Here & Now (band)

Here & Now are an English psychedelic/space rock band formed in early 1974. They have close connections with the band Gong and in 1977/1978 worked with Gong's Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth under the name Planet Gong.

Guitarist Steffy Sharpstrings' highly individual sound was influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa. Both Steffy and bassist Keith the Bass have featured in later incarnations of Gong.

History

The band formed in the West London Ladbroke Grove squatter community in 1974. They were known for jamming.

Synth player Paul Noble aka Twink (not Twink of the Pink Fairies) and drummer Keith "Kif-kif" Dobson formed the foundation of the band. When guitarist Stephan Lewry and bassist Keith Bailey layer joined them to perform at the Watchfield free festival of August 1975, it produced the definitive Here & Now line-up. They were often joined by two female singers Ano and Suze de Blooze. Another essential member was soundman Grant Showbiz who went on to work with The Fall, The Smiths, and Billy Bragg. On 1977 Twink was replaced on synthesizer by Gavin da Blitz.

In 1977 Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth recruited the band to tour with them under the name Planet Gong, and this combination released a live album Floating Anarchy 1977 and a single "Opium for the People". The band also forged a strong relationshp with punk pundit Mark P.'s group Alternative TV, touring together and, in 1978, releasing a joint live album What You See Is What You Are.

In 1980 Kif Kif left, starting his own recording studio Street Level and forming a cassette label Fuck Off Records, a recognized pioneering move in the DIY lo-fi movement^{[citation needed]}. He also formed a new trio World Domination Enterprises.

The band toured extensively in 1980 and 1981 living on their converted bus. This included the free summer festivals of Deeply Vale, Stonehenge and Glastonbury. The hallmark of the gigs was no entrance fee but a voluntary collection amongst the crowd to help funds.

In 1981 Steffe left due to dissatisfaction with the direction and vibe of the band and became deeply involved in reggae/world music. playing with [[Inner Force]. He formed Nomadiks and also worked with Addis rockers, which continued under the leadership of Keith the Bass with Dino Ferrari (a long time roadie with the band ) and a variety of drummers. The band recorded a number of albums including Fantasy Shift, Coaxed out from Oxford,; Theatre and Been and Gone. This incarnation split in 1986 due to record company troubles and the Stonehenge Free festival getting trashed by police. They reformed a year later in 1987 with Keith on bass, Gavin on keyboards, guitarist Dino Ferrari, saxophonist Jonathan 'JC' Lambert and ex-UK Subs drummer Pete Davis. Gavin left Here & Now finally in 1990 to be replaced by Andy Roid. Steffe returned along with Drummer Steve Cassidy in 1990 after playing with Keith in a televised performance of Gong for Central TV. This line-up recorded the UFOasis album.

In the early 2000s Keith the Bass and Steffe continued the band, with Joie Hinton from Ozric Tentacles/Eat Static on keyboards and Steve Cassidy on drums. In the late 2000s a line-up featuring Kif Kif, Twink and Steffe occasionally performed improvised music, a la mid-seventies Here & Now, under the name "Ici Maintenants".

Steffe left the band again in early summer 2009 after concluding he could no long work with Keith. He has continued to work with Steve Cassidy on various fusion projects and contributed to Joie Hinton projects. He is now concentrating on solo work and his long time involvement in Visitation Arena with Cher Newsam [1], [2], [3].

In September 2009 a new line-up was announced: Gwyo ZePix (ex Zorch and Gong); Slim Verhoef (ex Giant Eyes); Nik Nimbus); Drumbiz (ex Mandragora and Giant Eyes); and Keith the Bass.

September 2010 saw Esoteric Recordings release remastered versions of both Give & Take and All Over The Show.

In 2011 Mark Robson of Kangaroo Moon and Magick Brothers took the helm of Keyboard Meister and vocals.

Discography

• Planet Gong Live Floating Anarchy 1977 (as "Planet Gong")(1977)
• Give and Take 1978
• Dog in Hell (EP) 1978
• What You See... Is What You Are (LP shared with Alternative TV) (Deptford Fun City, DLP 02 1978)
• All Over the Show
• Off The Cuff (1979 Live Recordings - cassette only)
• Stolen Moments (early 80's - cassette only)
• Fantasy Shift
• Theatre
• Been & Gone
• Standing Forever (EP)
• UFOasis
• Gospel of Free (1976 to 1978. Released in 1999)
• "Space and Time" (as "Ici Maintenants") (2001/2003)
• "Coaxed out from Oxford" originally on tape, CD from 2009

External links

• * [http://www.myspace.com/herenowplanetgong Here & Now on Myspace]
• Planet Gong website
• BeHereNow website archive maintained by Kif Kif
• Here & Now / Planet Gong Discography by Dave Weller, comprehensive, includes pictures.
• [http://Visitation-Arena.soundawesome.com