For Immediate Release

Guitar Legend Steve Hillage To Release 22-Disc Career Spanning Box Set “Searching For The Spark” – October 21, 2016

London, UK – “Searching For The Spark” is a 22-disc box set celebrating the work of award-winning guitarist, Steve Hillage.

Since he began playing guitar in the early 1960s, through his time with Gong and beyond as a solo artist and one half of System 7, Steve Hillage has embodied what it means to be a truly progressive musician.

One of the most respected and beloved players arising from the Canterbury Scene, “Searching For The Spark” shines a spotlight on his solo work, chronicling his very first recording in 1969 through to 1991’s self-titled debut with System 7.

In addition to gathering his eight solo albums, “Searching For The Spark” also houses seven albums of live material and no less than four discs of demos and archive recordings, many previously unreleased, direct from Steve’s own personal collection.

Brimming with rare photos, press clippings, reviews and commentary from Hillage himself, the box set includes a lavish, hardback 188 page book documenting Steve’s life and times written, with Steve’s full co-operation, by acknowledged Gong expert, Jonny Greene.

Musical Highlights from “Searching For The Spark” include:

* Over 40 minutes of previously unavailable material from 1972’s Khan mkII line-up.

* Numerous rarities from Hillage’s archive of demo recordings ranging from pre-“Fish Rising” through to post- “For To Next”.

* Unfinished tracks from the ’80s and numerous demos leading up to System 7 also shed new light on Hillage’s pioneering work as a composer and ambient musician.

“Searching For The Spark” is an ambitious, immensely detailed retrospective.

For existing fans, it offers unprecedented access to the guitarist’s archives. For the new generations coming to Hillage through his ongoing work with System 7, it provides everything needed to explore Steve’s unique musical universe. For old and new admirers alike, everything from his formative years to his mature work as an unflinchingly forward-looking musician is gathered together in one truly encyclopaedic collection.

“Searching For The Spark” is nothing less than the definitive statement upon an impressively rich and diverse career.

The set includes:

• Arzachel.

• Khan’s Space Shanty, 1972.

• All eight of Hillage’s classic Virgin Records solo albums – Fish Rising, L, Motivation Radio, Green, Open (and Studio Herald), Rainbow Dome Music, Open, For To Next (and its companion And Not Or) – plus bonus tracks.

• System 7 (first album).

• Live in Deeply Vale, 1978.

• Two BBC performances from The Paris Theatre recorded in December 1976 and November 1979.

• Eight CDs featuring recordings taken from Steve’s personal archive, including four superb concert performances (Brighton Dome November 1977, Munich April 1979, Hammersmith Odeon November 1979, The Steve Hillage Band Live At The Gong Family Unconvention 2006) and four discs (Sparks Volumes 1-4) packed with previously unheard and unreleased tracks, demos and alternate takes.

Accompanying the recordings is a magnificent 188 page 32,000 word coffee table book. Written and assembled by Steve Hillage and Gong family expert Jonny Greene, the book contains hundreds of rare and previously unseen photographs and cuttings.

In addition there are three reproduction promo posters, two lyric booklets, a high quality enamel badge, a 60 page scrap book containing more photographs and cuttings, and a certificate of authenticity signed by Steve Hillage and his creative partner Miquette Giraudy.

Please note that this superb Steve Hillage package is strictly limited to 2500 copies globally!

Watch the promotional video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v8-bXwxsMI

To pre-order “Searching For The Spark”: http://www.madfishmusic.com/artists/steve-hillage

Steve Hillage media source page: http://www.madfishmusic.com/media/steve-hillage

Steve Hillage official website: http://www.stevehillage.com

For more information: http://www.madfishmusic.com

Press inquiries (North America): Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

For Immediate Release

Guitar Legend Steve Hillage To Issue Unreleased Concert Recording “Live In Madison Square Garden 1977”

London, UK – Steve Hillage is one of the most idiosyncratic and instantly recognisable guitarists in the world. Associated with the Canterbury scene, he has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s. Besides his critically acclaimed solo recordings, along with prog legends Gong, Steve has been a member of the ensembles Khan and System 7. And now, much to the excitement of Steve Hillage fans worldwide, Cleopatra Records will be releasing a vintage concert recording from 1977 of his band in concert at Madison Square Garden in NYC!

