John O’Sullivan

www.myspace.com/johnosullivanmusic

The Band

John O’Sullivan – vocals &  guitar,

I started playing guitar in Coventry in the early 70s. I was 8 years old and  Glam rock was in full swing, with Jimmy Saville proclaiming Gary Glitter to be “Top of the Pops!”. I, however, exhibiting a naive (and enduring) disregard for current trends, preferred listening to my brother’s Beatles albums.

At the age of 13, I got my first electric guitar, began writing songs and formed my first band, mainly under the influence of the Beatles, Syd Barrett and banana sandwiches, in contrast to the prevailing climate of Punk Rock, New Wave and cheese sandwiches.

In 1980 I started gigging around the Midlands with my 3-piece band, releasing a 12” single in 1984 (which received Radio One play, thanks to John Peel and reviews in NME and Zigzag). The band was called 20Days, later changing its name to My Favourite Things and releasing two more singles, and becoming more psychedelic, in contrast to successive prevailing climates of new romanticism, 80s pop, shoe-gazing, acid-house, grunge, and increasingly fancy sandwiches from Marks & Spencers.

We peaked in 1995, being invited to play at Tower Records in Piccadilly Circus and gaining a support with INXS (Michael Hutchence said “Who are you people and why are you in my dressing room!” I’m joking, he was actually very nice...and still alive!)

I then joined Starpower (a band made up of ex-members of The Primitives, best remembered for their Top 5 hit single ‘Crash’).

I also released records with the hungry i (a band featuring Martyn Bates of Cherry Red experimental pioneers, Eyeless in Gaza) touring Germany, Holland, Belgium, France as well as gigs in Prague and Yugoslavia.

For the past few years, I have been working with singer-songwriter, artist, muse, philosopher, actress, and general country-girl-about-town, Anna Page.

An album is imminent, by one or other or both of us!

I recently played violin & banjo on the soundtrack of a forthcoming Hollywood horror movie called Pumpkinhead 3. In my spare time, and in an effort to maintain my reputation as a work-shy bohemian, I pose as an artist’s model and busk on the London Underground.

My new songs are still influenced by the Beatles, Syd Barrett and banana sandwiches, but with increasing leanings towards folk, country and vegetarian sushi. I am still writing the songs for my first solo album, which I hope to release before or after I die (which ever is sooner).

Discography

20 Days - Freefall EP (12” vinyl)

My Favourite Things : Memphis  (7” vinyl)

My Favourite Things : Syd  (7” vinyl)

The hungry i : Falling Orchard (CD & 12” Vinyl)

The hungry i : Second Step (CD & 12” Vinyl)

Starpower : Drifter (7” vinyl)

Hedy : CD EP

John O’Sullivan : Highway One (planned LP)