Jowe Head (born Stephen Bird) is a British guitarist, singer, and visual artist, who was a member of Swell Maps before joining the Television Personalities. He has also released a large amount of material as a solo artist and as leader of groups such as Househunters and Palookas.
Jowe Head (the stage name derived from Birmingham slang for "weirdo")[1] was born Stephen John Bird in 1956 in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, and moved to Solihull at an early age.[1] He started playing in 1973 with Nikki Sudden, Epic Soundtracks and Phones Sportsman in a loose collective that later became known as Swell Maps. He also played with Epic Soundtracks and Ken Spiers (later better known as Spizz) in another local band.[2] With Swell Maps he recorded numerous singles (some under the guise of the Phones Sportsman Band and also backing The Cult Figures) and two albums, before the band split up in 1980.[2]
He then embarked on a solo career, releasing his debut album, Pincer Movement, in 1982.[3] In the mid-1980s he formed a new band, The Palookas, which ran in parallel to his other projects until 1989, and joined the Television Personalities in 1983, staying with the band for the next ten years.[3] His second solo album, Strawberry Deutschmark, was issued in February 1986, featuring contributions from two of his former-Swell Maps colleagues, and singer Carmel.[3] He then led a new band, The Househunters, releasing three singles and an album, Feeding Frenzy, between 1986 and 1988, before again recording as a solo artist.[3]The Jowe Head Personal Organizer was released in 1988. A collection of his work, Unhinged, was issued by Overground Records in 1994. After playing bass in Long Decline, he formed Angel Racing Food.[citation needed]
In 2008 he formed Jowe Head and the Demi-Monde, releasing three albums on Topplers Records, with a line-up including Lee McFadden, Catherine Gerbrands, Jeff Bloom, Marina Young and Jane Ruby. Contributing artists include Phil Martin, Chloe Herrington, Kate Newell and Heath Stanley. By 2012, the line-up consisted of Jowe and Catherine with Tim Bowen on cello and Ravi Low-Beer on drums.[citation needed]
Following the demise of The Demi-Monde in 2015, Jowe now has three projects: Infernal Contraption is a development from Demi-Monde, featuring Catherine and Ravi, plus Cos Chapman (of Rude Mechanicals) and Lee McFadden (of Cult Figures). He also has a duo called Eleventh Hour Adventists, with Jasmine Pender (of Rotten Bliss). He also currently plays synthesiser and various self built devices with Rude Mechanicals and contributes songs to their repertoire.[citation needed]
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Jowe Head born Stephen Bird is a British guitarist singer and visual artist who was a member of Swell Maps before joining the Television Personalities He has also released a large amount of material as a solo artist and as leader of groups such as Househunters and Palookas Jowe HeadBackground informationBirth nameStephen BirdBorn1956Kidderminster Worcestershire EnglandOriginSolihull West MidlandsGenresExperimental music post punk punk rockOccupation s Singer bass guitarist artistInstrument s Bass guitar vocalsYears activeMid 1970s present Contents 1 Biography 2 Discography 2 1 Jowe Head 2 1 1 Albums 2 1 2 Singles 2 2 Compilations 2 3 Soundtracks and Head 2 3 1 Albums 2 3 2 Singles 2 4 The Long Decline 2 4 1 Albums 2 5 Househunters 2 5 1 Albums 2 5 2 Singles 2 6 Palookas 2 6 1 Albums 2 6 2 Singles 2 7 Angel Racing Food 2 7 1 Albums 2 7 2 Singles 2 8 Jowe Head and the Demi Monde 3 References 4 External linksBiography editJowe Head the stage name derived from Birmingham slang for weirdo 1 was born Stephen John Bird in 1956 in Kidderminster Worcestershire and moved to Solihull at an early age 1 He started playing in 1973 with Nikki Sudden Epic Soundtracks and Phones Sportsman in a loose collective that later became known as Swell Maps He also played