Says Steve, “This was a great performance from another fine period of my band in the late ’70s. This was my first tour of the US – Gong never played there while I was in the band in the seventies. It wasn’t my first visit to the US though – my first visit was in 1976 when I went to record ‘L’ at Todd Rundgren’s studio, near Woodstock, New York. Madison Square Garden in New York is an iconic major venue, so it was a fantastic honor to play there! We were playing to audiences who mostly didn’t know our music too well, so we just let rip and went for it. The band was really firing!!!”

“Live In Madison Square Garden 1977” is culled from a crystal clear soundboard recording that captures Hillage at the height of his powers with performances from his second solo album “L”, including a psychedelic cover of Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man” plus the epic length “Hurdy Gurdy Glissando,” “Lunar Musick Suite” and more! Also included are superb bonus studio tracks that feature exclusive versions of Hillage’s recent recording collaborations with keyboard legend Rick Wakeman and world renowned actor William Shatner!

“Todd Rundgren came to the Madison Square Garden show,” Hillage remembers, “and I’m pretty sure he joined our sound engineer at the mixing desk and added some extra Harmonizer drum effects to ‘It’s All Too Much’. It certainly sounds like that on the recording! I was waiting for a good moment to release this US gig recording in the US on an American label. Cleopatra, with whom I’ve had a long relationship, asked me if I had any good available archive material and it immediately struck me that this moment had arrived!”

Steve Hillage first came to prominence as a member of the multi-national rock band Gong. Steve appeared on successful albums such as ‘Angels Egg’, ‘You’ and his final album with the band ‘Shamal’. Steve recorded his first solo album in 1975 entitled ‘Fish Rising’. This album was recorded whilst still a member of Gong. Shortly after however, Steve and his partner Miquette Giraudy left Gong embarking on a career that continues to this day under the name System 7.

In 1976 Steve recorded the album ‘L’, which was produced by Todd Rundgren. The album was a huge success and Steve subsequently formed the first Steve Hillage Band, which included former Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker and future Camel bassist Colin Bass. The band made its live debut at the Hyde Park concert staged by Queen in September 1976. From 1976 to 1979, Steve Hillage released several critically acclaimed albums and toured the world.

Steve Hillage’s “Live In Madison Square Garden 1977” is available on CD in a mini-LP sleeve and a special limited edition opaque orange vinyl pressing with full color insert and sleeve!

System 7 website: http://www.a-wave.com/system7/

To purchase Steve Hillage’s “Live In Madison Square Garden 1977”:
CD: http://flyt.it/SteveHillageCD
Vinyl: http://flyt.it/SteveHillageLP

Press inquiries:
Glass Onyon PR
Billy James
PH: 828-350-8158
glassonyonpr@gmail.com

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://www.CleopatraRecords.com

For Immediate Release

Guitar Legend Steve Hillage Releases ‘Live At The Rainbow 1977’ CD

London, UK – Steve Hillage is one of the most idiosyncratic and instantly recognizable guitarists in the world. Associated with the Canterbury scene, he has worked in experimental domains since the late 1960s. Besides his critically acclaimed solo recordings, along with prog legends Gong, Steve has been a member of the ensembles Khan and System 7. And now, much to the excitement of Steve Hillage fans worldwide, Gonzo MultiMedia UK has released ‘Steve Hillage – Live At The Rainbow 1977’ CD on June 23, 2014!

Says Steve, “I’m really happy to finally release this full live recording – it’s amazing how sharp and fresh it still sounds today!”

