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DIO DISCIPLES TOUR BLOG # 1
19th June 2011

Hi folks, so I've been on the road with Dio Disciples for almost 2 weeks now so thought it was time I caught up with you and gave you the inside story!

I initially went to LA for rehearsals at a great place in North Hollywood called 'Mates' it's where a ton of bands have rehearsed over the years including G n R, Motley Crüe etc. We were there for about 10 days as the set slowly came together. It was a tough job choosing from such an incredible legacy; after all Ronnie was in 3 of the most significant acts the rock world has ever seen!

After the rehearsals we set off to Russia; a flight from LA to Washington then direct to Moscow! Having before not been to Russia I was completely unprepared for it; not that it was bad but what a place! I have never experienced such a busy place! It was unbelievable and in turn quite shocking. So many cars, people, noise that didn't stop for a second! I have to say the folk there were incredibly warm and welcoming and the show was amazingly received. It was obviously always gonna be a nervous night especially for the guys in the band that had worked with Ronnie for so many years, but it went off without a hitch and the guys did themselves proud. It must be tough especially emotionally to do this but I could see how much it meant to them and I was so proud to be part of that feeling. We then went by sleeper train to St. Petersburg in the north where once again the audience went nuts for it!
It was then a 10 hour bus ride into Finland for Sauna Open air infront of 10000 mad rockers! It was headlined by the mighty Saxon! Killer gig! I met Doro who will be guesting with me in Spain later in the tour and she was a lovely lady, so should be fun!

OK that's all for now, I'll continue this saga in a day or so!

Thanks




ARE YOU THE NEXT BIG THING? SEND YOUR BAND'S MP3's TO TOBY?
15th May 2011

As announced on my Facebook and Twitter pages, I am on the lookout for a band to develop.

The criteria is as follows:
3 piece Rock band consisting of Guitar, bass and drums + a singer, under 25 and unique. Are you or do you know of a band with a truly unique voice? A group of people that genuinely have something to say? If so, and youre prepared to work hard, get in touch. I know there will be a group of players out there who fit this bill and it may be that you have seen them play locally and have always thought they were great, gave you 'that feeling'
Ring any bells?

IMPORTANT
I will only accept mp3's at this stage and won't contact bands direct, and wont look at websites.You can send mp3's here and they will come to me directly. The music has to come to me via the mechanism described ONLY. If I feel I want to go further, I will contact you or the band concerned so make sure all contact details are with the file.

PLEASE SEND YOUR MP3's TO THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESS ONLY:
mp3@tobyjepson.com

I have no time limit as such, just want to wait for the right music to arrive. IF it does, I will commit my time and resources to producing the act and working with them to get their music to the right people through my connections. I cannot guarantee success but I can make sure the music is heard by the right people.
Thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing whatever you feel fits.

All the best

Kind regards




DIO'S DISCIPLES TOUR DATES!

Hi, here are the dates for the first run of Dio's Disciples shows in Europe!

Hope to see you there

thanks




European Tour 2011

Wed 08 June - Moscow, Russia, A2 Club

Thu 09 June -  St. Petersburg, Russia, Kosmonayt

Fri 10 June - Tampere, Finland, Sauna Open Air Festival

Sat 11 June - Castle Donington, Download Festival

Sun 12 June - Newcastle, UK, Academy

Tue 14 June - Glasgow, UK, Garage

Wed 15 June - Wolverhampton, UK, Slade Rooms

Thu 16 June - Manchester, UK, Academy 2

Fri 17 June - London, UK, Islington Academy

Sun 19 June - Uden, Netherlands, De Pul

Mon 20 June - Aschafensburg, Germany, Colos Saal

Tue 21 June - Hamburg, Germany, Markthalle

Wed 22 June - Berlin, Germany, C Club

Fri 24 June - Dessel, Belgium, Graspop

Sat 25 June - Bochum, Germany Matrix

Mon 27 June - Vienna, Austria, Szene Wien

Tue  June - 28 Lucerne, Switzerland, Konzerthaus Schuur



DIO'S DISCIPLES
25th March 2011

Hi there

Tonight I can confirm that I have been approached for, and I have accepted the job as vocalist for Dio's Disciples.

It is a project put together by Ronnie James Dio's Wife and manager Wendy Dio, to keep the great mans music alive and to celebrate the amazing legacy he left behind after his untimely death last year.

The band will consist of Dio band members:
Craig Goldy on guitar, Simon Wright on drums, Rudy Sarzo on bass and Scott Warren on Keyboards. I will be joined on stage by vocalist Tim 'Ripper' Owens to share the duty of delivering what I believe to be some of the greatest Rock songs ever written.

As im sure you can imagine, this is an unbelievable privilege for me but also incredibly daunting as Ronnie is without doubt one of the greatest vocalist to ever grace the stages of rock and can never be replaced.
Ronnie was a pivotal reason for me wanting to get into this game in the first place after hearing that amazing tone and delivery as a kid, so I don't take this task lightly and intend to do everything in my power to do as good a job as possible and hope all fans of Ronnie's can join us in celebrating the great man and his music.

There are shows plans for Europe and the rest of the world and will bring you the dates as soon as I have them.
Until then I thank you for reading and sincerely hope you will join us and become one of Dio's Disciples!

