The Bevis Frond is Nick Salomon, a neo-psychedelic renaissance man and the sole writer, performer and producer behind the cottage industry bearing the Frond name. The head of his own label (Woronzow) as well as the co-publisher of his own underground magazine (the highly regarded Ptolemaic Terrascope), Salomon is a quintessential English eccentric, a frighteningly prolific talent and a true anachronism purveying an archaic musical genre while simultaneously pioneering the lo-fi aesthetic.
live at Terrastock, 1997 Salomon (11-03-1953) cloaked his formative years in mystery; according to legend, he formed his first band, the Bevis Frond Museum, during his school years, covering stuff by Cream, Hendrix, Doors, Blue Cheer, etc. After the group disbanded he performed solo acoustic sets throughout the London area known as Walthamstow. After founding the Von Trapp Family, later known as Room 13, Salomon was sidelined in 1982 following a motorcycle accident. With the money he received as compensation for his injuries, he revived the Bevis Frond name and during his recuperation period assembled 1986's Miasma, a slice of twisted, latter-day psychedelia issued on Woronzow in an original pressing of 250.

Much to Salomon's shock, the record sold out; realizing an audience existed for his brand of time-warped pop, he quickly issued Inner Marshland, another underground success which encouraged him to raid his extensive archives for more material. With the floodgates opened, new Bevis Frond material -- much of it written and recorded at Salomon's home long before it ever saw release -- appeared constantly; in 1988 alone, Woronzow issued three separate collections, Triptych, Bevis Through the Looking Glass and Acid Jam, all spotlighting Salomon's surreal wit and acute social commentary.

In the late 80s and early 90s Nick Saloman also played and recorded as a member of Magic Muscle (with Rod Goodway), and with the Outskirts of Infinity (with Bari Watts).

Beginning with 1990's Any Gas Faster, Salomon was secure enough financially to begin recording in an outside studio; as the new decade dawned, he also made his live debut, appearing sporadically with an ever-changing group of backing musicians. After 1990's Magic Eye, a joint collaboration with former Pink Fairy Twink, the Bevis Frond issued its acknowledged masterpiece, 1991's double-LP set New River Head; erratic and eclectic, Salomon's output continued on without concession to trends or consumer tastes, with new albums appearing annually with clocklike precision. Among the strongest were 1993's It Just Is, 1995's Superseeder and 1996's Son of Walter.

The Bevis Frond has become England's premier psychedelic rock band. Nick still continues to record as a solo artist (under the name of Bevis Frond), mostly writing, playing and producing everything himself. His latest album, the sublime North Circular is perhaps the best example of Nick's talents.
Live the Bevis Frond tours as a three piece band includes ex-Hawkwind bassist Adrian Shaw and ex Camel drummer Andy Ward.

Jason Ankeny (All-Music Guide), Kees van der Lely.

Another detailed historic overview of Nick Salomon's early
activities with and prior to the Bevis Frond was published in
Record Collector magazine No.116, April 1989.

Interview (with myself):

Hello
hi

Who are you
My name is Kees van der Lely, and I live in the Netherlands.

Why this site?
Perhaps to your surprise, I only learned about the Bevis Frond just a few months ago! (feb.1998 that is). I could borrow a couple of CD's and got so excited that I decided to buy all the albums. I found it difficult though to learn more about Nick Saloman and the Bevis Frond. The site of Giancarlo Cairella was a help with regard to the discography, although it was incomplete and with errors. In the end I decided to build this site as an update and extended version of Giancarlo's site. And, of course, as an appreciation of Nick's music.

How did you learned about the Bevis Frond.
One of my great idols (don't like that word) is Tom Rapp. I cherish his albums for almost 30 years (Pearls Before Swine, remember?) and found it unbelievable why his albums didn't get the attention it deserved. With Internet taking off I decided a few years ago to build a website dedicated to the music of Tom Rapp (The Pearls Before Swine connection), in the hope I could help to prevent that this music will be forgotten for eternity.
To cut a long story short, I have since then nice contact with Tom Rapp himself and I consider him a good friend of me (although I haven't had the opportunity yet to meet him).
From Tom I heard the name Bevis Frond more than once (he's a real fan), together with other 'unknown' names such as Ghost, Damon & Naomi and others. After listening to the Pearls Before Swine tribute album "For The Dead In Space", my first encounter with these artists, I decided to check-out their work. If Tom likes their music, I probably will like it too. (always on the search for new music). This was February/March this year. By the way, Tom played on the Terrastock festivals in the USA.

Nick at Terrastock II, 1998 What is it with the Bevis Frond that attracts that much?
Well I don't know, why do you like fish and chips? Somehow the chemistry of the music seems to react with mine. I really got excited about this music. The music, guitar work-outs, humour, energy, you name it, it's all there and I love it.

Don't you get overdosed by listening so intensely to so much BF music.
Hell no!, addicted perhaps, but certainly no overdose. I'll enjoy each and every note of it without any side effects (OK, a few, but nothing to worry about...)

What are your favourite Nick Saloman songs.
An impossible question. I think Nick Saloman is one of the most talented songwriters in the history of Rock music. A bold statement, I know, but his output in the last couple of years is of the highest level. If only the rest of the music-loving world knew....
If I was to be asked to compile a The Bevis Frond Greatest Songs album, it certainly would include 'Another Year', 'Sun Room', 'Eyeshine', 'She's Entitled to', 'Blurred Vision', 'Thankless Task', 'Loveland', 'Heritage Coast', God!, I could go on for hours.....

What other music are you grooving to.
A lot really, see my Homepage for more on that.

What's next
I don't know

Well, let's go then
Ok

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