This page lists my musical interests from the bands I’ve played in to bands I’ve recorded.
Since taking up the guitar at the age of 14 my preferred instrument was the lead guitar, although quite a few of the bands I played in, I actually played the bass guitar.
The Hedgehogs on Vallium
Richard Farrar, Tim Millington, Ken, ?
A one off gig in the summer of 1988 where I stepped in to play bass guitar for the band doing a gig at The Coach House in Swansea. This was my first real gig in front of a public audience.
The Slugs
Richard Farrar, Howard Farrar, Tony Love, John Williams
We never actually played a gig, it was more of a few mates having a mess around in the summer of 1989 after finishing university, but it did result in two songs being written and recorded, Since I was fourteen and I’m strange:
I’m Strange – 2’ 12” – 2.1 MB:
[powerpress url=”https://www.richardfarrar.com/audio/strange.mp3″]
Tap Thru
Richard Farrar, Steve Mackrill, Richard Rees, Gerald Waters, Chris Williams
This was the first really serious gigging band that I played in, playing the bass guitar. Over a period of about a year we played a lot of pubs and clubs around the Swansea area with our own roadie and light show featuring LASERs, strobes and pyrotechnics.
Toast
Richard Farrar, Tristan Funnel, David Grey, Steve Rowlands
Following the break up of Tap Thru a friend put me in contact with another band looking for a bass guitarist. We did a number of gigs as Toast, but never on the scale of Tap Thru or with the same level of professionalism.
- 28-08-95 – The Black Night, Ponterdawe
- 16-09-95 – The Duke of Wellington, Neath
- 20-09-95 – The Duke of Wellington, Neath
RedStick
Richard Farrar, Tristan Funnel
Subsequent to the demise of Toast, my friend Tristan from Toast and I decided to go out as a duo, with Tristan taking over the roll of lead vocals and I finally got to play lead guitar live.
Surf Sound
Since taking up the guitar I also became interested in all aspects of music production, having a small home recording studio that I used to record my own bands and others under the name Surf Sound. Some of the recordings made are listed below and vary from Russian folk groups to rock bands.
Kolyada
Recording of an album for the Russian folk group Kolyada. Recorded in my back bedroom:
Kaluki (Pipes) – 1” 46” – 1.6 MB:
[powerpress url=”https://www.richardfarrar.com/audio/kaluki.mp3″]
Alexandrovskya berioza (Under the tree) – 1’ 32” – 1.4 MB:
[powerpress url=”https://www.richardfarrar.com/audio/berioza.mp3″]
Ush kak po kostu (On the bridge) – 3’ 07” – 2.9 MB:
[powerpress url=”https://www.richardfarrar.com/audio/kostu.mp3″]
Morriston and Pentra citadels
Recording of a Salvation Army concert in their church hall:
William Tell Overture – 1’ 12” – 1.1 MB:
[powerpress url=”https://www.richardfarrar.com/audio/tell.mp3″]
The Children – 2’ 31” – 2.3 MB:
[powerpress url=”https://www.richardfarrar.com/audio/children.mp3″]
Mr Benn
Demo tape of a blues band Mr Benn made for promotional purposes. Recorded in a community hall:
Come On – 4’ 58” – 4.6 MB:
[powerpress url=”https://www.richardfarrar.com/audio/comeon.mp3″]
I Can’t Hold Out – 3’ 48” – 3.5 MB:
[powerpress url=”https://www.richardfarrar.com/audio/holdout.mp3″]