Kindest regards

Scarborough 2011



TOBY BLOG
18th February 2011

Ok, so we have a solar flare heading our way that is a pre cursor to next years prolonged attack of intergalactic energy that threatens to bring down the communication network and disrupt the power grid! Well, nobody said it was going to be easy!!! Oh goodness me! if I read another doom ladened report on how shit our lives are and how terrible everything is I will gouge out my eyeballs with a spoon! What's wrong with everybody? I suspect the arm chair pundits and the crap tabloids are pronouncing our imminent doom whilst eating curry, tucked up warm in their well heated, well stocked homes oblivious of the real daily torments most people have to put up with. I'm all for being cautious and preparing for the worst, but what ever happened to enjoying the best? Making the most of what we have? one thing I do know is: optimism knows no bounds; the general feeling of well being brought about by looking on the bright side is by far preferable to waiting for the inevitable end!!!! Forgive my rant, but really! We are in times of extraordinary developments from a human perspective, times are changing but haven't they always? Its surely about embracing the good stuff and trying to defend ourselves from the bad enough to find a happy place to operate from...nothing is absolute I know and maybe its easy for me to say but I am here to tell you that dreams are out there waiting to be picked gloriously from the ether, it is up to us to simply put out a good feeling and pretty soon it will come back to you. The universe knows, you know...

I am currently working towards some very exciting stuff: The Saxon record has just completed and is sounding fantastic to my ears. They have pulled out all the stops to write and perform their best album in years in my opinion. The songs are simple and direct but above all as full of British power and attack as they have always been, the only difference this time is that they are once again being regarded as one of the best bands of their kind in the world today with a massive world tour looming and anticipation growing from their army of fans around the world. I urge you all to go see them live and get a copy of the record when it comes out. The record is to to be called ' Call to arms' and should be out in May.

Ok, I have some big news coming but cannot reveal it yet. Sorry to poop the party but its out of my hands for good reason. As soon as I have more to say I will. If it does come off it will mean a pretty big change to my plans but all in a good way.

In the mean time I am still working on the new Virginmarys record (sounding stunning), prepping a number of other production projects including Chrome Molly and a great band called 'my forever' as well as talking to the mighty 'lawnmower deth' about a fun project later in the year. I am also starting work on a film sound track...

Fastway is also going well, we are currently discussing a release with various labels and should be able to announce a date very soon....

I'm off to count my blessings...

all the best


Scarborough
Feb 2011



TOBY BLOG - 27th DECEMBER 2010
27th January 2011

Sorry for the delay posting this one...it got lost in Cyber Space...

Hi there all! I know its been a long time since the last blog, but so much has been happening that I've hardly had two moments to get a fag paper between!!

Ok, so what's been happening? Well guess the most significant thing is the final release of the GB and D trilogy! Yes at long last I got my finger out and completed it. I'm very pleased with it and at 11 tracks is a little more than an EP I know! However, you have been waiting so long that I felt it was important to get everything out there that was available to hear, after all, what use is it stuck on my hard drive? A massive thanks to all that helped get it to release, especially Dayle whom I stupidly forgot to mention on the thanks list!!! That's what happens when you are rushing....

Thanks for all your comments so far, keep them coming.

I have no firm plans to record anything else in the near future but I have a desire to perhaps get this material out on the road at some point although I'm not sure how or when that will happen. I am currently mulling over the options. I'll let you know when things get nearer.

SKIN Tour

The tour was very cool. I had not expected it to be quite as much fun or as well attended, not for any other reason than the bloody crap weather! Fortunately the fans came out and made the whole event very memorable. Unfortunately for Nev and Matt, the final shows were hampered by a terrible flu bug that caused them to struggle with bad throats, although I've got to say nobody really noticed and it didn't stop the gigs from being stunningly good. Total professionals. I really hope they decide to do some more at some point.
I was really touched by the way the fans reacted to me doing new material and the Angels stuff. It seems such a long time ago that those songs were current, but everyone seemed to know the words and it was great to hear the comments after about how much the band meant to everyone. A massive thanks to everyone who came along and especially to Nige Crooks who once again put up with my nattering and tuned my guitars beautifully! Top man.

News

Going into the new year I have plenty going on that is very exciting. I have just begun work as co-producer on the new SAXON record. I am doing it in collaboration with Biff and the band and we are recording at Chapel studio right through the new year. I am really chuffed about this as it brings me full circle; the first band I got into was Saxon! My brother bought 'wheels of steel' the single, but it wasn't long before I had stolen it and then bought the album! To end up working with the band is a dream come true and I am certain we will come out with a cool sounding record...watch this space.

In addition to that I am continuing to produce and develop 'The Virginmarys' first full blown album that will probably see a release sometime in 2011. The band are coming up with some amazing new songs and it really is a pleasure and a privilege to work with such a great bunch of lads who are so talented and really do have something to say in a wholly unique manner.

I have also begun talks with British Band 'Chrome Molly' about producing their new record. Molly were a band who were on the same indie label a s the Angels back in the day and that hugely influenced us, specifically from a live perspective, and we were lucky to open for them many times, so to end up producing the band would be a great thing! Don't know when exactly that will happen but should be this year.

Also, I have found a killer band called 'My Forever' whom I am very interested in working with; again don't know exactly when and how but they really are great and it is just a matter of scheduling and getting a plan together.

The other big news is that I have been approached to potentially write music for a movie! This would be a serious dream come true for me if it happens. I cant tell you what movie yet, but the production team are very successful and it would be killer to do as this is something that for me has been on the list of 'must do's' for a long time. I'll keep you posted with developments!

