Steve Nardelli
Encyclopedia
Steve Nardelli founded The Syn
in 1966 with Chris Squire
, Andrew Jackman
, John Painter and Martyn Adelman
. In 1968, Nardelli left The Syn to carve out a business career in the fashion
and sports industries before reforming the band in 2003 with Adelman and Peter Banks
. Banks left the reunited band, but Squire joined and the band recorded a new album, Syndestructible. An interviewer for 20th Century Guitar magazine described Syndestructible as "one of the best prog-rock albums of the new century" and "a masterpiece of beat-prog."
, The Who
and The Animals
were his influences early on.
Inspired by the scene at the Marquee Club
, noteworthy for its importance in the history of pop music, at fourteen Nardelli formed his first group called High Court, an R&B band. Not long after, High Court changed its name and amalgamated into The Syn.
Nardelli's first composition was "Grounded", a freakbeat song that he wrote when he was only 14. He co-wrote "14 Hour Technicolour Dream" in 1967, which was reviewed as “one of the best British psychedelic singles by any band.” Both were singles performed by The Syn.
Nardelli continued to write music after The Syn of the 60s and had a solo recording contract with Decca. Nardelli reformed The Syn with Peter Banks
and Martyn Adelman
in 2004. The line-up changed, re-uniting Nardelli with Chris Squire
, and together they wrote Syndestructible (2005) with Gerard Johnson and Paul Stacey
. This was followed by the album Armistice Day, the title track being written by Nardelli and Johnson. Squire, Johnson and Stacey all left the band, and Nardelli formed a new line-up with Francis Dunnery
and Tom Brislin
. They released Big Sky in 2009.
Continuing a connection with the music industry, Nardelli teamed with Tommy Roberts, well-known for his fashion shop Mr. Freedom and launched a record label, Fresh Records through WEA.
In 1997, Nardelli acquired from the government of Belgium's Walloon region the Donnay sports brand. Nardelli also founded Umbrello Records, and the IPTV music station theONE.tv.
In 2009, Nardelli formed P3 (Portfolio Property Partners) with Graham Johnson and Ian Inshaw. The company is one of the new eco developers and their site at NW Bicester was selected by Government to be one of the 4 new eco towns. The Master Plan architect for the project is Sir Terry Farrell and the town will be built with full eco credentials and to the new code 6 standards set by Government. Work starts on the development in 2011 and it will be the first eco town to be built.
Solo singles
With 14 Hour Technicolour Dream V-band
The Syn
The Syn are an English band that were active from 1965 to 1967, and then reunited as a progressive rock band in 2004. Chris Welch, in his book, Close to the Edge: The Story of Yes wrote, "The Syn were very similar to Yes in fact...
in 1966 with Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
, Andrew Jackman
Andrew Jackman
Andrew Pryce Jackman was a keyboard player and arranger. He was in The Syn with bassist Chris Squire . Jackman subsequently worked on Squire's solo album Fish Out of Water, on The Steve Howe Album and on the Yes album Tormato.-History:In the mid-1960s, Jackman was the keyboard player in The Selfs...
, John Painter and Martyn Adelman
Martyn Adelman
Martyn J Adelman or Martin, also known as Max Adelman, is a British photographer and former drummer .Adelman learnt to play drums aged 14 and soon formed his first group, The Insteps, also including John Altman. A subsequent band included Peter Knight, later of Steeleye Span.Adelman was at Barnet...
. In 1968, Nardelli left The Syn to carve out a business career in the fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
and sports industries before reforming the band in 2003 with Adelman and Peter Banks
Peter Banks
Peter Banks is an English guitarist. He was the original guitarist of the progressive rock band Yes.-Early career:When Banks was a young boy, his father bought him an acoustic guitar...
. Banks left the reunited band, but Squire joined and the band recorded a new album, Syndestructible. An interviewer for 20th Century Guitar magazine described Syndestructible as "one of the best prog-rock albums of the new century" and "a masterpiece of beat-prog."
