Tony Moore (musician)

For the lead singer of Riot, see Tony Moore (singer).

Tony Moore (born Antony Moore, 11 October 1958, Bristol) is an English singer/songwriter, musician, radio presenter and music promoter. He was also one of the early members of Iron Maiden. He first became famous in 1986 as keyboard player with the band Cutting Crew, and in 1997 he founded The Kashmir Klub to showcase live music in London.

Musical career

Iron Maiden

Tony Moore's background in the music industry has been eclectic and diverse. The first band he joined in 1977 was (the then unknown) Iron Maiden. A fan of progressive rock, Moore was working in the Hi-Fi department of Debenhams store in Bristol, and had just bought a small Korg synthesiser when he saw an advertisement in the Melody Maker for a keyboard player for a London band. This turned out to be Iron Maiden. He contacted Steve Harris (who shared a fondness for Progressive rock), then auditioned and was invited to join the band. He moved to London to begin rehearsals. At that time members of the band all had day jobs and rehearsed once or twice a week. As this was the height of the Pub rock era, their first gig with the new line-up was at a pub called The Bridgehouse in Canning Town.

In Moore's own words:

The whole gig was a bit of a blur (as live performances often are). The adrenaline, the nerves, the concentration all played their part to produce a misty memory of the event.

However, I think it is right to say, everyone felt there was something fundamentally not right in what was happening. For my part, I felt that the whole show felt a little pub rock and amateurish, I didn't think that my contribution was actually enhancing the band.

In many ways it was an important bad gig. I think that, had the gig gone well, we may have struggled on with that lineup when, in hindsight, it was so obviously wrong.

The following weeks produced a sense of unrest within the band and a feeling that things were unspoken and resentments and frustrations were being suppressed just below the surface. I remember the last rehearsal I had with the group, in a railway arch midway between Elephant and Castle and Blackfriars Bridge, where things seemed strained and un-natural.

I think I realised at that point, that the band didn't really need a keyboard player. No matter how much I liked and respected Steve's dream, and passion and energy, I didn't seem to fit in.

Moore was asked to leave soon afterwards, as the band felt that keyboard did not suit the sound they were looking for (Ironically Iron Maiden would later evolve into a more progressive act, keyboards are featured on every album since 1988). He then began working with Brian James (from The Damned) releasing a single on RADAR records and touring in support to Black Sabbath and The Stranglers before moving on to join a progressive rock band called England. In the early 1980s he formed his own group called Radio Java and made an album at Abbey Road Studios that spawned a number one hit single in the Netherlands before disbanding after the label closed down.

Cutting Crew

In 1986 Moore was invited to play keyboards with a new band called Cutting Crew who went on to have a world wide hit with "(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight". For two more years he toured the world and recorded with the band, at which point he signed a solo deal with a small independent label in London. He released one single to critical acclaim (including airplay from Bob Harris) before joining forces with Argentine singer/songwriter Marie Claire D'ubaldo. He co-wrote and co-produced tracks for her debut album on Polydor records that sold over 250,000 worldwide.

A Song For Europe

In 2001, Moore performed his own composition, "That's My Love" in the A Song For Europe contest, hoping to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest. He finished second in the competition, behind Lindsay Dracass. He wrote other songs for the contest in earlier years.

Perfect and Beautiful

In 2005, after several years concentrating on club management, Moore resumed his solo musical career and began recording his own material independently. He announced his intention to produce an album, with almost no budget, no major record company backing and only nine days to record, mix and master the final product. This resulted in a 13 track solo album entitled Perfect and Beautiful, recorded at Sphere Studios in London, released in July 2005.

Later years

In March 2006 he toured America, performing in Nashville, Austin, Los Angeles and New York and has continued to perform live on his return to the UK in April 2006.

More recently, Moore has been touring acoustically in pubs all over the Home Counties. He also performs regularly at The Bedford, Balham and The Regal Room in London.

Early in 2008, Moore became the regular presenter of a one-hour live show called "Lets Talk Music" for the Maltese television station One TV . Broadcast every Thursday night at 8.35 pm (Maltese time), it features a panel of music professionals who discuss different aspects of the music business and answer questions from the audience, together with live performances by celebrity guests. He also has a regular Thursday morning preview slot on the show "One Breakfast".

Club management

In 1997, he established The Kashmir Klub in London. The formula of providing an excellent sound system, sourcing the best of emerging and established artists, hosting the show – like live TV – and getting everyone to perform in an acoustic and "back to basics" format, quickly made it into one of the most important live music venues in London. Over its seven-year history Moore introduced debut London performances from Damien Rice, Tom Baxter, Lucie Silvas, and KT Tunstall as well as unannounced sets from Sheryl Crow, Dave Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, Nik Kershaw, Rick Astley and many more. The Kashmir closed in 2003 after the building was closed for re-development.

In July 2003 he took over the management of music nights at The Bedford in Balham, creating a similar live music venue, with an emphasis on emerging talent as well as established acts. In 2004 it won Best Pub in the country, it has twice won the best pub and club award as well as the Evening Standard pub of the year. Moore was one of the first promoters to pioneer the use of the internet and the regular live performances at The Bedford are freely available to all four nights a week, via a dedicated webcam and chatroom.

From 2003–2005 Tony Moore also co-presented an overnight show on BBC London 94.9fm where he brought live music guests into the studio and championed the cause of new talent.

In 2004 he was made the sole Inductee into the MMF (Music Managers Forum) Roll of Honour for outstanding contribution to the British Music Industry.

In 2006 he started to collaborate with Quirky Motion on the weekly Bedford Bandstand music program, which he presents. Each show seeks to bring a new artist to a wider audience. These episodes are freely available both as a podcast and on YouTube.

Tony Moore opened an additional live acoustic venue, The Regal Room, in December 2006, based at The Distillers, 64, Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London. Showcasing up and coming artists, this is run along the same lines as the Kashmir Klub and The Bedford, with free entry and live webcasts.

External links

• Official Homepage