Ok folks time to sign off, all that remains to be said is that I hope you all had a peaceful Christmas and hope the new year brings us all focus, determination, love and a new hopeful perspective.

Kindest regards


Scarborough 2010



Tour Set Lists!
19th December 2010

Bootleggers, Kendal Dec 7th:
Unwind
Kicking Up Dust
All Roads Lead To You
Happy Ever After
The Chosen One
Deliver Me
Inside Out
Radical Your Lover
Don't Pray For Me
Forgiveness
Womankind
Unfortunate Man
Forbidden Fruit
Young Gods / Back Door Man
She's A Little Angel
I Ain't Gonna Cry
The Way That I Live
Too Much Too Young

Glasgow Cathouse Dec 8th
She's A Little Angel
Kicking Up Dust
Unwind
The Chosen One
Don't Pray For Me
Radical Your Lover
Young Gods / Backdoor Man
Too Much Too Young

Newcastle Academy Dec 9th
She's A Little Angel
Kicking Up Dust
Unwind
Deliver Me
The Chosen One
Don't Pray For Me
I Ain't Gonna Cry
Too Much Too Young

Manchester Academy Dec 10th
Norwich Waterfront Dec 11th
She's A Little Angel
Kicking Up Dust
Unwind
The Chosen One
Don't Pray For Me
I Ain't Gonna Cry
Young Gods
Too Much Too Young

Bristol Thekla Dec 12th
Bournemouth Academy Dec 14th
London Underworld Dec 15th
Birmingham Academy Dec 16th
Oxford Academy Dec 17th
Nottingham Rock City Dec 18th
She's A Little Angel
Kicking Up Dust
Unwind
The Chosen One
Don't Pray For Me
I Ain't Gonna Cry
Young Gods / Back Door Man
Too Much Too Young


Trains, Studios......and EP 3!!!!!
16th November 2010

Ok folks here ya go...as I type I'm sat in Doncaster railway station awaiting my fate! That being whether I carry on to London or turn back to Scarborough having just learnt that vital information needed to mix the final Natalia tracks has been left on my hard drive on my Mac back in the studio! Very much a Homer Simpson moment... So I'm faced with about 9 hours of train travel, drinking endless cups of Costa coffee (not too bad I suppose) and ultimately the urine being extracted at furious pace once me and my red face eventually turn up in London at the mix studio...ho and indeed hum. The life of a producer eh? Tsk tsk!

Anyway, the good news is, the final EP (3) is actually on sale (pre-order) through the site shop! Even I'm impressed! Ha ha! Well, all I can say in my pathetic defence is, I think it COULD be the best thing I have released as a solo artist. But that is not up to me to make that judgement. Amazingly the main positive result of the wait has been that certain songs haven't made the grade, something that happens in time. You cannot rush the decision making, so I have trusted my instincts and gone with the tracks that I keep going back to...they may not be to everyone's taste but I'm feeling good about the whole record. Its a tad darker and a lot more 'me' with regard to the lyrical/content. I have, being a gentleman of a certain age, discovered and welcomed, indeed accepted certain things that crucially effected me in my 'youth' and have decided to talk more about them. I have decided to do it with more whimsy than before as now I understand! Life is a ball; a collective romance with death, love, shit, ego, anxiety, ignorance, stupidity, passion, cruelty, fate, hope, violence, tenderness and that's just for starters!!!!

Point is: don't waste your time trying to hide! We all stand a greater chance of getting through and figuring ourselves out if the guard is down...
At least that's how I feel.

So these songs are me with my guard down...just a little...

Right, track listing is as follows (in no order as yet)

1. Better off dead
2. Small talk
3. Back in the day
4. Backslide
5. Got to have it
6. Gina
7. Just no way to stop from loving you
8. Rear view mirror
9. The song with no name
EXTRA TRACKS
10. The chosen one
11. Hurts

CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY NOW!!!


November 2010



Fastway, EP3, Natsav and the Virginmarys
19th October 2010

FASTWAY

Once again I find myself in a reflective mood of ennui after completing a long, gruelling recording session...its the weirdest reaction but always happens. The process is so complex and time consuming not to mention energy sapping, that I think the batteries are just drained; these are batteries that supply you with, not just the physical energy but the emotional charge you need to keep focused and able to see where it is you are going and what you are doing. I sit typing this blog with that sense. It feels like a lifetime ago that we started the FASTWAY record; rehearsals in Portsmouth followed by the sessions at Chapel in Louth, Lincolnshire, but it really is just a month ago...in that time even though we arranged, recorded, overdubbed and mixed 10 songs...I cant remember a thing about it! Ok, that is probably an exaggeration but it is such a blur, the work so intense, the feelings so strong and the energy and atmosphere so charged that it seems like a life time ago. Fuckin PHEW!

Ok, so what can you expect?

I feel that this record, apart from being one of the toughest I have ever been involved in making, is also, probably as a result of the demands, also one of the coolest and most determined albums I have ever made. There is an edge that permeates its very core, a dynamic attitude that exists and a true sense of 'real' about it. This isn't a record that has secummed to the demands of the 'modern' recording environment, where every beat, every note every nuance is cut up, tuned, beat detected and mashed into a sonic bubble that sounds like EVERYTHING else...no, this is a true 'warts and all' tome that lives and dies by the courage of its convictions. Working with Eddie Clarke has been tough, but ultimately very rewarding because of this. He is a force of nature, a gentleman of high ideals and unrelenting in his desire to make music that is first and foremost full of passion. I think I have learnt more in the last month about making rock records than i have over the entire length of my career so far...i mean that. I remember in the Angels that we always talked about making 'jam' albums even to the point of calling an album the same name, but in reality we were not experienced or convicted enough to jump in with both feet and commit to that ideal. With this record, that is exactly what happened. Most of the backing tracks were recorded live and patched up only where necessary, and that gives it a vibe and an instinct that I have never experienced before as a player.