Steve Hillage first came to prominence as a member of the multi-national rock band Gong. Steve appeared on successful albums such as ‘Angels Egg’, ‘You’ and his final album with the band ‘Shamal’. Steve recorded his first solo album in 1975 entitled ‘Fish Rising’. This album was recorded whilst still a member of Gong. Shortly after however, Steve and his partner Miquette Giraudy left Gong embarking on a career that continues to this day under the name System 7.

In 1976 Steve recorded the album ‘L’, which was produced by Todd Rundgren. The album was a huge success and Steve subsequently formed the first Steve Hillage Band, which included former Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker and future Camel bassist Colin Bass. The band made its live debut at the Hyde Park concert staged by Queen in September 1976.

From 1976 to 1979, Steve Hillage released several critically acclaimed albums and toured the world. This album shows the guitar icon at the top of his game, playing a classic show at the Rainbow Theatre in London in 1977 featuring songs from the album ‘Motivation Radio’, which was the follow up to ‘L’, and an amazing American rhythm section. It contains glorious, life affirming music, which is as spiritual and uplifting now as it was when recorded nearly 40 years ago.

Tracks:
Octave Doctors
It’s All Too Much
Light In The Sky
Radio
Electrick Gypsies
The Salmon Song
Solar Musick Suite (Part 2)
Motivation
Saucer Surfing
Searching For The Spark
Hurdy Gurdy Man

Steve currently sees his System 7, Mirror System, and Steve Hillage Band entities as operating in parallel and has been writing some new rock-based material for a possible Steve Hillage Band album for release in 2014/15. System 7 and Japanese psychedelic progressive jam-band ROVO released a new CD in September 2013. To hear samples of the new album: http://rovoandsystem7.bandcamp.com/

To purchase Steve Hillage ‘Live At The Rainbow 1977’ CD: http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15686/Steve_Hillage-Live_at_the_Rainbow_1977.html

For more information: http://www.a-wave.com/system7/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Steve Hillage is available for interviews – please contact Glass Onyon PR.

For Immediate Release

Guitar Legend Steve Hillage to Release New ROVO and System 7 Rock-orientated Album ‘Phoenix Rising’

London, UK – Much to the excitement of music fans worldwide, guitar legend Steve Hillage is releasing a new album in the US with Japanese progressive rock/jam band ROVO on October 8, 2013 on Cleopatra Records. Steve Hillage is widely considered a guitar innovator, and is associated with the Canterbury scene, working in experimental domains since the late 1960s. Besides his critically acclaimed solo recordings, Steve has been a member of the ensembles Khan and System 7. But, he first came to prominence as a member of the multi-national rock band Gong, and appearing on successful albums such as ‘Angels Egg’, ‘You’ and his final album with the band ‘Shamal’. Steve recorded his first solo album in 1975 entitled ‘Fish Rising’. This album was recorded whilst still a member of Gong. Shortly after however, Steve and his partner Miquette Giraudy left Gong embarking on a career that continues to this day under the name System 7.

SYSTEM 7 is the music project of Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy, presenting a unique combination of tech-house beats and live musicianship, who have had a strong influence on the development of psychedelic ambient and electronica. ROVO are a popular Japanese progressive rock/jam band. They feature two drummers, funky bass and innovative keyboards and are fronted by guitarist Seiichi Yamamoto (formerly with The Boredoms) and masterful electric violinist Yuji Katsui.

Says Steve, “Working with the brilliant rock/jam band ROVO has given me a fantastic opportunity to combine my work as a producer with my lead guitar playing – I haven’t played so many long solos on a record for decades!”

