The History of the Purple Children

Colin and Darren met at school during the mid 1980's. Having found some common ground they formed a friendship and grew an interest in forming a band. Together they found a connection musically. Once in a room together with the most basic of instruments they began to jam and create a unique abstract sound.

Their influences ranged from Pink Floyd and the Doors, From Genesis to Nina Simon to the edges of The Smiths, Gong and The Velvet Underground. They soon grew a body of work which they both loved and became frustrated by. Lack of funds and technology of the day meant that it was very difficult to achieve the quality of sound they desired and the ability to record their ideas down the way they wanted.

As a two piece they sought other members to build their sound. From friends in fellow school bands joining in occasionally to musicians advertising in the local music shop. It rarely gelled and the complexity of the time signatures and keys made it difficult for others to stay on the same page.

In 1988, school was over and College began. Colin and Darren both attended The London College of Furniture on different YTS based schemes, Colin in building guitars and Darren in furniture. During this year Colin met Margo, a bass player who joined the band. She was the first musician that managed to fit into the sound. Several rehearsals later and they were ready to perform their first gig. This was to be their last. After a few months Colin and Darren drifted apart pursuing different interests and activities.

In 2000 they met back up again and slowly began to develop an interest in re-establishing their music. At the same time Darren began experimenting with computer generated music, creating his first new material in over ten years. Now after much work and investment they have built a studio and equipment to start recording and writing both new songs and old songs the way they visualised them nearly twenty years earlier.

Now twenty years after the band split, a new vision has begun. A collaborative between musicians and friends. Darren is developing new songs, mixing new technology with an old fashioned approach creating new sounds such as Cry for help, a track with an electronic drum beat blended with a fifties sounding guitar and a seventies mellotron.