Bob Hillary & The Massive Mellow
www.myspace.com/bobhillary
www.bobhillarymellow.com
This is a band based around the Songs of Bob Hillary, formerly lead Singer and frontman for The Ruffness, an outstanding World roots/trip-hop band that toured the uk and released 3 e.p.s from 2000-2006.
Born Robert mark Hillary all the way back in 1977 (the same year that Elvis died!) Bob was raised on an out of the way Farm near Stonehenge in Wiltshire.
He grew up with chickens, cockerels,sheep,cows and horses for company.(and his good family) He was sent to a similarly out of the way school where he learnt how to climb very tall trees and make bases. He struggled with maths.
After school, bob decided to broaden horizons so upt & headed for the grand big continent of Africa, where he began to really learn what life was about.
It was here that he started to learn the art of playing Music.
A year and a bit later, he returned to Britain and followed a whim to the city of Edinburgh and has remained ever since, though recently moved to live by the sea.
Here he discovered a small, like-minded group of creative people and he started well-known roots dub trip-hop band THE RUFFNESS.
The Ruffness existed for 6 epic exciting years; in which they built their own studio, created and recorded 3 mini-albums and toured the country in Bobs battered but trusty 70's Bedford van, which sadly died on the M74 to aberdeen.(for pics see www.ruffness.com)
They rocked many World and Roots music festivals including Glastonbury and The Big Green Gathering, and gathered a strong national following. It was a good time.
But sadly upon being signed to Soundethic label, the band imploded, and Bob was diagnosed with severe M.E. The next few years were not an easy time what with chronic fatigue, relationship breakdown and financial meltdown, but it was in this difficult time that bob discovered the world of Spirituality and Healing, and began the long process of self-healing.
Learning the Eastern arts of Chi-gung, yoga, Meditation & 5 Rythms dance he re-gained strength, Faith & health and tentatively began to edge back into music - Albeit now in a more grounded and healthy way.
Cont...
And that brings us to the present, which is BOB HILLARY and THE MASSIVE MELLOW;
One Danny Mullins an sensitive loon, drummer, comedian and singer-songwriter in his own right (www.myspace.com/dannymakesmusic)
Andy Farina playing acoustic bass and raising the vibes
Jack Nissan a recently acquired genius piano and synth player
and Bob singing his own songs, playing acoustic and slide guitar, harmonica and analogue synth.
( Andy Moore sometimes playing Trumpet and electric guitar.
Carl Davies sometimes plays lovely Saxophone harmonies.
Jem Le Lievre sometimes writes and plays basslines.)
The sound is based around bob's Songs, strong friendship and a love of good earthy real passionate music. And a belief and drive to get through these difficult times, thru embracing positivity, love and forward conscious thinking.
Get involved, buy the Albums, come to gigs, spread the vibe if you like it.
Xxx
Peace
