Biography

A short biography of Ant's musical career, from the early days at Charterhouse up to the present time.  

Just a few of the key events of any given year are mentioned here - Ant has done so much over the years that it would be almost impossible to document it all.

1951

Ant born on December 23rd in South London

1963

Formation of first band The Spiders with Rivers Job at St Edmunds School, Hindhead

1965

Ant attends Charterhouse School
Formation by Ant of Anon with Richard Macphail, Rivers Job, Rob Tyrrell & Mike Rutherford
Ant writes first song "Patricia" - later to become Genesis song "In Hiding"
Anon make first appearance at Charterhouse concert playing three Rolling Stones songs

1966

Further Anon concerts
Performance by Anon at Charterhouse Charity Beat Concert with The Garden Wall & The Climax
Demo recording by Anon of "Pennsylvania Flickhouse" (written by Ant) at Tony Pike Sound in Putney
Last Anon concert as three piece

1967

Recording of song demos by Ant with Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks & Peter Gabriel
Signing of publishing contract with Jonathan King
First Genesis recording (not released) with Chris Stewart on drums
Further song writing and recording of demos
Recording of The Silent Sun

1968

Release of The Silent Sun and A Winter's Tale singles (Press reviews)
Further song writing & recording of demos for first album
Chris Stewart leaves Genesis; replaced by John Silver
Recording of From Genesis To Revelation at Regent Sound Studios

1969

Release of From Genesis To Revelation
John Silver leaves group; replaced by John Mayhew
Genesis start writing and rehearsals at friend's houses during the summer
Demo recording at Regent Sound Studios
Genesis move to cottage owned by Richard Macphail's parents to concentrate on writing
First Genesis gig played at home of Mrs Balme (friend of Peter Gabriel's mother)
Genesis play first gigs at Universities and Colleges

1970

Further Genesis gigs, including support slots for Deep Purple, Fairport Convention & Atomic Rooster
Recording of session for BBC Night Ride programme
Band signed to Tony Stratton-Smith's Charisma records
Recording of Trespass at Trident Studios with producer John Anthony
Ant experiences increasing stage-fright and decides to leave the band
Ant writes and records first solo demos after leaving the band including material eventually released on The Geese And The Ghost 

1971

Ant undertakes piano lessons and starts studying music

Writing and recording of demos with Harry Williamson

Further writing of new material

1972

First experimental recording made (original version of Field of Eternity)

Recording of demos for Mike Rutherford (some tracks included on Archive Collection Volume One)

First soundtrack work for student film

1973

Recording of demo version of Take This Heart (singers include Phil Collins)

Demo recording of Silver Song with Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins

Demo recordings with David Thomas & Ronnie Gunn (including Master of Time and The Beggar & The Thief)

Recording of Silver Song and Only Your Love in one-day session with Mike & Phil at Island Studios

Recording of Take This Heart by Charterhouse Choral Society in Charterhouse chapel

Work with Mike Rutherford on completing material for The Geese And The Ghost

1974

Start of sessions for The Geese And The Ghost
Further demo recordings with David Thomas and Ronnie Gunn
Recording of other new material (some released on Private Parts & Pieces album)

1975

Completion of sessions for The Geese And The Ghost at Tom Newman's studio
First demo recording of Tarka with Harry Wiliamson
Demo recording of Gypsy Suite with Harry Williamson
Release of Take This Heart on Beyond An Empty Dream album

1976

Recording of material for proposed release of Macbeth interspersed with music
Recording by Ant of tracks later released on Private Parts & Pieces album
Ant plays piano on Peter Gabriel solo demos (recorded at Trident Studios)
First Library Music projects recorded

1977

Release of Ant's first solo album The Geese & The Ghost
Ant undertakes promo tour of radio stations for album in USA
Recording of contribution to Intergalactic Touring Band album (on "Reaching Out") whilst in USA
Writing and recording of Wise After The Event

1978

Recording of demo version of Gypsy Suite (with Harry Williamson)
Recording of Tarka with National Philharmonic Orchestra
Release of 2nd solo album Wise After The Event
UK radio promo for album includes session at Radio Clyde
Compilation of first Private Parts & Pieces album from recordings made between 1972-76
Writing and recording of Sides

1979

Release of 3rd & 4th solo albums (Sides & Private Parts & Pieces)
Promo tour for Sides album in USA
Recording sessions for Mike Rutherford's Smallcreep's Day at Abba's Polar Studios, Stockholm
Further Library Music projects written and recorded

1980

Release of 5th solo album Private Parts & Pieces II: Back To The Pavilion
Writing and recording for 1984 album
Various other music written & recorded including the Arboretum Suite
Ant composes music for ATV series Rule Britannia

1981

Release of 6th solo album 1984 (first album of new contract outside of US with RCA)
Writing and recording of Antiques album with Quique Berro Garcia
Ant moves home from Send Barns to London.  Set-up of new recording studio.
Writing with Andy Latimer for next Camel album.

