miscellany

Who's Who in Modesty Blaise

Here's a long-term project. It is as the name suggests, an attempt to provide a guide to people who you may find mentioned somewhere on the site or on our records, or maybe not. If you think you should be in the MB version of Debretts then mail us and remind us of who you are. If you played on a record and didn't get credit then let us know. We assure you that these listings are the truth as we know it, the more bizarre entries are not made up, it really is that weird in our world.

If you dispute your entry, madam, then let us know and we will change it. Also, why not update us on what you're currently doing so we can tell the cyberworld? And send us a photo or we'll find a bad one, hey we could make money with this....

ARTHUR Paul - (see CHALINDER Art)

BAGLOW Martin -

Martin sings baritone in the barbershop quartet featured on Carol Mountain

BARBARA Josep -

Radio DJ from Badalona, near Barcelona, in Spain. Wrote the sleeve notes for the Spanish version of Modern Guitars with Amplification and coined the phrase "Modesty Blaise, better than The Beatles but not as good as The Rutles". We always visit him when in Spain and love to perform on his show Safari Pop.

BARLEY Colin -

Colin sings lead in the barbershop quartet featured on Carol Mountain and runs a Ladies barbershop Choir

BARRETT Caroline -

Caroline appears as Uranium Girl on the cover of the Uranium Girl EP and in the video for that single too. Photos were taken at a studio in The Watershed in Bristol by Weird BEN and they were also used for tour posters in Germany. Caroline was last heard of in Australia rather than on another planet.

BASH David -

Organiser of the International Pop Overthrow. David has a wide knowledge of top quality pop music and was instrumental in taking Modesty Blaise to The Cavern Club in Liverpool and subsequently to New York City.

BEGENT Ashton -

Ashton features as the villain in the videos to Christina Terrace and Uranium Girl because he's very good at looking scary . He moved to the UK from Burma at the age of 8 and is an expert in a variety of Martial Arts and tends to carry a long sword.

BEN Weird -

Esteemed photographer of the Uranium Girl sleeve, Weird Ben is a good friend of Gregory's and of the 'Blaise in general. Strangely he is one of the few drummers we know never to have drummed for Modesty Blaise.

BOGOS Andreas -

Andreas is one of a number of Modesty Blaise drummers who never played a gig or recorded anything with the band. He moved to Bristol from his native Hungary to be a rock & roll star. Rehearsed several times with the Blaise in 2002, officially joined on a Monday but decided to concentrate on other musical ventures on Tuesday.

BOOGALOO Bernard - (see KABS Bernd)

Bernard accompanied Modesty Blaise on their tour of Germany in 2000 as a translator and general fixer. Also manned the wheels of steel on the weird 2001 acoustic/DJ tour of Germany. Possesses the largest collection of shirts in central Europe. Bernard has told us that he is Belgian but he isn't, he is German! That's how thrilling his life is. He also plays 3-fingered keyboards with The Monochords. Supports Kaiserslautern.

BRADLEY Mark -

Mark is the current occupant of the Modesty Blaise drum stool. He was once in a band with David W BROWN, Jonny COLLINS and Nick SCOOPER called The Most. He joined Modesty Blaise in May 2003. Mark's drumming can also be heard on recordings by Me, The Organelles and a number of other notable groups. His uncle was formerly the governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

BRAYBROOKE Alison -

Alison can be heard talking in French on Someone Who Cares from the Uranium Girl EP.

BROWN David W-

One of the founding members of Modesty Blaise, David has played Bass on all of the Modesty Blaise recordings to date and is exceptionally tall in keeping with the EEC Bass Player Tallest Band Member Regulations of 1989. David's playing can also be heard on early Pooh Sticks recordings and he was formerly in East 17.

CHALINDER Art -

Art was the drummer in the original 1993 line-up of Modesty Blaise. His drumming can be heard on Pop Star, February Forever Girl, the classic Christina Terrace, Nothing Sacred and The Greatest Rock N Roll Band in the World. Art's real name is Paul ARTHUR but we thought that Art was a much better name for a drummer so we renamed him.

