HILLAGE producing.

1986: Split Slough to travel the Festival Circuit. Met Max PASHM under the sacred oak at Glastonbury Festival after a series of bizarre coincidences. Formed TribaLaughter with Max and Danni SPEAKMAN. Played a few gigs, an unreleased recording session and jammed with Joie HINTON (Ozrics, Eat Static) in a memorable session at a layby just outside the festival site. Danni left to join Pinkwind, Max PASHM has since become a turbo-folk techno superstar.

Drawn in to working at the Assembly Rooms in Glastonbury, wrote and arranged music for the local community sacred theatre group - Ariadne Productions, which revolved around local feminist author and playwright Kathy JONES. The group performed modern mystery plays around the times of traditional seasonal festivals and involved many of the leading lights of Glastonbury's ever changing artistic community.

1988: Silver on the Tree was formed out of the musical group involved in these productions - some of this music appears on tape - the Shining Ones - which includes members of the Oroonies and was engineered by Joie HINTON.

Jana RUNNALLS, who had been the lead singer of the cult goddess inspired 80's radical feminist band OVA, was persuaded to drop her reservations about working with men and come and produce Silver on the Tree's first proper album Eye of the Aeon, which was recorded using the natural acoustics of the Assembly Rooms' magical hall. Silver on the Tree was primarily a vocal based band, by the second album - Mystic Spiral - this was expanded to include instrumentals and ballads, much of which was self penned.

Although the tapes were made in limited quantities, they have circulated the globe, ending up in some very interesting collections and inspired a small but loyal following.

1992: Founded the Avalonian Free State Choir - rehearsed, trained and arranged a wide variety of material under the Musical Direction of Sue PALMER including Georgian & Bulgarian Folk Songs, Pagan Carols and Psychedelic Prayers. The choir comprises over 50 members of the local community, and has since performed at many festivals, including main stage at Glastonbury Festival and the Royal Festival Hall with Julie FELIX.

1990 - '92: collaborative venture with Charlie MILLER (Whole Soul Collection, Hubba) a local pop band which went under the moniker of the Diggers, releasing one tape - Through the Window and Across the Garden. Played with Den RAY the legendary reggae busker with invisible dreads, almost landed a deal with Perfecto Records but Den dropped out, deciding he'd rather stay a busker. Also worked briefly with Kenwyn HOUSE of Reef jamming 70's heavy rock covers.

January '92 - September '98: took over as Events CoOrdinator at Glastonbury Assembly Rooms - the building had just been bought by a community group via a share ownership scheme set up by Mercury Provident (now Triodos Bank). The venue had lost its reputation in Town and was closed apart from the very occasional gig. Worked as part of a team of Government sponsored trainees to lay the foundations of a framework for putting on events. Set up training schemes, designed & redesigned the Booking Form, Membership Database, computerised Procedures Files using HTML format, mailouts; learned to use a PC & Office '97, managed bookings, negotiated contracts, licences, with neighbours, ran meetings, took door money, cleaned the loos and swept up afterwards. The place is now a recognised venue on the national circuit with a regular ongoing programme of events.

Also worked as a photocopy operator and shop assistant for UNIQUE PUBLICATIONS at this time.

1992: Met Brian ZERO though a mutual friend and began potting a new electric band at the same time - the Invisible Opera Company of Tibet. ZERO was a one-time organiser of the Gong Appreciation Society and wanted to form a cross between a techno-mantra outfit and a tribute band that wasn't a tribute band! Jammed with original Gong members Daevid ALLEN and Gilli SMYTH plus many other members of the Invisible Opera family, which spans four continents and also includes members of Kangaroo Moon. Supported Daevid's spring '94 solo tour and opened up for Gong's 25^th birthday party at the Forum in London. Released two tapes - Live / Studio '93 and Live Totally Bananas '94 - and one studio CD - Jewel in the Lotus (AGASCD 006 - April '96).

1995: Compiled the ultimate Gong family tree - 30 years of rock history on two A2 posters! - A completely monumental task of journalistic research and typesetting headaches. Learned to use AppleMacs, researched and designed a prototype music magazine, posters, tape & CD covers.

