Most of you proggers might only know Ray Wilson as the ex-singer of
Genesis, who did one album with
them. He joined them in September '96, did an album "Calling all Stations" and they toured. In the early eighties Ray, his brother Steve and several other musicians played in a band called Guaranteed Pure. As a matter of fact, the first ever Ray Wilson song that was released was Swing Your Bag, which appeared on the Outpatient compilation album that Fish released back in 1993.
In 1994, Ray joined a band called Stiltskin and had a big hit with Inside, which was used for the soundtrack of a jeans commercial, which funny enough would later be ridiculed by Genesis with their I Can't Dance song and video ! The band would break up after having released and toured with their album The Mind's Eye.
In Cut he worked again with his brother and members of Gauranteed Pure and drummer
Nir Zidkyahu (who worked with Genesis too).
And then there is album called Unplugged ('01), with material from the groups i
mentioned before and Phil Collins (In the Air Tonight), Peter Gabriel (Biko), Bruce
Springsteen, Bob Dylan, a new song and more.
In 2003 he would join forces with the dutch dj Armin van Buuren to re-record a trance
version of Cut track Another Day. And now Ray's back with his first real studio solo album. Change agian a remarkable album, acoustic pop rock kind. With:
David Paton - bass,
Nir Zidkyah. - drums,
Steve Wilson (not the Steve but his brother),
Black Crowes bassist Andy Hess,
Amanda Lyon - vocals.
The Next Best Thing ('04):
Ray Wilson: Vocals, guitar,
Steve Wilson: Guitars,
Nir Zidkyah. - drums,
Amanda Lyon: Backing vocals,
Robert Kennedy, Richard Nixon; George W Bush and Ronald Reagan - spoke words.
RAY WILSON LIVE.
Ray will be releasing his first 'electric' live album on 1st March 2005. As well as songs
from Ray's solo career, the CD consists of covers songs from The World of Genesis
(all line-ups, as well as Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins solo), songs from Ray's
previous bands Stiltskin, Guaranteed Pure and Cut, a special acoustic section and some
humorous stories.
CD1 1. The Last Horizon 2. These are the Changes 3.
Goodbye Baby Blue 4. In the Air Tonight 5. Carpet Crawlers
6. Ever the Reason 7. Story 8. Follow You Follow Me 9.
Sarah 10. Change 11. Another Day 12. Magic Train 13.
Sunshine and Butterflies 14. Inside 15. Footsteps 16. I Can't
Dance 17. Gypsy
CD2 1. The Actor 2. Alone 3. Ripples 4. Along the Way 5. Biko 6. Lovers Leap 7. No son of Mine 8. Shipwrecked 9. Not About Us 10. Sometimes 11. The Lamb Lies Down 12. Swing Your Bag 13. Knockin' on Heavens Door 14. The Airport Song 15. Rest in Peace
Additional Musicians include:
Irvin Duguid: Keyboards (Stiltskin, Gun, Fish)
Nir Z: Drums ( Genesis, Cut_)
Ashley MacMillan: Drums
Brian McAlpine: Piano, organ, accordion
Scott Spence: Lead guitar
Amanda Lyon: Backing Vocals
Colin Steele: Trumpet.
Ray Wilson & Stiltskin LIVE (2007)
Ray Wilson (vocals, guitar)
Uwe Metzler (guitars)
Ali Ferguson (guitars)
Ashley MacMillan (drums)
Lawrie MacMillan (bass)
Propaganda Man 2008.
Ray Wilson (vocals, guitar, mouth organ)
Ali Ferguson (lead guitar, backing vocals)
Lawrie MacMillan (bass, backing vocals)
Ashley MacMillan (drums, percussion)
With:
Graeme Hughes (guitar - #9)
Uwe Metzler (guitar - #1)
Scot Spence (additional guitar - #1,5,8)
Alvin Mills (bass - #1)
Nir Z (drums - #1)
Kim McLelland (piano - #4, organ - #3,5,6,7)
David Archibald (piano - #3,6)
Gregor Lowrey (accordion - #3,7)
Tesiree Priti Kaitesi (vocals - #1,5)
A review of Propaganda Man you can find here at DPRP.
GENESIS KLASSIK: Ray Wilson and the Berlin Symphony Ensemble aka Genesis
Klassik announce Polish and Czech tour dates in December: this page.
In Cut he worked again with his brother and members of Gauranteed Pure and drummer
Nir Zidkyahu (who worked with Genesis too).
Ray Wilson & Stiltskin LIVE (2007)
Symfo-Index.