I don't know as yet when the record will emerge but we are not far off. We are lucky to have time on our side and a great record in the wings waiting to take flight. One thing I can tell you is that the record will be called 'EAT DOG, EAT' and we are currently having the sleeve designed by world renowned US artist James Flames. Also, there is a new website being built at the moment.
Its all going on...

I'll keep you all posted.

EP3

I am now able to spend the final time I need on the last EP and that should be available for the SKIN shows as previously stated. No firm release date but pre order should be available very soon...

Natsav

Nats record is almost completed, we have two songs to mix and then master the record. No firm date for release but the album will be called: 'Lipstick Revelations' and will emerge on her own label.

Virginmarys

Also, I'm back in the studio with the mighty Macclesfield massive from Sunday next week to record more material for their next release and cannot wait for that. They are doing so well as I'm sure your'e all aware. Skunk Anansie tour in NOV (now that's an unexpected connection to my past eh?) and gathering friends and international interest as we speak so i think it is simply a matter of time...

Thanks for reading and catch you on the flip side...


Scarborough
October 2010



A Blog About Nothing....
5th October 2010

Good morning to all.

Just a quick one today as I'm trying to do nothing...much harder than you think...actually consists of thinking about doing nothing but then feeling guilty and then doing something...I think it stems from a need to do, rather than don't...

Anyway what you need to know is that the tracking of the Fastway record is basically completed and we are heading into the mix next week to complete. I'm quietly confident as I type, although I am very close to it. However, my gauge is always whether I enjoyed working on it, what the experience gave me and all I can say is that the recording was a tough job and very challenging but who ever said it was easy eh? I know that the work put in has yielded what I believe to be a solid rock album full to the gunnel's of all the things I have always loved; Rock guitars, big drums, pounding bass, triumphant vocals all delivered with passion and belief in the project. So hopefully that will communicate itself to you all. No release as yet, but we have enlisted the talents of James Flames, a US artist to do the cover art which should be killer as he is a seriously talented artist that I have followed for a year or two.

Anyway I'm getting back to my daytime TV marathon...

arf arf...


Scarborough
October 2010



Toby Jepson & The Return Of The Monday Blog!!
20th September 2010

Now then folks, my apologies for the lack of last weeks blog, but I do have a reasonable excuse!

I have in fact spent the last two weeks (or there abouts) in a studio in Brixton mixing Natalia's record. We decamped there, set up shop and didn't leave! forget food, drink and personal hygiene! this was un adulterated hard core sonic manipulation of the most demanding order. We were there to mix 12 tracks that have taken the best part of 8 months to get to that stage and we had our work cut out as I was still editing the files ahead of the tracks being loaded onto the system ready to be mixed. I was in an anti room working on one rig and Ewan (genius engineer) was working in the mix room...it was flat out and no mistake! I have to say that I am very pleased with the results, its always tough to see the wood through the trees but after a full play back of the tracks after everything was completed, it sounded killer! it was the first time I had heard the tracks back to back...
well done Natalia! no release date yet but probably early next year.

I'm between that I was also taking trips to Portsmouth to rehearse with Fast Eddie in preparation for the recording of new songs that, as I reported last blog, may most likely emerge as a new FASTWAY record.
I am, as I type actually on the first day if that recording process in deepest darkest, and loveliest Lincolnshire, in a studio called Chapel (The darkness, Kaiser Chiefs, Bullet for my valentine amongst others...) We have Matt E on the drum stool, Ewan engineering and Mr Clarke in full flow, with myself playing bass and vocalizing....we are recording (up to) 12 songs over two weeks. No titles as yet but I am hoping to keep you posted with news as and when stuff happens through the course of the recording...

Anyway I must get back to it...

best wishes to all and speak soon...


Chapel studios
Lincolnshire
Sept 2010



Bank Holiday Monday Blog
30th August 2010

It's raining...again...This week I have been left at home as the family took off for a family visit and I couldn't go due to the ongoing work load. 'Oh yeah' I hear you whisper under your breath, a wry smile dancing playfully at the corner of your mouths...but believe me, that studio feels like a tomb at the moment! since the loved ones waved goodbye five days ago, I have done nothing but decamp in there and attack the work...Ok red wine has been imbibed, food has been eaten etc but it feels like im growing into the furniture, sprouting laminate flooring out of the soles of my feet; eyes becoming wide screen VU's...

Time to do something else...

I did actually go out last night with the mix engineer, Ewan Davis - genius engineer, amazing technician and only guy I trust when I'm tracking my projects in big studio's, and a totally great bloke to boot - I had too! it's as simple as that, I'd begun to forget what other humans looked like and that life was outside my studio door...oh God...
We ended up in a pub in Scarborough called 'The Merchant', him drinking Guinness, me on dark rum and ginger having a rather pleasant night talking avidly about the various production jobs we are doing, have done and wished we could have been part of...anyone listening in would have lost the will to live approximately 5-10 mins in I promise you...
But the revelation of the night was that there was an unbelievable acoustic duo playing covers in the place, I only actually heard them and didn't actually see them on account of the fact that we were crammed into a corner by the bogs (nice smell! - honestly what is it about 'the Gents' ? can't they aim? I manage it! last time I looked the urinal were in front of me not up the frikkin wall or a hole in the bog floor...mucky gets...i ended up using the women's it was so bad!)

