MR QUIMBY'S BEARD

Psychedelic/Space Rock • United Kingdom

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Mr Quimby's Beard biography
Hailing from Sunderland/UK the founding band members Kidd (bass), Ray (guitar, vocals) and Hardy (keys) have worked together since 1983. They started using the name MR. QUIMBY'S BEARD in 1991 as a studio project and began to record songs. 1993 two new musicians, Gaz (drums) and Eddy Barrow (guitar), joined and the first line-up for live gigs was complete. They stayed this way until 1994, when Barrow decided to leave for personal reasons.

They forwarded a demo to the Stone Premonitions label which is specialized on promoting space/psych bands. Not really excepting a reply at all they were surprised for getting the opportunity to record in a proper studio. Soon the self titled debut was recorded - released as a cassette first. Shortly after that Dave Thorburn (guitar) and Davey Johnson (percussion) came in, playing a few live gigs with MQB and appearing on the next CD production 'Out There' released by the Demi Monde label. Spencer Arkley (guitar) replaced Thorburn later and played live with MQB from spring '95 until the summer '96.

Some non-musical differences were the main reason for a breakup then. But the idea of starting the band up again was almost present. Hardy went back into the studio near the end of 1997 working on a solo album. As Ray and Kidd became more and more involved in the project it was decided to reunite with Gaz to make the 3rd MR. QUIMBY'S BEARD release and to also have Tim Jones (guitar/narration) and Terri B. (backing vocals) as guests on this album. Whilst returning to UK Jim Walton (guitar) became a member 1999 and when Gaz left the band because of musical differences Jim Walton's brother Chris substituted Gaz on the drums. Then, after almost 3 years in the making, the year 2000 saw the release of 'The Definitive Unsolved Mysteries of ...'. This album received much critical acclaim from both the music press and the public and the first pressing was completely sold out within 6 months of its debut.

In 2001 their successful US tour followed and at the end of the year they got the offer to open for Hawkwind at their 2001 Xmas party at 'The Forum' in London. Spring 2002 saw MQB gigging throughout the UK and Europe, starting in March when they played in their home town Sunderland with Ozric Tentacles. This was followed up by a small European tour with gigs in Denmark, Holland, Germany and Belgium. In the Summer of 2002 MQB played a few one off gigs including The Sonic Rock Solstice Festival, a gig at Hastings Pier (...Hailing from Sunderland/UK the founding band members Kidd (bass), Ray (guitar, vocals) and Hardy (keys) have worked together since 1983. They started using the name MR. QUIMBY'S BEARD in 1991 as a studio project and began to record songs. 1993 two new musicians, Gaz (drums) and Eddy Barrow (guitar), joined and the first line-up for live gigs was complete. They stayed this way until 1994, when Barrow decided to leave for personal reasons.

They forwarded a demo to the Stone Premonitions label which is specialized on promoting space/psych bands. Not really excepting a reply at all they were surprised for getting the opportunity to record in a proper studio. Soon the self titled debut was recorded - released as a cassette first. Shortly after that Dave Thorburn (guitar) and Davey Johnson (percussion) came in, playing a few live gigs with MQB and appearing on the next CD production 'Out There' released by the Demi Monde label. Spencer Arkley (guitar) replaced Thorburn later and played live with MQB from spring '95 until the summer '96.

Some non-musical differences were the main reason for a breakup then. But the idea of starting the band up again was almost present. Hardy went back into the studio near the end of 1997 working on a solo album. As Ray and Kidd became more and more involved in the project it was decided to reunite with Gaz to make the 3rd MR. QUIMBY'S BEARD release and to also have Tim Jones (guitar/narration) and Terri B. (backing vocals) as guests on this album. Whilst returning to UK Jim Walton (guitar) became a member 1999 and when Gaz left the band because of musical differences Jim Walton's brother Chris substituted Gaz on the drums. Then, after almost 3 years in the making, the year 2000 saw the release of 'The Definitive Unsolved Mysteries of ...'. This album received much critical acclaim from both the music press and the public and the first pressing was completely sold out within 6 months of its debut.

