[mk_page_section bg_image=”https://bramstokerarchives.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/peteballamband.jpg” bg_position=”center center” bg_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_stretch=”true” video_color_mask=”#848484″ min_height=”1000″ full_width=”true” full_height=”true” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ sidebar=”sidebar-1″][vc_column][mk_fancy_title color=”#ffffff” size=”70″ font_weight=”600″ font_family=”EB+Garamond” font_type=”google” align=”center”]Pete Ballam[/mk_fancy_title][mk_fancy_title color=”#ffffff” size=”40″ font_weight=”500″ font_style=”italic” font_family=”EB+Garamond” font_type=”google” align=”center”]presents his new double album[/mk_fancy_title][mk_fancy_title color=”#ffffff” size=”100″ font_weight=”600″ txt_transform=”uppercase” letter_spacing=”0.5″ font_family=”EB+Garamond” font_type=”google” align=”center” animation=”bottom-to-top”]Mean Machine[/mk_fancy_title][mk_fancy_title color=”#ffffff” size=”30″ font_weight=”500″ font_style=”italic” font_family=”EB+Garamond” font_type=”google” align=”center”]a demonstration of the maestro’s ability to create imaginative lyrics,
a driving unforgettable riff, his own unique flavour of chord sequences,
sound effects and syncopated timing; – altogether producing a modern take on
the raw creative magic of the 70’s.
This breathtakingly extraordinary, collection of songs (each with their own unique story)
has, at last, been released from the Bram Stoker archives.[/mk_fancy_title][mk_button dimension=”savvy” corner_style=”rounded” size=”x-large” letter_spacing=”1″ align=”center” outline_skin=”light”]Buy the album now[/mk_button][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][mk_page_section layout_structure=”half_right” bg_image=”https://bramstokerarchives.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/cover-1.jpg” min_height=”400″ padding_top=”50″][vc_column][mk_fancy_title color=”#474747″ size=”40″ font_weight=”500″ font_style=”italic” margin_top=”20″ margin_bottom=”10″ font_family=”EB+Garamond” font_type=”google” align=”center”]THE SONGS[/mk_fancy_title][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”false” animation=”right-to-left”]Music and lyrics written by Pete Ballam ( also Triton Le Guitar, sound effects, keyboards, spinning cymbals and Gargoyle’s demonic laughter )
Vocals by Matt Roberts and Guitar by Dion Rush.
Recorded and Produced by Gareth Young at Cube Recording, Cornwall.
MOLE (1970)
This song (based on actual events) is about a British clairvoyant that worked for MI5, during WW2, and his mission was to hack, through the ether, into Hitler’s own psychic team.
AGATHA LITTLE (1967)
A little Victorian girl is playing in a beautiful churchyard but she is wondering why no-one will speak to her. Agatha doesn’t realise that she is a ghost until the Wraithling appears –
a mischievous spirit, that keeps her company, until, he too drifts away.
ANCIENT ORIGINS (2006) –( I PANGEA – II NEOLITHIA – III ANCIIENT ORIGINS)
The beginning and end of the world as foretold in the Mayan prophesy. This is written in three sections and describes the evolutionary story of the human race.
DEMON’S WHEEL (1969)
Bram Stoker’s original manager was Vince Silver, an interesting character, that got the band supporting The Who, back in the day. He became the manager of a casino and the song is about the crazy addiction involved in gambling.
GARGOYLE (2006)
A meteor crashed to earth in Russia and a local witch carved a gargoyle from one of the pieces, transforming it, beyond her expectations, into a votive object with supernatural powers.
MANIC MACHINE (2007)
This song describes how we are losing our humanity to computers.
LUNACILLIUS MAXIMUS (2004)
Set during the time that Christianity was taking over from the old Gods, this is a story about a junior God’s assignment that goes wrong. His intention is to embody a Roman Senator, in order to exert his influence, but finds himself trapped in a statue instead. The people of Rome worship him and ask him for favours, until they discover his rouse. A chisel is aimed, strategically, to break open the statue, and when his spirit is released, the god finds himself unceremoniously dismissed.
TWO HEARTS (1992) – ( I TWO HEARTS – II AD INFINITUM, 1969)
A rocked up, romantic song, celebrating love and companionship!
DESTINATION AGGRAVATION (1969 – 2004)
A description of a typical argument between a musician and his beau…
COLLUSION ILLUSION (2005)
Written, at the time, about the war in Iraq and, generally, about the delusional politics and financial corruption that none of us, to this day, seem to be able to escape from.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][mk_page_section layout_structure=”half_left” bg_image=”https://bramstokerarchives.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/ronnie-scotts.jpg” min_height=”400″ padding_top=”50″][vc_column][mk_fancy_title color=”#474747″ size=”40″ font_weight=”500″ font_style=”italic” margin_top=”20″ margin_bottom=”10″ font_family=”EB+Garamond” font_type=”google” align=”center”]THE OSTERLEY PARK INCIDENT[/mk_fancy_title][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”false” animation=”right-to-left”]In the summer of 1971, Bram Stoker ( Pete Ballam, John Bavin, Tony Bronsdon and Rob Haines) performed at The Temple – the basement venue at Ronnie Scott’s nightclub in Soho, London. The American rock band May Blitz were on first, but took hours to get their act together because they were too busy smoking copious amounts of dope in long clay pipes. Eventually, they were helped onto the stage, so they could get on with the job of being ‘rock gods’ – but the delay meant that, by the time we’d performed and packed down the gear, the sun was coming up.
Bram Stoker’s transport was an old removal van, painted shit brown and orange (a queasy but popular colour combination at that time) and driven by our leprechaun roadie- affectionately known as The Imp – a short, stocky, bearded creature, with a short memory.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/mk_page_section][mk_page_section layout_structure=”half_left” bg_image=”https://bramstokerarchives.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/horse.jpg” min_height=”400″ padding_top=”50″][vc_column][mk_fancy_title color=”#474747″ size=”40″ font_weight=”500″ font_style=”italic” margin_top=”20″ margin_bottom=”10″ font_family=”EB+Garamond” font_type=”google” align=”center”]JET HARRIS AND THE HORSE[/mk_fancy_title][vc_column_text disable_pattern=”false” animation=”right-to-left”]In the early days, around 1969, we (that is Pete Ballam, Rob Haines and Tony Bronsdon) were in a band with Jet Harris (ex bass player and member of The Shadows).
We were managed, at the time, by Vince Silver, who procured gigs and much needed rehearsal rooms, so that we could develop our material.
The West Howe Boys Club provided such a venue and, one day, while we were all set up and waiting for Jet to turn up, suddenly, all hell broke loose.
Jet had decided to arrive in style – on horseback!
Our jaws dropped, as Jet’s horse clattered across the valuable Parquet floor, leaped over the ping-pong table, lunged forward and bit a chunk out of my favourite leather jacket.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/mk_page_section]