THE ALBUM

After a groundbreaking tour of Japan in 2011 and a successful Tokyo show at O-East, System 7 and ROVO decided to take the project further by recording a Phoenix Rising studio album. The album was recorded in Tokyo in September 2012, and was completed in January and February 2013 with overdubs in Steve Hillage’s London studio, and final mixing in Tokyo. The album will be released on October 8, 2013 in the USA. The first single, “Hinotori”, was released in June 2013 as a digital download (on iTunes etc), a Ltd Edition CD/EP, and now with a brilliant live/animation video on YouTube: http://youtu.be/2R5F3OZO-Z0

Phoenix Rising features original collaborations from System 7 and ROVO. It also includes a new arrangement of “Meeting of the Spirits” by the Mahavishnu Orchestra – a perfect showcase for the album’s astonishing blend of guitar and electric violin.

ALBUM TRACK-BY-TRACK

1. Hinotori (Album Version) – a reworking of the brilliant ROVO live rock adaptation of System 7’s “Hinotori”, fully based on the live band with soaring guitar and violin solos.
2. Love for the Phoenix – A techno tour de force loosely based on the classic System 7 track “Habibi” from the first System 7 album (1991) but made with a completely new beat and overlayed with live playing and violin. A powerful emotion is employed that evokes the suffering and spirit of rebirth in Japan’s recent national tragedy, and the heart-based symbolism of the Phoenix.
3. Meeting of the Spirits – a simplified cover version of the iconic Mahavishnu Orchestra track, showcasing the fantastic blend of lead guitar and electric violin, and also displaying the extraordinary beats of the two ROVO drummers.
4. Cisco (Phoenix Rising) – an epic live ROVO track in the “Krautrock” spirit of Can and Neu, with one of the trippiest tempo changes of all time, and featuring an intricate middle section composed by Steve Hillage.
5. Unbroken – an electro/breakbeat track composed by System 7 that starts completely programmed and switches to completely live playing around the same theme, with another Mahavishnu-style guitar and electric violin melody
6. Sino Dub (Phoenix Rising) – another live ROVO track combined for Phoenix Rising with a techno trance programmed beat in typical System 7 style.
7. Unseen Onsen – A floating ambient track with lush live playing, composed by Miquette Giraudy in the Mirror System style.

Steve Hillage was recently awarded the “Visionary” Award at the Progressive Music Awards 2013 at Kew Gardens, West London, on September 3rd. The award was presented to Steve by author/actor/comedian Bill Oddie. Read more about the event at PROG magazine’s website: http://www.progrockmag.com/news/prog-awards-2013-the-winners/

LONDON, MANCHESTER AND AMSTERDAM 2014 CONCERTS

System 7 and ROVO are pleased to announce two 2014 UK concerts when they will perform works from their new album Phoenix Rising. The dates include Manchester Ritz on Friday 7th March and London o2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on Saturday 8th March 2014. Tickets can be ordered Wednesday May 29th from http://www.musicglue.com/rovoandsystem7. Every ticket purchase will include a free 5-track mp3 download of the “Hinotori EP” featuring individual and collaborative tracks from both System 7 and ROVO. A third ROVO and System 7 Phoenix Rising concert is announced for the iconic Melkweg venue in Amsterdam on Thursday March 13th 2014. Info and tickets here: http://bit.ly/1djg8mL

PHOENIX RISING live is a combined show of System 7 and ROVO playing together, sometimes using the techno beats as the rhythmic basic and sometimes using the live drums, seamlessly morphing from one to the other. The concert will showcase some of the most sophisticated blends of electronic beats and live playing ever produced, made possible by the skilled musicianship of eight players. Fans of System 7’s Steve Hillage can be assured that in the format of Phoenix Rising his masterful electric guitar style is fully unleashed, with extensive soloing and duets with the electric violin of ROVO’s Yuji Katsui.