In 2001 their successful US tour followed and at the end of the year they got the offer to open for Hawkwind at their 2001 Xmas party at 'The Forum' in London. Spring 2002 saw MQB gigging throughout the UK and Europe, starting in March when they played in their home town Sunderland with Ozric Tentacles. This was followed up by a small European tour with gigs in Denmark, Holland, Germany and Belgium. In the Summer of 2002 MQB played a few one off gigs including The Sonic Rock Solstice Festival, a gig at Hastings Pier (supporting Hawkwind), and Hawkfest 2002 in Devon, England. 2003 proved to be much quiter with Hawkfest 2003 where they played twice and a 10th anniversary show in Sunderland. For 2004 and later nothing was to hear and they almost seem to be dissolved actually.

MR. QUIMBY'S BEARD deserve a remarkable place in the space rock genre. The band offer a quite unique sound with some similarities to Ozric Tentacles, Hawkwind and Quarkspace.

(based on informations from the official website)

Rivertree (Uwe Zickel)

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MR QUIMBY'S BEARD discography

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MR QUIMBY'S BEARD top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

0.00 | 0 ratings

Mr Quimby's Beard
1994

3.00 | 1 ratings

Out There
1997

3.11 | 8 ratings

The Definite Unsolved Mysteries Of ...
2000

MR QUIMBY'S BEARD Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

0.00 | 0 ratings

Shrouded In Mystery
2001

MR QUIMBY'S BEARD Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

MR QUIMBY'S BEARD Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

MR QUIMBY'S BEARD Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

MR QUIMBY'S BEARD Reviews

Showing last 10 reviews only

The Definite Unsolved Mysteries Of ... by MR QUIMBY'S BEARD album cover

Studio Album, 2000
3.11 | 8 ratings
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The Definite Unsolved Mysteries Of ...
Mr Quimby's Beard Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Rivertree
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions

The most successful album of this space rock band from Sunderland/UK. They probably had their best times at the beginning of this millenium when touring the USA and Europe and were playing together with Hawkwind and Ozric Tentacles on several occasions. It took some time (more than three years) until this album was finally released in 2000. It is designed with an alteration of short tunes showing the emphasis on ambient soundscapes and longer spacey tracks.

Some elements of their music are sounding 70s retro but the band definetely has a modern approach. The opener From The Sixty's approves that for example using a blend of electronic generated percussion, samples and ambience. The first part of Mystery Part 1 appeals much to me - starting in a Hawkwind vein more straightforward rocking but then gliding into a deep spacey flow with bubbling synths in the background and a heartbreaking emotional guitar performance. And then the band finally falls into a dub groove. Bass player Kid contributes striking heavy bass lines continously and is the constant part of the band during this song. They pull out all the possible space rock stops here. Even the vocals are good, okay, more sprechgesang than singing but fitting by all means - the song is somewhat mysterious as the title implies.

A short world music excursion imitating a panpipe is opening Nebulae, a powerful but also more plain rocking song. Mystery Part 2 is basically continuing the earlier described album highlight 'Part 1'. Next song is absolutely spaced-out and you can really feel the space crew's melancholy watching through a bull's eye with A Glimmer Of Hope. The following two songs have been a standard on their gigs. Reminding of Eloy Beyond The Light opens with a symphonic touch caused by dramatic keys but soon gets a grooving drive and later changes speed once more into an atmospheric floydy mood. An ethno hypnotic percussive drive is dominating Darkness which is provided with a dark hollow opening.

The last two songs offer a nice relaxed progress 'til the end. Solemn vocals - seagulls are swirling around - the (electronic) panpipe appears again. This album is provided with all the typical space rock ingredients you might expect and will also appeal to Hawkwind and Ozric Tentacles fans - 3.5 stars well deserved.

Thanks to rivertree for the artist addition.