Christian Hayes
Encyclopedia
Christian Hayes also known as Bic Hayes, is an English
rock
guitarist, singer and songwriter. His highest profile musical role has been fronting the band Dark Star
between 1998 and 2001, whom he formed with fellow ex-Levitation
members David Francolini
and Laurence O'Keefe.
He has also played in a number of bands including Levitation
, Cardiacs
, Ring
, Panixsphere, The Dave Howard Singers
, Mice (featuring ex-All About Eve
's Julianne Regan
) and Heather Nova
.
Since Dark Star split up, Hayes has worked and toured with Heather Nova
and The Pet Shop Boys and has also involved in tour and production management.
He has also been working on solo material under the guise of Mikrokosmos releasing two albums to date (The Heart Of The Home and The Seven Stars) via his own "Ingatia Recordings" record label. One track,'Hold Like Mother's Hand', appeared on the Cardiacs tribute album Cardiacs and Affectionate Friends.
scene of the early 1980s. He began his career with various South London-based underground bands (including a stint in the last lineup of Ring
). For a while he also played bass for the eccentric lounge-punk act The Dave Howard Singers
, who were at the time known for the novelty single "Yon Yonson".
Hayes was brought into Cardiacs
in 1989 to replace saxophonist Sarah Smith - he played second guitar in the band during a period in which it was evolving into a harder-rocking guitar-orientated style. During this time he displayed a performance style incorporating a strong use of distortion and echo but combined with passages of quieter detail. This was expanded for his work in Levitation
(1992–1994) and with the Julianne Regan-fronted Mice (1995-approximately 1997), and reached full fruition in the power trio Dark Star
. In the latter band, Hayes created a layered and detailed but hard-rocking sound using a wide variety of effects pedals and devices (with apparent influences including Jimi Hendrix
and Keith Levene
). Although he played numerous lead lines, these were always part of an integrated band sound and featured few standard rock-style solos.
Hayes was picked to replicate Johnny Marr
's original guitar parts from the Pet Shop Boys
album Release
when the band toured. His current project Mikrokosmos (for which he plays the majority of the instruments) has clear stylistic references to previous generations of psychedelic musicians such as Syd Barrett
and Hawkwind
. His approach to guitar playing for Mikrokosmos is considerably simpler than his previous work with Dark Star
.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
guitarist, singer and songwriter. His highest profile musical role has been fronting the band Dark Star
Dark Star (band)
Dark Star were an English rock band from London, whose music mixed dark psychedelica, with a dub undertow and noisy effects-laden guitar.-History:...
between 1998 and 2001, whom he formed with fellow ex-Levitation
Levitation (band)
Levitation were an English rock band fronted by ex-House of Love guitarist Terry Bickers. Levitation's music and attitude challenged an early 1990s UK alternative music scene dominated by shoegazing and Madchester....
members David Francolini
David Francolini
David Francolini also known as "Mitch Razor" is an English rock drummer, and has previously played in a number of bands, most notably Strangelove, Levitation, and Dark Star....
and Laurence O'Keefe.
He has also played in a number of bands including Levitation
Levitation (band)
Levitation were an English rock band fronted by ex-House of Love guitarist Terry Bickers. Levitation's music and attitude challenged an early 1990s UK alternative music scene dominated by shoegazing and Madchester....
, Cardiacs
Cardiacs
Cardiacs are an English alternative rock/psychedelic pop band formed in 1977 and led by Tim Smith. Noted for their complex, varied and intense compositional style and for their eccentric, theatrical stage shows, they have been hailed as an influence by bands as diverse as Blur, Faith No More and...
, Ring
Ring (band)
Ring were an English psychedelic rock band active during the 1980s.The band is notable for having helped to launch the subsequent musical careers of Robert White , Michael "Mik" Tubb and Christian "Bic" Hayes .-History:Ring evolved out of the south London experimental...
, Panixsphere, The Dave Howard Singers
The Dave Howard Singers
The Dave Howard Singers is a cult Canadian alternative rock band/project originally formed in Toronto, Canada. The project is based around the talents of singer-songwriter Dave Howard and the signature sound of his Ace Tone organ...
, Mice (featuring ex-All About Eve
All About Eve (band)
All About Eve were a British rock/pop band. The creative core consisted of the Coventry born Julianne Regan , and the Huddersfield born Andy Cousin , with other members changing over the years...
