A Guy Called Gerald

Gerald Simpson (born 16 February 1967), better known as A Guy Called Gerald, is a British DJ, record producer and musician. He was an early member of 808 State, and later achieved success as a solo artist. He is best known for his early work in the Manchester acid house scene in the late 1980s and the track "Voodoo Ray". His style developed during the early 1990s, and his 1995 album Black Secret Technology would become a "much-touted candidate for 'best jungle album ever.'

A track Simpson started before leaving 808 State, 'Pacific State', was released and hit the charts. However, according to Simpson, they had finished and released the track without his permission. Although Simpson was credited on its first release on the album 'Quadrastate' both as a writer and co-producer, the dispute escalated as Simpson claimed to have written the entire track. The dispute was eventually settled out of court.

(Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links to Peel
Peel was an early supporter of A Guy Called Gerald, first playing debut single 'Voodoo Ray' in September 1988, many months before the record peaked at #12 in the national charts the following summer. While the track is often associated with the Manchester acid house scene centered on the city's Hacienda club, the DJ was happy to note that it came out on a small label from his own native Wirral in Merseyside.

In an October 1988 NME interview on current favourite tracks, he commented :

"'This is on the Rham label and basically it's another very good dance record. I like the mystery and anonymity that surrounds a lot of these records. Plus the fact that Rham are based in New Brighton. I spent a great deal of time there as a child and I think it's marvellous that there should be a record label there.'"

Around the same time, Peel also started playing the debut LP of Gerald Simpson's former band, 808 State, including tracks featuring Simpson.

The first of three A Guy Called Gerald sessions quickly followed, produced by Dale Griffin. In later years, debut session track 'Rockin' Ricki' was played again, as part of the Strange Fruit “Manchester, So Much To Answer For” compilation, on John Peel's Classic Sessions, and on the DJ's 60th birthday six-hour Radio One special.

Peel also gave multiple plays to debut LP 'Hot Lemonade' at the start of 1989 and continued to feature occasional A Guy Called Gerald tracks in later years.

Festive Fifty Entries

 * None

Sessions

 * Three sessions. #1 available on The Peel Sessions, 12" EP, 1989 (Strange Fruit, SFPS071), all three sessions released on The John Peel Sessions, CD, 1999 (Strange Fruit).

1. Recorded: 1988-10-30. First broadcast: 07 November 1988. Repeated: 2. Recorded: 1989-08-06. First broadcast: 06 September 1989. Repeated: 10 October 1989 3. Recorded: 1995-06-00. First broadcast: 08 July 1995. Repeated: 26 January 1996
 * Time Waits For No Man / Rockin' Ricki / Emotions Electric
 * Johnny Roadhouse / Satisfaction / Bruford
 * Amabruku / Time Labyrinth / 3 2 B One / I 1 2 4 Q

Other Shows Played

 * 1988
 * 07 September 1988: Voodoo Ray (12") Rham!
 * 13 September 1988: Rhapsody In Acid (12" - Voodoo Ray) Rham!
 * 11 October 1988: Rhapsody In Acid (12” – Voodoo Ray) Rham!
 * 31 October 1988: Voodoo Ray (12”) Rham!
 * 07 December 1988 (as Us): Born In The North (12") Wooden


 * 1989
 * 03 January 1989: Arcade Fantasy (LP - Hot Lemonade) Rham!
 * 09 January 1989: Escape II (LP - Hot Lemonade) Rham!
 * 17 January 1989: In The Beginning (LP - Hot Lemonade) Rham!
 * 24 January 1989: Rhythm Of Life (LP - Hot Lemonade) Rham!
 * 30 January 1989: In The Beginning (album - Hot Lemonade) Rham!
 * 10 February 1989 (BFBS): In The Beginning (LP-Hot Lemonade) Rham!
 * 13 March 1989: Voodoo Ray (Extended Mix) (12") Warlock
 * 28 November 1989: Eyes Of Sorrow (7" - FX) Subscape


 * 1990
 * 18 January 1990: Hot Lemonade (Blue Pyramid Mix) (12" - Hot Lemonade (Remix)) Rham!
 * 04 April 1990: To The Other Side (album - Automanikk) CBS
 * 12 April 1990: Untitled (album - Automanikk) CBS
 * 18 April 1990: FX (Mayday Upgrade) (CD - Automanikk) CBS
 * 03 November 1990: Rockin' Ricki (v/a LP - Manchester, So Much To Answer For) Strange Fruit
 * 15 December 1990 (BFBS): Rockin' Ricki (2x Compilation LP-Manchester, So Much To Answer For) Strange Fruit


 * 1992
 * 11 April 1992: Emotions Electric (12" - The Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
 * 02 October 1992: The Musical Magical Midi Machine (12") Juice Box
 * 11 October 1992 (BFBS): unknown song


 * 1995
 * 11 March 1995: The Nile (CD - Black Secret Technology) Juice Box


 * 1997
 * 13 January 1997: Rockin' Ricki (30/10/88) John Peel's Classic Sessions


 * 1999
 * 31 August 1999: Rockin' Ricki (session) (60th birthday six-hour special)


 * 2000
 * 15 August 2000: The First Breath (LP - Essence)
 * 14 September 2000: Final Call (album - Essence) !K7