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letter size: 
.: Here is the News
Update : September 1st, 2009
Concert at the Planetarium in Chorzow, near Katowice, Poland
Once again I shall be staring into the projected universe and improvising suitably cosmic sounds with my friend the venerable keyboardist Josef Skrzek at the Planetarium in Chorzow, Poland. September 27th! Groovy!
Get your tickets here!
Update : August 1st 2009
Recording Etran Finatawa at Real World Studios, Box, Wiltshire - 27-29th July
And a very nice time was had by all
Album set for release February 2010
Check out Etran Finatawa here!
New album release from RBC!!
What the critics say: „19/20! …convinces from the first moment to the last. It doesn’t get much better than this!“ musikansich.de - „The interplay between the three musicians is perfect. The sound of the CD is simply excellent” Rocktimes.de - „Here is a meeting of three great musicians who know exactly what they’re doing.“ babyblaue-seiten.de - “A very multi-faceted first visiting card from RBC, that makes one curious for more.” hooked-on-music.de - “Excellent, entertaining album. Thumbs up!” Goodtimes magazine
And you can buy this wonderful shiny object in the shop at the new Kartini Music website
Sound samples in the shop, and also at at the RBC myspacesite
Kartini Music have just released the debut album from RBC - that is gravel-voiced guitarist extraordinaire Prince Robinson together with Colin Bass on bass and vocals and Denis Clement on drums. Kartini says:
"RBC: from full-power three-way improvisation to quiet passages of compelling beauty, the music of Prince Robinson, Colin Bass & Denis Clement encompasses a spectrum as wide as their collected experiences. Evoking the psychedelic 60’s with their spontaneous and open approach, they mix elements of Blues, Funk, Progressive Rock and more to create a fresh contemporary take on the classic rock trio concept.
The debut album of RBC captures the spontaneous excitement of their live shows as well as showcasing the brilliantly inventive guitar orchestrations of Prince Robinson, who provides five of the original compositions. Two more come from the pen of Colin Bass and there are two “classical interludes” arranged by Prince Robinson from Bach and William Byrd, plus a full-tilt rock version of a classic track from Camel: Cloak and Dagger Man."
And here's the back cover:
update 08.03.09
upcoming gigs
I'll be doing a one-off solo concert at el Pasaguero club in Mexico City on April 3rd. See you there!
updated 05.01.09
Ok, I finally made it to change this page. I missed the Christmas greetings this year – my thanks and reciprocal wishes to all those who sent them to me – but there’s still time to wish all who stumble by here much love, peace and happiness in this year of 2009 (the first item being the key to the following).
For me personally, the last months have been rather hectic and at the end of the year I had to say goodbye to my weekly radio show on RBB Radio Multikulti. After 14 years the RBB decided to close down the station. Money shortages being the reason given. Well, one could endlessly debate the relative merits of the other radio and TV stations they spend money on but it matters not a jot here. Radio Multikulti always had its enemies in the upper echelons and they seem to have won out and have closed Germany’s flagship world music and culture station. Goodbye. Anyway, we had a little party in the studio at my last show with my special guests The Wet Pussies. Yes, Sadie, Shady and Lady sang their now controversial song, “O Dagmar”, dedicated to the RBB boss responsible for the closing. And here’s a little documentary about it filmed by Lady. Please enjoy: Sabah’s Last Radio Show…
So, "Sabah am Sonntag" is no more but in case you're interested in my playlists for the last year or so you can click here
Colin Bass will be performing two solo acoustic concerts in Spain on 31st October and 7th November - click on poster for more details and news archives
posted September 11th 2008 : this just in:
New dates:
Colin Bass, solo performance
October 31st 2008 : Sala Compañía de Jerez de la Frontera, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
November 7th 2008 : Teatro Moderno de Chiclana, Chiclana, Spain.
