The first signs of curvature occurred in 1991, when guitarist/mystic Steve Anderson met with keyboardist/professor Neil Durant in the wilds of South London and commenced song-writing. Over the next few months they recruited/abused/ignored a series of appendages until by the summer of 1992 bassist/chocoholic Bill Burnett, drummer/vicar Frank Watson & singer/clansman John Duncan had joined the fray rapidly becoming known as Sphere3.
Their first demo tape (ingeniously entitled "Demo") was recorded with the help of two toilet rolls, some double sided sticky tape, and a pair of pre-heated coconut rings. Sphere3 then launched themselves on an unsuspecting audience of friends, drunks & rodents (who had inadvertently lent us their ears) at the prestigious Covent Garden Rock Garden Centre. By 1993, Sphere3 had gained a reputation, prompting the departure of their first singer and drummer. But in 1994 with the help of new skin botherers drummer/don't spill my pint-er Pete Fisher and Wecklmeister/tax exile John (precise surname and current whereabouts unknown) Sphere3 recorded their EP Signatures, earning rave (sic) reviews in "Rock and Reel" and Korea's premiere music journal "Hot Music". Tracks from Signatures appeared on the 2nd Cyclops Sampler CD and the British Progressive Rock Audio Directory and received airplay in the U.S.A. and Poland, thus speeding the end of the cold war, bringing east and west together in their mutual indifference.
Sphere3 were awarded 2nd best new artist (after Damien Hurst) in the 1994 Internet Progressive Rock Poll Awards, with a special wizard cloaked statuette going to Neil for the coveted accolade of 17th best Keyboard player. On the wave of this success, the now fully instrumental* four piece Sphere3, toured extensively in 1995 supporting rock legends Magnum at the Rotherham Rocks festival and rock fables IQ at the Shepherds Bush Bottom Line, culminating in the 1995 award for 3.141592653589793238462643383279st best band and an honorary fatwa.
Following further Lord Lucanisms of the stick wielding variety in 1996, Sphere3 assimilated new drummer/magic torch operative Jamie Fisher, and recorded an exclusive new track for the 3rd Cyclops Sampler CD. 1997 then brought further touring with Sphere3, once again shoring up the careers of IQ and now Mastermind with their celebrated support appearances.
In 1998, Sphere3 commenced the recording of their debut album, which proceeded well until the understandably unforeseen need to watch your bath water disappear anti-clockwise took hold, resulting in them loosing, first, their drummer to a year of fruit picking in Australia, and then their entire studio to a lifetime of nose picking in New Zealand. However Sphere3, who never could take the hint, soldiered (and indeed soldered) on, recording more tracks with the help of Avantgarden's goateed jazz deity Justin Scott before wooing back Jamie from the colonies with the promise of a major tour (scurrilously omitting the words "of Croydon").
As 2000 hove into view, like so much irresponsibly consumed Mississippi Mud Pie, Sphere3 embarked upon a veritable blizzard of gigs. Showcasing new material from their forthcoming album, and rejoicing in the re-opening of their home from home, The Cartoon, Sphere3 dragged unsuspecting bands such as Melbourne and Grey Lady Down to join them on its hallowed stage and insert a celebratory shoe into its engineer.
Sphere3 have now completed their long awaited debug album, despite top bookmakers giving high odds against that every happening within the expected lifespan of planet Earth. Having made their second appearance at the legendary Whitchurch Prog Festival, playing with Swedish prog royalty The Flower Kings in 2001, and prog legends Focus in 2002, surely only a slump in world chocolate availability could stop them now....
Sphere3 have been coaxed along by a plethora of well-wishers along the way, and the band have named and shamed them in a giant fall of fame.
"There are two golden rules for an orchestra: start together and finish together. The public doesn't give a damn what goes on in between"
Current line-up:
Steve Anderson Guitars
William Burnett Bass
Neil Durant Keyboards
Jamie Fisher Drums
DISCOGRAPHY
Demo (1992); cassette
Signatures (1994); cassette EP
Three Simple Words, track on Cyclops: The Second Sampler (1995); CD compilation
Again, track on Cyclops: The Third Sampler (1996); CD compilation
Shrimp.SNG, track on Cyclops: The Fourth Sampler (2000); CD compilation
Paralysis (2001); 3-track CD EP
Comeuppance (2002); CD album