CLAPPERTON Julien -

Julien drummed in the longest lasting and most prolific line-up of Modesty Blaise to date, which managed to stay together for 3 and a half years, recorded 2 albums and an EP, and toured Spain, Germany & the UK. Julien played his last show with Modesty Blaise on 16th December 2000. Julien has subsequently played in a number of tribute bands (The Rolling Clones, Cafe Creme, One Step Below and many more). He is also a catalogue model of some repute. Enjoys gentlemen's pursuits such as cricket and grouse-shooting.

COLLINS Edwyn -

Edwyn Collins produced the original versions of Christina Terrace, Nothing Sacred and The Greatest Rock N Roll Band in the World at his own New River Studio in April 1994. He also added some lead guitar to the latter track. Modesty Blaise have supported Edwyn a couple of times and became his backing band a la Chuck Berry for a few songs at one of those shows. Edwyn is, of course, best known for his worldwide smash hit A Girl Like You and for being the Caledonian King of Rock & Roll

COLLINS Jonny -

Singer, songwriter, producer and guitarist with the 'Blaise. Jonny formed Modesty Blaise with David W BROWN in 1993. Contrary to many reports he is entirely unrelated to Edwyn COLLINS but Phil Collins, formerly of Genesis and of the lovely string of hit singles, is his dad, and weedy folk singer Judy Collins is his mum.

CONNOP Damian -

Damian was briefly a member of Modesty Blaise some time during 2002, taking over the drum stool from Andreas BOGOS. Like his Hungarian predecessor he never recorded or played any concerts with the band. He was due to take part in the November 2002 tour of Spain but decided that he didn't want to because he had not played on any of the records that he would be promoting. You don't hear Ron Wood complaining that he didn't play on Paint it Black do you ?

Mr Connop has been in touch to explain his side of the story, amazing what you find if you Google your own name - here is his statement:

The real story...
Loved playing with Modesty Blaise but couldn’t bare the idea of promoting someone else's songs, especially in another country with only a tiny van full of man sweat as my only sanctum. Now I am in another band called Counterglow and still playing other people’s songs. I can’t seem to get out of the rut. I have my own songs but I don’t think anyone can see their true depths. I am currently working on my debut solo album called ‘Need Some Friends’ and it should be finished by 2008. I wish Modesty Blaise all the best and hope someday they will be playing my songs on the radio. Thanks and goodbye. Damian

COX Simon-

Simon, often known as Skip, played Baritone Sax on Melancholia. He has a big horn. That sax solo in Carol Mountain, that's Simon!

CRANN Russell -

Russell played French Horn on Melancholia quite beautifully.

COURTNEY Clement -

Also known as Nut Boy or The Nutmeister for he is a vegan, Clem played keyboards and sang backing vocals from 1996 until 2000. Clem recorded 2 albums and an EP with the band, and toured Spain, Germany & the UK. He played his last gig for Modesty Blaise on 16th December 2000 at the Cube Cinema in Bristol. Entirely responsible for that brilliant organ intro to Let's Get Together.

DESBOROUGH Des -

Graphic artist responsible for the Modesty Blaise logo, Des also did the 001 t-shirt and the MB backdrop. An exceptionally rapid right-winger in his day. Currently, we hear, Des is the doyen of the British art scene, quite right too.

DWYER Lou -

Lou played Cello on Modern Guitars with Amplification notably on Proof If Proof Were Needed.

GOUGH Jim -

Jim sings bass in the barbershop quartet featured on Carol Mountain.

GREENWELL Stuart -

Stuart plays Trombone on the Melancholia LP.

HANCOCK Jonathan -

Jonathan plays Trombone on Modern Guitars with Amplification. Brother of Michael Hancock (below). Jon is currently in India, without his trombone.

HANCOCK Michael -

Michael was the Modesty Blaise Road Manager during the 1999 tour of Spain and the 2000 tour of Germany. He can be also be heard playing percussion on Melancholia. Famed for sleeping in Spanish fountains and managing to see football matches that we all missed, he also inspired the taunt "Our Hancock is better than yours" which the Blaise subject other bands to when sharing the bill. A vegetarian who paradoxically has fallen in love with bullfighting. He plans to move abroad to emulate David Essex in Stardust.