1982

Recording of Camel album The Single Factor at Abbey Road Studios
Release of 7th solo album Private Parts & Pieces III: Antiques
Recording and co-production with Nick Battle of Iva Twydell's album Duel
Writing and initial recording with Richard Scott of material for Invisible Men album
Completion of Invisible Men at Atmosphere Studios

1983

Writing & demo recording of more songs in collaboration with Richard Scott and Nick Battle
Further Library Music projects
Writing of musical "Alice" with Richard Scott
Release of Invisible Men album in USA

1984

Release of Invisible Men on Street Tunes label in UK
"Alice" staged at Leeds Playhouse
Release of 9th solo album Private Parts & Pieces IV: A Catch At The Tables
Further audio-visual project work, including music for Panasonic UK promo film and Channel 4 play "CQ"
Writing & demo recording of song material with Roy Hill
Recording of next Private Parts & Pieces album

1985

TV projects including music for Channel 4 play "Tropical Moon Over Dorking"
Release of compilation album Harvest of the Heart drawn from first 4 Private Parts & Pieces albums
Release of 10th solo album Private Parts & Pieces V: Twelve
Recording of next Private Parts & Pieces album

1986

Audio-visual projects recorded, including music for TV adverts and promo film for The Design Council.
Spontaneous recording session with Quique Berro Garcia
Release of 11th solo album Private Parts & Pieces VI: Ivory Moon
TV projects include music for Channel 4 play "God's Chosen Car Park"

1987

Recording for next Private Parts & Pieces album
Recording & production of Denis Quinn's album Open Secret
Release of 12th solo album Private Parts & Pieces VII: Slow Waves, Soft Stars
Promo for album includes TV appearance on VH1 "New Visions" show
Work with Harry Williamson on completion of Tarka album

1988

Start of work on Slow Dance album (original working title "Project 2")
Release of Tarka album 

1989

Recording of strings for Slow Dance album at CBS Studios
Recording & production of Denis Quinn's album Mystic Heart
First music for Anglia TV Survival programme for Land of Dragons
Compilation and release of first Missing Links album Finger Painting

1990

New recording contract with Virgin Records
Release of 15th solo album Slow Dance
Re-mastering of back catalogue with Simon Heyworth
First CD re-issues of back catalogue including The Geese & The Ghost
Radio promo tour in UK for Slow Dance & CD re-issues

1991

Writing & recording of theme music for "Horse Trials" TV show with Mike Rutherford
Release of the rest of Ant's back catalogue on CD
Further TV projects including second Survival programme "Tiwai Island of the Apes"
Recording & production of Asha (Denis Quinn) album Amadora
Writing and recording for next Private Parts & Pieces album

1992

Start of Ant's official fan club magazine "The Pavilion"
Third Survival programme "Wild Voices, Quiet Waters"
Release of Private Parts & Pieces VIII: New England
Further Library Music projects including work with Joji Hirota

1993

Extensive TV work including Lifeboat & Sail The World programmes
Compilation of material for second Missing Links album
Recording of Echoes Living Room Concert 

1994

Release of Sail The World and Missing Links 2: The Sky Road
Writing & recording new music with Quique Berro Garcia
Further Library Music projects

1995

New association with Voiceprint Records
Release of Gypsy Suite CD
Release of Living Room Concert CD - initially with limited edition lyric book
Recording sessions with Guillermo Cazenave
Writing & recording of original music with Roger Patterson for BBC Radio play Barabbas The Witness
Release of Anthology compilation CD to promote Voiceprint re-issues of back catalogue CDs
Ant re-discovers various old tapes in his attic, including 1969 demos with Mike Rutherford

1996

TV work with Joji Hirota for Survival programme Creatures of the Magic Water
Writing & recording for new Private Parts & Pieces album
Release of David Thomas & Ronnie Gunn's Giants Dance CD featuring Ant on several tracks
Release of Private Parts & Pieces IX: Dragonfly Dreams
Release of The Meadows of Englewood, a collaboration with Guillermo Cazenave

1997

Promo for Meadows of Englewood album in Spain, including radio & TV appearances
Release of Virgin Records Survival - The Music of Nature compilation including tracks by Ant & Joji Hirota
Release of Missing Links Volume Three: Time & Tide, a collaboration with Joji Hirota
Compilation of Archive Collection, including rare & unreleased recordings from the early days

1998

Release of Live Radio Sessions CD
Release of Archive Collection Volume One to mark 6th anniversary of "The Pavilion"
Genesis reunion photo shoot at Heathrow Airport
Release of Genesis Archive 1967-1975 4 CD set
Genesis reunion dinner 

1999

Further TV work for Survival
New Library Music projects
Recording of track for Various Artists charity album The Sky Goes All The Way Home
Release of Private Parts & Pieces X: Soirée

2000

Ant's first BBC TV music commission for Midway: Island of Life
TV work with Joji Hirota for Jurassic Shark programme
Writing & recording of music with Roger Patterson for BBC Radio 4 drama production
Further Library Music projects

2001

Further TV soundtrack work for Survival programmes Bears of the Russian Front and Dungeons & Dragons.

Launch of Ant's Official Website (10,000 hits and rising in the first 8 months)

Voiceprint re-issue The Sky Road

Ant starts writing of new guitar-based material and plans are made for new releases....

2002

Ant continues work on material for the next Private Parts & Pieces album
Plans for official release of Ant's 1978 Radio Clyde session announced by Voiceprint
Ant makes guest appearance on Mike Rutherford's This Is Your Life show for BBC Television
Some orchestral tracks written by Ant for Library projects released on Natural Trust music compilations

2003

Radio Clyde and Soundscapes CDs released

Work on compiling Archive Collection Volume 2 continues

Ant completes further Library Music projects for Atmosphere Music

 2004

Archive Collection Volume 2 released (Ant's first double album)
Recording of material for next Private Parts & Pieces album

 2005

......to be continued!

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