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Formed in 2016, Das Rad are a Sheffield-based “improg” (improvised progressive rock) band, who channel a wide variety of classic prog, rock and fusion influences. Their 5th album “Funfair” is due out soon.

Starting life as a trio, their line-up is now:

Martin Archer

Saxophones / woodwind / keyboards
A composer / improviser / producer who is equally at home on stage or in the studio, and whose principle music work is organising the Discus Music label.  His live projects include the electric Miles era influenced Anthropology Band, the improvising group Hi Res Heart, the studio based band Orchestra Of The Upper Atmosphere and others. Archer put together the Das Rad line-up with a view to exploring the concept of “motorik thru to abstraction”.

Nick Robinson

Guitar / loops / keyboards
His early musical career included Typhoon Saturday, (who spawned chart-toppers “Living in a Box”) , Dig Vis Drill, They Must Be Russians, the Comsat Angels, jazz legend Neil Ardley, Haze spin-off World Turtle, and many others. His solo CD was released by Discus Music, attracting rave reviews from Adrian Belew, Steve Hackett and others. Nick is one of England’s only professional origami artists, with over 100 books on the subject to his name.

Steve Dinsdale

Drums / percussion / keyboards
Drummed with Honey Smugglers who recorded indie-classic single `Listen’ in 1990. Joined TV Eye alongside future celebrity-botherer and `Game Of Thrones’ star Paul Kaye. Formed electronic improvising trio Radio Massacre International who over a 25-year career have played dozens of concerts in the UK, Europe and USA. He played with the Damo Suzuki Network and is alongside Martin in Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere

Jon Short

Bass / keyboards
Starting with proto jazz-rockers March the Third and playing cello on a Pulp single, Jon Joined Nick in the 80s for a promising outfit called “Harriet”, with a singer who later wrote for Tina Turner and won awards.  Sadly it fell through and Jon formed Deep Sky Divers, a feted ambient duo. He has been busy ever since and was chosen by Das Rad not only for his consummate playing but also because his surname matched a letter from the band acronym!

Peter Rophone

Vocals / guitars
An eclectic singer and guitarist with a gliding, haunting vocal style, Peter’s work includes being main vocalist on three albums by prog alchemists Regal Worm and contributing lead vocals/guitar for I Monster on the ‘Bright Sparks’ album. Peter is one half of the phantasmagorical sounds of Discus Music stablemates Rophonic, and co-founded classical harp duo The Third Half. He is also co-creator of the haunting music for BBC Radio 4’s adaptation of The Thousand and One Nights.

UK Tour

The band are embarking on a short tour in September, alongside This Celestial Engine – an exciting new project that fuses the talents of three remarkable musicians from diverse musical backgrounds – drummer Ted Parsons (Swans, Prong, Godflesh, Killing Joke, Jesu), bassist Dave Sturt (Gong, Steve Hillage Band, Bill Nelson), and keyboardist Roy Powell (InterStatic, Anthony Braxton, Mumpbeak with Bill Laswell). Their album delivers a unique blend of experimental ambient avant-jazz rock improvisation. 

List of dates here

Funfair  Discus 180CD
Audio for broadcast : Star of the Show / Reprise

Some JPG images, hi-res tifs available on request.
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Jon Short

Starting with proto jazz-rockers March the Third and playing cello on a Pulp single, Jon Joined Nick in the 80s for a promising outfit called “Harriet”, with a singer who later wrote for Tina Turner and won awards. 

Sadly it fell through and Jon formed Deep Sky Divers, a feted ambient duo. 

Chosen by Das Rd not only for his consummate playing but also because his surname matched a letter from the band acronym!

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Nick Robinson

His early musical career included Typhoon Saturday, (who spawned chart-toppers “Living in a Box”)  who had a deal with Polydor and released 3 singles to minimal success.

Another band was Dig Vis Drill. Those that saw them in the early 80’s felt this band were destined for greatness. They had a unique and awesome sound, a live act second to none, they were confrontational, challenging, intelligent and fronted by motor-mouth Ogy McGrath, a cross between Woody Allen and Attila the Hun.

From the mid 80s, Robinson began to explore improvised music (supporting Archer’s band “Bass Tone Trap” at a local gig). His path led to his current main activity performing and recording solo, looped guitar soundscapes. 

You can check out his discography on his site, along with extensive information, audio, video and a blog covering midi, ableton and live looping amongst other topics. You can find more of his music on his Bandcamp page and his solo CD was released by Discus Music in 2022, attracting rave reviews from Adrian Belew, Steve Hackett and others.

Robinson and Archer had played a variety of gigs together in different formations so when Martin suggested bringing drummer Steve Dinsdale into the mix, Das Rad was born, later to be augmented by his old musical sparring partner Jon on bass.

Nick is one of England’s only professional origami artists, with over 100 books on the subject to his name.

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Steve Dinsdale

Drummer/Keyboardist cut his teeth on the Teesside and Sheffield music scenes  before moving to London in the late 80’s. Drummed with Honey Smugglers who recorded indie-classic single `Listen’ in 1990, and who are still asked regularly to appear on period compilations.

Joined T.V. Eye alongside ex-members of Eat and future celebrity-botherer and `Game Of Thrones’ star Paul Kaye. Gave up dreams of stardom after returning from holiday to find that said singer had gone off to live on a Kibbutz, and the guitarist was suddenly number one in the charts with a record he’d arranged for an unknown female singer with an eye patch.

Formed electronic improvising trio Radio Massacre International playing keyboards, electronics and drums with oldest friends and collaborators Duncan Goddard and Gary Houghton, who over a 25-year career have played dozens of concerts in the UK, Europe and USA as well as appearing on an MTV Europe co-host. The discography currently stands at some 60 or more releases including a trio of albums for acclaimed US label Cuneiform, and five solo albums made over the last ten years.

Performed as Drummer and/or Floor Percussionist with the Damo Suzuki Network on some half dozen occasions, one of which has led to a number of collaborations with Martin Archer including Orchestra of the Upper Atmosphere which was founded in 2009 and has since made four albums, and Engine Room Favourites the 10-piece Jazz ensemble.

And now…Das Rad.

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