The Oliver Wakeman Band

Oliver Wakeman - Piano & Keyboards

Oliver Wakeman was born into a musical family and is the eldest son of rock musician Rick Wakeman. He has written and appeared on various albums, all of which have been released to critical acclaim.

Oliver's musical career started at about the age of 5 with piano lessons taken during break time at New Gregories School in Beaconsfield. As a child, Oliver would often sit at his dad's grand piano in the lounge and run his fingers haphazardly over the keys thinking that if he did it enough times them something tuneful would happen and one day it did - only briefly, but it was enough to make the young Oliver sit there all day, annoying everyone, trying to 'guess-play'. Eventually Oliver realised that he was just going to have to learn to play properly.

Oliver's recording career started in 1984 when he and his younger brother Adam contributed backing vocals to a track on father Rick's "Cost of Living" album. The track is called 'Bedtime Stories' and to this day is the only track that features Oliver, Adam and Rick Wakeman on the same track.

At age 17 Oliver started to gig regularly in pubs in the Devon area and considers those experiences to be as important as the formal musical training he has received. 1989 saw Oliver's own personal recording debut as part of the band 'Obssession'. He featured on the cassette-only release "Debut of Desire'". Oliver wrote one song for the album called 'Into the Mirror' which he is still threatening to re-record one of these days. Oliver left 'Obssession' and started college in his late teens. He trained as a graphic design artist and holds a diploma in the subject. He continued to perform on the North Devon music scene as an integal part of the Rock Blues band "Smokestack" which was well regarded by the public and fellow musicians alike. Oliver left the band in early 2002 although he was re-united with the members of the band when they were the backing band at his wedding reception!

1997 saw the release of Oliver's first solo album "Heaven's Isle". "Heaven's Isle" was written at the request of the Landmark Trust to promote their 1997 season of Lundy Island. The album was re-released throughout Europe by Verglas music in late 1999. Music from this album has been used by BBC 1 & Independent Television for various programmes. The Tarka Tourism board's video "The Secret Country of the Two Rivers" also features music from this album.

His second album 'Jabberwocky' (a collaboration with London based musician Clive Nolan) was released in early 1999 and featured an all star cast, including Peter Banks (Yes), Tony Fernandez (Strawbs), Rick Wakeman, Tracey Hitchings (Landmarq) & Bob Catley (Magnum).

Oliver's 3rd album, "The 3 Ages of Magick", an instrumental work, was recorded with Steve Howe (Yes, Asia), who contributed guitars and executive production duties. This album was released in July 2001 to ecstatic reviews. The album was launched at the well known London music venue 'The 12 Bar Club' where Oliver performed to an invited audience.

Oliver and Clive released the follow up to 1999's 'Jabberwocky' album with "The Hound of the Baskervilles" in early 2002. The album featured a similar cast plus Arjen Lucassen (Aryeon), Ashley Holt (Rick Wakeman Band), Karl Groom (Threshold) as well as Robert Powell, the world renowned actor, narrating as Dr Watson. Again this album received rave reviews.

A commissioned new age album, "Chakras", was released in early 2002 and a further commissioned work 'Spiritual Enlightenment' was released in early 2003. His album 'Purification by Sound' was released by President Records in May 2003 and has received glowing reviews from various magazines. 2003 also saw Oliver team up with the Celtic singer Rachel for the 'The View from Here' single which was followed by a live performance from the band at the CRS Awards night in 2002.

Oliver was also commissioned to write a variety of incidental music for six poetry CD's. One of which features the voice of Derek Jacobi who is well known for his various film roles, most recently 'Gladiator'. Oliver has also written music for various corporate companies in order to launch or promote their products including the pro-audio company Allen & Heath. Oliver also composed the jingle for the CD version of the TV show 'Name That Tune'.

2004 saw the piece of music 'The Progress of the Soul' from the Divine Harmonies album feature as the title music for the 'A Guide to Spiritual Healing' DVD. 2004 also saw Oliver appear on Ayreon's "The Human Equation" album along with other musicians such as James LaBrie (Dream Theatre), Ken Hensley (ex-Uriah Heap) and Heather Findlay (Mostley Autumn). This also had the excitement of Oliver's first appearance on a top 10 album.

As well as appearing on the 'ProgAID' charity single (alongside Neal Morse and Arjen Lucassen and others), which raised funds for the Asian Tsunami disaster relief fund, he also appeared on Steve Howe's CD 'Spectrum' which was released in July 2005.

During 2006 Oliver took to the road with his new band performing selections from his 'Mother's Ruin' album (which was released to critical acclaim in late 2005/early 2006) as well as songs from his back catalogue. Oliver also appeared as a member of Bob Catley's (Magnum) touring band playing in the UK and Europe.