They had arranged versions of some amazingly difficult songs such as 'Bat out of Hell' - all the parts, vocals, main themes AND the guitar solo's - 'Bohemian Rhapsody', Police songs, Darkness, Hendrix ... - again, ALL the vocals (something Queen didn't even pull off!!!) and made the songs come to life without putting a note wrong!!! I was stunned and it got me to thinking how much talent there is out there! If two local guys ( I asked the guy behind the bar if they were) probably with 'normal' jobs can find the time to commit to creating such fun, exciting renditions as that and do it FOR fun and nothing else, then I can rest assured that music is still in a very healthy place.

These guys weren't any older than mid twenties I'd say (caught sight of them when they came off stage) and yet they were playing songs written long before they were born! Those songs stand the test of time and will always be here...it makes me re evaluate the whole thing; we NEED music! It's IMPORTANT! It gives so much joy to those playing AND hearing it if it is GOOD, well delivered, passionate and committed, and you don't have to spend a fortune paying to see over blown touring artists in cattle shed venues and being herded to their merchandise stand (where they REALLY want you to end up and where the money is really made)

cynic? no, just a realist who gets fed up of seeing so called 'BIG' bands and artists play mediocre shows and expect us all to thank them for it! Don't get me wrong; I'm obviously well aware of how much work goes into creating large stage shows and all that goes with it but the last few huge gigs I went to were frankly underwhelming. No passion - just a treadmill and the business ahead of the art...

So next time you are at a loose end, or want to see some great music, remember the local stuff; take a look outside your back gate, look out for those places that have great un-discovered, modest, cool musicians with a great sense of themselves and crucially don't take it too seriously, or have no intention of 'making it' - just for the un-fettered joy of it and the desire to entertain, and you'll be amazed and probably more than a little enlightened...and probably a bit pissed!

Onward folks, onward....


Two Quotes this week:

' ....my philosophy? have a good time, ALL the time...'

and;

'...My mom and dad gave me free reign at expressing myself, up to and including torturing all of my sisters, you know, to the point that I did get in trouble for that. They were my first audience...'


Scarborough
Aug 29th 2010



Monday Blog - Lots Of News!
23rd August 2010

As I type I sitting in my dining room having had a small (but significant) lie in (until 8.45) after one of the busiest weeks of my life and I'm holding a sherry glass full of weak black currant squash because one of kids is having a dolls tea party and I'm the guest of honour...

They say you wait around forever for a bus and then...well you know what I mean. Thankfully it is all very positive stuff, so what's happening?

Well, as you know, I'm in the final couple of weeks of recording for Natalia's record. Things are proceeding slowly but with some great results and I'm really able to see the wood for the trees now. Its a lot of work as I'm playing everything (aside from one or two piano parts and some minor guitar bits and pieces - oh and the drum tracks...) engineering and producing along side my co-producer Dave Laudat who in turn is doing most of the backing vocals (very good at it) and throwing suggestions of arrangements at me as we feverishly gallop to a climax...

Secondly I am working on a very exciting project with a great pop writer who resides in Surrey so we are composing material over the net which is just killer...the modern world may be fraught with problems but my God we are a clever race to come up with the amazing tinternet are we not? when I think back to the early days of the Angels and how difficult it was to get everyone together to write, listen to stuff, decide etc...what a massive leap forward! example: on Friday I wrote, recorded and emailed a fully mixed demo and received comment back all within the course of around 2 hours! it really is like being in the room...

Thirdly we had some great Virginmarys reactions to their iTunes single of the week; there are several US and UK labels interested as a direct result - they ended up at 6 in the Rock charts in US itunes ahead of Buckcherry and a number of other higher profile bands who released their records on the same day! There are some other great things happening to the band as a direct result of the iTunes success, but that will all be revealed in the fullness of time! Keep an eye on their site and here....

Next, and probably most significantly, I have just agreed all arrangements to work on 'Fast' Eddie Clarke (MOTORHEAD, Fastway, Black Electric) new record. I have co-written all the material with Eddie and will sing on the record as well as play bass. At the moment there is no project name, but it may come under the FASTWAY banner although probably not; its yet to be decided. We are using Matt E on the drums and will record at Chapel Studio's in Louth in September with the amazing Ewan Davis at the desk. Myself and Eddie will mix it with Ewan at the chapel. It will be a heavy blues record, the idea is to get back to the traditional methods of recording, let the music breath by not going for perfection in terms of takes; let the band play and keep the results without over blowing the performances. It will be a quick recording on purpose, I did the same with The VM's to great results so I think with a little luck it will be fun and exciting...no release date yet and not certain how it will come out but I'm very much looking forward to working on it...rehearsals start in a couple of weeks. This is, at the moment, purely a studio based project with no plans to tour.

Next was an in depth interview for Classic rock about the art work of all the Supertramp album sleeves (big fan ya see) I then had to mix a track for a new female artist who is appearing on GMTV at the end of September and master it in time for the recording of the performance, worked out some new arrangements for some old Angels songs ahead of the acoustic shows, continued to develop the EP tunes, arranged for another give away track to be mixed...on top of all that the kids are off school and I have been a Dad taxi whilst trying to delicately negotiate with my 7 year old with regard to watching movies (she's a movie nut like me - I think I've created a monster actually!!) and it is my middle child's 11th Birthday this weekend!

