Brett Ascott
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Brett Ascott | |
|---|---|
 Photo Credit Stuart Goodwin | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Buddy |
| Born | 3 April 1959 Bromley England |
| Genres | Punk Mod revival Indie Rock Garage Rock and Roll |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer, Record Producer |
| Instruments | Drums and Percussion |
| Years active | 1977 to present |
| Labels | Polydor Records Detour Records Parliament Records |
Brett Ascott known as Buddy, is a British musician, percussionist and record producer best known for his contributions to The Chords[1]and The Fallen Leaves[2].
Self-taught and inspired by The Who's Keith Moon, Brett "Buddy" Ascott began his musical career playing drums with SE London punk band, The Meat at the age of eighteen in 1977. Regulars at The Roxy (from where they were eventually banned) and The Vortex, they changed their name to NADA for an ill-fated trip to Paris in the summer of 1978. Returning to London, they again changed name, to The Bombshells before Ascott left to join The Chords in January 1979. Coming to prominence as part of the Mod revival later that year, The Chords signed briefly to Jimmy Pursey's JP Records and then to Polydor. Releasing seven singles - five of which charted in the UK - the group also enjoyed a top 30 album and several television appearances including Top of the Pops. It was singer Billy Hassett who provided the "Buddy" nickname, due to his inability to play drums like one of his heroes, Buddy Rich.
After The Chords split in September 1981, Ascott continued to work with Chords' main songwriter Chris Pope as part of the group Agent Orange, later called Tin Soldiers. A long term deal with Virgin Records Ten label fell through at the last minute and, In late 1984, he began a two-year stint as drummer for The Rage, whom Garry Bushell christened the first Mod supergroup. Ascott was selected as drummer for the "Spectrum" Mod Aid charity project in 1985, recording a Kenny Lynch-produced version of All Or Nothing with Steve Marriott, Chris Farlowe, PP Arnold and many others. It charted briefly before being pulled by the BMRB for chart-fixing.
Following a spell with indie stalwarts The Way Out, in 1987 Ascott played drums and produced a Medway group who he christened Edelweiss Pirates. A year later he played drums on a 12" single of theirs, produced by The Psychedelic Furs Jon Ashton. Ascott again began working with Pope in the group Loaded in the late 80's. Ascott left the UK in 1992 to travel, eventually remarrying and settling in Japan, where he formed a group with former-Chords' singer Billy Hassett, Red Away Tops. An album, Satellite TV, was released as Ascott returned to the UK in late 1997. Teaming up once once again with Pope, the group "Pope" - joined by Mick Talbot on keyboards for recording - released two albums in the 2000s, both to critical acclaim.
Another Mod Aid single, 2005's Whatcha Gonna Do About It, was recorded with Ron Wood, Steve Craddock and Reg Presley. This session led directly to the formation of Speakeasy, containing Mike "Ace" Evans of The Action, Fay Hallam of Makin' Time, Simon Stebbing of Purple Hearts and Mark Le Gallez of The Risk. Ian Jones of Long Tall Shorty would later take up bass duties after the death of Evans. A 2010 comeback tour with The Chords was followed by a first single in thirty years, and a first tour of Japan and Australia in 2012. In 2013 Ascott became a member of The Moment[3], recording a well received album and an EP. In 2014 he appeared on the TV show Never Mind The Buzzcocks.
The Fallen Leaves invited Ascott to become their permanent drummer in 2016 where he continues to flourish. He also plays in Mod revival tribute group The 79ers, with members of The Chords, Purple Hearts and Long Tall Shorty. In 2017, as a trustee of the charity Roll Out The Barrel[4], Ascott and The Jam drummer Rick Buckler led a group of 40 drummers to the top of London's O2 to play a snare drum. A bass drum skin was signed by all, later augmented by other drumming celebrities, and was eventually auctioned at Bonhams, raising £1500 for the charity. In 2019 Ascott booked London's 100 Club[5] to celebrate his 60th birthday, and performed sets with six previous and existing groups in a charity concert. That same year Ascott collated, edited and wrote the sleeve notes for The Chords 5-CD box set, ReChordings.
