What Next For DARK?
Steve had a major operation in May 2024. He is now fully recovered from that but ongoing health concerns for both him and Ron mean that gigging is highly unlikely in the future.
Certainly due to this, and the fact that Martin now lives abroad, the 'Dark Round The Edges' line-up are equally unlikely to play again.
Steve, Ron and Clive still meet up occasionally, quite often with Charlie Hiams, DARK's first drummer from 1968-1970.
The Record Label 'Seelie Court' put out all material that Steve could find, going back to 1969, up until the 'Anonymous Days album of 1996 (which Steve remixed and remastered) for a series of albums under the 'Catalogue Raisonne' name.
News of any interest will probably find its way on to this website as well as the DARK Facebook page.
2025
Saturn Eye put out a VERY LIMITED Edition 8-Track
The same company that produced the Cassette,
also put the same tracks out on 8-Track, using the same Artwork.
Very limited numbers as the cartridge shells are no longer made,
so they had to be produced by cannibalising old cartridges.
Only 15 were produced, 5 going to the band members,
the rest to a lucky few.
2024
Martin Visits The UK.
In early September, 2024, Martin came over from Portugal, where he now lives.
It was great for us all to meet up for what could very well be the last time we're altogether.
We gave him his allocation of the Catalogue Raisonne LPs, with us all signing the
replicated original colour gatefold (in the paper bag outer),
well as a few of the Cassettes that Saturn Eye had produced.
The First Ever Cassette Release of 'Dark Round The Edges'
As Posted on Instagram - by Saturn Eye Records:
@saturneyerecords
Enquiries: info@saturneyerecords.com
LABEL ANNOUNCEMENT #2
Saturn Eye Records: Catalog No. SE-013
Tapes for the first ever cassette release of DARK's legendary album 'Dark Round The Edges' was released on Friday, March 29th. through our online store (shop.saturneyerecords.com).
This is an official issue, fully designed by Steve Giles and authorized by Seelie Court.
It utilizes the superb 2021 Abbey Road Studios remaster by Sean Magee, taken faithfully from the original master tapes, transported down to London by Ron and Steve on 25th October 2021.
There is a link to the video of that event during the Promo.
We have used the best ferric tapes available and each unit has been checked by the manufacturer to ensure optimal quality.
Keep an eye out for more surprises!
LABEL ANNOUNCEMENT #1 (SE-013) and ooo it's long -
We are incredibly honored to announce that Saturn Eye Records will be bringing you the first ever cassette edition of DARK's 1972 album, 'Dark Round The Edges'.
This legendary British heavy progressive rock album was originally released as a rather scarce private press and was mainly distributed to the band's friends and family. Since then, it has received wider recognition and acclaim: several reissues now exist on vinyl and CD, while exceedingly rare original copies sell for tens of thousands of dollars. But strangely, the album never made it to cassette... well it's never too late!
We've spared no expense on these tapes and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know and working very closely with main man @dark_steve_prog_giles in order to bring them to you.
This limited edition has been fully designed by Steve and will feature audio from the 2021 Abbey Road remaster which faithfully used the original master tapes. This audio is only otherwise found on the recent vinyl edition from our friends at the Seelie Court archival label. Needless to say, it sounds absolutely fantastic. All six tracks from the original album are included and, to round things out, recording outtakes from tracks 'Maypole' and 'The Cat' are also included.
We expect a March release so keep your eyes open for more details here very soon.
--
Lastly, a huge thanks to Seelie Court for allowing this project to happen. They have done absolutely amazing work over the last several years by giving artists and bands like DARK the attention and recognition they deserve.
And of course, a huge-er thanks to the legends Steve, Clive, Ron, and Martin for pouring it all out and into these killer recordings. 'Dark Round The Edges' has been in heavy play at Saturn Eye HQ for many years and it's a dream come true for this label to be playing even a small part in its continuity. If you haven't heard it yet, get on over here to the Darkside.
.
Steve, Clive and Ron Interviewed about the Original Albums
We got together for a very successful filmed interview for a future TV documentary about
collectible music memorabilia which will feature the story of the original DRTE albums.
No definitive info yet - but it is hoped to feature on the UKTV Channel,
sometime later this year.
I’ll keep you posted.
It features Clive’s original colour gatefold sleeve and tells of DARK’s story - and that of the album
2023
One of our Occasional Meet-Ups
December
This time at 'The Roade House' in Roade, where Ron lives.
Just Steve, Ron and Clive - Martin now living in Portugal
but also present, Charlie Hiams, DARK's first drummer, 1968-1970
and Mark Parish - one of the Roadies after Ron joined in November 1971
November
An Original Black and White Gatefold sells for
€50,000 at the Den Bosch 57th Record Fair at Record Planet.
Photos reproduced with the kind permission of Leroy Lutterman, Vadim TabachNik and Mark Trehus
2022
50th Anniversary of Dark Round The Edges
9th July, 2022 - 50 years after venturing into SIS Studios on July 9th 1972
to record the album.
We met up at what is now the Sir Pickering Phipps public house
where used to stand Giles Photography.
It was in the cellar underneath that building that
DARK rehearsed the tracks that were on the LP.
