Janysium

Infobox musical artist
Name = Janysium


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Origin = England
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Genre = Neo-progressive rock
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Years_active = 1980–1982, 1985–1987, 1999-2000
Label = Granite Bap
Associated_acts = Mach One
Evolve IV
Still
The Noun
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/janysium]
Current_members = Peter Matuchniak Simon Strevens
Past_members = Sean Lewis Martin Polley
Notable_instruments = Guitar, Keyboards, Drums, Bass

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 Phil's mum, Carole Collins, and was also given a very positive review in the Official Genesis Fan Club quarterly magazine. [cite web | url = http://www.variousartist.com/articles/PhilCollins.htm | title = Phil Collins Link] [cite web | url = http://www.myspace.com/janysium | title = Janysium Myspace page]

The Neo-Progressive movement

Janysium were one of a small number of British bands formed during the early 1980s, including Marillion, 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.

Lineups and Musical Output

During 1981-82 two members joined Janysium, Sean Lewis (Keyboards) and Martin Polley (Bass), to rehearse and record their first studio sessions. The original members Peter Matuchniak and Simon Strevens remained the core of Janysium throughout, although both abandoned their project with the band when they merged with fellow musicians in Mach One from 1982-85. [cite web | url = http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200318.html#machone | title = DPRP review] . After the breakup of Mach One, Peter and Simon 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 TV ads shown nationally on Indian TV. [cite web | url = http://www.variousartist.com/articles/Bollywood.htm | title = Bollywood Articles] .

Other Projects

Peter Matuchniak formed progressive rock band Evolve IV in 2003 and Simon Strevens played in Still (1990's) and The Noun (2000's) [cite web | url = http://www.jerrylucky.com/interviews.htm | title = Interview with Jerry Lucky] . Sean Lewis became a producer/engineer of classical music at Naxos Records [cite web | url = http://www.naxos.com/news/default.asp?pn=News&displayMenu=Naxos_News&op=310 | title = Naxos Records (Classical Music) feat Sean Lewis (producer/engineer)] . Martin Polley dropped out of music entirely, focusing on publishing books on the history of sports and is presently a lecturer at Southampton University [cite web | url = http://www.education.soton.ac.uk/staff/MartinPolley
title = Southampton University (profile of Dr. Martin Polley)] .

Band members

* Peter Matuchniak – rhythm and lead guitar
* Simon Strevens – drums, vocals, keyboards
* Sean Lewis - keyboards (1981-82)
* Martin Polley - bass (1981-82)

Discography

Albums

* "Studio Sessions" (cassette) (1982)
* "Half a Dozen of the Other" (cassette) (1983)

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/janysium Official Janysium MySpace page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/machone1 Official Mach One MySpace page]
* [http://www.dprp.net/reviews/200318.html#machone DPRP review (mentions Janysium, and the overlapping members with Mach one)]
* [http://www.proggnosis.com/MUSIC_DBCDInfo.asp?txtCDID=12125 ProGGnosis review mentions Janysium]
* [http://www.variousartist.com/articles/ Various articles involving Janysium]

References and Notes

* Lucky, Jerry. "The Progressive Rock Files". Burlington, Ontario: Collector's Guide Publishing, Inc (1998), 304 pages, ISBN 1-896522-10-6 (paperback). Gives an overview of progressive rock's history as well as histories of the major and underground bands in the genre. Lists Janysium in the appendix, as well as the release of their so-called 'sister-band' Mach One's LP Lost For Words (Mach One) in the 1983-84 chapter.