More details coming soon...
posted July 25th 2008 : visual evidence of rbc activity:
finally something on youtube from rbc - recorded in Poland at an agreeable little open-air gig next to Copernicus' amenities (see previous entry below)
Video recorded by our friend Gosia - just the sound from her camera but it captures a little bit of the excitement, hopefully.
There's a few more from the same show on youtube. So please enjoy...
posted June 23rd 2008 : upcoming gigs:
Two German gigs coming up for Robinson, Bass & Clement:
Friday 27th June : Ex'n'Pop, Berlin
Saturday 28th June : Objekt 5, Halle
check the RBC myspacesite for more info and some new music!
posted June 23rd 2008 : news from Poland:
The debut Polish tour of Robinson, Bass & Clement or RBC, as you like, was a most enjoyable experience under permanently clear blue skies with friendly and enthusiastic audiences awaiting us at every stop. The first gig, down south in Piekary Slaskie, had a surprise for us though. We arrived to find it billed as a Colin Bass concert with large posters all over the place containing my life story in Polish (and changing my nationality to the USA). But nevermind, we did our thing and the audience was a joy to play to. My thanks to the irrepressibly enthusiastic music lover Piotr Zalewski for his hospitality.
Then it was off to the Progresja in Warsaw - great venue - hi to Ania and Kasia - and then further back westerly to Poznan to play the Blue Note club, a great, large jazz-club venue where we had arranged for a live recording to be made. Unfortunately an inexperienced sound-person caused us to be plagued with monitor problems so it remains to be seen what we can use from the recordings. That's show-biz. Sunday saw us at the Kuznia club in Bydgoszcz (try pronouncing that with a mouthful of cream-crackers), where Januscz made us feel at home in the salubrious surroundings of his brand-new adjoining Hotel Kuznia, although I found the whirlpool bath much too big, as was the TV screen on the wall, and the bed much too comfortable but I turned all the lights off and slept draped over the trouser press so as not to be corrupted by too much luxury.
The rest of the gigs were organised by Maciek Meller from Quidam and it was great to see him again, and also Quidam keyboardist Zsbyszek Florek, who did our sound for us and very expertly too (photo: maciek, me and zibby). It was nice to play at the culture centre theatre in Innowroclaw again, where I've played solo and also as a guest at Quidam's last gig with their previous singer Emilia Derkowska, which apparently may shortly be released on DVD. Anyway if you're ever in Innowroclaw - a spa town with a large and beautiful park - visit the inhalatorium - an extraordinary construction where vast walls of layered tree branches are soaked with salt water providing visitors with inspirational breaths of sea air. Most unusual.
Final gig was way out east in Olstyn, where we played a nice open-air gig in the grounds of the castle there. My friend Witek Andree pointed out to me the medieval toilet closet protruding out of the wall at some height, explaining that it was attached to the rooms where Copernicus once lived. Indeed, in the grounds there were several statues of the great proto-astronomer gazing up at the skies with a glazed look in his eyes and I couldn't help imagining him doing a bit of that with his nether end protruding over the castle wall. As I announced, every time I glanced up while playing the show the irrepressible thought of Copernicus' bottom came to my mind. Now I hereby deny any other interests than the astronomical on my part and would strenuously refute any other inferences that idle chatter may attribute to my involuntary thought-processes or suggestions that my interest in the great man is any more than scientific.
Anyway, here's a photo of Copernicus' Klo.
And I'll leave you with the beauty and the beast, that is our dear friend Gosia - AKA Lady Fantasy and keeper of my Polish web-site - and his satanic majesty, Prince Robinson, in Olstyn.
Greetings also to Keiko who came all the way from Dublin. Be seeing you!
posted June 21st 2008 : it's your choice:
just checking to see if anyone is reading this.
well you never know do you?
Perhaps it wasn’t A.L. Penck who wrote:
Some ask: why are we sad yet not crying?
