Gandalf's Fist

Gandalf's Fist

Gandalf's Fist Live at Great Yarmouth, December 2013

Gandalf's Fist Live at Great Yarmouth, December 2013
Background information
Origin Maryport, England
Genres Progressive rock
Years active 2005–present
Website Official website
Members
  • Dean Marsh
  • Luke Severn
  • Stefan Hepe
  • Christopher Ewen

Gandalf's Fist is a British band originally from Maryport, Cumbria. The band operates and records their own material from their headquarters currently located in South Norfolk.[1] Their music is influenced by 1970s progressive/psychedelic rock. The group formed in 2005, and built their reputation through various airplay by national radio (Planet Rock Radio, Teamrock Radio) with the help of several interviews in the "Classic Rock presents Prog"-Magazine,[2][3] they cemented their reputation by playing at the "Second Stage" of Planet Rockstock in Great Yarmouth in December 2013,[4] despite being a "initially studio only" project.[1] They were featured in the TOP20 of Geoff Barton's 2013 Critic's choice in PROG Magazine Issue #41[5] lately.

History

Formed at a nightclub in 2005 when a mutual friend invented a silly band name to try to impress a girl,[6] Gandalf's Fist began as the creative collaboration of multi-instrumentalist Dean Marsh and lyricist-vocalist Luke Severn. Meeting at university and becoming good friends, the duo spent the subsequent two years releasing experimental instrumental tracks. The origins of their music were influenced by the golden era of progressive rock in the 1970s and traditional English folk music.[1]

After their LPs Road to Darkness and From a Point of Existence were favorably reviewed by G. W. Hill at Music Street Journal[7] for their mix of neo-prog, folk and hard rock, they recruited German drummer Stefan Hepe to work on their fourth full release, listing him in the liner notes as one of the "Additional Wanderers Intercepting the Signal".[8] Gandalf's Fist released the subsequent LP A Day in the Life of a Universal Wanderer in September 2013, being the last release by the band under the US label Musik&Film[9] and received widespread coverage from progressive rock journalists (Classic Rock Magazine,[10] Prog Magazine,[5][11] Powerplay Magazine,[12] Fireworks Magazine[13]).

After accepting the offer to play at the "Second Stage" at Planet Radio "Planet Rockstock" in Great Yarmouth, Gandalf's Fist promoted guest musician drummer Stefan Hepe and touring bassist Christopher Ewen, making them full members.

As a four-piece, the band wrote new material for their fifth full length release called A Forest of Fey,[14] which features Troy Donockley, John Mitchell, Dave Oberlé and Clive Nolan as guest musicians.[15] It was released on 20 October 2014. A Forest Of Fey received critical acclaim from music critics. The Classic Rock Magazine UK ranked the album #3 of "Best Prog Albums in 2014"[16] and called it "[...] the Fist's finest achievement to date", rating it with 8/10 points.[17]

During the first half of 2015, the band released two EPs at once: an unplugged album containing songs of their career so far,[18] and a "best of" compilation, giving the opportunity to check out a song from every studio album released so far. Three songs were completely re-recorded or mixed, and the album is available as "name your price" via their Bandcamp page.

In November 2015, the band announced work on their sixth album,[19] stating it will again be a concept album planned to be released in 2016. It will be a three-CD album called The Clockwork Fable[20] and will feature the voice talents of Mark Benton, Zach Galligan, Bill Fellows, Paul Kavanagh, Paul Barnhill and Tim Munro, amongst others.[21] They also announced, that Blaze Bayley, Arjen Lucassen, Dave Oberlé (Gryphon) and Matt Stevens (The Fierce and the Dead) are contributing to the new album.[22]

Personnel

Members

Current members
  • Dean Marsh – guitars, keyboards/synths, vocals (2005–present)
  • Luke Severn – vocals (2005–present)
  • Stefan Hepe – drums and percussion (2013–present)
  • Christopher Ewen – bass (2013–present)
Regular guest musicians
  • Melissa Hollick – vocals (2013–present)
  • Dying Seed – vocals (2013–present)
  • Jennifer Pederson – vocals (2013–2014)
  • Rebecca Watson – vocals (2011–2013)

Current guest musicians
Former guest musicians
  • Troy Donockley - Woodwind, Cumbrian Bouzouki and pipes (A Forest Of Fey)[14][15]
  • John Mitchell - vocals (A Forest Of Fey)[14][15]
  • Clive Nolan - synth (A Forest Of Fey)[14][15]
  • Aisling Marsh – vocals (From a Point of Existence)
  • Davor Bušic – flutes (A Day in the Life of a Universal Wanderer)
  • Suzanne Weller – flutes (A Day in the Life of a Universal Wanderer)
  • Andy Bolper – saxophone (A Day in the Life of a Universal Wanderer)
  • Lonna Marie – vocals (A Day in the Life of a Universal Wanderer)

Lineups

2005–2013 2013–present
  • Dean Marsh – vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, drums
  • Luke Severn – vocals
  • Dean Marsh – vocals, guitars, keyboards
  • Luke Severn – vocals
  • Stefan Hepe – drums
  • Christopher Ewen – bass

Discography

Studio

EPs and singles

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gandalf's Fist Biography", Official Website
  2. ↑ "Full-page interview: Gandalf's Fist", Prog Magazine #28, p. 23
  3. ↑ "Two-page interview: Hail the Fist!", Prog Magazine #43, p. 94
  4. ↑ "Planet Rockstock 2013 at Songkick". songkick.com. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
  5. 1 2 "2013 PROG Critics' Top 20", Prog Magazine #41, p. 85
  6. ↑ Gandalf's Fist. "Gandalf's Fist Bio (Official Website)". gandalfsfist.com. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
  7. ↑ "Gandalf's Fist at Music Street Journal". Musicstreetjournal.com. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
  8. ↑ Gandalf's Fist. "Album "A Day in the Life of a Universal Wanderer" (Official Website)". gandalfsfist.com. Retrieved 2014-04-27.
  9. ↑ "Gandalf's Fist releases Album from 'Outside the solar system' with Musik and Film records". musikandfilm.com. 2014-09-16. Retrieved 2014-10-05.
  10. ↑ "Classic Rock FEB 2014".
  11. ↑ "Prog Magazine #42".
  12. ↑ "Powerplay Magazine #161".
  13. ↑ "Fireworks Magazine #62".
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Progarchives. "GANDALF'S FIST - A Forest of Fey (2014)". progarchives.com. Retrieved 2014-08-13.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Martin Kielty (2014-08-12). "Teamrock News: Donockley, Nolan, Stevens and Mitchell guest with Gandalf's Fist". teamrock.com. Retrieved 2014-08-13.
  16. ↑ "Rank #3 in Classic Rock Magazine's TOP 2014 Prog Albums".
  17. ↑ "ClassicRockMag 8outof10".
  18. ↑ Scott Munro (2015-05-19). "Teamrock News: Gandalf's Fist to launch acoustic EP". teamrock.com. Retrieved 2015-07-17.
  19. ↑ Martin Kielty (2015-11-14). "Teamrock News: Gandalf's Fist tease 6th album". teamrock.com. Retrieved 2015-11-14.
  20. ↑ Scott Munro (2016-01-11). "Teamrock News: Gandalf's Fist announce triple album". teamrock.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  21. ↑ Martin Kielty (2016-02-15). "Teamrock News: Gandalf's Fist name Clockwork Fable actors". teamrock.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 Martin Kielty (2016-03-21). "Teamrock News: Gandalf's Fist reveal The Clockwork Fable guest list". teamrock.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.

External links

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