Brett Lowden

In addition to his long history with Aces & Eights, Brett Lowden has a number of musical strings to his bow.

In the late 1960's he became interested in recording techniques after making some ambitious amateur comedy and music tapes with some of the people involved in the earliest incarnations of the band. By the late 1970's he had put together his first home studio in his living room and was regularly recording his own band and other local artists. In the mid-80's he moved house, taking his studio with him - not a moment too soon, as the original house burned to the ground shortly after he left it. Originally the "new" studio was housed separately from Brett's living area but, finding the constant moving around of equipment a nuisance, he eventually moved it into his living room. Though it may not be Abbey Road, and surprising though it may be for bands to walk into someone's living room for a recording session, there is very little Brett can't do that your average dedicated studio can.

As producer, Brett has worked with a number of well-known local artistes, including Heartland, Johnny Bauer and Del Rivers. In 1995, a lengthy production/performance collaboration between Brett and former Aces & Eights pianist Dave Adams led to an independent European issue of the album "New Songs, Old Ways", a collection of songs telling the story of Dave's association with legendary British record producer Joe Meek. At the time of writing (Fall 2001), plans are under way to re-mix and add to the album for a British CD re-release. Brett also co-owns what is believed to be the largest Joe Meek collection in North America, and he and his partner regularly supply research information and illustrations on the subject for the worldwide media.

His biggest long-term influence is Buddy Holly & The Crickets, and in the late 1980's he set the world record for the most Buddy Holly and related songs played in one single live show. The band began early one evening and, taking only 5 minute breaks every hour or two, played until past dawn the next morning, encompassing all of Holly's released tracks, many unknown and never-issued songs, and even songs on which Holly played as a session man. Although the Guinness Book of World Records refused to officially acknowledge the feat, the international Buddy Holly Memorial Society DID recognize the achievement and to this day the record has yet to be broken.

Among his other main influences are The Kinks, Jimi Hendrix, Peter Green, Robert Johnson, Eddie Cochran and Hank Williams Sr. However, Brett's musical taste and knowledge runs the gamut of 20th century popular music and he reckons his live repertoire includes, at a conservative estimate, some four to five thousand songs.

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