Malcolm Le Maistre
Encyclopedia
Malcolm Le Maistre is a British
musician, experimental artist and theatre director, who was a member of The Incredible String Band in the 1970s.
He was born in England
, his father a French
born journalist and his mother an American
writer. After they split up, he attended boarding school in Surrey
, where he developed an interest in experimental theatre. In 1966, with friend John "Rakis" Koumantarakis, he moved to London, where they promoted one of the first concerts by Pink Floyd
, and then joined David Medalla
's Exploding Galaxy counter-cultural arts and dance troupe.
He met Robin Williamson
and Mike Heron
of The Incredible String Band in New York
in 1968, and returned with Williamson and others to set up a commune in a farmhouse near Newport
, Pembrokeshire
, Wales
. There, they developed ideas for multi-media artistic experiments, and Le Maistre appeared in the BBC TV Omnibus
feature on the ISB, Be Glad For the Song Has No Ending. The same year he established the Stone Monkey dance and mime troupe, and helped develop the stage show "U", which provided the basis of the Incredible String Band album of the same name
, released in 1970. In 1971, Rose Simpson
left the ISB, and Le Maistre, who had been living with the band and their friends on the Tennant
estate near Innerleithen
in Scotland
, replaced her. He learned to play various musical instruments over the next few months, and contributed as a musician, songwriter and singer to the ISB albums Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air
(1971), Earthspan (1972), No Ruinous Feud
(1973), and Hard Rope and Silken Twine (1974).
After the ISB split up in 1974, Le Maistre stayed with Heron as a member of his new band, Mike Heron's Reputation. In the late 1970s he attempted a solo career, also working with The Enid
, and then moved into theatre, forming The Mandarin Theatre Company with Rakis. In 1991 he set up the Environmental Arts Theatre Company, based in Edinburgh
, which presented original theatre and song about the environment at schools and other community venues in Scotland. In 1994 he released a solo album, Nothing Strange, later re-released in Germany.
He has continued as a musician, most recently as a member of The Radiant Men. As songwriter and singer of The Barrow Band, he has also prepared teaching material for primary schools on healthy eating. In May 2007, he released an album titled It's Never That Simple, with folk based songs and lyrics about his family's story.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
musician, experimental artist and theatre director, who was a member of The Incredible String Band in the 1970s.
He was born in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, his father a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
born journalist and his mother an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer. After they split up, he attended boarding school in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, where he developed an interest in experimental theatre. In 1966, with friend John "Rakis" Koumantarakis, he moved to London, where they promoted one of the first concerts by Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
, and then joined David Medalla
David Medalla
David Medalla is a Filipino international artist. His work ranges from sculpture and kinetic art to painting, installation and performance art. He lives and works in London, New York and Paris....
's Exploding Galaxy counter-cultural arts and dance troupe.
He met Robin Williamson
Robin Williamson
Robin Williamson is a Scottish multi-instrumentalist musician, singer, songwriter and storyteller, who first made his name as a founder member of The Incredible String Band.-Career:...
and Mike Heron
Mike Heron
Mike Heron is a Scottish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work in the Incredible String Band in the 1960s and 1970s.-Career:...
of The Incredible String Band in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1968, and returned with Williamson and others to set up a commune in a farmhouse near Newport
Newport, Pembrokeshire
Newport is a town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, lying on the River Nevern in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.- History :The town was founded by the Norman William FitzMartin about 1197...
, Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. There, they developed ideas for multi-media artistic experiments, and Le Maistre appeared in the BBC TV Omnibus
Omnibus (TV series)
Omnibus was an arts-based BBC television documentary series, broadcast on BBC1 in the United Kingdom. It ran from 1967 until 2003, usually being transmitted on Sunday evenings....
feature on the ISB, Be Glad For the Song Has No Ending. The same year he established the Stone Monkey dance and mime troupe, and helped develop the stage show "U", which provided the basis of the Incredible String Band album of the same name
U (album)
-Charts:AlbumBillboard -External links:*]]...
, released in 1970. In 1971, Rose Simpson
Rose Simpson
Rose Simpson was, between 1968 and 1971, a member of the Incredible String Band, in which she played bass guitar, violin and percussion as well as singing. She later became Mayoress of the Welsh town of Aberystwyth....
left the ISB, and Le Maistre, who had been living with the band and their friends on the Tennant
Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner
Colin Christopher Paget Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner was a Scottish noble. He was the son of Christopher Grey Tennant, 2nd Baron Glenconner and Pamela Winefred Paget...
estate near Innerleithen
Innerleithen
Innerleithen is a small town in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders.-Etymology:The name "Innerleithen" comes from the Scottish Gaelic meaning "confluence of the Leithen", because it is here that the river joins the Tweed. The prefix "Inner-/Inver-" is common in many Scottish...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, replaced her. He learned to play various musical instruments over the next few months, and contributed as a musician, songwriter and singer to the ISB albums Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air
Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air
Liquid Acrobat as Regards the Air is the ninth album by the Incredible String Band. It features Mike Heron, Robin Williamson, Licorice McKechnie and Malcolm Le Maistre. The album was the band's first almost entirely electric recording; a new feature that was to define the change in the band's...
(1971), Earthspan (1972), No Ruinous Feud
No Ruinous Feud
-Track listing:-External links:*...
(1973), and Hard Rope and Silken Twine (1974).
After the ISB split up in 1974, Le Maistre stayed with Heron as a member of his new band, Mike Heron's Reputation. In the late 1970s he attempted a solo career, also working with The Enid
The Enid
The Enid is a British rock band founded in 1975 by Robert John Godfrey, Stephen Stewart and Francis Lickerish. Another early member was William Gilmour, who subsequently founded his own band Craft and now plays keyboards in Lickerish's band Secret Green....
, and then moved into theatre, forming The Mandarin Theatre Company with Rakis. In 1991 he set up the Environmental Arts Theatre Company, based in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, which presented original theatre and song about the environment at schools and other community venues in Scotland. In 1994 he released a solo album, Nothing Strange, later re-released in Germany.
He has continued as a musician, most recently as a member of The Radiant Men. As songwriter and singer of The Barrow Band, he has also prepared teaching material for primary schools on healthy eating. In May 2007, he released an album titled It's Never That Simple, with folk based songs and lyrics about his family's story.