An Isle of Wight musician - inspired by Level 42 star, Mark King - has teamed up with a leading producer to record and release a number of new tracks.
Ex- Mumbo Jumbo and Jimmy’s Big Fish frontman Simon Holmes has used time in lockdown to reflect and develop some melodic new songs, produced by English musician, composer and songwriter, Nick Coler.
Simon, now being known by the name December 62, first found the love for music back at Solent Middle School. He asked for a drum kit for Christmas and spent a lot of time with his brother in the family home making up songs and playing on his Dad’s records on his stereo.
At Cowes High School, he was inspired by a very talented pupil who went on to achieve fame in the band Level 42 - vocalist and legendary Bass player, Mark King.
Simon went onto form Mumbo Jumbo in 1984, and landed the first gig at a party in a marquee on the Agricultural show site on the Isle of Wight.
Before long, Mumbo Jumbo were approached by local producer, Rod Gammons, to be part of an Isle of Wight LP called Feet on the Street”. They were then introduced to Nick Coler. Nick has written, produced and played on hit songs for diverse acts ranging from Goldie, KLF, and Alice Cooper to Girls Aloud, Sugababes, and Gabriella Cilmi, while also being nominated for awards.
The first of these songs to be released on May 7 will be ‘If I Can’t Have You’, and will be available on all streaming platforms. The track will be accompanied by a video filmed on the Isle of Wight at Gurnard Beach, produced by writer and broadcaster, Tom Stroud.
A trailer for the video can be found on Simon Holmes - December 52’s YouTube channel here, https://youtu.be/e9G1JzPRTw0
(Picture: Simon Holmes who is now being known as December 62)
Mumbo Jumbo had a spell in London in 1988 and played various gigs at the Mean Fiddler and Rock Gardens. Simon and his best friend Jim Bearwish continued to perform gigs as a duo throughout the 1990’s. Until tragedy hit when Jim’s childhood illness that he had fought so gallantly returned and he passed away in 1996.
Following the loss of Jim, Simon’s friend and musical companion, he was determined to carry on with the music, so formed Jimmy's Big Fish; named after Jim who always called them a big fish in a small pond. The first Jimmy’s Big Fish gig was in the Anchor in Cowes in 1996 and to their surprise it was packed to the rafters! The band’s greatest moment was appearing at the 2003 Isle of Wight Festival, playing to 3,000 people.
Jimmy’s Big Fish called it a day in 2020, but they hope to play some gigs in 2021 with a send-off party planned in The Anchor on November 27.
The painting for the single cover is by Simon’s late best friend, Jim Bearwish’s sister, artist Jenny Blount and the artwork was designed by Isle of Wight graphic artist, Ian Jackman Read.
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