HARKIN Hugh -

Now known variously as Shug or Mr McGuinness, the artist formerly known as Hugh Harkin was the Associate Producer on Pop Star and February Forever Girl which were originally to be released as a single on his Little Symphonies for the Kids label. The single was never released but both tracks have subsequently seen the light of day as b-sides and on A Beginner's Guide to Modesty Blaise due to his graciousness. Hugh is better known as the singer with indie pioneers Mighty Mighty.

HARRIS Harry -

Widely known as Harry the Horsethief, Harry is sadly no longer with us. His outstanding guitar, singing and harmonica playing are preserved for posterity on Melancholia as well as on recordings by Oldland Montano and other artistes lucky enough to have benefitted from his unique genius. Melancholia is dedicated to him.

HARVEY James -

Jim was the guitarist in the original 1993 line-up of Modesty Blaise. His guitar playing can be heard on February Forever Girl, Pop Star and the original acoustic version of I've Got A Gun. Drove a Capri.

HETHERINGTON Alan -

Alan arranged the strings and horns, quite brilliantly, on Melancholia. He also played saxophone and probably lots of other instruments too. General all-round musical genius who can get a tune out of anything, thanks Alan.

HILL Mathias -

Shares the name of Bristol City full back Matt Hill and sports a City shirt with his name on the back. This Matt Hill is a member of Rockformation Diskokugel, who played with MB in Germany and for whom Jonny COLLINS did some backing vocals. He also plays bass with Woog Riots and supports Darmstadt.

HODGES Valerie -

Valerie plays Tenor and Baritone saxophones on Modern Guitars with Amplification.

HUTH Katja -

Responsible for the design of this very web site, Katja is very closely related to Jonny COLLINS .

JENSONE Kim -

Kim plays Violin on Melancholia.

JOHNSTONE-SMYTH Phil -

Phil is a friend of Mark Langley and was the roadie for the original 1993 version of Modesty Blaise. He graduated to playing guitar and keyboards in the band after Jim Harvey's departure at the start of 1994. His guitar playing can be heard on the original single version of Christina Terrace and he appears in the video for that song wearing a suit that actually belonged to Mr COLLINS.

JONES Alan -

Also known as Alan STEEPLEJACK, Alan plays drums on The Most Beautiful. We don't know much about him but we think that he was a steeplejack by trade because he had a sticker in his car that said Steeplejacks do it at altitude (or something similar). Maybe he bought the car from a steeplejack? We just don't know.

Alan has been in touch with us, he doesn't remember the sticker and he would like it known that he is not, and never has been, a steeplejack. Alan has a myspace site at www.myspace.com/alanjonesdrummer

JONES Dermot -

Dermot plays Spanish guitar on both Modern Guitars with Amplification and Melancholia. He has also been seen as a support act to Modesty Blaise on at least one occasion, playing his own brand of heartfelt acoustic blues. Dermot is also a well-known actor and landscape gardener.

JONES Gregory -

Greg joined Modesty Blaise on the 19th February 1995. He played on the BBC Radio Wales session that the band recorded on 20th February 1995. This so confused keyboard player Mark LANGLEY that he left the band. Greg has contributed guitar, keyboards, French horn and backing vocals among other things. A splendid sleeper when on tour.

JOYCE Nial -

Nial plays Sax on Modern Guitars with Amplification. He is an accomplished solo performer himself and has supported the 'Blaise on at least three occasions. He also ran Pop God Records in Bristol. A top fellow.

KABS Bernd - (see also BOOGALOO Bernard)

Also uses the moniker Sir Bernd Kabs. Booked the German tours for many Apricot bands.

KING Brett -

Brett plays Cello on Melancholia.

LAGARTO -

Head of Animal Records, along with Irene RUIZ, who licensed Modern Guitars with Amplification for Spain, and general all-round Iberian punk hero. Famed leader of Lagarto and the Pleasure Fuckers and member of Los Imposibles, his name means lizard in English. He does not sleep.

LAMB Bob -

Once of the Steve Gibbons Band, Bob Lamb engineered Pop Star at his studios in Birmingham also contributing tambourine

LANE Jonathan -

Jon Lane engineered February Forever Girl and I've Got A Gun (Acoustic) at his studios in Bristol. He also recorded the Cube Cinema, Bristol show in Dec 2000 but we've never heard it.

