After 12 or 13 years, with various line-up changes, The Dumb Earth has come to the end of it's life as a working band. Hopefully the albums the band made will give the music a continuing existence in a few listeners' hearts.
I would like to thank all the people who worked with The Dumb Earth.
After the first album, Walk The Earth, the band had to say goodbye to Mark Ford, the saxophonist who gave those early songs the madness they needed.
Simon Whithear joined in 1998 as saxophone and clarinet player. With Glendon Blazeley on trombone and trumpet the two of them developed a sound which remained a feature of The Dumb Earth's music.
Auld Lanxiety Attack was recorded with the help of our friends from the magnificent Disappointments.
Blessings In Disguise nearly had us all quitting the band. The master tapes were stolen, thankfully at least before the mixing, so we more or less recorded that album twice. Keirnan Box left us and Tim Deane joined, playing piano and organ. Tim's permanent presence in the band allowed a more piano-centred, lyrical approach to the music to develop.
After Blessings Chris Willard left. We'd worked together since the early eighties when we were in Lizard Train. Chris switched to bass for TDE and the arse really fell out of the sound when he left. We did a few shows without bass, Glendon trying gallantly to play Death and the Maiden on tuba, and Tim lugging a Rhodes piano to shows and playing bass lines with his left hand.
Justin Avery relieved them of such exhausting activities by joining as bass player.
The collection of unreleased songs, b-sides and home recordings, Old Days,
released for the band's tenth anniversary, didn't scare any band members away.
In between the recording and release of Dry Land, Adam Spellicy became our former guitarist. Apart from myself, he was the last remaining original member. He had been very enthusiastic and encouraging from the beginning of the band.
For the Dry Land launch shows and subsequent performances we were joined by Sean Simmons who kindly made time away from his band The Spoils to play guitar with us.
The final line-up of The Dumb Earth is listed on the left. A fine group of people to work with.
I must say something in memory of Grant Sullivan. The beginning of the band owes a lot to his enthusiasm and the ability he had to bring people together. I'm sure he is missed by the many musicians he helped in his life.
Everyone who came to see us, bought our records, supported us, thank you.
David Creese.
I continue to write songs and intend to perform and record in the new year. In the meantime I have posted a few home recordings on a new site:
Heya, our album was just released on Bondarev records and through Itunes. Check it out if you get the chance to have a looksee. Bondarev will release the CD version soon with a new EP due in the new year.
I second that Spoils sentiment. Ah, the times we shared! Sad days indeed. Of course, you could always reform as The Umm Dearth. Sorry, blame Tim for that one.
Cheers & tears,
Deb.
xox
Thanks for the request. Hope you appreciate our music (do you?).
If you do, we've got others pages for our band, Hurdy-Gurdy :
- with fresh songs: http://www.myspace.com/hurdygurdy2
- and older things : http://www.myspace.com/hurdygurdyvintage
Anyway, your music is great! Brillant! Gimme some news please when you got a cd that I could have in France.
Next gig for Hurdy-Gurdy :
- the 25 of april in Paris at L’OPA (9 rue Biscornet 75012 Paris – métro : Bastille / Free!)
- the 25 (again) of may at Le Chat noir (76, rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud 75011 Paris – métros : Parmentier ou Couronnes / PAF : 5 euros)
Hey guys, just found out last week you still exist. Why the secretive behaviour? A rash? It's a rash, isn't it. Anyway, just ordered Dry Land, can't wait til it arrives. Get up to Bris-vegas would ya?