Thing is, it's great to be busy and although this week was pretty much overloaded, it was FUN and exciting and bodes well for the future and I'm glad for the positivity and welcome the challenge...
BRING IT ON!!!!

Ok quote number 2:

'The moment you start analyzing your own rock is the moment your rock is dead. That's why rock is now pretty much dead. Too much analyzation. No rockalyzation...'

Good luck!


Scarborough
Aug 2010



Midweek Blog
18th August 2010

Sorry for the delay in writing to all you lovely people...my life is taking some very unexpected twists and turns at the mo...all good I hasten to add, but very challenging. For now it shall have to remain a closely guarded secret, under pain of a Chinese burn for those that know and reveal the detail, so with that in mind I'm keeping it to myself....

So where am I with the recording? Ok, well the Ep is shaping up really well, I have one track completed including vocals and ready for mix, its called 'Back in the day' and is something I've never done before but I'm confident you will like it; it retains all the elements I think most people know me for and then some!!!!

I have another give a way being prepped for mixing at the moment, that will take a week or so to get done so please be patient.

Nats record is nearing completion and sounding better every day...big task mind you and into some unknown territory for me but that's the challenge...Got another project just confirmed that involves a great player of note in an album that is right up my street and should (with a bit of luck) be ready to hear around the end of the Autumn...no names as yet, its good to keep things under the radar a bit until ACTUAL noise has been made as these things have a tendency to trip you up....

EP track titles so far: (subject to change)
Rear view Mirror, Small talk, Better off dead, Got to have it, Backslide, Back in the day....
very 'evy very 'umble...

Ok, new thing; Name the quote: Every week you have to guess where or from whom the quote derives...
This week...

'A society defines its self with how it treats its prisoners....'

happy hunting!

Scarborough
Aug 2010



Monday Evening Blog
9th August 2010

Been funny last couple of weeks really...I've spent so much time in the studio that I feel slightly detached from normal life...its as if I've got a parallel existence outside of myself...maybe its a dream, perhaps this is what Chris Nolan was getting at...although I've only got reviews of INCEPTION to go on as I still have not seen it!!! Only film I was looking forward to this summer and I just cannot seem to get out from under the clutches of that demanding mistress that is 'recording'

Anyway, on Friday I decided to stop and smell the roses; the kids are on holiday and I am not going to miss out on the frolics of what that brings, so off we went to Castle Howard yesterday and dragged around the opulence that is that particular family seat. Too much for one group of people to own really, however I must say they are very welcoming and the place is amazing. Recommended...Watched 'Planes, Trains and Auto-mobiles' in the evening with the kidz (quickly muting the sweary bit in the airport car hire scene!) still amazingly funny even after 20 years of watching it. Sad loss, John Candy.

This blog may not be much about music, but in a way it is, coz the consequences of concentrating TOO much on the various projects I'm working on are 'all work and no play, makes Tobe a dull boy'...so the lesson? take a break, kick back, look for the wood amongst the trees and, well...try to remain a human!!!

Toodle pip


Scarborough 2010



Monday Morning Blog
2nd August 2010

Ok, so straight down to business.
EP3 - News!!!

At long last I can reveal that the final EP (Drums) of the Guitar, Bass and Drums collection will be released in time for the SKIN tour in December.
It has been a long time coming but I'm finally able to give some details of the track count, titles and who plays on the recordings.

Firstly, there will be six brand new songs recorded exclusively at my studio 'The Strange Place' in Scarborough. It is very much in the vein of the others although if pushed I would say it sounds darker in tone than the previous two.

Titles include:

'Rear View Mirror' a song about the confusion of regret, and how letting go of hurt is the only way of moving on.
'Better Off Dead' A comment on all the negativity that we are force fed by the media, politicians and ourselves...
'Small Talk' The words between the words that don't mean anything...
I Have played most of the guitars and Bass on the recordings with a guest appearance from Jason Wardman on Guitar on a couple of the songs.

Matt E has played the drums on all the tracks and makes a welcome return to working with me on a general basis; he has also, as recently reported, played drums on the record I am currently producing for Natsav, and also played the drums on both 'The Chosen One' and 'Hurts' - the two free downloads released recently.

We are currently putting the final touches to the basic tracking and should be able to announce final mixes by the end of October.

I may also include bonus tracks on the release.
In the meantime I will be continuing to post FREE downloads of additional material that, for one reason or another, will not make the EP. I am currently having tracks mixed. Titles include
'Back in the day' and 'Gina'

The next track to be posted for FREE is a track I wrote for a female artist that didn't end up getting used. It is in demo form.
The track is called 'Overwhelming Me' It should be available to download later this week!
Hope you enjoy it all!

That's about it, apart from to remind you about the warm up dates:

4th Dec - Stereo - York
7th Dec - Bootleggers - Kendal

There will be a couple more, just confirming and then will announce.
Thanks


Scarborough
August 2010


Things I've Learnt This Week...
20th July 2010

I type on the train to London, once more into the breach...

Recording Natalia this week and working with a fellow song writer Simon Ellis so should be a fun week. Heading down to the High Voltage fest in Victoria park on Saturday, so also looking forward to that! If you're going I may see you there...

