Beatitude's front man has had a remarkably invisible public profile since the release of his solo 'Jolie' album in 1991. Protracted record company hassles and lengthy haggling over publishing deals led to Bill taking on a series of production jobs for French pop artists, gigging sporadically in Europe and the UK with a fluctuating line-up, then demoing over 50 new songs with no immediate possibility of releasing any of them. Finally, he decided to form his first permanent band.

Beatitude have been together for six months. Tim Bradshaw (guitar, squeeze box), Paul Barlow (drums) and Tuppy Rutter (bass, no fixed haircut) have all done time in other bands. Bill hasn't. But he knows his oignons.

In 1989, following the release of his 'Three Months, Three Weeks and Two Days' album, Bill had it all, at least in French speaking countries like France and, er, plucky little Belgium. Chart placings for his debut single, 'Tommy and Co.', and the album, duets with legendary songbird Francoise Hardy, invites on to Serge Gainsbourg's national radio broadcasts from the sozzled maestro himself, and spots at several major European pop festivals.

Meanwhile, back in Blighty, DJ Johnnie Walker was helping to get himself banned from GLR for playing one of Bill's less subtle efforts, 'Kenneth Baker', once to often, but that was about it. Bill's intelligent, melodic songs had sod all in common with the state of a UK indiedom which at that point was discovering the twin delights of controlled feedback and avant/dream pop with no songs and falling in love with droves of tortured Americans with no songs or tunes. Then came 'Jolie' and the came trouble. C'est la fucking vie!

Finally, Bill now returns from the cold in cahoots with his new pals at Beatitude. Live shows are now being lined up for the summer and a debut 7" single will be released to coincide. The A side will be 'Baby in Brylcreem'. The AA side will contain '19 Summers' and 'Melody Said'. For further information please contact Gary Levermore at Tora!

 
Tora! Records, Spring 1995