Saturday, March 17   10:30 p.m.
The Hideout   (617 Congress Ave)

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JOHN WATTS
BIOGRAPHY 2007

John Watts is from a family of singers. He progressed through school and college bands inspired equally by the late 60s Trojan catalogue and great maverick artists, from Alex Harvey to Lou Reed, Captain Beefheart to Tom Waits and the 'Hunky Dory' David Bowie. Watts moved to the point where punk, art-wave and reggae crossed over. With college friend Steve Skolnik and rhythm section Steve Liddle and Dave Graham, Watts landed a record deal as Fischer-Z with United Artists in 1978 alongside the Buzzcocks and the Stranglers.

Fischer-Z appeared in the art school new wave to be categorised as the UK's answer to Talking Heads, Television and the New York writer/musician crossover artists. They achieved a strong cult status in the UK, then translated their eclectic mix of reggae and high energy cerebral pop songs into more than two million album sales worldwide. They became well known throughout continental Europe and achieved chart success as far abroad as Australia.

Watts has amassed a considerable body of creative work since. His quality song-writing has evolved steadily against a variety of musical colours. It has encompassed written word, poetry and humour as easily as rap-scape, rare groove and indie guitar influences, all with a characteristic singing and written 'voice'. His recent album, 'Ether Music & Film', was a combination of music album and accompanying road movie.

The double worldwide release of the 'Real Life Is Good Enough? and related ?It Has To Be? albums represents a fresh new era for John; a return to more organic music-making and humorous writing. He is touring extensively solo and in a two-piece format with drummer and multi-instrumentalist Sam Walker. A flexible website now allows the fans to keep up with all John's eclectic activities.


www.johnwatts.co.uk