Janysium
Encyclopedia
Janysium are a British
neo-progressive rock
band, founded in 1980 by two pupils from Little Ealing Middle School; Peter Matuchniak and Simon Strevens. Their debut release in 1982 attracted the attention of Phil Collins
via a chance meeting with his mother, and was also given a positive review in the Official Genesis Fan Club quarterly magazine.
, Pendragon
, IQ
, Twelfth Night
, Pallas
and Mach One
, that was associated with the progressive rock
revival of that decade, often referred to as the "Neo Progressive Rock Movement". Initially their sound was likened to progressive bands like Camel
and Genesis
, although they later experimented with a more updated sound, influenced by current bands at the time such as Duran Duran
.
from 1982-85. After the breakup of Mach One, Matuchniak and Strevens resumed writing and recording in late 1985-86 but this time as a duet only. In 1987, they performed as a guest act for Rock Machine (later known as Indus Creed
under CBS
) in front of 4,000 people at the Rang Bhavan in Bombay
, India
under the name "The Various Artists". This followed several months there recording jingles for television advertisements shown nationally on Indian TV.
(1990s) and The Noun (2000s). Lewis became a producer/engineer of classical music at Naxos Records
. Polley dropped out of music entirely, focusing on publishing books on the history of sports, and is presently a lecturer at Southampton University.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
neo-progressive rock
Neo-progressive rock
Neo-progressive rock is a sub-genre of progressive rock, developed in the UK and popular in the 1980s, although it lives on today....
band, founded in 1980 by two pupils from Little Ealing Middle School; Peter Matuchniak and Simon Strevens. Their debut release in 1982 attracted the attention of Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
via a chance meeting with his mother, and was also given a positive review in the Official Genesis Fan Club quarterly magazine.
The Neo-Progressive movement
Janysium were one of a small number of British bands formed during the early 1980s, including MarillionMarillion
Marillion are a British rock band, formed in Aylesbury, England in 1979. Their recorded studio output comprises sixteen albums generally regarded in two distinct eras, delineated by the departure of original vocalist & frontman Fish in late 1988, and the subsequent arrival of replacement Steve...
, Pendragon
Pendragon (band)
Pendragon are an English neo-progressive rock band established in 1978 in Stroud, Gloucestershire as Zeus Pendragon by guitarist and vocalist Nick Barrett. The Zeus was dropped before the band started recording as the members decided it was too long to look good on a t-shirt...
, IQ
IQ (band)
IQ are a British neo-progressive rock band founded by Mike Holmes and Martin Orford in 1981 following the dissolution of their original band The Lens...
, Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night (band)
Twelfth Night are an English neo-progressive rock band of the 1980s, reformed in 2007.-Formation:The seeds of Twelfth Night were sown when guitarist Andy Revell and drummer Brian Devoil joined forces on 23 February 1978 to win a talent competition at Reading University. The road crew included Geoff...
, Pallas
Pallas (band)
Pallas are a progressive rock band based in the UK. They were one of the bands at the vanguard of what was termed neo-progressive during progressive rock's second-wave revival in the early 1980s...
and Mach One
Mach One (band)
Mach One are a British neo-progressive rock band founded in 1980 by a group of students attending Burlington Danes High School in West London. After a series of studio demos, school gigs and lineup changes, the band attracted the attention of Keith Goodwin who represented them through...
, that was associated with the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
revival of that decade, often referred to as the "Neo Progressive Rock Movement". Initially their sound was likened to progressive bands like Camel
Camel (band)
Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. An important group in the Canterbury scene, they have been releasing studio and live recordings steadily, with considerable success, since their formation.-1970s:...
and Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, although they later experimented with a more updated sound, influenced by current bands at the time such as Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
.
Line-ups and output
During 1981-82 two members joined Janysium, Sean Lewis (keyboards) and Martin Polley (bass guitar), to rehearse and record their first studio sessions. The original members Matuchniak and Strevens remained the core of Janysium throughout, although both abandoned their project with the band when they merged with fellow musicians in Mach OneMach One (band)
Mach One are a British neo-progressive rock band founded in 1980 by a group of students attending Burlington Danes High School in West London. After a series of studio demos, school gigs and lineup changes, the band attracted the attention of Keith Goodwin who represented them through...
from 1982-85. After the breakup of Mach One, Matuchniak and Strevens resumed writing and recording in late 1985-86 but this time as a duet only. In 1987, they performed as a guest act for Rock Machine (later known as Indus Creed
Indus Creed
Indus Creed is a rock group from India. It was founded in 1993 by Uday Benegal , Mark Selwyn , Mahesh Tinaikar , Zubin Balaporia and Jayesh Gandhi .-History:...
under CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
) in front of 4,000 people at the Rang Bhavan in Bombay
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
under the name "The Various Artists". This followed several months there recording jingles for television advertisements shown nationally on Indian TV.
Other projects
Matuchniak formed the progressive rock band Evolve IV in 2003, and Strevens played in StillStill (band)
Still is the Christian rock band from Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines.-Members:*Carlos Choi *Wilson Yu *Gwyneth Torres *Jhunar Sayson *Jonathan Lee Muñoz -Studio Album:...
(1990s) and The Noun (2000s). Lewis became a producer/engineer of classical music at Naxos Records
Naxos Records
Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
. Polley dropped out of music entirely, focusing on publishing books on the history of sports, and is presently a lecturer at Southampton University.
Band members
- Peter Matuchniak – rhythm and lead guitar
- Simon Strevens – drums, vocals, keyboards
- Sean Lewis - keyboards (1981–82)
- Martin Polley - bass (1981–82)
Albums
- Studio Sessions (cassette) (1982)
- Half a Dozen of the Other (cassette) (1983)