's Julianne Regan
Julianne Regan
Julianne Regan is an English singer, song writer, guitarist, bass guitarist and keyboard player. She is best known for being the lead singer of the band, All About Eve.- Early life :...
) and Heather Nova
Heather Nova
Heather Nova, is a Bermudian singer-songwriter and poet. She has released eight full-length albums and has found lasting success in Germany where two of her albums South and Storm have made their way into the Top-5 of German official album chart.-Biography:Heather Nova was born in Bermuda...
.
Since Dark Star split up, Hayes has worked and toured with Heather Nova
Heather Nova
Heather Nova, is a Bermudian singer-songwriter and poet. She has released eight full-length albums and has found lasting success in Germany where two of her albums South and Storm have made their way into the Top-5 of German official album chart.-Biography:Heather Nova was born in Bermuda...
and The Pet Shop Boys and has also involved in tour and production management.
He has also been working on solo material under the guise of Mikrokosmos releasing two albums to date (The Heart Of The Home and The Seven Stars) via his own "Ingatia Recordings" record label. One track,'Hold Like Mother's Hand', appeared on the Cardiacs tribute album Cardiacs and Affectionate Friends.
Musical style and techniques
Hayes is best characterised as an English psychedelic musician, although one who emerged from the post-punkPost-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
scene of the early 1980s. He began his career with various South London-based underground bands (including a stint in the last lineup of Ring
Ring (band)
Ring were an English psychedelic rock band active during the 1980s.The band is notable for having helped to launch the subsequent musical careers of Robert White , Michael "Mik" Tubb and Christian "Bic" Hayes .-History:Ring evolved out of the south London experimental...
). For a while he also played bass for the eccentric lounge-punk act The Dave Howard Singers
The Dave Howard Singers
The Dave Howard Singers is a cult Canadian alternative rock band/project originally formed in Toronto, Canada. The project is based around the talents of singer-songwriter Dave Howard and the signature sound of his Ace Tone organ...
, who were at the time known for the novelty single "Yon Yonson".
Hayes was brought into Cardiacs
Cardiacs
Cardiacs are an English alternative rock/psychedelic pop band formed in 1977 and led by Tim Smith. Noted for their complex, varied and intense compositional style and for their eccentric, theatrical stage shows, they have been hailed as an influence by bands as diverse as Blur, Faith No More and...
in 1989 to replace saxophonist Sarah Smith - he played second guitar in the band during a period in which it was evolving into a harder-rocking guitar-orientated style. During this time he displayed a performance style incorporating a strong use of distortion and echo but combined with passages of quieter detail. This was expanded for his work in Levitation
Levitation (band)
Levitation were an English rock band fronted by ex-House of Love guitarist Terry Bickers. Levitation's music and attitude challenged an early 1990s UK alternative music scene dominated by shoegazing and Madchester....
(1992–1994) and with the Julianne Regan-fronted Mice (1995-approximately 1997), and reached full fruition in the power trio Dark Star
Dark Star (band)
Dark Star were an English rock band from London, whose music mixed dark psychedelica, with a dub undertow and noisy effects-laden guitar.-History:...
. In the latter band, Hayes created a layered and detailed but hard-rocking sound using a wide variety of effects pedals and devices (with apparent influences including Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
and Keith Levene
Keith Levene
Keith Levene is an English songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He was an early member of The Clash, but is best known as being a founding member of Public Image Limited, along with John Lydon....
). Although he played numerous lead lines, these were always part of an integrated band sound and featured few standard rock-style solos.
Hayes was picked to replicate Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr
Johnny Marr is an English musician and songwriter. Marr rose to fame in the 1980s as the guitarist in The Smiths, with whom he formed a prolific songwriting partnership with Morrissey. Marr has been a member of Electronic, The The, and Modest Mouse...
's original guitar parts from the Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys
Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
album Release
Release (Pet Shop Boys album)
Release is the twelfth studio album, the eighth of entirely new music, by the English electronic music duo Pet Shop Boys. It was first released in 2002....
when the band toured. His current project Mikrokosmos (for which he plays the majority of the instruments) has clear stylistic references to previous generations of psychedelic musicians such as Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
and Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
. His approach to guitar playing for Mikrokosmos is considerably simpler than his previous work with Dark Star
Dark Star (band)
Dark Star were an English rock band from London, whose music mixed dark psychedelica, with a dub undertow and noisy effects-laden guitar.-History:...
.