Timothy J Simpson first fell into music after hearing The Cure at around age 11. Along with a similarly impressed friend he decided to start a band, tossing a coin to decide upon what instrument to play. Although Tim originally drew the bass his mind was changed after reading an article about American hardcore punk in a guitar magazine. Within a week of this momentous occurrence, and impressed by the style of Minor Threat guitarist Lyle Preslar he had shaved off his long hair and began honing his guitar playing instead, which to this day remains direct and strongly rhythmic.
Tim’s first band lacked a name, a drummer or a bass amp (the bassist played really loudly to compensate) but this didn’t stop them writing the underrated classics “Carnivorous Horsefly” and “Hulk gets mad” which were taped over free cassettes given out by a soft drink company (allegedly Five Alive) and sold to classmates. However, such brilliance could not last and this band soon collapsed, mainly because their instruments had been sold to buy drugs. Our folk hero then formed funk/punk band Jnr Barnes along with friends.
Although the band’s attitude to performance could be called relaxed at best (Tim remembers trying to gain gigs based upon a tape recording of a practice session, involving a 30 minute solo of guitar noise and feedback – not very professional even back then) they still managed to play a couple of gigs, recruiting guitarist Alex Lee into the process, who would come to work with Tim in future, before splitting up in a spirit of mutual forgetfulness. It would be a number of years before Tim would perform again, during which he developed a terrible stage fright bordering on compulsion. Thankfully he was lured back into performance by Jnr Barnes bassist Gareth Davies, who coaxed him back on stage by suggesting he play second guitar in his alt rock band The Dangerous Third. Tim agreed and, despite his nerves, soon found himself back on lead vocals again, with the band changing it’s name to Hail!Zeus to suit.
Though the band had a degree of local success they were forced to split after Tim moved to London. Finding himself for the first time without a band he decided to go it alone, with the resulting change in instrumentation forcing the lyrical vocals and dynamic composition that would come to define his sound. He soon found himself a staple on the London live scene, playing legendary venues such as the Hope and Anchor and the Old Blue Last. It was only when circumstances brought Tim back to Nottingham that he truly began to find his feet however. In late 2007 he got to the finals of the UK song writing competition, and played Nottingham’s renowned Hockley Hustle the following year, playing support to well known Nottingham Luminaries Natalie Duncan and Fists, as well as fellow beardy accoustic singer Origami Biro.
In early 2009 He took a brief hiatus from playing live to record his debut album “Our glorious hero battles the man” which, in a nod to his DIY punk roots, has been recorded, mixed, mastered and pressed completely independently (though not without the help of a number of kind friends!)
The Album was released following a packed launch party at the Jam Cafe in November 2009 and recieved universal praise from reviewers both locally and further afield.
Second Album “You’d be alright in Florida” will be released on December 8th 2011 at the Bodega Social in Nottingham.
