| Simon Cousins | |
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Simon Cousins, 1989, at the Golden Korone, Darmstadt, Germany, on tour with the Onset. |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Simon Frederick Cousins |
| Born | 17 January 1965 Bath, Somerset, England |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano, bass guitar |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Labels | Probe Plus, Generator, Ophiuchvs Records |
| Associated acts | The So!, Random Gender, Ophiuchus, The Onset , The Catfish |
| Website | Simon Cousins Website, Simon Cousins Songbook |
Simon Cousins (born Simon Frederick Cousins, 17 January 1965, Bath, Somerset) is an English singer-songwriter and musician, who was a member of Liverpool indie country rock band The Onset and folk rockers Ophiuchus. He studied music at the Liverpool Music College and has a degree in philosophy from Liverpool University. His solo work is in an acoustic, folk / country genre, described by Tim Peacock of Whisperin and Hollerin' online magazine as "showcasing a fluid finger-picking style and a gentle, unobtrusive voice which nonetheless carries a determined presence." [1] Seph Ong of Glasswerk National stated that Cousins' songs were "derived from real life experience" and that as a performer he "presents a series of tales that gradually unravel to build a story of the mystery of life."[2] Cousins performed at the Glastonbury Festival, Pilton, UK in both 2010 and 2011.[3][4]
Contents |
The So! formed in 1978 when Simon Cousins and his twin brother Jon were pupils at Grittleton House School, near Chippenham in Wiltshire. The Band's original members were Andrew Hawker (vocals), David Clifford (drums), Jon Cousins (vocals, guitar) and Si Cousins (vocals, bass). The So! started out as a Punk Rock outfit, covering the songs of other bands, but soon became a vehicle for the Cousins Brother's early song writing efforts. The original So! performed only one concert before it disbanded, at Grittleton House School in 1979.
Simon Cousins continued to work with his brother, with their musical styles beginning to reflect the influence of Lou Reed, David Bowie and Marc Bolan. In October 1981 the Cousins Brothers, now attending the 6th Form at Chippenham's Sheldon and Hardenhuish Schools, reformed The So! with former Sheldon Students Mark Dunn (keyboards) and Richard Pearson (Drums). The new So! played their first gig on March 15, 1982, and the event was covered by the Wiltshire Times and News, which reported that "Chippenham rock group, The So, got their first big break on Monday night when they performed at the Stonehouse, Bristol."[5] In May 1982 Jon Cousins invited fellow Hardenhuish student Myke Vince to join The So! to play drums. June 11, 1982, Wiltshire Times and News reported that the So! had decided to change their name to Random Gender. The article states that "The group's last gig as The So will be a private party for their fans at Kington St. Michael."[6] This gig was at the Jolly Huntsman Pub, Kington St. Michael, Wiltshire.
The Chippenham New also ran the story on The So changing its name to Random Gender, reporting that the band “had been off the scene for a few months rehearsing a new set.”[7] This is indicative of the transition to Random Gender, which marked a new phase of song writing for Simon Cousins, with his songs Stage, Night and Day and The Man With The Face being recorded as demo singles during 1983 and 1984.
Throughout his time with Random Gender, Cousins’ songs became more progressive, introducing dynamics and themed movements to create mood and contrast, using keyboards, guitar and saxophone to provide texture in melody and harmony. Mark Ashton, writing in Bristol and Bath's Biggest What’s On Guide, “The Venue”, commented that the band “like tangibility, emotion and fun in their music.”[8] Lyrics of songs like “Ten Words”, “Spirit” and “Running Through The Sky”, reflected Cousins’ growing interest in Earth mysteries, myth and folklore. Dave Massey reviewing Random Gender for Sounds Music Paper in July 1984 commented that he felt “cross-eared... with the intrigue of untangling what precisely Random Gender are all about.”[9] In an interview with Susan Hampton for Wiltshire Gazette and Herald in March 1985, Simon Cousins stated “We don’t know what to call it – really it’s a mixture of all our influences.”[10] Al Read, in his 2003 publication, “The Granary Club” describes Random Gender as being a “Velvet Underground meets King Crimson type outfit.”.[11] Simon Kinnersley of Bath and West Evening Chronicle tried to pin down the Gender Sound, writing “they’ve been aligned to King Crimson and Velvet Underground, which they should take as something of an insult, because they are rather more dashing and positive than that.”[12] The classic band line up saw Simon Cousins (bass and vocals) and Jon Cousins (guitar and vocals) team up with Myke Vince (drums), Richard Hughes (keyboards) and Pat D’Arcy (saxophone). Jon Cousins later coined the term “Progressive Garage” to describe Random Gender’s music. Simon Cousins summed the band up in an interview with Karen Mills of Salisbury’s Portfolio Magazine, “Pat’s influences are soul and rhythm and blues, I’m basically influenced by Genesis and Bowie, Myke’s influenced by Japan, Bowie, Talking Heads and Psychedelic Furs. Jon has a strong Folk influence, which is good for the band, and Rich doesn’t seem to be influenced by anyone!”[13]
