Jonathan Downes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Paranormal Researcher | |
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| Jon Downes at Loch Ness, November 2005 | |
| Biography | |
| Name: | Jonathan Downes |
| Born: | 1959 Portsmouth, England |
| Resume | |
| Field: | Musician |
| Paranormal Area: | Cryptozoologist |
| Affiliates: | Centre for Fortean Zoology |
Jonathan Downes (born Portsmouth, England, in 1959) is a cryptozoologist and author, with a background in music and songwriting
He is currently the editor of Animals & Men - the journal of the Centre for Fortean Zoology- and the Deputy Editor of Tropical World magazine - a Tropical Fish magazine published in the UK.
Having suffered with Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression) for many years, Downes is an activist for Mental Health issues, and he intends to marry for the second time in 2007 to his fiancee Corinna James.
[edit] Cryptozoology
In 1992 Downes founded the Centre for Fortean Zoology - now arguably the world's largest cryptozoological research organization.
He has undertaken several cryptozoological research expeditions, including two to Puerto Rico in search of the vampiric chupacabra. Downes also presents his findings at suitable venues and is a regular at the CFZ's Weird Weekend and UnCon.
In 2005, after having lived in Exeter for 20 years, he moved to his old family home in Woolsery, North Devon, with the intention of establishing a full-time Visitor's Centre and museum for the Centre for Fortean Zoology. Following his father's death in February 2006, he inherited the old family home and announced that construction of the museum and research facility will start later in the year.
- Take this Brother may it serve you well (1988)
- Riding the Waves (1990)
- El Grand Senor with Kim Andrews (1991)
- Road Dreams (1993)
- Smaller Mystery Carnivores of the Westcountry (1996)
- The Owlman and Others (ISBN 1-905723-02-4, 1997)
- The Rising of the Moon with Nigel Wright (ISBN 0-9544936-5-6, 1999)
- Weird Devon with Richard Freeman and Graham Inglis (ISBN 1-899383-38-7, 2000)
- UFOs over Devon (ISBN 1-899383-37-9, 2000)
- Weird war Tales with Nick Redfern (2000)
- Weird war Tales Volume 2 with Nick Redfern (2000)
- The Blackdown Mystery (ISBN 1-905723-00-8, 2000)
- Only Fools and Goatsuckers (ISBN 0-9512872-3-0, 2001)
- The Monster of the Mere (ISBN 0-9512872-2-2, 2002)
- Monster Hunter (ISBN 0-9512872-7-3, 2004)
- Strength through Koi(ISBN 1-905723-04-0, 2006)
His most popular, and indeed his best selling book is The Owlman and Others which has been through four editions, five different covers, and according to CFZ Press has sold a total of 8,000 copies in the last ten years. His 2004 book Monster Hunter is his warts and all autobiography, in which he discusses - very frankly - his years of substance abuse, as well as his achievements as a cryptozoologist. Once described by Nick Redfern as "Cryptozoology's answer to Hunter Thompson", Downes has stated on a number of occasions that this aspect of his life is now firmly in the past. His latest book is a collection of short stories, some fictional, others not, about fish, In addition he has edited eight annual Yearbooks for the CFZ, and two volumes of collected editions of the organisation's journal Animals & Men.
Also Nick Redfern's 2004 book Three Men Seeking Monsters: Six Weeks in Pursuit of Werewolves, Lake Monsters, Giant Cats, Ghostly Devil Dogs and Ape-men is a chronicle of the adventures of Redfern, Downes and Richard Freeman.
[edit] Musical career
During the late 1980s and early 1990s Downes was active as a musician and performer, mostly with cult art-rock band The Amphibians from Outer Space with whom he sang, played guitar, bass, and piano, as well as including elements of psychodrama and performance art in the performances. However, after divorcing his first wife Alison in 1996 Downes all but dropped out of the music industry in favor of cryptozoology, and has since made only a handful of live appearances as a musician.
Records released by Downes include:
- The Mistake with The Amphibians from Outer Space (1982)
- You took me up (1984)
- Emotional Fascism (1984)
- Outside the Asylum with The Amphibians from Outer Space (1990)
- Breakfast with Brian Storer (1991)
- Pyramidiocy (1992)
- SexGodBaby with The Amphibians from Outer Space (1993)
- The Chicken Sleeps Tonight with The Amphibians from Outer Space (1993)
- The Case with The Amphibians from Outer Space (1995)
- Contractual Obligations with The Amphibians from Outer Space (1996)
- The Weird World with Fr Lionel Fanthorpe and The Amphibians from Outer Space (2000)
- Hard Sports (2002)
- Lost Weekend (2003)