LANGLEY Mark -

Keyboard player from the 1993 line-up. Mark was integral to the early sound and played organ and piano on the early recordings. He was most proud of the electric piano part on You Can Do Better Than That, quite justifiably. Mark quit on 21st February 1995 after a BBC Radio Wales session when he couldn't work out who Gregory JONES was. Mark worked for the Ministry Of Defence, are we allowed to say that?

LLOYD-JONES Jess -

Jess plays Violin on Melancholia and is a member of The Fallout Trust.

MAGALETTI Valentina -

Diminutive female Italian drummer who joined the 'Blaise after Julien. Valentina was supposed to drum on a German tour but she was unable to make the dates and it became an acoustic tour instead. Best looking drummer to date.

MAHLER Hanns-Christian -

One of the Apricot triumvirate and also guitarist/keyboard player in noted indie faves Brideshead. He is also a chemist and invented Penicillin.

MAY Roger -

Roger plays Trumpet on Melancholia.

MCCABE Lynda -

Lynda can be heard playing Violin on Melancholia.

MCCARTHY Juliet -

Juliet plays Cello on Melancholia.

MCDONAGH Darda -

Darda sings quite beautifully on When We Come Of Age and the end of Even In My Darkest Hour from Melancholia. She used to be in a band, managed by Richard SEARS, whose gimmick was that they all dressed in Star Trek uniforms. Wish we had thought of that.

MCGOWAN John -

John plays Trumpet on Melancholia.

MILES Steve -

Steve Miles joined as drummer in 1994 and immediately had to perform on the HTV First Cut show, which he did admirably. Played a number of shows but never recorded with the 'Blaise. Steve appears in the Christina Terrace video behind his shiny drum kit which was later stolen along with his Vauxhall. Steve moved to guitar for a short while, doing the traumatic BBC Radio Wales session on an acoustic. The highlight of his tenure would have been the show with Edwyn COLLINS where Steve got to use Paul COOK's drum kit. General all-round top person and good friend of the 'Blaise. Steve was the first vegan ever to join the band, fact fans.

MOORHOUSE John -

John plays Trumpet on Melancholia.

MOSS David -

Known as The Esteemed David Moss, David comes from Texas but travels to all sorts of places to see and film the 'Blaise. After his brief sojourn in Hollywood he is currently back in Austin. Filmed the Cube Cinema, Bristol show and the acoustic show in New York. Cannot fathom why British chip shops don't sell honey mustard and is willing to argue about it (200,000, 000 Americans can't be wrong!). Mr Moss is currently working on a documentary of life in New Orleans after the flood entitled "Don't Eat The Baby"

NELTE Martin -

One of the Apricot triumvirate, Martin concentrates on legal matters and is also singer with indie faves Brideshead. He is tall and therefore possibly should be the bass player (see BROWN David W and PETERSON Matthew).

NICHOLS Martin -

Martin has engineered the majority of Modesty Blaise recordings at his White House studio in Weston-super-Mare. His contribution cannot be over estimated and he received praise for his work from none other than Van Dyke Parks. One day he hopes to have a driveway so we can get the Hammond organ into his studio without having to carry it up a hill.

O'CONNOR Matthew -

Almost universally known as Bert, Matthew has done some recording with the 'Blaise playing organ and piano on Oh! Redmond and I Love You. He is a noted lounge pianist that you might find regaling the patrons of high class hotels with wonderful versions of the standard classics. He is also a member of the up and coming band, Aspen Woods.

PALDAUF Tobias -

Engineered The Architect Of My Own Downfall at his studio in Mainz, Germany. Tobias is a good friend to all Apricot bands and also does a great deal of the mastering for Apricot releases.

PETERSON Matthew -

Matthew, from Portland Oregon, drummed with the 'Blaise on the Spanish tour of 2001, and quite splendidly too. Originally joined as a 3rd guitarist/singer but moved to drums when Damien CONNOP left. Rehearsals seriously impaired when he had to return to the US because of visa restrictions, he took copies of the records with him and came back the day before the tour playing perfectly. However, he won't eat and drink at the same time and he comes from a land of ass (his words not mine). His extreme height meant that we were in danger of breaking the EEC Bass Player Tallest Band Member Regulations of 1989 (see BROWN David W.)

