I began my performance career in the early 1980s as a drummer, in a punk band playing original songs, followed by a succession of semi-pro covers bands before moving to the cabaret circuit and backing top Kiwi artists such as Rob Guest, Billy T James and Brendan Dugan, among others.
Eventually I left the drums behind and moved to the front of the stage, performing on guitar and vocals in a jazz-oriented duo for a decade, and then - in the guise of my performance persona Dr Glam - with my own glam rock band. Dr Glam’s wicked alter ego Thaddius Grime, and his annogrammatic cousin Mr Glad - accompanied by the rather twisted Skeleton Family - complete my collection of performance personas.
Today, aside from bringing Dr Glam out of the closet for (very) occasional special events such as a one-off David Bowie tribute show, I front my Cosmic Jive Quartet, specializing in reworking the songs of David Bowie, and also have a jazz band; the Space Jazz Quartet. Never one to shun a jazz-hands opportunity, I also enjoy performing a song or two solo during my motivational speaking engagements.
“It was an extraordinary and rousing performance by the academic musicologist and Bowie aficionado, and author of the book “Experiencing David Bowie: A Listener’s Companion”, Ian Chapman. Ian was brilliantly accompanied by Liam Donnelly on piano and Pania Simmonds on acoustic and electric bass, and sounds they made together were sublime.”