BIOGRAPHY
Rook was born
in Dudley ,West Midlands and spent his growing up years in and around the
Black Country. In his teens he DJ'd around Wolverhampton with his roadshow
'jets' which mixed up a hefty blend of Rare Groove, Hendrix, Rock, Betty Davis,
Funkadelic, Free, Ska, Osibisa, Deep Purple and Northern Soul. While most
DJ's stuck to their chosen genre, Rook managed to maintain an infectious flow
of eclectic grooves.
Rook at the angelic
age of 18 (don't be fooled )
He formed his
first band with 'Tyla' (Dogs d'Amour ) which was called 'Weird Girlfriend',
they struck up a writing partnership and churned out an odd collection of
freaky tunes.
'Rook' and 'Tyla'
decided to move to London and put together a new band called 'Kitsch' with
'Paul Raven' (Killing Joke), 'Jim Crosbie'(Burnt Out Stars) and 'Jonathan'
(Feet First DJ) they start gigging the London circuit and secure management."
Kitsch were a bit 'New York Dolls' meet 'Generation x' on a bender with 'T.Rex'
on the walkman, wearing a 'Heavy Metal Kids' T-shirt" Rook
KITSCH
Line-up from left
to right
Rook-Vocals /Harmonica
..Tyla-Guitar..Jim Crosbie-Guitar..Jonathon-Drums..Paul Raven-Bass
'Kitsch' eventually
split due to the abundance of alcohol and ego's. Rook puts together 'Kitsch'
version 2 with Crosbie. They secure a production deal with 'Plezure Records'
and start recording their 'Kleptomania' album at 'Aosis' studios in Camden
Town
Two tracks released
on 'Plezure Starts Here', a record company sampler
Album finished,
'virgin Records' show large interest to sign up 'Kitsch'
'Plezure' want
to throw in all their other artists on the label as a package deal. 'Virgin'
only interested in 'Kitsch'. Negotiations come to a halt. Album never gets
released.
KITSCH 2
Jim Crosbie-Guitar/Keyboards
..Rook Randle-Vocals/Harmonica/Synthesizer..Steve Lim/Bass
A frustrated Rook
moves on and puts together an in-between, money making band called 'The Judas
Blues Revue' with Nick Hall , who is freshly sacked from the 'Dogs D'Amour'
With money made
from the 'Judas' gigs Rook buys a P.A and sets up 'Vulgarville Studios', a
rehearsal complex in Dalston-London with his brother Bob.
After much auditioning,
' The End ' emerge fresh from the wreckage ready to reek havoc.
Rook's brother
Bob puts together 'Brave Management' and gets down to some serious plugging,
hustling and promoting while 'The End' start doing the gig circuit big time.
'Goldie' hand
sprays 'The End' back drops which they use for live gigs.
Rook and Emma
Caprez start a club night called 'Escape to Alcatraz' on Oxford street opposite
the Virgin mega store. Rook DJ's and mixes up Red Hot Chili Peppers, Parliment,
James Brown, Kravitz, The Temptations, Willie Michell, heavy Funk, Rare Earth,
Led Zeppelin, Fishbone, Sly & the family Stone, Kraftwerk, Iggy and Hendrix.
'The End' play
Gampel festival in Switzerland with 'Status Quo', Nina Hagen, Linton Kwesi
Johnson and Phil Manzanera.