PETRIE Mark -

Mark plays Trombone quite brilliantly on Melancholia, he made his trombone sound like a French Horn. Which is a good thing, trust me.

PLAXTON John -

John plays Trumpet on Melancholia.

POPLETT Kevin -

Kevin plays Tenor sax on Melancholia.

POZA Paco -

Member of esteemed Spanish group, Los Imposibles with LAGARTO, Paco managed the MB tour of Spain in 1999, driving the van, translating and generally knowing everything.

RAYNER Garri -

Garri runs Sur La Plage records, among many other ventures. He was responsible for the vinyl pressing of Modern Guitars with Amplification which he exported in vast quantities to Japan. Garri introduced Matthew PETERSON to the band. He is still promising to visit Bristol one day but it seems a bit far west from London.

RUIZ Irene -

Joint head, with LAGARTO, of Animal records of Madrid who licensed Modern Guitars with Amplification for Spain and took MB there for a tour in 1999.

SADLER Gypsy Dave -

Singer/songwriter from Northamptonshire currently residing in Bondi Beach, Australia. Gypsy Dave, a good friend of Dermot JONES, surprised everyone by travelling to the Cube Cinema, Bristol show from Australia. Has had some chart success in the Antipodes, owns a Rickenbacker and rides fast motorcycles. Unreasonable facial hair last time we saw him. Gypsy Dave is currently rocking the Antipodean world and doing Toyota adverts with his band Sound Casino.

SANFEY Donagh -

Donagh is a dentist by trade but he can also be heard playing the sitar on Ocean County Blues from Modern Guitars with Amplification, and also on Ocean County Rocks from A Beginner's Guide to Modesty Blaise.

SCHNEIDER Johannes -

Johannes is one of the Apricot triumvirate. He has an extensive knowledge of obscure indie music and is an enthusiastic promoter of jumper wearing.

SCOOPER Nick -

Nick played one show with Modesty Blaise as a guest keyboard player at an RAF base in Oxfordshire. Shortly after he helped form a short-lived band called The Most with David W BROWN, Mark BRADLEY and Jonny COLLINS, managed by Terri SCOOPER. He is an all-round musician with perfect pitch and esteemed solo artiste. He was formerly a member of Me with Mark BRADLEY and is closely related to Terri SCOOPER.

SCOOPER Terri -

Former MB manager without whom Modern Guitars with Amplification would not have been made. Can be heard giggling at the start of Let's Get Together. Terri also formerly managed Me, the drummer of which was Mark Bradley, ha! it all starts to fall into place.

SEARS Richard -

First Modesty Blaise manager, think he might have preferred a cabaret act involving penguins or at least something that had some interest value. Could bullshit for England, and did.

SHEWAN John -

MB drummer of fine reputation. Never recorded with the band but played 4 shows including 2 during the BBC Bristol Sound week. John came to us from some Goth band but was remarkably clean-cut. He quit some time in June 1995 but neglected to tell us.

TEDDS Mark -

Mark sings tenor in the barbershop quartet used for Melancholia.

THOMAS Orynthia -

Responsible for the award-winning Modesty Blaise web site. Surprisingly for somebody who works with new technology, Orynthia prefers her poorly-produced fey indie music to be played on an old cassette recorder. The internet revolutionised her life by giving her the ability to research other Orynthias around the world with ease. Sister of Ashton BEGENT.

TODD Colin -

Not to be confused with the former Derby and England defender and current Bradford manager, Colin is in fact a tenor sax player who can be heard on Melancholia.

TOTTLE Carl -

Noted attender of many shows in various capacities, roadie etc. Also took the photo on the cover of Christina Terrace.

TOTTLE Maria -

Esteemed cake maker and closely related to the above. Maria appears in the video for Christina Terrace waving from the top of a car park.

WALLER Kate -

Kate plays Viola on Melancholia.

WARD Mick -

Engineered You Can Do Better Than That at Mr Grin's studio in Bristol.

WILLIAMS Huw -

Huw Williams was responsible for Spirit of '86 Records and therefore for the first 2 singles. He was the singer with The Pooh Sticks for whom David W BROWN played bass for a while, and then he moved into band management.

YOUNG Elly -

Elly plays trumpet on Modern Guitars with Amplification most notably on Blue and Beautiful. We think she may have moved to Norwich.