Spike (Weekend)
Encyclopedia
Mark Williams more commonly known as Spike or Spike Williams is a Welsh
guitarist and co-founder of South Wales' record label
, Z Block Records. He was a member of the Cardiff-based band Reptile Ranch.
, Cardiff
, where they set about organising the city's first DIY compilation LP. Titled Is The War Over?, this seminal compilation was released in October 1979 and its release brought The Young Marble Giants
to Rough Trade
's attention. It also showcased many of Cardiff's best post punk bands of the period. Reptile Ranch disbanded in 1980.
After the split of Young Marble Giants in 1980, Spike started writing with their vocalist, Alison Statton
. Later that year, Alison merged this work with a London-based project which brought in Simon Emmerson
to create a new band named Weekend. At the same time Spike was working in Cardiff with Lewis Mottram and Debbie Debris as Table Table
.
When Weekend split in 1983, Spike returned to Splott and formed Bomb and Dagger with singer Debbie Debris and a handful of Cardiff musicians - the original line-up included both Alison Statton and Phil Moxham, and Andrew Moxham.
Bomb & Dagger performed regularly throughout South Wales including the Brecon Jazz Festival before splitting up in 1989 following a gruelling European tour.
Spike moved to London in 1990 and worked with folk musician Charlotte Grieg. After an eight year break, Spike and Alison Statton returned to the studio thanks to the support of Rough Trade
founder, Geoff Travis
.
Between 1991 and 1997 Statton and Spike produced Weekend in Wales (EP) and 2 home studio albums, Tidal Blues and The Shady Tree for Vinyl Japan.
In 2006, the Alison Statton & Spike material was re-released by LTM while the Weekend material was re-released by the Cherry Red
record label
.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
guitarist and co-founder of South Wales' record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, Z Block Records. He was a member of the Cardiff-based band Reptile Ranch.
Career history
In May 1979, Z Block set up a base in SplottSplott
Splott is a district in the south of the city of Cardiff, capital of Wales, just east of the city centre. It was built up in the late 19th century on the land of two farms of the same name: Upper Splott and Lower Splott Farms. Splott is characterised by its once vast steelworks and rows of tightly...
, Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, where they set about organising the city's first DIY compilation LP. Titled Is The War Over?, this seminal compilation was released in October 1979 and its release brought The Young Marble Giants
Young Marble Giants
Young Marble Giants were a post-punk band formed in Cardiff, Wales in 1978. A trio, their music was constructed around the powerful and minimal instrumentation of brothers Philip and Stuart Moxham along with the vocals of Alison Statton.-History:...
to Rough Trade
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
's attention. It also showcased many of Cardiff's best post punk bands of the period. Reptile Ranch disbanded in 1980.
After the split of Young Marble Giants in 1980, Spike started writing with their vocalist, Alison Statton
Alison Statton
Alison Statton is a Welsh singer. She presently works as a chiropractor in Cardiff, Wales, where she was born. Fans of the singer have included Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, Belle and Sebastian and Renato Russo.-Musical career:...
. Later that year, Alison merged this work with a London-based project which brought in Simon Emmerson
Simon Emmerson
For the experimental music artist, see Simon Emmerson .Simon Emmerson is a Grammy Award-nominated record producer, guitarist, DJ and founder of the group Afro Celt Sound System....
to create a new band named Weekend. At the same time Spike was working in Cardiff with Lewis Mottram and Debbie Debris as Table Table
Table Table
Table Table is a brand of restaurants set up by Whitbread Plc in 2008. The brand was created following a rethink of the brand formerly known as Out & Out, a previous brand owned by Whitbread...
.
When Weekend split in 1983, Spike returned to Splott and formed Bomb and Dagger with singer Debbie Debris and a handful of Cardiff musicians - the original line-up included both Alison Statton and Phil Moxham, and Andrew Moxham.
Bomb & Dagger performed regularly throughout South Wales including the Brecon Jazz Festival before splitting up in 1989 following a gruelling European tour.
Spike moved to London in 1990 and worked with folk musician Charlotte Grieg. After an eight year break, Spike and Alison Statton returned to the studio thanks to the support of Rough Trade
Rough Trade Records
Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London. It was formed in 1978 by Geoff Travis who had opened a record store off Ladbroke Grove...
founder, Geoff Travis
Geoff Travis
Geoff Travis is the founder of both Rough Trade Records and the Rough Trade chain of record shops. A former drama teacher and owner of a punk record shop, Travis founded the Rough Trade label in 1978.-Biography:...
.
Between 1991 and 1997 Statton and Spike produced Weekend in Wales (EP) and 2 home studio albums, Tidal Blues and The Shady Tree for Vinyl Japan.
In 2006, the Alison Statton & Spike material was re-released by LTM while the Weekend material was re-released by the Cherry Red
Cherry Red
Cherry Red is a London-based independent record label formed in 1978.-History:Cherry Red grew from the rock promotion company founded in 1971 to promote rock concerts at the Malvern Winter Gardens...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
.