Play On - The Authorised Biography of Twelfth Night

Play On is the official Twelfth Night biography, written and published with the full co-operation of the band.

Author Andrew Wild has spent over eighteen months and carried out 60 interviews in order to complete the book.

"I followed Twelfth Night back in the 1980s," says Wild, "and saw them a few times in concert when I was a student. The band played some reunion gigs in 2007 and 2008 and these triggered the idea to look at the band's story and why they didn't 'make it'. The music industry was a very different beast back in the mid-1980s. The key strategy of the major record companies back then seemed to be to sign lots of acts in the hope that one or two would see short-term success. Twelfth Night were caught up in that and, along with some crucially bad decisions by their management company and by the band themselves, this was a key reason why the band missed the boat."

Play On is being published with the full support of the band and the Mann family. Founder members Andy Revell and Brian Devoil have written a foreword and afterword for the book. Andrew Wild has conducted over 60 interviews for the book including: every member of the band; their road crew; contemporaries such as Nick Barrett and Clive Nolan of Pendragon and Peter Nicholls of IQ; journalists Malcolm Dome, Mick Wall and Derek Oliver; producers Greg Walsh, Richard James Burgess, John Walters and Mark Chamberlain; Radio 2's managing editor Antony Bellekom; record company executive Martin Hooker and George Kwiatkiewicz; plus many more.

"Andy has produced a wonderfully readable book that all of our fans will enjoy," comments Brian Devoil.

The book is over 300 pages in length, with a full-colour cover and 16 pages of rare and unseen colour pictures. There are also dozens of black and white pictures throughout the book.

But the book is only half of the story. Each copy will also be shipped with The Play On Archive, a data DVD containing hundreds of items from the band's archives: unreleased audio tracks and video clips, press cuttings, reviews, photographs, downloads, a family tree, newsletters, and much more.

Play On DVD: audio content

• Fur Helene (February 1978) the complete debut performance PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• Scales / Depressing Chords (November 1978) PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• Three Dancers (September 1979) first recordings with Geoff Mann PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• After Office Hours (June 1980)
• Afghan Red (November 1980) PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• Keep The Aspidistra Flying (March 1981)
• Sequences (Spring 1981) Geoff's audition tape PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• After The Eclipse (August 1981) opening number from Reading Festival PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• Makes No Sense (December 1981)
• Art and Illusion (July 1983)
• The Collector (Summer 1983) complete home demo PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• Love Song (March 1984) live at the Marquee with Andy Sears
• CRAB (October 1984) live in Liverpool
• Counterpoint (October 1984) live in Liverpool PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• Instrumental Medley (January 1985) from rehearsal tapes PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• Last Song (January 1985) fab demo PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• White Glasd (May 1985) live in Bristol
• Rev's Demo (1985) home demo PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• Sequencer #1 (1985) home demo PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• Rick's Idea 1 (1985) home demo PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• Blondon Fair (June 1986) 7" edit. only previously available on vinyl
• Zootime (October 1987) with Martyn Watson PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• The Ceiling Speaks (November 2007) live in Deptford PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• Kings and Queens (2007) Mark Spencer solo PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• First New Day (May 2008) live in Rotherham PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
• Creepshow (May 2008) live in Rotherham PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Play On DVD: video content

• Abacus (Reading, 1980)
• Blues Mellotron (Reading, 1980)
• East to West (Reading, 1981)
• East of Eden (David Essex' Showcase, 1982)
• Fact and Fiction (Reading, 1983)
• The Collector [excerpt] (London, 1983)
• The Ceiling Speaks (London, 1983)
• Human Being (London, 1984)
• Jacobs Sessions
• Blue Powder Monkey (Whistle Test, 1986)
• Love Song (Geoff Mann solo, 1991)
• This City (Andy Sears solo, 2004)
• Love Song (Andy Sears solo, 2007)
• Blondon Fair (Rotherham, 2008)
• We Are Sane (Kingston, 2008)

Reviews

My nose has yet to be removed from between its covers…! Andrew Wild has done a fantastic job of chronicling the history of the band and it’s obvious to see the amount of care and attention that has gone into its preparation and execution. It’s been said before but I have to agree that, as you read through the pages, you can’t help but feel the tangible goodwill and affection from everyone who came into contact with Twelfth Night during their all too brief history. The DVD is a triumph, The Ceiling Speaks from Geoff’s last Marquee dates almost simultaneously brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye.
- Richard Harris

Play On is an excellent read, and full of acute insights about the whole prog scene of the eighties.
- Mike Liassides

The DVD of archive material is quite breath-taking and the audio and video content is superb. I thought Mark Spencer's contemporary re-working of Kings and Queens wass quite brilliant (great vocal too Mark!). On hearing that and Andy's new arrangement of First New Day I'm already imagining what a new TN album could sound like.
- Harry Kraft

Play On is excellent. Well done on a great job.
- Jane Mann

Many many thanks for all the very hard work you have put into all of this. It veritably is the proverbial 'Labour of Love'!
- Rick Battersby

