Send In Your Memories of Winter
If you have any memories or comments that you would like to submit about WINTER, please use the email address below [note: not all comments will be published].
Email you messages or memories to music@winteronline.co.uk
Guys
I saw you guys a few times at The Red Lion at Brentford, and reviewed both the CD and the tape when it came out in my magazine Feedback which I ran for 16 years.
These days I am a collaborator for progarchives, write for MLWZ and Silhobbit (as well as MMA and JMA), plus Progshine, Gonzo and the hard copy Amplified (which was what Feedback was renamed after I left for NZ).
I was just going through my files and found two colour photos of you at The Red Lion – do you want copies? Also, any chance you could send me a review copy of the revised version of the album? Would love to hear what you have done with it.
“Toybox” is still one of my very favourite prog songs ever..
All the best from the other side of the world
Kev
Phil: Thanks for getting in touch Kev – I will respond by email
I have some live tapes and the follow on casette. Digitised the lot if that helps.
Dec
Phil: Thanks for getting in touch Dec – I remember you well from the gigs back in the day. That’s good of you to offer the tapes etc – I will respond by email
The only place where I could find the unreleased “Reflections on the water” was this site. This rare gem suddenly dissapeared from this site and I don’t know where else could I find it. Even if the sound is poor (due to tape translation probabbly), the inner quality overwhelms all deficiencies.
Does anyone know how could I purchase this real gem? I mean, is it available on any other site (even in low quality)? Or I could kindly ask the admin to bring back this demo alive. It’s too good to be ignored!
I always looked at this band as if I look to a unique commet: just one bright shot and then away in the unknown.
I discovered it in the most hidden corners of the internet and their work astonished me.
Such a pitty they did not create together anymore! I’m sure that they would have proudly stand near Marillion, IQ, or any other giants of neo-prog, if they would have continued their creative flow. Pure art.
Greetings from Romania!
Adrian
Phil: Thanks for your comments Adrian – The demo version of ‘Reflections on the Water’ has been re-instated in the new MP3 player. It is not great quality but I will try to get a better version published soon.
Great to hear these songs again , from a very drunken and long bus trip to the Baggot Inn to the Art college gig with Andy White and Kieran Goss and culmulating in the Melee which was Hands off my Mate @ The Mandela great memories….a Reunion one off? it would be great to see , good luck the best of times … Beany
Phil: Thanks for the great comments Mr.Beany – yes, the “Hands off my Mate” @ The Mandela gig, and aftermath, was a hideous affair from memory ! A re-union isn’t on the cards but there is a decent chance of releasing a CD version of Across The Circle’s Edge ( … beyond 2012) tracks which could well include some previously unreleased Live performances. So check back for details about that over the next couple of months.
A message from drummer John Murphy
Hi, lovely to read all the comments, myself and Rab had a reunion gig a few months back in Belfast, no instruments involved but lots of alcohol. I have been lucky enough to check out a number of Beijing based bands and i would recommend everyone keeps an eye out because there is some serious talent which will be coming to a download near you soon.
Carpie Diem
John Murphy
Dear Gentlemen of Winter, very glad to heard you. Irish people and mexicans are brothers for historical reasons, for example The Saint Patrick´s Batallion. But right now, my family and I (we are listening you), are feeling more brotherhood because your marvelous music. Good taste, beautiful Irish accent, rapids keyboards, the guitar cries, drums are equal as risen heartbeat and the bass has personality. Congratulations and thank you for share your awesome work.
Blessings for you all guys from Cancun Mexico!!
Manuel Rami
Phil: Thanks for your comments Manuel – very kind. Given half a chance I am sure we would have loved to toured in Mexico – it is a beautiful country. Good luck and thanks for getting in touch.
Hi, are there any plans to ever release a new Winter album?
Fritz- Anton Fritzson
Phil: Hi Fritz, We are planning to release a limited edition run of the updated Across The Circle’s Edge songs on CD and vinyl by end of 2014. As for an album containing new songs – well it’s unlikely really as the original line up are all doing different things these days. However I am hoping to include some live tracks on possibly ‘Reflections on the Water’ on the CD / vinyl version and you you can still hear the mighty Rab Beggs playing live with his sensational band – RAISED ON ROCK. Phil Murray has also been recording songs for a solo album and is also hoping to release them on iTunes during 2015.
Great to hear the tracks the way they were intended, looking forward to seeing a Winter album available on Itunes soon.
Phil Loughlin
Phil: Thanks for the comments Phil – we released the updated Across The Circles Edge in January 2012. Hope you like it.
This is a real trip down memory lane and as Allan mentions in his comments, some great nights out watching Winter. I came across them first at the Errigle Inn which at the time (late eighties and early nineties) had a strong reputation for showcasing local Belfast talent. In those days it was mostly full on rock stuff (Rosetta Bar rejects!!) with the occasional alternative, post new romantic/U2 clone bands (long before the lucrative cover band phenomena of today!)
The night I remember, Winter were headlining and as the lights dropped the first parts of Vivaldi’s Winter started playing! There were a few wide eyes and dropped jaws wondering what the hell was going on. One by one the band members arrived on stage and as the classical piece finished they seamlessly launched into their own stuff which blew the place away (What was the first Winter live track at the shows?).
For me they had a bit of everything even though the roots were prog rock. The songs were instantly catchy enough to draw you in without out the usual ramblings and self indulgence of this kind of music. A much edgier and harder sound than the commercial Marillion who I suppose were leading the way.
I never got any of the recorded stuff at the time (although from the notes it looks like there wasn’t any!) and it’s a blast to hear it here now for the first time!! Are there any live recordings available? Surely Winter must have had more material than this?!
Happy days indeed for me and the Orangefield crew who were Errigle regulars then. Haven’t set foot in the place for years but I don’t think it’s the breeding ground of local talent it used to be.
Ah, yes, those were the days….
Jim Campbell
Phil: Thanks for the comments Jim, I believe WINTER started most shows with ‘SO COLD THE NIGHT’ – a bit of a rocker. We are trying to source some decent quality live recordings and if we can we will post them up on the site. There were some sound desk recordings but it was 20 years ago so sourcing them is a bit of a task!
No doubt about Winter being one of the best live bands in the Northern Ireland music scene at that time. Individually superbly talented musicians and collectively always delivered powerful, atmospheric and theatrical performances regardless of venue. The tracks sound really fresh even after all these years and bring back some fantastic memories. I also remember some awesome Rush and Marillion covers during the live shows.
Are the original band members still in the music business?
What chance of a reunion gig?
Allan Simonsen
Phil: The brilliant Rab Beggs is still playing actively with a couple of live bands. Phil Murray is still making music but not publically. Beggs and Murray did play together for a number of years after the original line broke up, in several bands like Mr Jinx and Native Sun. Indeed they were close to securing a recording contract with Native Sun through U2s label. We are unsure about Rick, Johnny and John at this stage, in terms of their involvement in music scene these days. A re-union gig is probably unlikely.