'The End' sign
to 'Expression records' label owned by 'Phil Manzanera'(Roxy Music)
THE END
Rook- vocals /
guitar / harmonica..Bemo Miller- drums..Clovis Taylor- bass..Nick Hall- guitar..Matt
Hammond- keyboards
'The End' Sign
to 'Interaction management'
Recording for
'The End's' 1st album 'Gusto' gets started in 'Manzanera's 'Gallery' studio
'Destiny' 7"
and 12" single released on 'Mad Moon Records' label created by 'Rook'
as a spin off from 'Expression'
'The End' undergo
heavy album promotion support tours with strange and unlikely bedfellows such
as The Ramones, Manfred Mann's Earthband, Gaye Bykers on Acid, Cockney Rebel
, The Damned and many others
'Destiny' gets
played on Radio 1, GLR, Capital, MTV and local stations
'Gusto' released
worldwide
'The End' undertake
European touring to promote album
The media response
to the 'Gusto' album and the live shows are heavy positive
Rook does his
first live solo acoustic gig at Glastonbury festival
New tracks are
released on the 'Hip.ee.pee' including a 'Radio One' session of 'Cut me loose'
After a particularly
strange and gruelling tour of Germany where there was an accident on the autobahn,
the tour van breaking down in Hannover, Rook having his face cut open by a
swinging strat guitar, Nick having a minor operation and flying home, the
band having to play as a four piece, squatting in an empty flat in Hamburg
because of lack of finances and finding out that the rare 7" single they
were selling of 'Destiny' when played, turned out to be a dodgy English country
and western band. 'The End' finally did come to an end
" That 'German'
tour was just a wild collection of challenges being thrown at us from all
directions , but although it was fraught with madness it was definitely one
of the best I've ever done". "As far as the aftermath where the
band came to a close I have to admit I was totally heartbroken , I'd put so
much into it and I really believed we were sparking off in a definite direction
for the major league" Rook
Rook starts writing
new tunes and puts together a new band 'Lunaseed' with Nick and eventually
he manages to coax Matt out of his musical disillusion
Line-up features
new guys Idris deAngeli on congas / percussion and Paul Monkcom on drums
'Lunaseed' start
playing live
3 Tracks appear
in 'High 5' extreme sports programs on 'Channel 4'
'Lunaseed' secure
management with 'Dogpatch'
'Lunaseed's energetic
vibed up sounds get chosen for another extreme sports program this time it's
'Wild Spirits' on 'Sky TV'
LUNASEED
Paul
Monkcom- drums. Matt Hammond- keyboards/bass. Rook- vocals/lyrics. Pooka-
damp dog smells. Nick Hall- guitar/flute. Idris DeAngeli- congas/percussion
'Lunaseed' release
their 'Evolution Superhighway' CD on 'Open Mind Recordings'
'Rook' works with
'who slapped john?' doing production and backing vocals on a couple of tracks
on the 'Daily Dilemmas' album
'Harmony' a conga
/ vocal driven tune gets chosen for the soundtrack of the film 'Hardmen' a
British / French produced gangster movie
'Lunaseed' win
the demo clash on the 'Gary Crowley' show on Xfm radio with Rook's madcap
cut-up track 'whatever happened to Mr Magoo'? track gets played for three
weeks 'Crowley' comments "This track's a firm favorite with my colleagues
here at Xfm"
Lunaseed split
!
Rook plays solo
acoustic gig at the 12 bar club in west end London supporting 'Andy White'
Rook starts writing
a new collection of songs
To test out the
new material Rook plays acoustic clubs around London
Starts recording
tracks for his album with the working title 'Lifejackets'
Pre-production
work starts on the new album from 'Who Slapped John?'
Rook writes the
preface to 'Getting into the performing Arts' a book written by 'Emma Caprez'
and published by 'Trotman'
construction of
the Rook website gets underway , an ongoing a collection of all that was,
is and shall be
Rook starts designing
CD covers for other bands and artists
'Lost, Found and
Underground' a compilation of undiscovered songs and grooves is put together
by Rook . It contains gig favorites from 'The End' and 'Lunaseed'
"At the moment
I'm working on my album of new songs which has the working title of 'Lifejackets'
. It seems to be going through a process of hustling, begging, constructing
and rewriting. The recording is taking place at Open Mind Recordings' 2hi4u
studio and the 'Who Slapped John?' studio and anyone else who'll have me in
between. I'm managing to stay musically afloat even though the going is a
bit tough at times. I'm well happy with the collection of songs as well as
feeling very excited with what's bubbling away in the pipeline. I'm getting
into my Artwork as well at the moment I've put together a few CD covers for
bands as well as a kids book which I'm attempting to get published. Look out
for any oncoming gigs or solo acoustic spots on the News and Gigs page. Thanks
for your interest and supportive e-mail's, love and luck to ya. " Rook