Oliver has been nominated for the Classic Rock Society's 'Best Keyboard Player' award on many occasions and in 2006 he won and received the award from Carl Palmer (Aisa ELP) at the annual CRS awards night. 2007 saw Oliver win the award for a second time and received this award from John Wetton (Asia).

2007 saw Oliver join the American classic rock band 'Starcastle' for the American Rites of Spring Festival. He also released an EP featuring songs from Mother's Ruin and new material.

Oliver and his band continue to perform live at various venues and festivals and he is currently working on a new album to be titled 'Culteral Vandals'.

2008 saw Oliver join YES for their 2008 world tour.

Paul Manzi - Vocals

Paul Manzi was born in 1963, London. He bought his first guitar when he was fifteen (A Flying V copy inspired by KK Downing of Judas Priest) and proceeded to play guitar in his school band. Paul's early influences were Led Zepplin, Deep Purple, Rush, Queen to name but a few.

Paul found his voice and started singing at age 23 (late starter) and 2 years later joined progressive rock band 'Barchetta'. He gained notable recording experience at Abbey Road Studios, (only because Pete the guitarist worked as an accountant there) and equally notable live experience including playing at the Old Marquee supporting progressive rock band 'Pallas'.

Since then Paul has kept busy doing session vocals and working in various successful cover bands/trios/duos/solo as a singer/guitarist (one has to pay the rent). More recently Paul has performed lead vocals on the soundtrack of 2 rock/pop musicals 'Phantasmagoria' and Space Family Robinson, which was in production in 2003. He is also an aspiring actor, and has performed in theatre and on film.

Paul joined Oliver's band in mid 2004 and has proved himself to be a fantastic frontman. He first performed with the band for their concert at the Classic Rock Society on the 18th September 2004. He has continued to perform with both the band and with Oliver as an acoustic duo. In 2007 Paul got to record with Oliver on the Mother's Ruin ep.

Although Paul's versatility as a musician has enabled him to cross musical styles including soul, jazz, latin, pop and musical theatre, he has now come full circle back to his rock roots.

David Mark Pearce - Guitars

Born in Penzance, Cornwall. After starting to play the drums at an early age and a false start at the guitar, Dave started playing the guitar properly at the age of 15. He joined his first band at 18 after being given two weeks to learn the material (playing bass and lead guitar). Dave then appeared in a succession of bands, settling in a house band called 'The Jam Tarts', a rock covers band in which Dave shared guitar duties.

Dave left to attend the London College of Music & Media, where he achieved a 'Diploma in Music Technology'. He returned home after two extremely hard, but fruitful years, engineering and producing many projects and bands. He also wrote and recorded an EP, '1997' and his debut album 'Pleasure Palace'.

After university Dave engineered and co-produced a CD single for the band 'Union Jane' and was asked to join the band after the original guitarist left. He left the band after a change of direction was announced and was then asked to join the band 'Naked Feet' after having helped them out on a succession of gigs. Having completed a period of gigging with the band, Dave decided he needed a break to re-assess his musical direction.

It was then following a meeting with an Allen & Heath work colleague who was a personal friend of Oliver Wakeman, that Dave was asked to listen to some of Oliver's work. Dave also cheekily asked if Oliver needed a guitarist. The answer was yes, so after submitting his album and a minidisc of about 20 new ideas Dave was offered the enviable guitarist slot in the new band. Their first meeting was at Oliver's studio to mix the (original!) Anam Cara album. Dave also contributed acoustic guitar to this album.

Dave then recorded electric and acoustic guitar sections for CD single 'The View from Here' as well as mixing it. For the last 5 years Dave has been an integral member of the live band and recently played the 'Fordhamfest' with Oliver which now seems a long time since the debut gig at the Oakwood center in December 2002. He has supported Steve Howe on guitar at Oliver and Lisa's wedding and with Oliver supported Arjen Lucassens band 'Stream Of Passion!'

Dave has also mixed Oliver's last commissioned album 'Angels' (released in Jan 2003) as well as Oliver's relaxation album 'Purification by Sound' (also released in 2003). Dave also performed electric guitar duties on the new 'Mother's Ruin' album. He has also performed with Oliver as part of the CRS acoustic evening's on Classical Guitar, a feature that is now a part of the live band set!

In amongst all of this Back home Dave is the live sound engineer for a local soul band! and recently David has released his debut E.P. 'Shelter Me from the Rain' on his own label 'Pleasure Palace Records' via www.cornishmusic.com and was recently interviewed on Paul Bakers sunday Prog Rock show 'Soundscapes' on www.rock247online.co.uk.