I just couldn't put it down! I really enjoyed it, a fascinating read. It does make you want to go back and listen to stuff you may not have listened to for a while and have a new appreciation of it.
- Steve Blease

It looks great. I really can't wait to get stuck in...
- Paul Tippett

Play On is extraordinary. What an amazing piece of work! You have managed to do what no one has ever achieved before, simply doing justice to this great collection of individuals' work.
- Stuart Calder

You really have done an amazing job.
- Andy Revell

Got it. Devoured it. Loved it.
- James Lord

A wonderful gift to the band. Delicately researched, honestly reasoned, beautifully presented. Words fail.
- Andy Sears

Loving the book but I wanted to put in a word about the accompanying DVD ... what an absolute masterpiece! I'm gobsmacked at the quality of this piece of software, not to mention the breadth and depth of the material it contains. I started looking at it last night and about 3 hours later I saw the time and decided I must get to bed. It's going to take a long time to do the contents justice. I really am looking forward to it.
- Andy Peake

Play On is your story. Complete, sometimes sad. True. Details, photographes, memories: all is beautiful.
- Davide Arreco

Happily enjoying a TN Christmas - read the book,watching & listening to the DVD & ordered my Progeny ticket today!! Thanks to Andy Wild,the band & everyone involved with the book & DVD - what a fantastic & unique achievement.
- Simon Fryer

Here's a festive thanks to everyone involved in the book and DVD production, both are superb. Congratulations everybody!
- David Hirst

A fine piece of work and a brilliant insight into how it works if you are 'nearly making it' in the music biz.
- David Gomm

Just Finished Play on yesterday - fantastic read, thanks to all concerned. for producing this!
- Mike Durie

A wonderful piece of work.
- Kev Rowland

A very interesting book and an AMAZING DVD ... lots of gems.
- Stefan Wroblewski

A big, big compliment for the DVD and the book! The book is really professional. Great work!!!
- Ulf Wagner

The book/DVD package is £18 plus postage and is available to order now.

P & P charges: UK £2.00, Europe £4.00, Rest of the World £7.00 (The package weighs 600g).

The easiest way to pay is using Paypal. To make a payment please send it to Brian's e-mail address: briandevoil@tiscali.co.uk – or, alternatively, send a cheque made payable to Brian Devoil to "The Brambles", 1c Doggetts Farm Road, Higher Denham, Bucks. UB9 5EH. UK.

Smiling at Grief - Definitive Edition

Disc one

East Of Eden (3:29) / This City (3:13) / The Honeymoon Is Over (2:35) / Creepshow (10:13) / Puppets (Intro) (1:25) / Puppets (2:50) / Three Dancers (2:54) / Makes No Sense (4:02) / Fur Helene part II (10:48) / Kindergarden (3:05) / Midnight (0:51) / Keep The Aspidistra Flying (9:40) / Convenient Blindness (3:27) / Makes No Sense (5:10) / Eleanor Rigby (3:03) / This City (alternative version) (3.19)
Tracks 1-10 recorded at Woodcray Manor Farm Studios, Berkshire, November 1981. Tracks 11-14 recorded at Burghfield Mill, Reading, September 1981. Track 15 recorded at Woodcray Manor Farm Studios, November 1981. Track 16 recorded in Geoff's cellar 59 Duchy Street, Salford, September 1981

Disc two

Kindergarden (3:05) / The Honeymoon Is Over (2:50) / Eleanor Rigby (3:38) / Makes No Sense (5:20) / East To West (9:39) / Three Dancers (3:44) / Puppets (3:50) / This City (4:16) / Creepshow (10:19) / East Of Eden (5:24) / Sequences (20:15) / Convenient Blindness (4:25)
Tracks 1-11 recorded at The Target, Reading, 10 December 1981. Track 12 recorded at Burghfield Mill, Reading, September 1981

Voices in the Night

Disc one

The Cunning Man (4:50) / Abacus (7:25) / Aspidistra (7:47) recorded with Electra McLeod at Arny's Shack, Bournemouth, August 1980

Late Night TV (4:21) recorded with Ian Lloyd-Jones at Woodcray, Wokingham, March 1981

Human Being (3:43) recorded with Geoff Mann at Matinee Studios, Reading, March 1982

Fact and Fiction (4:00) / Art and Illusion (4:20) recorded with Geoff Mann at CBS, London, July 1983

Don't Make Me Laugh (3:46) recorded with Nigel 'Axe' Atkins at John Verity's, Bradford, October 1983

I Am (5:33) / South of the Wind (3:13) / White Glass (4:04) recorded with Andy Sears at Matinee Studios, Reading, January 1985

Piccadilly Square (6:28) recorded with Andy Sears at Thin Ice, Maidenhead, March 1994

Turning (3:25) / Happening (3:24) / A Tiny Everything (4:04) / Zootime (4:26) recorded with Martyn Watson at Strand, Chiswick, February 1987

