The Background
Alex and Graham have spent years perfecting the sounds and recording techniques of P-Theory until it became a statement, a way of life, a concept and an idea who’s time had come to pass.
Armed with a new confidence and self belief and having played with countless musicians and vocalists over the years we decided to take the concept to the next level. Frustrated by the fact that we seemed to spend half our time explaining the essence of funk to these musicians only for them to get frustrated and run away in fear from the funk, we knew the only way forward was to assemble the "A-Team" for the next album. A crew that didn't need things explaining and that had proven over the years that they could seemlessly integrate into the P-Theory vibe.
The Players
The problem was that Alex and Graham openly admit to being musical dictators. P-Theory has always been their baby and like any proud parent they will never hand it over to someone else to look after without a thorough vetting and accreditation process first. Our vision has always been the same for PTheory since its first inception way back in 1993.
We always wanted to play the music we like to hear, and have longed for a new twist on the black rock / early funk / acid rock genre, one that would not just try and recreate the past for the sake of being retro, but would pick up the reins from the fore fathers and run with it.
Bold statement from a couple of white boy hicks from south central cheshire!
To play this music well, you not only have to master the physical techniques and licks, you have to create the right organic sounds and most importantly of all put your head in the right frame of mind where the vibe flows through. As soon as the funk becomes manufactured and arranged it is no longer is funky. Its supposed to smell, its supposed to be on the edge, its supposed to be bad ass and primal. It has to operate from within the chromozones and cells not from a song sheet.
So first to the table was Damon "Wiggles" Wilding. For funk drummers in the UK, and arguably the world, there could be no other choice. Damon had grown up listening to and playing nothing but funk and reggae and actually took the same musical journey as Alex down the PFunk road from a very early age. He has mastered the old school vibe of Tiki Fullwood and Buddy Miles but then put his own reggae twist on the beat to make it swing like no other.
Bass and guitar duties were always going to be shared between Graham and Alex as through playing with each other for so long they were an unmoveable unit that were locked in the same psyche and groove. Their ability to instantly change a mood had been developed over 10 years.
Part time PTheory drummer, Andy "Funkentelechy" Hay was a must for his unique enthusiasm and vibe that he always brought to the table as well as his percussion and vocal skills. Andy introduced Jake Jackson, a purist old school keys player with all the right original equipment.
The Cream
There was still a missing piece, the all important lead vocal. We knew what we wanted but just couldn't find it. The music screamed out for a huge black, gospel / funk voice. There was only one choice.....we had to go back to the root of it all, the home of the funk, Plainfield New Jersey. Our favourite vocalist (along with most PFunk fans) was the mighty Glenn Goins. Glenn had died tragically at the age of 24 so we were always on the lookout for a Glenn clone.
However we struck gold! Through the help of Marcel Visser (without whom non of this would have been possible) we managed to find a root to Glenn's brother Kevin and made contact with him through his manager Barbera Thomas (wife of Keith and daughter in-law of founding member of the Parliaments Grady Thomas).
The Connection
Opportunities like this come along once in a lifetime, its what you do when they arrive that makes the difference! After months of talks and mutual muscle flexing and jokeying for position, it was on. Kevin agreed to come over to England for a two week period to make an album from the ground up with PTheory as an equal member sharing both the creative and writing credits in equal measure with Graham and Alex.
The Venue
With such a unique opportunity, every step had to be taken to ensure that the creative process could be unleashed in full without restraints. So the venue was always going to be Castle Hill studios in North Wales where PTheory had regularly recorded and thrown some almighty parties in the past. A 16th century converted brewery that used to be run by monks with the purest water source in Britain running underneath, it ensured that the live room (an underground cavern) delivered sufficient BOOM to make the recordings really stand out. So the room and mics were set up in the old school manner so all the instruments were played live at the same time....One take snakes!
The Guitar Army
We had always envisaged that Kevin would be here for his vocals, little did we know how much the boy could play as well! Being Eddie Hazel's best friend and brother of Glenn we should have realised, but nothing could have prepared us for the unique Plainfield feel he brought on the instruments. We were honoured, this was the holy grail that white boys never got shown, but we weren't about to roll over. We hit Kevin with our best shot that knocked him off his feet until you could cut the testoserone in the air with a knife. All the players dragged the best performances of our lives as God had told us how it should be....we were one, this is what we had prayed for and our prayers had been answered.
The Result
The love and mutual respect between the players has ensured that not only is P-Theory now a single entity but we are lifelong friends not matter how far we are apart. The results speak for themselves, you can here some previews under the "listen to us menu - current" on this site. Although the tracks are not yet mixed, they do not need a lot of work as the sound of the room was so right.
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THEM AS MUCH AS WE DID !!!!!!
