Solstice isn’t a ‘Planet Zyz Production’, it’s very much an ‘Andy Glass Production’. But all the resources and philosophy of Planet Zyz (so that’s me and all my gear, musical and creative ability, studio, vehicle, collaborative intent, etc etc) is brought to bear on this incredible project.
Not only that, but it is one of the greatest honours of my life to be a part of this band, because it is so uniquely special. Solstice is a rare thing indeed.
Not only that, but really it was Solstice that gave me a musical career at all, and it’s fair to say that much of what has been produced by Planet Zyz would probably never have happened if it wasn’t for Solstice.
Solstice has been described as a Progressive-Folk-Rock band which, unless you are a prog fan, might immediately put you off. That’s why I distrust genre descriptions because I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been completely blown away and spiritually uplifted after experiencing a Solstice performance, and I know many of them are hardly prog-rock fans.
Solstice started in 1980 in Milton Keynes, when prog-rock was already anachronistic. It collected many fans in those early years, including myself - I remember seeing them back then and being deeply impressed and inspired. Early Solstice ended a few years later but then Andy Glass created a resurgence in around '95. At the time I was playing my old beaten up Fender Rhodes electric piano in a blues band and we went into the Madcap Studio in Milton Keynes to record. The usual engineer (who happened to be Guy Jones, later the Lark bass player) was sick and Andy was called to record us instead. While we sound-checked he heard me playing the Rhodes and immediately asked me, “Would you like to join a band?’”
Suddenly I was thrown into this beautiful situation with extraordinary players (including the legendary Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker) performing exquisite and complex music to an already thriving fan-base, in Britain and Europe. We met Fairport Convention, who invited us to play the Cropredy Festival, to 15,000 people! Seminal and exciting times.
Not only that, but some members of Solstice got together with others we knew to create a funky covers band (St Anthony’s Child) which turned me into a Professional Musician, doing weddings and corporate events for proper money! And cementing deep and lasting friendships all round.
Not only that, but Solstice led me to working with a whole range of people in music, and that led me running that very Madcap Studio where that blues band had been originally recorded. Which enabled the early Planet Zyz to flourish.
So, I blame Solstice for EVERYTHING!
Solstice was less active in the early years of the New Century, but in 2006 Andy ignited a new resurgence, welcoming drummer Peter Hemsley into the band. In the following 14 or so years the band created a handful of great albums and DVDs and did a few beautiful gigs each year. Solstice gently ebbed and flowed, as an ever inspiring presence.
Then the covid lockdown of 2020 coincided with the 40th anniversary of Solstice’s birth, and Andy grabbed the opportunity. The most enthusiastic person in the world, Jess Holland, came in on vocals and breathed new life into the band, and the album Sia was created, without us even meeting up! This album raised the game considerably and has been extraordinarily well received. Three young backing singers were brought in to reproduce Jess's lush harmonies on the album, and suddenly we were a nine-piece with an age range of 40 years between the youngest and the eldest (me) - which is fitting. Solstice is a complete family!
Not only that, but now the band is on fire, the fan base is rapidly expanding, and the extraordinary specialness of this beautiful outfit is at last being recognised on a much larger scale, and there are rave reviews from respected critics all round.
One example will suffice. We played the 1865 Club in Southhampton and our support was the astonishingly proficient young band Azure, who blew us away with their musical wizardry. But I noticed that they stayed and watched our set, an unusual thing for a support band who had a long way to get home. Afterwards I spoke to them thanking them for hanging around, but they said they seriously had to because our set was a complete inspiration to them - “that is how music was supposed to be”, they said. “Man, you channelled Spirit up there today!”
And that is indeed what Solstice does. And surely that should be the aim of any music anywhere.
It’s humbling to be part of it.