You can also find out more about Dave at his myspace site - www.myspace.com/davidmarkpearce

Dave Wagstaffe - Drums

Dave started playing drums at age eleven, being initially self taught from listening to records and watching other drummers on TV and elsewhere, though much later studied for a number of years with American drum teacher and author Joel Rothman. Left school on a mad impulse to join the Army as a boy entrant at age 15, with a short spell in the regimental band. Left two years later to join his first gigging and recording band 'The Clouds' followed by Blues band 'Second Sight'. Shortly after, moved to London to hopefully find more opportunities in the music business.

After going to numerous jam session and auditions, Dave eventually formed Blues Rock band 'Argus' with future Paul Young/Q tips/Hackensack bassist Mick Pearl and guitarist Del Watkins, formerly of the excellent cult band 'Julian's Treatment'. They spent the next two years doing the rock clubs and universities around the country, and touring with such bands as Thin Lizzie, Lindisfarne, Pink Faries, Brinsley Schwartz (with Nick Lowe) and others. The band recorded one album. After Argus, Dave played in Jazz-Rock band 'Anaconda' doing the rounds of the London jazz clubs and pubs including two appearances at 'Ronnie Scott's', once with Sarah Vaughn and once with Joe Pass.

Since then, Dave's drumming has covered a wide range of styles over the years, playing with a variety of bands and artists including , John Wetton, Ken Hensley, Patrick Moraz , Dave Kilminster, Danny Kirwan, Peter Haycock, Peter Banks, Davy O List of The Nice, John Mizzaroli, Andy Pyle, ELO's Hugh McDowell, Mick Box (Uriah Heep), James Litherland (Colosseum), Brian Willoughby (Strawbs) and Jamie West-Oran (The Fixx), (the latter three in different line-ups of 'Willie and The Shakers' sharing the drum chair at different times with Clive Bunker and Les Binks) Heavy-Metal outfit 'Gaskin', progressive rock bands 'Quasar', Janison Edge and Landmarq, 'World Music' star Cyrus Khajavi, played in the musicals 'West Side Story', 'Billy' 'Grease' and 'Annie', and as drummer/vocalist in tribute band 'The Illegal Eagles'. Other bands and artists Dave has toured alongside include Wishbone Ash, Steve Hackett , Then Jericho, Greenslade, Shakin' Stevens, Suzi Quatro, The Equals, 'Focus', 'I Q', Pendragon, and others.

Dave was also drum teacher for Ivor Arbiter's 'Fender Rock School' between 1999/2000. 2001 saw Dave and Oliver first met when Oliver journeyed to Virginia Water for the 'Jabberwocky' sessions. Keen eyed album inlay readers will have noted that Dave also sang in the Jabberwocky choir!

Dave appeared on Oliver's '3 Ages of Magick' album with Steve Howe and also played on the subsequent 'The View from Here' E.P as well as the 'Mother's Ruin' album.

You can also find out more about Dave at his myspace site - www.myspace.com/dwagstaffe

Paul Brown - Bass

Paul began playing bass at the age of fourteen to join a less than impressive school band, and despite being all but pushed into the position, quickly developed a strong interest playing music. The band lasted about 2 years (which was 23 months too long), but in that time he had learned the basics to give him the confidence to find a more 'serious' band.

Over the next couple of years he played in several bands which failed to get off the ground. One of these ill-fated bands was Event Horizon. Despite being doomed from the outset, it was here that he played alongside keyboard player Dave Boland, with whom he formed Hybrid soon after the band's predictable demise.

Hybrid were a progressive four piece heavily influenced by Rush, which gave Paul an opportunity to experiment with more complex and creative bass playing. The band briefly gigged and recorded a demo but fell apart after the departure of a key member.

Before his departure from Hybrid, Paul was introduced to Clive Nolan by a singer who had auditioned for the band. Clive had just finished producing the first Medicine Man album in his studio and was aware they needed a bass player to play the material live. The position was offered to Paul, he accepted, and went on to play on the next two albums.

During this time Paul was also introduced to another band who were recording at Thin Ice studios by the name of Janison Edge. He met with the keyboard player during a drum recording session (involving a certain Dave Wagstaffe) and after hearing the music quickly agreed to join, playing on the bands only album to date. It was through meeting Dave in this band that Paul was recommended to Oliver some six years later.

About a year before joining the Oliver Wakeman Band, Paul was invited to join Merchant's Vice, a Berkshire based progressive rock band. He gigged with them for 2 years and subsequently co-wrote and played on what was to be their only full length album. The band sadly dissolved shortly after this following the loss of a key member.

Now, as well as playing in Oliver's band, Paul plays at functions (easy money!) and writes music with some of his old band mates (no money whatsoever).