Things I've learnt this week:

Don't take anything for granted. Might be an obvious one to state but we must all take stock from time to time and right now I am learning how to recognise this stuff more than ever before...another is to try to SLOW down a bit! I am always rushing and pushing!!! It works most of the time but not always and I hope my new found vigour doesn't rush me headlong into things that aren't right...so I'm taking steps to re-evaluate decisions and hope to be able to see the right path...

Very positive at the moment and wish to pay it forward...

Regards to all

Scarborough
July 2010



NEW SONGS + EP 3 NEWS!
16th July 2010

I am currently talking to various people about completing the 3rd EP for GUITAR, BASS and DRUMS. I have decided to go back to the basic format and start from scratch on this. I had quite a lot of material in the works but feel that now I have the time and a renewed sense of purpose about creating new music, it has to be exactly what it should be.

As you may now know, I have made available two new songs for free download, and expect to see more over the coming weeks. It's time to have a 'clear-out' and establish a new path, and I hope you will feel compelled to check it out! I will be announcing who I am working with on this very soon and hopefully some news of shows to accompany the release.

You'll notice that there is also a new selection of songs on the site's Jukebox. As well as the 2 new tracks (The Chosen One and Hurts) as mentioned above, there is also the following featured :

Motivated from 'Guitar, Bass and Drums' EP 1
Fools Gold and Viewfinder both taken from the 'Twisted Rhapsodies' album.
Better Off Without Me taken from the Toby & The Whole Truth album 'Ignorance Is Bliss'
and finally 2 rare, hard to find, Little Angels tracks:
Hard Times which appeared on the 'Ten Miles High' single and as a bonus track on the Japanese Edition of the 'Jam' album
Schizophrenia Blues taken from the 'Womankind' single

Speak to you all soon

Scarborough
July 2010



TOBY TO BE SPECIAL GUEST ON SKIN
FAREWELLTOUR, DECEMBER 2010
14th July 2010

I am pleased to announce that I have been asked to appear as special guest to SKIN on there December Tour. It will be their farewell tour after re-emerging last year at Download.

I will be playing a set of Little Angels and solo material.

For dates and ticket info please click here!

Hopefully see you there!


Scarborough
July 2010



NEW TOBY BLOG
12th July 2010

Ok, so I’m trying to do a short blog once a week from now on...i was aiming for Fridays but was enormously sidetracked on Friday, so here it is on overcast Monday morning. Hopefully it will distract you all a little from the beginning of another week...

So why what was my Friday? Well, last week I had Matt E, my long time drummer and close mate up at my studio for the week working on drum tracking for Natalia’s record. We had two new tracks to complete the rhythm tracks on and also a number of new ideas to explore so it was quite a work load. Studio work is always, in equal measure, exciting and pressurising!!! Friday was a bit of a dash as we needed to complete some work before Matt had to break the gear down. Anyway it went on longer than expected....no change there then...!
This week is more of the same, although I am on my own this week carrying on with vocal edits, more programming and a bit of work on new tunes...

I’m on a countdown for Chris Nolan’s new movie ‘INCEPTION’ and only 4 days to go...for all those who perhaps don’t know his work (I’d be surprised if you don’t...Batman Begins, The dark Knight, memento, Insomnia, The Prestige...). I urge you all to go see...

What has been obsessing me this week passed?

I was shocked and dismayed about the whole Raoul Moat incident that came to a terrible conclusion this week. I know the guy was clearly disturbed and there is no excuse for what he did, but the nature of how the media circus yet again intervened to ramp up the expectation, fear and loathing was quite simply disgraceful. When will we as a nation start to come down from our voyeuristic soap boxes? It’s so easy to judge whilst watching these macabre situations roll out as part of our daily entertainment...I mean, there was a SKY TV helicopter hovering near the scene, reporters combing the area and interviewing everyone they could get their sticky hands on...meanwhile there is one dead victim, two injured and a suicide! 4 lives changed forever and hundreds more effected...long after our appetites have been sated and his image has faded from our screens. You cannot tell me this doesn’t have a huge affect on us all, least of all the dulling of our rational senses. I find it so disturbing...

Till next time have a great week....


Scarborough 2010



A MESSAGE FROM THE DESK OF TOBY JEPSON...
2nd July 2010

I've made it! Another Friday, the end of another week and I'm OK...just!! Why you may ask? Well, currently I am spending around 12 hours a day locked in my studio trawling through piles of vocal takes trying to make sense of the acres of recorded lead and backing vocals that were completed a couple of weeks ago at The Chapel studios in Wimbledon. What for? well, for the past three months or so, I have been, along side my long time mate and collaborator David Laudat, writing for and producing an album for a Russian pop princess who goes (currently) under the moniker of Nat Sav...It has been a very long development process and right now we are into the vocals and this is where the time goes...Its a record for fans of Pink, Katy Perry but with a dash of Blondie, a smidgen of The Black eyed Peas and a healthy ladle of The Foo Fighters!!!! Anyway, its shaping up really well and I think the album should be completed around the end of August, ill keep you posted...

So by now most will know that I'm no longer in GUN. Like I have indicated my decision was due, in part, to increasing writing and production commitments. It was a very difficult decision for me to take; I have loved being in the band and we had some great times and played some great shows. Joolz and Dante and Paul have been nothing but gents, class acts the whole way and I believe we will continue to work with each other in the years to come, and at the very least remain great friends.
Too all the fans of the band; my sincere thanks and appreciation for the commitment and dedication you have shown over the last couple of years. It was a pleasure to meet you all and feel the love you have for those great songs and for the acceptance of me and the new music we made together. I am very proud of what we achieved and hope you can continue to support Joolz and Dan in whatever they choose to do next with GUN.