Without Steve knowing, Ron had a 'Blue Plaque' produced
and, with the kind permission of the pub owners,
had Clive fix it in position as a complete surprise for Steve.
9th February
An original Black and White Gatefold went up for auction
at Omega Auctions, selling for a hammer price of £19,000
The winner would also have had to pay a premium of 28% (inc. VAT)
making the total price paid - £24.320
2021
Dark Round The Edges - 50th Anniversary
The Catalogue Raisonne series of LPs from Seelie Court Records - of virtually all material recorded between 1969 and 1996.
These will include all recordings from the 'Teenage Angst' time including new material recorded 'Live' of DARK Mk 1 in 1969.
Also 'Artefacts From The Black Museum' to include the recorded backing tracks
of the DARK Mk 4 line-up recorded in October 1971.
'The Jam' recorded in late '75 will also be included.
A new Remix & Remaster of 'Anonymous Days' - especially for this project.
This will also include 3 bonus tracks.
2 of those are from rehearsals in 'The Cellar' whilst preparing for the recording sessions.
These were eventually rejected and so not included previously.
Also an earlier work of 'Miles and Miles Away' which couldn't be finished initially as the first studio closed down - and the second studio could not progress it as the tapes were recorded on a 16 track ½" tape machine while 'Far Heath Studios' used 24 track equipment needing 1" tape.
And - Of Course - Dark Round The Edges itself PLUS the backing and outtake tracks.
Especially for this Anniversary Edition, DRTE has been Remastered at Abbey Road Studios in London.
It was hoped that everything would be available for Summer 2022 to coincide
with the recording dates of 9th-13th July 1972.
Sadly, delays due to the pandemic, backed up orders at pressing plants and vinyl shortages
mean that the LPs were not available until mid 2023.
It is hoped that a CD Boxset of all the recordings will be available from later in 2024
In the meantime - check out the video of Steve & Ron's trip to Abbey Road for the remastering session.
2020
Zero Time - Back to a 3 piece
One of the last videos recorded before the pandemic lockdowns - which, sadly, have caused DARK to stop getting together, at least for the foreseeable future.
Recorded during a Rehearsal at Audio Works in Northampton, as a 3 piece. Back To Our Roots! https://www.audio-works.co.uk
Our 2nd guitarist couldn't make it so we decided to just do the Classic line-up.
This is the latest version we have recorded.
Obviously we're not doing much right now with the pandemic - but, as things stand, I'm not sure when we will again as I'm one of the 'Clinically, Extremely Vulnerable' people that is having to shield.
This video is a slight revamp on the video I posted a couple of years ago.
2019
Dark Cross The Ages
Double LP
This is now out of print and only available second hand.
However - it can still be obtained on CD-R from this website or eBay.
LP1 - Dark Round The Edges. A Different Remastered version of that iconic 1972 LP
LP2 - Those tracks performed Live for the last time by the DRTE Line-Up:
Steve Giles - guitar, vocals
Clive Thorneycroft - drums
Ron Johnson - bass
Martin Weaver - 2nd guitar
plus Andy Johnson - rhythm guitar, harmony vocals.
Live tracks recorded on October 19th 2011 at The Racehorse Inn, Abington Square, Northampton.
DARK had got together for the first time since the 1997 Beer Festival gig to perform at the 'Memories In Pink' event to raise funds for the children's ward at Northampton General Hospital in memory of Steve's daughter Carly who passed away at the tragically young age of 23 in February 2011.
Having performed that concert, Steve decided to arrange one final 'Farewell Concert' in order to obtain good quality video & audio before the DARK guys went their own separate ways for the last time.
'Dark Cross The Ages'
Double LP
promotional video
2014-2015
The 'Dark Round The Edges' line-up were back in the studio one last time during the summer of 2014, recording 3 tracks from 1971:
In The Sky,
Could Have Sworn,
Wasting Your Time.
These tracks have featured as bonus tracks on some re-issues of the Dark Round The Edges album, but had never been played by that line up until the sessions.
Steve, Ron & Clive were in the studio, with Martin supplying his contributions from Bulgaria to be mixed in at later dates.
A Special Remembrance Day Mix of one of the tracks from the recording session
In The Sky
Welcome To The Edge - CD & DVD
Welcome To The Edge CD
Tracks
In The Sky (5:06) Giles
Could Have Sworn (4:53) Giles
Wasting Your Time (7:01) Giles
In The Sky - Remembrance Mix (5:44) Giles - Inspiration from Thorneycroft
Wasting Your Time - Alternative Lyrics (7:01) Giles/Johnson
bonus track
from the forthcoming album 'Anonymous Days-The Remix'
Killin' My Friends (6:11) Weaver
Welcome To The Edge DVD
The Story of The Recording of
Welcome To The Edge
Chapters
29th July 2014
New Money
Take One
Could Have Sworn
In The Sky
Wasting Your Time
In The Sky - Remembrance Mix
The Making Of The Cover
In The Sky - 1971 Original
Out-Takes
'Welcome To The Edge'
promotional video
'DARK Mark 10'
2013
Rehearsing our cover of Eleanor Rigby
Steve Giles: Guitar Vocals
Clive Thorneycroft: Drums
Phil Walding: 2nd Guitar
Rob Chaundy: Bass
at
Big Noise Rehearsal Studios
Northampton
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