Now it's come to this :: Wide-eyed armies of the faithful :: From the Middle East to the Middle West :: Pray, and pass the ammunition

Geoff Mann

Man To Mann

As written by Andy Labrow, in his contribution to the sleeve notes for the tribute album “Mannerisms - A Celebration of the Music of Geoff Mann ”…

Musician, painter, priest. Geoff Mann died of cancer on February 5th 1993. This album is a collection of songs written or performed by Geoff, covered here by some of the bands and friends he knew and worked with during his musical career. It is their tribute to a man who touched many lives.

“Lives of great men can remind us - we may
make our lives sublime - and departing leave
behind us - footprints on the sands of time”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

While considering what to write for these sleeve notes, many thoughts came to mind about the few years I had known Geoff. Funny stories from gigs; challenging moments from the pulpit; sad times of illness. Unfortunately, I would need far more than one page to give even a brief insight into Geoff's personality.

Geoff was a great communicator. He could relate equally well to an elderly lady at church, a student at a gig, record company boss or member of another band. Those of you who were fortunate enough to meet him or see him play live will know what I mean. He was larger than life. With his incisive wit and warm manner he made an impression on everyone he met.

To me he was just like any other ordinary man who performed at Reading Festival, featured on Radio One, became a vicar, wrote and performed plays, had major exhibitions of paintings, released fifteen albums, appeared on national TV and wrote a book. He also found time to be a loving husband, and father of three children.

His legacy will be his music, and I encourage you to seek out his albums and discover the Mann.

Andy Labrow, July 1994

A History

The following is a brief chronicle of the life of the late Geoff Mann, as presented in the sleeve notes of the tribute album “Mannerisms”…

  • 11th April 1956 - Geoff born in Carrington, Cheshire.
  • September 1974 - arrives at Reading University to study fine art. Acts as roadie and backdrop painter for the group that eventually became Twelfth Night.
  • July 1978 - leaves Reading University, and returns home to Carrington with B.A. (Hons) in fine art.
  • September 1978 - marries Jane Day.
  • October 1978 - the first of many one man painting an drawing exhibitions in Blackburn, Lancashire.
  • January 1981 - move to new home in Duchy Street, Salford, later immortalised on the cover of “Loud Symbols”.
  • March 1981 - Geoff and Pete Lawrence play support dates to the instrumental Twelfth Night as the two piece wacky improvisation band “The God Stars”.
  • August 1981 - Geoff plays first gig as vocalist with Twelfth Night at Reading Festival.
  • December 1981 - the album “Smiling at Grief” released.
  • October 1982 - the single “Eleanor Rigby/East of Eden” released.
  • December 1982 - “Fact and Fiction” released.August 1983 - Geoff and Jane's first child, Thomas, born.
  • November 1983 - Geoff leaves Twelfth Night after two sell out gigs at the Marquee, which were recorded for a live album.
  • February 1984 - the album “Live and Let Live” released.
  • March 1984 - solo album “Chants Would be a Fine Thing” released.
  • September 1984 - solo album “I May Sing Grace” released.
  • June 1985 - Geoff, Paul Keeble, Dave Mortimer and Gary Mitchell form “The Earthlings”. The band lasts about five informal gigs, Paul and Gary leave to form “Alphabet”.
  • July 1985 - Geoff contributes to a cassette-only gospel musical album “The Dawn”, and plays the lead in the stage version.
  • August 1985 - Geoff's play “A Convenient Day” performed in London and on the Edinburgh Fringe.
  • January 1986 - Geoff and Jane's second child, James, born.
  • February 1986 - solo album “Psalm Enchanted Evening” released. “The Geoff Mann Band” formed, quickly evolving into “The Bond”.July 1986 - Geoff contributes to the follow-up to “The Dawn”, called “Tomorrow”, again playing the lead on stage. Geoff's wife, Jane, wrote the script for the stage play.
  • September 1986 - Geoff begins training for ordination into The Church of England.
  • May 1987 - Geoff produces, sings backing vocals and programmes drum machines on Marc Catley's EP, “The Peel Tower Hop”.
  • July 1987 - “The Bond” release “Won by One”.
  • March 1988 - compilation album “Double Exposure” features “The Bond” song “Seriously Siblings”.
  • July 1988 - Marc Catley and Geoff Mann release “In Difference”.
  • August 1988 - “The Bond” release “Prints of Peace”.
  • February 1989 - formed “A Geoff Mann Band” with ex-members of “The Earthlings”/“Alphabet”.
  • July 1989 - ordained Deacon at Manchester Cathedral. Moves to Christ's Church, Harwood, Bolton to work as curate.
  • May 1990 - “Loud Symbols” by “A Geoff Mann Band” released.
  • July 1990 - ordained priest at Bolton Parish Church.
  • September 1990 - Geoff and Jane's third child, Bethany, born.
  • March 1991 - the Twelfth Night album “Collector's Item” released.May 1991 - Marc Catley and Geoff Mann release “The Off The End Of The Pier Show”. ACM sampler (ACM CD2) - featuring “For God's Sake” from “I May Sing Grace” - released, only in America.
  • October 1991 - “Ministry of the Interior” be “Eh! Geoff Mann Band” released.
  • February 1992 - “Over the Edge” (from ”…Pier Show”) released on New Age Mail Order Sampler 4 (NAMO 004). “Fine Difference” - compilation of “In Difference”, several rare Marc Catley tracks and four tracks from “Chants Would be a Fine Thing” - is also released.
  • May 1992 - “White Water” (from ”…Pier Show”) released on New Age Radio Show No3 sampler. “Second Chants”, the follow up to “Chants Would be a Fine Thing” is released by SI Music.
  • July 1992 - “Lucid Dreaming” (NAMA 2001), a new age sampler, containing the track “Over The Edge” from ”…Pier Show” released. Also, “Casino” a project with Clive Nolan, with contributions from several progressive musicians is released. Geoff wrote the words and Clive the Music.
  • September 1992 - Geoff diagnosed as having Crohn's disease. This would later prove to be incorrect. Geoff is inducted as vicar of St. Luke's Church, Deeplish, Rochdale.
  • November 1992 - after an operation to treat the Crohn's disease, the diagnosis of Geoff's illness was changed to cancer.
  • February 1993 - Geoff dies of cancer, at home in Rochdale.
  • June 1993 - SI Sampler 1 containing two Geoff Mann tracks.
  • July 1993 - “Live and Let Live” re-released by SI Music featuring three extra tracks.
  • April 1994 - release of “In One Era…” compilation of the ”…Grace” and “Psalm…” albums on compact disc.