Record Production[edit]
As producer or co-producer, Ascott has also been involved with several groups, including The Chords, The Rage, The Fallen Leaves, and Speakeasy, as well production duties with indie rock group, Proper.
Writing[edit]
Ascott has written articles for publications as diverse as the official Tottenham Hotspur Spur magazine (he is a lifelong fan), and the pop culture magazine Street Sounds; and has also contributed to numerous books on the Mod revival and the art of drumming, including a chapter in Spike Webb's "Mad, Bad and Dangerous: The Book of drummers' Tales". He continues to work on his memoir.
Discography[edit]
The Chords[edit]
Singles[edit]
- Now It's Gone/Don't Go Back (Polydor, 1979)
- Maybe Tomorrow/I Don't Wanna Know/Hey Girl (Polydor, 1980)
- Something's Missing/This Is What They Want (Polydor, 1980)
- Now It's Gone/Things We Said - free single with debut album (Polydor, 1980)
- The British Way Of Life/The Way It's Got To Be (Polydor, 1980)
- In My Street/I'll Keep On Holding On (Polydor, 1980)
- One More Minute/Who's Killing Who (Polydor, 1981)
- Turn Away Again/Turn Away Again (Again) (Polydor, 1981)
- Another Thing Coming/Now It's Gone (live)/One More Minute (live) (Aspop, 2010)
Album
- So Far Away (Polydor, 1980)
Live albums[edit]
- No One Is Listening Anymore - Live At The Rainbow (Unicorn, 1986)
- It Was Twenty Years Ago Today (Detour, 2012)
Compilations[edit]
- This Is What They Want (2 CDs) (Polydor, 2000)
- At The BBC (Detour, 2001)
- The Mod Singles Collection (Captain Mod, 2008)
- ReChordings (5 CD boxset) (Caroline, 2019)
The Rage[edit]
Singles
- Looking For You/Come On Now (Diamond, 1986)
Compilation LP[edit]
- All (2 CDs) (Detour, 2018)
Spectrum/Mod Aid[edit]
Singles
- All Or Nothing (Phoenix, 1985)
- What'cha Gonna Do About It (Biff Bang Pow, 2005)
Purple Hearts[edit]
Album
- Popish Frenzy (Razor, 1986) (Percussion)
The Way Out[edit]
- Compilation - Singles & Demos (Way Out, 2019)
Red Away Tops[edit]
Album
- Satellite TV (Lost Chord Productions, 1998)
Pope[edit]
Singles
- Brave New World (Aspop, 2005)
- Friends Like That (Aspop, 2006)
- Could I Fall In Love Again (Aspop, 2007)
- Love's Still Here (2009)
- Get Into London Town (Aspop, 2010)
Albums
- Grace Of God (Aspop, 2005)
- Tall Tales & Cheap Thrills (Aspop, 2009)
Chris Pope[edit]
Singles
- Peace Of Mind (E-pop, 2014)
- All Aboard The Promised Land (E-pop, 2014)
Album
- Peace Of Mind (E-pop, 2014)
Speakeasy[edit]
EP
- The Toe Rag Sessions (Bigg Bang pow, 2006)
Albums
- Speakeasy (Paisley, 2012)
- Trouble (Twist, 2013)
- Lost Souls (Heavy Soul, 2017)*
The Moment[edit]
EP
- Know It All (Infenzo, 2016)
Album
- The Only Truth Is Music (Infenzo, 2015)
The Fallen Leaves[edit]
Singles
- Begin Again (Parliament, 2019)
- Green Eyes F.C. (Parliament, 2019)
Live album
- Maximum Minimum (Parliament, 2019)
The 79ers[edit]
Live album
- Live! Live! Live! (Detour, 2022)
References[edit]
External Links[edit]
- The Story Of the Chords by Chris Hunt, http://www.chrishunt.biz/features54.html
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/945217-Brett-Ascott
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