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In 1986 the Cousins Brothers and D’Arcy split from Random Gender to form the Progressive Folk Rock outfit Ophiuchus. They played their first gig supporting Culture Shock in Warminster that year. They quickly established a residency at Pee Wee’s Real Ale Bar in Trowbridge. Ophiuchus’ music was grounded in a fusion of punk, progressive and folk rock. Lyrically, the Cousins Brothers were writing songs about stone circles, green men and solstice. Jon Cousins being interviewed for the Mardenbeat Magazine in 1987 explained that “A lot of pop music has its roots in Black American music, but we want to go back to more traditional English sounds, particularly from this part of England.”[14] Si Cousins’ compositions such as “A Time Of Changes”, “The Healing” and “Children Of The Moon”, were a result of his interest and experiences of New Age, Occult and Wiccan Cultures. Simon Jones writing in Folk Roots commented that "Ophiuchus weave their own dreamy, rustic idyll.”[15] The Venue Magazine billed them as “The best thing out of Wiltshire that isn’t made by Wadsworth.”[16] Although he left Ophiuchus in 1987, Cousins has a cameo appearance as a Guest Snare Drum Player on their Debut LP; “Pronounced Offee-ick ‘Cus”, released on Probe Plus Records in 1989.[17]
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In January 1987, Cousins moved to Liverpool to join Mike Badger, the founder of Liverpool’s Britpop band The La’s,[18] who was working with guitarist Dan Dean to develop an indie/country/roots sound as The Onset. The band was described by Pete Frame, author of Rock Family Trees, as "The most arresting group in captivity - younger than yesterday, fresher than tomorrow".[19] Mike Badger in interview with Tim Peacock of Whisperin and Hollerin Magazine in 2008, stated “This meant a lot to us, as did any good wholesome thing said about us. It drove us on because we had no real income from the band save for funding itself. We had distribution at times when we had no airplay, or we had airplay at times of no distribution and great press when there was no record.”.[20] Their classic line up was Mike Badger (vocals, acoustic guitar), Simon Cousins (bass, vocals), Danny Dean (lead guitar), Paul Hemmings later of the Lightning Seeds,(rhythm guitar, slide, mandolin) and Tony Russell (drums). Mike Badger called their sound as “a sort of Punk Cajun”.[21] This appealed to Geoff Davies the legendary Record Producer of Liverpool’s Probe Plus Label, who signed up the band stating they were “Irresistible salad of rootsy pop... Lovely stuff, warm, human, spiritual, compassionate.”.[22]
The Onset was primarily a vehicle for Mike Badger’s song writing, with Cousins and the other members contributing to arrangements rather than composition. Cousins does have joint music credit on The Onset’s “Sun and Moon”, “Two Step Angels”, “First I Feel You”, “What Say You”, “Love's Inspiration”, “I Do What I Can” and “Touch The Moon”. He also contributed one of his own songs to the band “Mother England”, commenting on the impact of the recession in the late 80s. The music was heavily influenced by the Senegalese Mbalax style with a Hawaiian lap steel lead played by Paul Hemmings.
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Si Cousins left The Onset in late 1991 to join up with The Catfish, a group of musicians who had all played or recorded with The Onset at various stages. They were Roger Llewellyn (vocals, banjo, acoustic guitar), Simon Cousins (bass, vocals) Nick Hrydowy (lead guitar, mandolin) and Brian Morrow (percussion, drums). Cousins contributed a number of songs to The Catfish’s set including Jump Into The Fire, which saw him return to the themes of symbolism and folklore. The Catfish sound owed more to West Coast Pop than the Country Rock style of the Onset. They performed for just over a year before Roger Llewellyn and Brian Morrow joined The Onset in 1993. Simon Cousins studied music at the Liverpool Music College during this time and rejoined the Onset in 1994 for their final recording sessions in Ian Broudie’s Liverpool Studios.
Since the Onset folded in 1995, Simon Cousins has continued to write songs, developing as an acoustic guitarist with an intimate vocal style and poignant lyrics. He recorded at Pat D’Arcy’s studio during the 90s and with Jon Cousins on the Liberty Blake sessions in 2008. His recordings with The Onset continue to be released through Probe Plus, The Viper Label and Mike Badger’s Generator Label.
In 2009, Cousins began performing live after a 13 year hiatus. He has played concerts throughout the UK including the famous Cavern Club Liverpool (May 2010) and the Members Room, St.Helens Town Hall (June 2010). Tim Peacock from Whisperin' and Hollerin' Online Magazine reviewing Cousins' music stated "There's a mission to both soothe your soul and quietly sweep you off your feet going ahead here, so you'd be foolish not to succumb."[23]
In April 2010, Si Cousins joined his brother Jon to reform Ophiuchus with fellow members, Pat D'Arcy (Saxophone), Glenn Wardle (Hammer Dulcimer), Pete Causer (Melodeon), Richard Hughes (Piano Accordion), Xavier Tutien (Bass), Myke Vince (Drums), Jack "WestWayy" Cousins (Percussion), Mike Slater (Cruel Driver) and Dick (Mumming Memento Mori). The Group had not played together for 23 years. In an interview with journalist Nick Cook, Cousins commented that "planning rehearsals with band members in Chippenham, Swindon, Bristol, Glastonbury, Liverpool and Paris was a logistical nightmare.".[24] The reformed band played on the Bandstand Stage at the Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts on Sunday, June 27, 2010.[25][3]
On 1 June 2011, the Liverpool Echo announced that Cousins was to return Glastonbury as a solo artist to play four shows at the 2011 Glastonbury Festival.[26] Cousins' shows were in the Green Futures Field where he played the Tadpole Stage on Wednesday 22 June and the Mandala Stage on Thursday 23rd, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26 June.[4]
Cousins’ first solo single, Love’s Counterfeit, was released on 11 November 2011. [27] The song received its first radio play on Radio Merseyside’s ‘Tony Snell in the Morning’ show on 20 June 2011. [28] Cousins is reported to have decided to release the song because of its popularity at Glastonbury Festival. [29] Love’s Counterfeit was released as a digital download format through iTunes. [30]