A Guy Called Gerald

Since the 80’s, Manchester, UK native now NYC resident A Guy Called Gerald, born Gerald Simpson, has proven to be among the most innovative modern music figures. His influence is international, and through his versatility he has spawned genres and generations of music culture. Since his early experimentation with techno and acid house into his groundbreaking contributions to drum & bass music, GCG’s art and craft has perpetually evolved regardless of his individual successes in each of those genres.

A Guy Called Gerald’s long awaited album "Essence" will proudly be released through Studio K7 Records on August 28th, 2000 worldwide. This will be his first project since 1995’s groundbreaking "Black Secret Technology." Featuring sleek and sexy production, "Essence" features the songwriting and vocals from guest artists such as David Simpson, Lady Miss Kier, Lamb’s Louise Rhodes, and successful UK songwriter Wendy Page. Merging subtly ambitious elements of drum & bass and dub over immaculate melodies and tones, "Essence" hopes to vitalize the stale nature of drum & bass expanding the songwriting and composition potential of breakbeat music with sleek and soulful production.

In the early 70’s in Manchester, UK a young Gerald Simpson was found alongside his mother at church listening to the organist through which he found inspiration to pursue music. Gospel melodies evolved into an affinity for the Jackson 5, the soul turned into funk, and funk spawned hip hop. Music’s steady mutations and newfound brilliance kept Gerald’s interests keen, and no later could one find Gerald experimenting on an Amstrad twin cassette deck, stripping apart and re-orchestrating pieces of Herbie Hancock’s "Rockit" into minimal, twisted forms. His early forays in production embodied the raw brilliance that would later reflect the ethic of his music.

Gerald Simpson then a member of local band Scratchbeat Masters moved on teaming up with The Hit Squad, who later became the ubiquitous 808 State. As an original member of the proto-techno legends, Gerald was responsible, but not credited until much later, for the production and composition of their groundbreaking first album "Newbuild" which featured the UK techno anthem "Pacific State". While "Pacific State" topped UK charts and 808 State’s profile skyrocketed, Gerald pursued further music mobility working on his solo projects as A Guy Called Gerald. Finding a modern influence through Detroit techno and Chicago house, A Guy Called Gerald produced "Voodoo Ray" storming the UK and worldwide dance charts at the same time his 808 State "Pacific State" track was still in the charts. With two tracks in the charts (only recognized for one), A Guy Called Gerald became an international star and "Voodoo Ray" became the anthem that many identify for launching UK’s acid house movement.

The success of "Voodoo Ray" landed Gerald a solo record deal with Sony/Columbia in 1990 quickly followed by the release of his first LP "Automanik". With success came tension. As Gerald’s success as a pop artist grew, Gerald’s need for artistic license expanded. His label could not keep up with Gerald’s forward thinking music and never released his second album. Relegated back into the underground, Gerald found solace and further explored the emerging breakbeat influenced sounds. In 1993 Gerald, the master, released “28 Gun Bad Boy”, a pioneering album that harnessed the brutal dynamics of drum & bass. As jungle rose in popularity so did Gerald, once again.

In 1995, A Guy Called Gerald released the classic "Black Secret Technology" LP becoming the leading pioneering of UK’s urban sound. "Black Secret Technology" featured vocals from a then unknown Finley Quaye on "Finley’s Rainbow" thus launching Finley’s successful solo career. Gerald’s forward thinking music led to invitations from other artists such as Tricky, The Stone Roses, Goldie, Roy Ayers, Herbie Hancock and most notably David Bowie on collaborations and remixes.

Prominence has never inspired Gerald. Already a legend in each of his various forays, A Guy Called Gerald spent the greater part of the last six years producing his latest album (the last two years in NYC) "Essence," featuring vocal contributions from Lamb’s Louise Rhodes, MC Krusta, singer/songwriter Wendy Page, and Lady Miss Kier. To be released on Studio K7 August 2000, the album “Essence” will also feature singles with remixes from Ian Simmonds, Funkstorung, Ashley Beedle, and others to be confirmed. Starting with cassette decks, Gerald, by choice, has taken the long but well journeyed direction towards musical calm.

Mancunian house and techno innovator Gerald Simpson is the odd post-rave musician who's been able to find a successful voice in a wide variety of different styles. Starting with Chicago house and moving through Detroit techno, acid house, electro, hardcore techno, and currently drum'n'bass, Gerald's been an influential contributor to most of recent dance music's most important stopping points. Although his highest-profile moment came in the form of the late-'80s ubiquitous club hit "Voodoo Ray," Gerald's been widely recognized as an important force in the nascent London hardcore and jungle scenes, influencing key figures like Goldie, Dego, and Dillinja, and keeping the style moving forward beyond the more confrontational concerns of its early years.

Simpson's first recorded work was in collaboration with fellow Manchester group 808 State, whose early combinations of electro and hip-hop beats with elements of anthemic house and techno and slick production created some of U.K. acid house's earliest club staples. Simpson appeared on 808's debut, Newbuild, and co-wrote one of the group's biggest hits -- "Pacific State" -- although he was not credited (he got his jabs in later with a single titled "Specific Hate"). Leaving the group in the late '80s to pursue a solo career, Gerald's first blast was also his biggest -- "Voodoo Ray" -- which solidified his reputation in the clubs and landed him a major-label recording contract. After a string of moderately successful releases for Sony, Gerald was released from the label when they refused to release his album High Life Low Profile. Disappearing from the music scene for a few years, Gerald resurfaced with 28 Gun Bad Boy, released on his own Juice Box label. The album was a mutational cobblestone on the way to full-blown drum'n'bass and continues to be namechecked to this day. Gerald released Black Secret Technology in 1995, and focused on his DJing schedule and occasional singles releases during the rest of the decade. Finally, in 2000, he released Essence on Studio !K7. Blueprint, a mix album, follwed a year later, while another studio album -- To All Things What They Need -- came out in 2005. 2006's Proto-Acid: The Berlin Sessions was a mix album consisting of Simpson's own set of new productions. ~ Sean Cooper, All Music Guide