I first found the love for music back at Solent Middle School and joined Mr. Fesseys guitar club. I asked for a drum kit for Christmas and spent a lot of time with my brother in the family home making up songs and playing Dad’s records on his loud stereo. At full blast (obviously). I distinctly remember waiting for every Sunday, when Radio 1 played the top forty and I would play along with my guitar to every song.
I set up a band with some school friends and played at the school talent show called “Come All Yee”, can’t recall the band name now. I almost remember my band mates: either Kevin or Derek Hat (sorry guys), Diana Watts, Liz Meek and myself. We played the theme to Hawaii Five O.
At Cowes High School I was inspired by a very talented pupil of Level 42 fame, the one and only Mark King. I bought a bass guitar and attempted to learn his incredible technique, not that well I must add but certainly passable.
I went in search of a drummer and guitarist and was fortunate enough to meet Jim Bearwish. The man was a guitar genius and became my best friend.
We formed Mumbo Jumbo in 1984, we managed to persuade close friend Tony Webb to learn to play drums, he did well and we landed out first gig at a party in a marquee on the Agricultural show site. I remember how nervous we all were but once we started playing it was incredible and something I really enjoyed.
Before long we were becoming known and were approached by local producer Rod Gammons to be part of an IOW LP called “Feet on the Street”. We penned a tune called “Loud and Clear” and ended up being track 1 on the record. This led to record label interest and we signed a deal to a label called “Dakota Records”. Unfortunately this project fizzled out but all was not lost, during this project we were introduced to Nick Coler; wonder producer, instrumentalist, good friend and all round top bloke.
Mumbo Jumbo continued to gig around the Island and overseas with musicians such as Rupert Brown, Nathan King, Wilber Cartwright, Glen Annet, Rick Methold and many more, all joining the band at different stages. We had a spell in London in 1988 and playing a few gigs at Mean Fiddler and Rock Gardens to name a few. Sadly with a family loss, we as a band decided to call it a day and returned to the Isle of Wight to lead normal lives. Jim trained as a radiographer and I opened a sandwich bar in Cowes – (you can tell who was the clever one). Jim and I continued to perform gigs as a duo throughout the 1990’s. Tragedy hit when Jim’s childhood illness that he had fought so gallantly returned and he passed away in 1996.
Following the loss of my friend and musical companion, I was determined to carry on with the music. I started a new adventure and introduced to the world Jimmys Big Fish; named after Jim who always called us a big fish in a small pond.
The first band line up was myself, Pete Snaith, Hugh Stevens, Dave Marshall, my lifelong friend Alan Scott and Mark Spencer. We rehearsed tirelessly for 3 months with a selection of covers and some newly penned originals. Our first gig was in the Anchor in Cowes in 1996, wow, what an experience, it was packed to the rafters!
We continued to pick up Island wide gigs following this success, the line up then changed as Hugh and Dave ventured to London for work; Bobby Buchanan and Mark Wozencroft joined the band. Following this I carried on writing some original tunes and our first EP, Days Like Today was recorded in 1999 in Camden with Nick Coler on the buttons. We recorded a video to follow (very 1990’s!), continued to play gigs and had enough material to record our first album in 2000. One Mans Dream. We were fortunate to get this financed by the Robert Stigwood Organisation and Nick Coler’s studio in Horley was the setting for the recording.
One Mans Dream was very well received and one of the tracks, “The Way Im Feeling Now” was touted as a breath of fresh air, there was further interest from a record company however this did not turn out as expected as they wanted to change our style and even our band name. The song was played on Isle of Wight Radio for several months and the album sold over 1000 copies. This was before digital downloads and you had to go into a shop to buy an album.
In 2003 we played one of our most exciting gigs to date, we were part of the famous Isle of Wight Festival, a day I am sure none of us will forget. We played a short set on the Sunday to an estimated 3000 people. I do like to think that Paul Weller supported us as he was on stage on the Saturday.
The band went on to encounter many performances, from the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth to packed out bars, open air Cowes Weeks and countless weddings, parties and all manor of venues. One memorable performance on Gurnard Beach was cut short when the tide came in, the party goers ended up helping us move the equipment before it was washed away. Another was in the Pier View in Cowes when Pete announced over the microphone “there’s a sausage dog on my wah wah pedal” (there really was!).
We recorded our second album Confidence in 2004. Nick Coler was unavailable as was busy with his own successful career. We headed to the Water Tower in East Cowes and this album had a distinctly live feel to it.
The band had a short break while I continued to write songs to add to my catalogue. We ventured out again with a new spark and continued to do our stuff.
In 2019 I received a phone call from one of the band saying he wanted to quit. At the time I was shocked and disappointed but we all agreed to honour the gigs booked for 2020 then call it a day. The end of Jimmys Big Fish after 25 years.
2020, the year that COVID hit, gigs were not going to happen, life hit a standstill. The final gigs will hopefully take place in 2021 with a send off party planned in the Anchor on 27th November. The venue where it all started 25 years ago.
The lockdown gave me time to reflect and develop some fresh sounds. By 2021 I had written a handful of catchy and melodic tunes. It was time to go it alone. I contacted Nick Coler and due to the current hiatus of musicals he had some availability, luckily for me. Nick agreed to produce these tracks.
Jenny Blount is a fantastic artist and Jims sister. She was excited to get on board and develop the artwork for the project.
I hope you all like it
Simon