So what now?
Well, I'm taking a little time to re group, but my focus is on a number of projects. Firstly, I have to complete Nats album. Then I will most likely be getting involved as producer with potentially 2 maybe 3 new projects, nothing concrete just meetings at the moment...then I shall finish EP3 and have already begun talking to my agent about supporting that release with some dates. Don't know exactly when but I feel duty bound, and I have to say EXCITED, about the idea of finally completing the long running saga of the 'Guitar, Bass and Drums' collection...I can only apologise to all those who have that lonely space in the package. I PROMISE its coming and hopefully by the end of the year...

I am also being offered quite a bit of work as an acoustic artist, specifically there are offers to open for other bands/artists. Nothing confirmed yet but shouldn't be long before I can make some announcements. It is also likely that I will be the singer in Fastway for a couple of shows this year, just waiting for that to firm up.

Quite a lot going on really!

Like I have said in past; this business is a strange animal, but I have learnt over the years to keep smiling, follow my instincts as they are rarely wrong in terms of satisfying my soul and keep moving forward. One door closes another opens...

Thanks for the great continued support and I will be seeing you all very soon.

Have a great weekend

Scarborough
July 2010



ANNOUNCEMENT
28th June 2010

Hi there

Due to increasing writing and production commitments for other artists, I have decided to leave GUN as the singer. I have had a fantastic time working with Jools and Dante and consider the music we have created together as being amongst the best I have been involved in throughout my career . I wish them well and sincerely hope that we will work together again in some capacity in the future. I stress that that I am in no way leaving the world of live music, far from it, it is simply that at the moment I cannot commit 100% to future GUN plans and would not want to stand in the way of the bands potential further development . I fully intend to resurface as a rock singer in one way or another in the near future so watch this space...

Scarborough
June 2010



AN UPDATE FROM TOBY
18th June 2010

Hi there

Just wanted to re-connect with all those out there who visit my site and have continued to show amazing support and loyalty over the last few years, specifically since I began releasing the Guitar, Bass and Drums EP's.

As I'm sure most of you know, I have been working with Joolz and Dante Gizzi in GUN for the last couple of years and because of that union have had to withdraw, for the moment, from my solo projects because of the commitment needed. However, I have always had the intention of completing the 3 EP set at some point as I know there are many who have contacted me wanting to know where it is! Let me say; I don't blame you! I know how this stuff can enrage and frustrate the fans! I truly do, I'm a fan of music just like you and recognise that it can come across as arrogant and flippant. Believe me nothing could be further from the truth. For the situation I've caused I apologise. I am currently working towards completing the last EP right now. I don't know how long it will take and when the release will happen but I PROMISE you all it will arrive.  Rest assured, I get email or a text from Nige every week prompting me...

In the meantime I have decided to remove the forum boards for a while as we were hacked last week which has resulted in all the data being lost or corrupted so it seems sensible to me to bottom out the problem and start again at a later date. I'm very sorry for any inconvenience and I know some will be annoyed but we have little choice. I sincerely hope you all feel compelled to rejoin. There is no one more angry about it than me. We are attempting to recover the data but it is proving to be difficult so until this issue is resolved I'm afraid it is all we can do.

While I'm talking here, I'd like everyone to know, once again, how much I appreciate the efforts made by all to support and encourage me and the projects I have been and am involved in. I does mean so much to me. I also know that I spend very little time on the site and that it may seem strange given that I was so involved at the beginning of my re-birth. I have no excuse apart from to say that my life is incredibly active and busy, not only because of GUN but I have also become heavily involved in producing and writing with other artists so I barely get time to see my nearest and dearest between my working periods, let alone spend time doing other things, so I had to take the decision when GUN kicked off to concentrate on the music first and foremost and to give others the responsibility of administration of the site. It may not be very busy but rest assured, Nige and Thinny keep me up to speed with everything that goes on and I do my level best to respond whenever anything is asked of me. I hope you understand and hope you can forgive my absence, its for no other reasons than the ones given. Here's hoping we meet again very soon. In the meantime, please contact Thinny or Nige with any inquiries.

Many thanks once again

Kindest regards

Scarborough
June 2010

 

SKIN TOUR SETLIST
14th December 2009

Many thanks to everyone that voted for the Little Angels songs that Toby was to play during his stint as special guest to SKIN.

The tour ended with a fantastic performance at Nottingham's Rock City on Saturday.  A big thank you to all the loyal fans that came out to show Toby their support. The set list was as follows:

Hopefully, we will have some videos from Nige in the YouTube section shortly!

The Thin Kicking Up Dust One
Toby's Webmaster



VOTE FOR TOBY'S SET LIST
ON THE SKIN TOUR!
25th November 2009

As you all know Toby will be special guest to SKIN on their forthcoming U.K. tour (click here for dates).

Toby has decided that his set each night will be a full acoustic set of Little Angels material!!
That's where you come in...I have been asked to ask you, Toby's fans, what you would like to hear at these show. Toby will personally look at the results and make sure that the ones with the highest votes get included.

To submit your suggestions please either email me at webmaster@gunofficial.co.uk or contact us through Toby's MySpace page!

We look forward to hearing all your suggestions!!

The Thin Deciding What To Request One
Toby's Webmaster