Twink (musician)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Charles Alder (born 29 November 1944), better known as Twink, is an English drummer, singer and song writer who was a central figure in the English psychedelic movement, and an actor.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Alder was born in Colchester, Essex, England, into a musical family. His father's mother was a concert pianist and soloist. Alder has said he was always interested in music as a child.
[edit] The Fairies
Alder's career began in 1963 as a member of a rhythm and blues band from Colchester called Dane Stephens and the Deep Beats. After a year, the band changed its name to The Fairies.
The Fairies were sent gifts and Alder, having long curly hair, regularly received bottles of Twink brand home perm lotion. It was at this time that he adopted 'Twink' as his stage name.
In 1964 The Fairies recorded the single "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" for the Decca Records label. In 1965 they recorded two singles, "Don't Mind" and "Get Yourself Home", for HMV.
The band split at some date before 1967.
[edit] The In-Crowd and Tomorrow
In 1965 Twink moved to London and lived in Chelsea. When The Fairies came to a halt, he joined a rhythm and blues/soul music band called The In-Crowd after its previous drummer had left the band. Other members were Steve Howe (guitar) and Keith West.
A few months later the band was renamed Tomorrow. The success of West's solo recording Excerpt From A Teenage Opera resulted in the band breaking up.
[edit] The Pretty Things
Twink replaced Skip Allen in The Pretty Things.
[edit] Think Pink
He recorded his first solo album, Think Pink, with The Deviants, including Mick Farren (who produced the album) as well as Steve Peregrin Took.
[edit] The Pink Fairies
The line up of The Pink Fairies (Mark 1) featured Think Pink musicians Twink, Took and Farren, and was named after the Pink Fairies Rock 'n' Roll Club, a loose group of people including Took, Farren, The Deviants, Syd Barrett (still at the time in Pink Floyd). They were resident in Ladbroke Grove, the home of the UK Underground.
Pink Fairies (Mark 2) was formed with Twink and former Deviants (but without Mick Farren). He left The Pink Fairies in 1971 (although he would periodically return) and after a spell in Morocco moved to Cambridge where he played with Syd Barrett, in The Stars, after which he moved back to London.
In 1987 he rejoined The Pink Fairies for their reunion tour with Took's guitarist Larry Wallis from Steve Took's Shagrat who joined The Pink Fairies originally in 1972 before going on to Motörhead.
[edit] Hawkwind and PinkWind
He periodically performed with fellow Ladbroke Grove community band Hawkwind.
He also collaborated with Hawkwind founder Nik Turner in the band PinkWind. Turner brought in the Wind and Twink, as a member of The Pink Fairies provided the Pink. PinkWind released two albums. Some line-ups also featured Judge Trev Thoms of Inner City Unit and Steve Took's Horns.
[edit] The Rings
Following an injury sustained in a car crash, he worked as a vocalist with The Rings, (a Punk Rock-influenced band).
[edit] Twink record label
In 1986 he released a solo single "Apocalipstic", which inaugurated his new, self-titled record label.
[edit] Plasticland
During the 1987 Pink Fairies reunion tour Twink met members of Plasticland which resulted in the collaboration You Need A Fairy Godmother, released in 1989 on Midnight Records.
[edit] Mr Rainbow
In 1990 Twink released his second solo album, Mr Rainbow.
[edit] Acting career
Twink acted widely during the late 1980s, appearing in United Kingdom television series including:-
- 'Allo 'Allo! a BBC1 British sitcom.
- David Copperfield, one of a number of adaptations of the Charles Dickens novel.
- Chocky's Challenge, which was based on Chocky, a science fiction novel by John Wyndham, author of The Day of the Triffids. The three Chocky series were produced by Thames Television.