When everything ends in tears
But until that happens
Let’s get in a couple of beers
Well enough is enough,
I can’t waste time sitting here writing this stuff
If no-one ever reads it
I might as well say
my dog has won Cruft's
Though he’s only got three teeth
And his breath smells like death
But if I was in LA
that scarlet lady of the west
swimming pools, movie stars
Bruce Willis in his vest
I’d love to ride down sunset
with Keira Knightley at my side
and a lunch-box full of sandwiches
beneath the choking sky
and between you and me
I don't believe I ever felt better
than when I opened up the letter
from Keira when she wrote,
(enclosing a welcome five pound note):
i swear to you undying devotion
i'll cover you in pungent lotion
and help you with your morning motion
if that is what you wish
for though i'm strictly vegetarian
(and aiming to be octogenarian)
since i met this veterinarian
i've started craving fish
yours,
Keira
posted March 2nd 2008 : upcoming gigs:
The new trio of Prince Robinson, Colin Bass & Denis Clement will be making their live debut in Poland in May, billed as Robinson, Bass & Clement – or RBC for short.
dates so far are:
29.05 – Andaluzia: Piekary Slasky
30.05 – Progresja: Warsaw
31.05 - Blue Note: Poznan
01.06 - Kuznia: Bydgoscz
02.06 - MDK Kulturhaus: Innowroclaw
03.06 - Kulturhaus: Znin
04.06 - Sowa : Osztyn
and there's a new myspace site for RBC here!
other news:
Two recent interviews have been published on the net
One for the Spanish prog-blog sinfomusic - Spanish readers go here
And one for the Italian prog-blog rockline - Italian readers go here
posted 31st January 2008
Just back from a brief excursion with the Prince Robinson groovy combo, taking in Holland and a quick one-off at the great Spirit of 66 club in Verviers, Belgium. If only there were more places like this. If only there were more club-owners like Francis Geron. Great atmosphere, great sound system, great audience. Like I said, it's great! Thanks Francis.
Another Francis, that is Monsieur Francis Nicoll, took some nice photos of the event and here are a few of them
Thanks Francis.
And thanks to everyone who came and said hello.
posted July 06 2007 - now it can be told
Well, it had to happen. Finally some nameless person has finally got around to posting up a rare video sighting of the 3 Mustaphas 3 (c. 1988) on that repository of all that you do and don't wish to see: Youtube.
So here it is. A fine moment in their history I believe and my eyebrows have never been subjected to so much cultivation before or since.
Please enjoy....
posted February 01 - upcoming events
Well, I guess I am most pleased to announce that I recently made my acting debut in a German radio play called "Amaterasu in Shinjuku". It's by Malte Jaspersen, a German writer who has been living in Japan for 15 years. Amaterasu is the Japanese sun-goddess of the Shinto creation myths. In the play she is transported to modern day Tokyo and is bewildered by what she sees. A hurricane is on the way and in the 30th floor of the Shinjuku Paradise Building, radio DJs Jason & Yuka are broadcasting merrily away. I play Jason. It's a fascinating play with excellent soundtrack and effects, very atmospheric, with a top quality cast of seasoned German professionals, apart from me.
It's being broadcast on February 2nd, 2007, 22.04 CET on Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg (RBB) Kulturradio
You can hear a live streaming at that time here!
It's going to be repeated on Radio Bremen Nordwestradio on March 2nd, 2007, 22.05 pm more info here!
posted December 31 - Happy New Years!
So that was it then. And now it’s another new year that doth approacheth. May it bring peace where there is discord and may new light shine in the dark corners of men’s hearts. Who said that? Was it me?
Well, Shakespeare wrote "The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils", which could well be true. And apparently Lenin once told Maxim Gorky: "I can't listen to music too often, it affects the nerves, makes you want say kind, silly things". So that explains a lot but I am more favourably inclined towards the sentiment expressed in Nick Lowe's excellent line: "what’s so funny about Peace, Love and Understanding?"
And I wish us all of that in the coming 8th year of the 21st Century.
(Is that right?)
