B. J. Cole
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| B. J. Cole | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Brian John Cole |
| Also known as | B. J. |
| Born | 17 June 1946 Enfield, Middlesex |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Instruments | Pedal steel guitar |
| Associated acts | Cochise Luke Vibert |
Brian John Cole (born 17 June 1946, in Enfield, Middlesex, England) is an English pedal steel guitarist. Coming to prominence in the early 1970s with the band Cochise, Cole has played in many styles of music, ranging from mainstream pop and rock, to jazz and eclectic experimental music.[1]
He played and is heavily featured with Deke Leonard's (~MAN) Help Yourself band at the legendary live concert/recording 'Christmas at the Patti, (19th Dec 1972 Patti Pavilion Swansea). The resultant album was issued as an unusual 10" double LP and at a budget price of only £1.43 due to vinyl shortages at the time of the 1970s energy crisis. He later played with Marc Bolan / T.Rex on their 1974 album Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow, as well as with Elton John on his albums Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across The Water, specifically on the songs "Country Comfort" and "Tiny Dancer". For a few select appearances in 1998, Cole joined R.E.M. for live performances of the latter's "Daysleeper", "Country Feedback", "Man on the Moon", and a cover of Iggy Pop's "The Passenger", which closed out the band's appearance on Later with Jools Holland. He has also worked with Cat Stevens, Kevin Ayers, Billy Connolly, Richard Ashcroft, The Verve, Luke Vibert, Graham Coxon, Roger Waters, Juno Reactor, Rockin Dave Taylor, Depeche Mode, Doll by Doll, Devon Sproule, Björk, Chumbawamba, David Gilmour, Hanson, Ian Siegal, Jah Wobble, The Stranglers, Sting, Icebreaker and Brian Joseph Friel. Cole features on the track "Then I Close My Eyes" on David Gilmour's 2006 album On An Island. He also appears on The Moody Blues' 1981 album Long Distance Voyager playing on the track "In My World".
Cole also appeared (as 'Manley Footwear') in the Hank Wangford band. When The Verve's lead guitarist Nick McCabe left in the summer of 1998, Cole took over from him for the live dates.
He currently plays once a month at Darbucka World Music Bar in Clerkenwell, London, alongside Steve Lawson and other experimental ambient/jazz musicians as part of The Recycle Collective, and has recently been appearing as featured soloist with Icebreaker, in a live version of Brian Eno's album, Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks.
Contents |
[edit] Discography
With Cochise
- Cochise (United Artists Uas 29177) 1970
- Swallow Tales (Liberty Lbg 83428) 1971
- So Far (United Artists Uas 29286) 1972
Solo
- The New Hovering Dog (1972)
- Transparent Music (1989)
- Heart Of The Moment (1995)
- Trouble In Paradise (2004)
With Luke Vibert
- Drum 'n' Bass 'n' Steel (1999)
- Stop The Panic (2000)
- Spring Collection (2000)
With Pete Molinari
- A Virtual Landslide (2008)
[edit] Appeared on
- Elvis Costello: Kojak Variety (2004)
- Joan Armatrading: What's Inside (1995)
- Björk: Post (1995)
- David Sylvian: Gone to Earth (1986)
- Cat Stevens: Back to Earth
- Joan Armatrading: Joan Armatrading (1976)
- Chris De Burgh: Far Beyond These Castle Walls (1975)
- Jerry Lee Lewis: The Session Recorded in London (1973)
- Decameron: "Say Hello To The Band" (1973)
- Elton John: Madman Across The Water ("Tiny Dancer" -1972)
- Felt: Me and a Monkey on the Moon (1989)[2]
[edit] References
- ^ Loftus, Johnny. "B.J. Cole Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p65510/biography. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
- ^ Mohan, John (2010), "Rock-n-Roll on the Hard Shoulder", in Flamm, Christian; Sperlinger, Mike, Foxtrot Echo Lima Tango, London: Johnston & Vock, pp. 14–18
