TONY MOORE’S NEW ALBUM Perfect & Beautiful was made the album of the week on
BFBS Radio 2 from Monday 25th July. Tony
appeared on the Friday edition of the Damian
Watson Show playing songs from his album and,
in a typically diverse and eclectic conversation,
talking about everything from his days with Iron
Maiden to his plans for the future.
The new album was recorded at Sphere Studios
and co-produced and mixed by Chris Kimsey
(Rolling Stones, Marillion, Kiki Dee etc), with
Tony playing piano and guitar, backed by new
young band Riccardi plus guests Kirsty Newton
(keys), Sadie Nine (vox), Ian Bailey (sax), Ivan
Hussey (cello) and Anna Phoebe (violin) among
others. The album, featurng the Hit Sheet
favourite The Best Day Of Your Life and 11 other
tracks, is released by Hear4Music and is available
on iTunes and Tony’s own website.
Tony’s background in the music industry has
been eclectic and diverse to say the least. The first
band he joined was (the then unknown) Iron
Maiden. He eventually left because he knew they
would never make it! He then began working
with Brian James (from The Damned) releasing a
single on Radar Records and touring in support to
Black Sabbath and The Stranglers before moving
on to join a progressive rock band called England.
In the early 80s he formed his own group called
Radio Java and made an album at Abbey Road
Studios that spawned a No. 1 hit single in
Holland before disbanding after the label closed.
In 1986 Tony was invited to play keyboards
with a new band called Cutting Crew who then
went on to have a massive world wide hit with
the classic I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight. For
two more years he toured the world and recorded
with the band until it felt time to move on, at
which point he signed a solo deal with a small
independent label in London. He released one
single to critical acclaim (including airplay from
Bob Harris) before joining forces with Argentine
singer/songwriter Marie Claire D’ubaldo, best
known for co-writing Celine Dion’s Falling Into
You. He co-wrote and co-produced tracks for her
debut album on Polydor Records that sold over
250,000 worldwide.
In 1997 Tony established the legendary
Kashmir Klub off London’s Baker Street. The
formula of providing an incredible sound system,
sourcing the best of emerging and established
artists, hosting the show like live TV, and getting
everyone to perform in an acoustic and ‘back to
basics’ format, quickly made the Klub into one of
the most important venues in London. Over its
seven year history, Tony introduced debut
London performances from Damien Rice, Tom
Baxter, Lucie Silvas and KT Tunstall as well as
surprise sets by Sheryl Crow, Dave Stewart,
Mick Fleetwood, Nik Kershaw and many more.
The Kashmir closed in 2003 after the building
was re-developed. Tony then took over running
and booking all the music at The Bedford in
Balham. The venue, under his musical stewardship,
has grown into an award winning location.
In 2004 it won Best Pub in the country, it has
twice won the best pub and club award as well as
the Evening Standard ‘Pub of the Year. For the
last eighteen months Tony has also co-presented
an overnight show on BBC London 94.9 FM
where he has brought live music guests into the
studio and championed the cause of new talent to
an ever growing audience, establishing a persuasive
platform to experience the very best musical
creativity around. Last autumn, Tony was made
the sole inductee for 2004 into the MMF (Music
Managers Forum) Roll of Honour for outstanding
contribution to the British Music Industry.
July 1st 2005 saw Tony hosting and supporting
Diana Ross in the magnificent setting of the
Great Court at the second Blenheim Palace
Music Festival. A somewhat damp audience
(luckily it only drizzled) were exhorted to a
‘Blenheim Hush’ in order that the PA system
could be ‘tested’ at the back of the court before
Tony played a stunning set accompanying himself
on guitar or piano - with the audience joining
in on I Just Died in Your Arms Tonight and rapturous
applause from his devoted fans. The
remainder of the evening was devoted to Miss
Ross - dressed in a captivating selection of
sequins and frills - who entertained with songs
ranging from the early days of The Supremes to
an encore of I Will Survive. On July 9th, Tony
hosted the tenth Shalbourne Beer & Music
Festival with his usual aplomb, performing an
acoustic set of originals to a crowd of around
2,500, attracting some new and very appreciative
fans. On August 11th he will be part of the
‘Livestyle - Dream’ charity night at The
Bedford, and at September 3rd at SongLink’s
local eaterie Lanzi’s, 73 Haverstock Hill,
London, NW3 4SL (0207 483 3222), followed by
an appearance at the ‘Bestival’ on the Isle of
Wight from September 9-11th.
