Where and when were you born?

Gloucester 1959.

When did you start to play?

I started piano at the age of 4 and never stopped lessons until I left college. I also learnt organ and oboe later on. I studied composition/arranging with John Rutter and John Tavener. I bought my first electronic organ at age 14 and built my first synthesiser at age 15. The days of DIY music...

Tell us about some of your previous projects.

After my baptism into the church of rock hearing Moving Waves by Focus, I did the usual apprenticeship playing village halls and school stages trying to recreate something close to Topographic Oceans with limited unreliable equipment. I was in a few bands in Cambridge as New Wave broke, then toured for a short while with a folk rock group. I got into teaching music in schools (something I still do regularly and love). I signed a record deal to Rough Trade with Simon Warner and made one album which had 100% rave reviews (as long as you define 'rave' to mean both loved with a passion or hated with a passion). As well as playing keyboards I co-wrote, arranged, orchestrated and conducted it and this led to a lot of work with other artists - Jewel, Sneaker Pimps, The Mighty Wah!, Ishtar, Francis Maggiulli, Save Ferris, Emmer Swimming, Scarlet, Default, Bender. I have also worked in many studios around the world including the Music Complex in LA (where I worked with producer Peter Collins and Omar Hakim), EMI Abbey Road studios where I worked with Divine Comedy producer Darren Allison, and Brittania Row studios where I got to play on Rick Wright's organ. Since 1998 I have toured live with Think Floyd, The Spirit of Pink Floyd and most recently The Australian Pink Floyd (USA) as well as other tribute shows dedicated to Beatles and Prog Rock.

Who are your influences?

Anyone who stretches the boundaries: The Cardiacs, King Crimson, Yes, Early Genesis, Focus, Gente Giant, Gong, Supergrass, Hatfield and the North, Pink Floyd, Mars Volta, Frank Zappa, Mike Oldfield, ELP, Van der Graaf Generator, Stockhausen, Stravinsky, Webern, Messiaen ... ok I'll sit down and take the pills now doc.

If you had to take one album to your desert island, what would it be and why?

Tough - if it had to be only one I'll choose Relayer by Yes.

What gear do you tour with?

After doing the back breaking of lugging electric pianos, organs and backline around the UK and Europe I have got slimmer and leaner! I now take a controller keyboard and plug it into my laptop with Mainstage installed which provides all the Hammonds, Leslie Cabinets, Wurlitzers, Mellotrons, Rhodes, Mini-Moogs, Pro-soloists, Polysynths and string machines I could ever want. AND a full working version of Tombraider but that's another story...