November '94 - Birth of Zachary Flynn NEWCOMB HALL

1996: Left the Avalonian Free State Choir and the Invisible Opera Company of Tibet to concentrate on a solo project - Mining for Starlight - involving the cream of the local music scene, which included Greg SHEPHERD and Ryan STEVENS of Kerb. Performed some free form gigs jamming with DJs and the Indivisible Cooperanet and rehearsed with Silver on the Tree for a new CD, writing 40% of the material for - Morning Glory (AGASCD 013). Made a guest appearance on Daevid ALLEN's solo CD - Dreamin' a Dream (AGASCD 007).

1997: Reconnected with Jim PETERS at Glastonbury Festival and decided to reform the Invisible Opera Company of Tibet, quickly attracting a vibrant mixture of acoustic and electric musical wizards such as Brian GULLAND (Gryphon), Stevie P and Maya (Heathens All). Recorded sessions for a new album Open for Isness with Dave GOODMAN - the legendary never mind the bollocks producer - and Matt SPACEGOAT as engineer and switch doctor. Gigged pubs, clubs, festivals and summer camps.

1998: Became involved with Tribal Voices - a collective of acoustic musicians, eco-buskers and protest singers. Learned the basics of raw HTML from DICE George and contributed to the Tribal Voices website. Took up the challenge of webmastering the official Gong website in spare time, which included converting the Gong family tree for the Internet.

1999: Formed acapella vocal group Dulcamara to sing thePagan Carols, Psychedelic Prayers, and world folksong with a smaller, more manageable group. Released Carols for Solstice engineered by Brian GULLAND. Rehearsed settings of Timothy LEARY's Psychedelic Prayers, with the Avalonian Free State Choir.

2000: Formed improvising Dub band with Si DANIELS and Jon CARPENTER(ex Headmix Collective).

Performed sessions on bass with Dragonsfly - a semi acoustic breton & medieval dance band - supported Gong at the Fleece & Firkin, Bristol.

Ran improvisation workshops with mixed ability groups at Rainbow Circle camps over the summer.

Reformed the Invisible Opera Co. with original guitarist Brian ABBOTT coming back into the fold as well as new vocalist Mo ORAM and saxophonist Paul HODGESON. Played the best gig of the summer on the Croissant Neuf stage at Glastonbury Festival with this lineup, and recorded six new tracks towards 'Open for Isness' in a remote location somewhere near snowdonia. supported Gong at the Hackney Empire in London.

Wrote the soundtrack to Millennium Tea Party - a short film by Australian film maker Andrea HEINRICHS.

2001: 22 May - 22 Oct: Got re-involved with the Assembly Rooms of Glastonbury, this time as Overall Co-ordinator with responsibilities covering personnel and bookings management. Computerised the bookings system and got rid of all the horrible carbon paper! revamped the website and helped to set up www.assemblyrooms.org.uk.

Jammed with Easy Maintenance - Twink, Steffe and Kifkif from the original Here&Now band at summer solstice.

Appeared as an extra in Freeserve's Free Love Advert.

2002: Played bass for local singer / songwriter Cameron SCOTT, playing festival gigs as Altered Native.

Also worked as part of a collective of local musicians and songwriters including Sym Eon WEB, Frazer TREE, Jim VIZ, Will GREENWOOD, Germ QUINN and Paul O'REILLY - this gave birth to the Indivisible band in march, a natural successor to the Invisible Opera Co.. We recorded Gravity / Wounded Child at Glastonbury Studios as a demo/single.

Set up GlastonburyMusic.org.uk as a means of promoting the network more effectively and to provide a central information point for the musical community. Made my own computer out of bits destined for the skip and installed Debian on it. Became involved with the AGNULA project, a GNU/Linux based Free Audio Software distribution.

2003: Recorded solo album - Charm. Gigging solo show with Laura ISELEY, Jo WATERWORTH, Oshia DRURY and Dan CHALMERS. Made a guest appearance on Tara - Brian ABBOTT with Nigel SHAW engineering. Edited & layed out Poet for Sale, a softback performance of the poetry of Daevid ALLEN.

2004: Designed & set up the Mean Feet Dance Unlimited website.
Reformed Invisible Opera as a 'power trio' with Will GREENWOOD and Greg SEEGER
Voice actor in internet drama Les Diablierisaire.