PHOENIX RISING – MUSICIANS

Steve Hillage [Guitar – Programming]
Miquette Giraudy [Synthesiser]
Yuji Katsui [Electric Violin]
Seiichi Yamamoto [Guitar]
Yasuhiro Yoshigaki [Drums]
Yoichi Okabe [Drums – Percussion]
Jin Harada [Bass Guitar]
Masuko Tatsuki [Keyboards]

For more information: http://g-wave.co.uk,
http://www.a-wave.com/system7/

To purchase ROVO and System 7 – Phoenix Rising’ CD:
http://georiot.co/3gaP
iTunes: http://georiot.co/2FII

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com
Steve Hillage interview requests please contact Billy James /Glass Onyon PR

CLEOPATRA RECORDS, Inc.
11041 Santa Monica Blvd #703
Los Angeles CA 90025
http://www.CleopatraRecords.com

For Immediate Release

Guitar Legend Steve Hillage Releases Rare ‘Live In England 1979’ CD/DVD Set!

London, UK – Steve Hillage is widely considered a guitar innovator, and is associated with the Canterbury scene, working in experimental domains since the late 1960s. Besides his critically acclaimed solo recordings, along with Gong, Steve has been a member of the ensembles Khan and System 7. Much to the excitement of his fans worldwide, Gonzo MultiMedia UK has released ‘Steve Hillage – Live In England 1979’ on a CD/DVD set!

Says Steve, “This was a great performance from another fine period of my band in the late ’70s with John McKenzie on bass and Andy Anderson on drums.”

Steve Hillage first came to prominence as a member of the multi-national rock band Gong. Steve appeared on successful albums such as ‘Angels Egg’, ‘You’ and his final album with the band ‘Shamal’. Steve recorded his first solo album in 1975 entitled ‘Fish Rising’. This album was recorded whilst still a member of Gong. Shortly after however, Steve and his partner Miquette Giraudy left Gong embarking on a career that continues to this day under the name System 7.

In 1976 Steve recorded the album ‘L’, which was produced by Todd Rundgren. The album was a huge success and Steve subsequently formed the first Steve Hillage Band, which included former Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker and future Camel bassist Colin Bass. The band made its live debut at the Hyde Park concert staged by Queen in September 1976.

From 1976 to 1979, Steve Hillage released several critically acclaimed albums and toured the world. Following the live debut of a new line-up, the Steve Hillage Band toured extensively throughout 1979. This CD/DVD set captures a stunning performance by this great line-up of the band! Playing with Steve are the ever-present Miquette Giraudy (synthesiser, vocals), John McKenzie (Bass, Vocals), Andy Anderson (Drums) and Dave Stewart (2nd Guitar). This is the line-up that recorded some of the live tracks and the studio side of Steve’s 1979 release Live Herald. The studio tracks from ‘Live Herald’ eventually came out on CD as part of the album ‘Open’.

The track listing to this historic 1979 performance from the Steve Hillage Band includes: “Salmon Song”, “Unzipping the Zype”, “Hurdy Gurdy Man”, “1988 Aktivator”, “Unidentified Flying Being”, and “It`s All Too Much”.

Bonus tracks on the CD include “Hurdy Gurdy Glissando” (live 1977) and “Electrick Gypsies” (live 1977), recorded with the ‘L’ tour line-up.

Bonus material on the DVD includes two short promo videos for “Radio” and “Light in the Sky” (from the album ‘Motivation Radio’) and a more recent in-depth interview with Steve and Miquette.

Steve currently sees his System 7, Mirror System, and Steve Hillage Band entities as operating in parallel and has been writing some new rock-based material for a possible Steve Hillage Band album for release in 2014/15. System 7 and Japanese psychedelic progressive jam-band ROVO will be releasing a new CD in September 2013. To hear samples of the new album: http://rovoandsystem7.bandcamp.com/

To purchase Steve Hillage ‘Live In England 1979’ CD/DVD set: http://www.gonzomultimedia.co.uk/product_details/15541/Steve_Hillage-Live_in_England_1979.html

For more information: http://www.a-wave.com/system7/

Press inquiries: Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158, glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Steve Hillage is available for interviews – please contact Glass Onyon PR.