Musician
Nardelli’s musicianship started around the age of twelve when he began playing the guitar. These were the years British Pop was in full swing and The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
and The Animals
The Animals
The Animals were an English music group of the 1960s formed in Newcastle upon Tyne during the early part of the decade, and later relocated to London...
were his influences early on.
Inspired by the scene at the Marquee Club
Marquee Club
The Marquee was a music club first located at 165 Oxford Street, London, England when it opened in 1958 with a range of jazz and skiffle acts.It was also the location of the first ever live performance by The Rolling Stones on 12 July 1962....
, noteworthy for its importance in the history of pop music, at fourteen Nardelli formed his first group called High Court, an R&B band. Not long after, High Court changed its name and amalgamated into The Syn.
The songsmith
The Syn are considered a significant part of the pre-history of Yes; notably the progressive influences.Nardelli's first composition was "Grounded", a freakbeat song that he wrote when he was only 14. He co-wrote "14 Hour Technicolour Dream" in 1967, which was reviewed as “one of the best British psychedelic singles by any band.” Both were singles performed by The Syn.
Nardelli continued to write music after The Syn of the 60s and had a solo recording contract with Decca. Nardelli reformed The Syn with Peter Banks
Peter Banks
Peter Banks is an English guitarist. He was the original guitarist of the progressive rock band Yes.-Early career:When Banks was a young boy, his father bought him an acoustic guitar...
and Martyn Adelman
Martyn Adelman
Martyn J Adelman or Martin, also known as Max Adelman, is a British photographer and former drummer .Adelman learnt to play drums aged 14 and soon formed his first group, The Insteps, also including John Altman. A subsequent band included Peter Knight, later of Steeleye Span.Adelman was at Barnet...
in 2004. The line-up changed, re-uniting Nardelli with Chris Squire
Chris Squire
Christopher Russell Edward "Chris" Squire , is an English musician, known as the bass guitarist and backing vocalist for the progressive rock group Yes. He is the only member of the group to appear on every album.-Before Yes:...
, and together they wrote Syndestructible (2005) with Gerard Johnson and Paul Stacey
Paul Stacey
Paul Stacey is a British guitarist and producer, best known for his work with Oasis and The Black Crowes.Paul Stacey's early work included the 1990s band, The Lemon Trees and Denzil....
. This was followed by the album Armistice Day, the title track being written by Nardelli and Johnson. Squire, Johnson and Stacey all left the band, and Nardelli formed a new line-up with Francis Dunnery
Francis Dunnery
Francis Dunnery is an English musician, singer-songwriter, record producer and record label owner. He is best known as a solo performer , and for fronting the original lineup of the band It Bites between 1982 and 1990 .Dunnery served as a sideman and...
and Tom Brislin
Tom Brislin
Tom Brislin is an American keyboardist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer from New Jersey. He is the founding member of the rock band Spiraling, and plays or has played keyboards with several well-known acts...
. They released Big Sky in 2009.
Business
After The Syn disbanded, Nardelli, along with his partner Ian Ross, opened a chain of fashion shops in Chelsea and Kensington.Continuing a connection with the music industry, Nardelli teamed with Tommy Roberts, well-known for his fashion shop Mr. Freedom and launched a record label, Fresh Records through WEA.
In 1997, Nardelli acquired from the government of Belgium's Walloon region the Donnay sports brand. Nardelli also founded Umbrello Records, and the IPTV music station theONE.tv.
In 2009, Nardelli formed P3 (Portfolio Property Partners) with Graham Johnson and Ian Inshaw. The company is one of the new eco developers and their site at NW Bicester was selected by Government to be one of the 4 new eco towns. The Master Plan architect for the project is Sir Terry Farrell and the town will be built with full eco credentials and to the new code 6 standards set by Government. Work starts on the development in 2011 and it will be the first eco town to be built.
Discography
With The SynSolo singles
- "I'll Never Find Another You"/"Mile End Road" - DeccaDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
/1978 - "Don't Ever Change"/"Dance Little Rita" - Decca/1978
With 14 Hour Technicolour Dream V-band
- "Reasons & Rituals" - download/2008