Disc two

Art and Illusion (4:00) / Aspidentropy (9:51) recorded with Geoff Mann at the Marquee, London, 5 November 1983

Not on the Map (4:58) recorded with Geoff Mann at the Marquee, London, 16 March 1983

Last Song (4:22) / Blue Powder Monkey (5:00) / Take a Look (11:15) recorded with Andy Sears. Basic tracks recorded December 1985-January 1986, Jacobs, Farnham, Surrey; overdubs recorded January-February at Rooster Studios, Shepherd's Bush, London

Phantoms on the Telephone (4:54) / Happening (3:24) / A Tiny Everything (3:58) / Turning (3:23) / Zootime (4:21) recorded with Martyn Watson, Westar Studios, Southall, 13 February 1987

Love Song (7:43) recorded with Geoff Mann and Andy Sears at the Marquee, London, 11 October 1987

XII

Last Song (4.27) / Pressure (3.39) / Jungle (4.16) / The Craft (4.36) / Blue Powder Monkey (5.07) / Theatre (3.48) / Shame (4.13) / This Is War (3.45) / Take A Look (11.35) / Blondon Fair (single b-side) (6.03) / Shame(ful Mix) (single b-side) (5.50) / Take A Look (part 4) (single a-side) (4.19) / Blue Powder Monkey (early mix) (4.46) / This Is War (early mix) (3.48) / The Craft (early mix) (4.47)

Smiling at Grief ... Live

Kindergarden (3:05) / The Honeymoon Is Over (2:50) / Eleanor Rigby (3:38) / Makes No Sense (5:20) / East To West (9:39) / Three Dancers (3:44) / Puppets (3:50) / This City (4:16) / Creepshow (10:19) / East Of Eden (5:24) / Sequences (20:15)

Recorded at the Target, Reading, 10 December 1981

A Midsummer's Night Dream

Keep the Aspidistra Flying (6:31) / Abacus (7:28) / Encore Une Fois (7:55) / After Office Hours (10:45) / Fur Helene part I (6:54) / The Cunning Man (6:13) / Afghan Red (12:36) / Sequences (20:48)

Recorded at Reading University Students' Union, 27 June 1980

Corner of the World

Requiem (4:59) / Kings And Queens (6:24) / White Glass (3:47) / We Are Sane (8:45) / The Craft (5:00) / Shame (5:10) / Blue Powder Monkey (6:40) / First New Day (4:57) / South Of The Wind (2:38) / C.R.A.B. (5:09) / Counterpoint (6:03) / Take A Look (12:46) / Art and Illusion (5:16) / The Ceiling Speaks (7:15) / Love Song (6:48) / Requiem (6:22) / Love Song (8:03)

Recorded at Leeds University, 14 May 1985; The Granary, Bristol, 16 May 1985; London University, 17 May 1985; Portsmouth Polytechnic, 18 May 1985

Live From London

The Ceiling Speaks (6:00) / Human Being (8:25) / We Are Sane (11:20) / Fact and Fiction-The Poet Sniffs A Flower (8:47) / Creepshow (12:35) / Art and Illusion (5:00) / Love Song (5:10)

Entropy

Keep the Aspidistra Flying (8:01) / East to West (11:15) / Fur Helene part I (6:37) / Entropy (14:23) / After The Eclipse (6:24) / Afghan Red (12:55) / Sequences (20:25)

Flashbacks

Intro tape (1:00) / The Ceiling Speaks (6:50) / Saatchi & Saatchi intro (4:43) / We Are Sane (11:02) / Deep in the Heartland (5:20) / The Collector (16:58) / Love Song (5:32) / The Poet Sniffs a Flower (4:30) / Sequences (17:14) / Art and Illusion (4:51) / East of Eden (5:16) / Aspidentropy (9:29) / The Collector* (20:17) / Fact and Fiction* (4:24) / The Poet Sniffs a Flower* (3:49)

Recorded 16 July 1983, The Marquee, except * recorded at Crosskeys Institute, Gwent, 23 July 1983.

Night Vision: Art and Illusion Tour 1984

The Ceiling Speaks (5:59) / Kings And Queens (5:54) / We Are Sane (11:06) / Blondon Fair (6:06) / Creepshow (12:27) / Fact and Fiction (4:39) / First New Day (5:59) / C.R.A.B. (5:16) / Counterpoint (6:09) / Take A Look (13:13) / Art and Illusion (4:26) / Sequences (Closing Section) (2:49) / Love Song (6:42) / Kings And Queens (6:21) / C.R.A.B. (4:33) / Creepshow (12:50) / Take A Look (12:31)

Recorded at Kerrang! Wooargh! Weekender, Caister, 12 October 1984; Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead, 23 October 1984; Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, 25 October 1984; Glasgow Polytechnic, 27 October 1984; Sheffield University, 29 October 1984; The Gaumont, Southampton, 5 November 1984