with Epic Soundtracks and Ken Spiers later better known as Spizz in another local band 2 With Swell Maps he recorded numerous singles some under the guise of the Phones Sportsman Band and also backing The Cult Figures and two albums before the band split up in 1980 2 He then embarked on a solo career releasing his debut album Pincer Movement in 1982 3 In the mid 1980s he formed a new band The Palookas which ran in parallel to his other projects until 1989 and joined the Television Personalities in 1983 staying with the band for the next ten years 3 His second solo album Strawberry Deutschmark was issued in February 1986 featuring contributions from two of his former Swell Maps colleagues and singer Carmel 3 He then led a new band The Househunters releasing three singles and an album Feeding Frenzy between 1986 and 1988 before again recording as a solo artist 3 The Jowe Head Personal Organizer was released in 1988 A collection of his work Unhinged was issued by Overground Records in 1994 After playing bass in Long Decline he formed Angel Racing Food citation needed In 2008 he formed Jowe Head and the Demi Monde releasing three albums on Topplers Records with a line up including Lee McFadden Catherine Gerbrands Jeff Bloom Marina Young and Jane Ruby Contributing artists include Phil Martin Chloe Herrington Kate Newell and Heath Stanley By 2012 the line up consisted of Jowe and Catherine with Tim Bowen on cello and Ravi Low Beer on drums citation needed Following the demise of The Demi Monde in 2015 Jowe now has three projects Infernal Contraption is a development from Demi Monde featuring Catherine and Ravi plus Cos Chapman of Rude Mechanicals and Lee McFadden of Cult Figures He also has a duo called Eleventh Hour Adventists with Jasmine Pender of Rotten Bliss He also currently plays synthesiser and various self built devices with Rude Mechanicals and contributes songs to their repertoire citation needed Discography editSee also Swell Maps and Television Personalities Jowe Head edit Albums edit Pincer Movement 1982 Hedonics Strawberry Deutschmark 1986 Constrictor The Jowe Head Personal Organizer 1988 Hollow Planet Unhinged 1994 Overground From a Parallel Universe 2006 Topplers Cabinet of Curios 2017 Munster double LP compilation Singles edit Sudden Shower 1988 Hollow Planet The Legendary EP 1991 Small Compilations edit Classical Music 1989 Constrictor Falling Uphill 2004 Windless Air Music Soundtracks and Head edit Albums edit Daga Daga Daga 2024 Glass Modern Singles edit Rain Rain Rain 1982 Rough Trade The Long Decline edit Albums edit Decomposure 2006 Sniffin Glue Records Househunters edit Albums edit Feeding Frenzy 1988 Hollow Planet Singles edit Cuticles 1986 53rd amp 3rd Cooler Than Thou 1988 53rd amp 3rd Warp Factor 13 1988 Hollow Planet Palookas edit Albums edit Gift 1986 Constrictor Dump 1987 Constrictor Hit The Bottle 1988 Constrictor Schmalookas 1991 Historia Rectify 2012 available on downloads Singles edit Clear Day 1985 Prophet I Want to Be Free 1987 Constrictor Run Rabbit 1987 Hollow Planet Angel Racing Food edit Albums edit Angel Racing Food 2009 Topplers Singles edit Venus Bigfoot 2003 Little Teddy Recordings Jowe Head and the Demi Monde edit Diabolical Liberties 2010 Topplers Tales from a Twisted Tower 2013 Topplers Visionaries 2015 TopplersReferences edit a b An Interview with Jowe Head The Big Untidy July 2009 Archived 14 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine a b Thompson Dave 2000 Alternative Rock Miller Freeman ISBN 0 87930 607 6 p 671 a b c d Strong Martin C 2003 The Great Indie Discography Canongate ISBN 1 84195 335 0 p 158 160External links editJowe Head on Facebook Jowe Head at televisionpersonalities co uk Jowe Head interview trakmarx com Jowe Head discussing his paintings Rude Mechanicals one of his current projects Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jowe Head amp oldid 1224302685, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
