New Musik - The Band

Tony Mansfield was born in Clapham, London in 1955. He is widely regarded as the driving force behind New Musik, with a vision to create a sound that perfected the balance between commerciality and "weirdness". A natural and gifted guitarist, he was also a self-taught keyboard player of some talent. He wrote the tracks and lyrics, and also fronted the band with vocals of understated quality.

What set Tony Mansfield apart though was his desire to understand and direct all aspects of the music making process, especially studio production techniques. New Musk fans can often spot "trademark" Tony Mansfield sounds a mile off, whether it be the lush synthesised atmospherics, "sonar" pings, reversed sounds / echo, or the myriad of other aspects that have become collectively known as "The Tony Mansfield sound". However, the rare commentary that exists from Tony Mansfield at the time paints a slightly strange and oblique picture of his mindset during this period. Despite presenting a sound of commercial "jollity", the lyrics eschewed associated norms and instead painted a picture of hum-drum existence at best, and doomy bleakness at worst.

After the band's brief existence from 1978 to 1982 Tony Mansfield went on to work on many other projects, perhaps most notably Captain Sensible, A-ha and Yukhiro Takahashi from Yellow Magic Orchestra. His CV during the 80's and into the 90's very much portrays the work of a successful jobbing producer, and though hints of a New Musik comeback have occasionally surfaced none have ever come to fruition. Informed sources suggest that in more recent years Tony ran a live music bar in south London.

The Smash Hits article from 1980 states that Tony was married and his wife was expecting a baby at the time (Maria Mansfield is credited on the sleeve of 'From A to B' - whether this is Tony M's wife is unconfirmed). It is believed Tony had a daughter, and that she was destined to sing on the New Musik follow-up project titled 'e-Musik'. Tony's younger brother Lee featured occasionally on New Musik's output, most notably the dialogue that closes 'On Islands'.

More concrete background information is difficult to track down as Tony was, and still is, notoriously reclusive. Even during the New Musik peak it was clear he viewed any sort of publicity as a "necessary evil", and was much more at home locked in the studio crafting sounds. After the New Musik days Tony increasingly withdrew from the limelight to the point where, nowadays, even the smallest scraps of contemporary comment have faded, a situation which has only added to the mystique of a man many people still admire and idolise on so many levels.

Clive Gates
Keyboards, Vocals
Albums: From A to B, Anywhere, Warp

Clive Gates was born in Westminster, London in 1956. Along with Tony Mansfield, he is the only other member of the band to appear on all 3 New Musik albums.

Clive first met Tony M in 1972 and worked with him briefly before parting. They re-acquainted in 1979 when he joined New Musik to complete the classic "Mansfield / Gates / Hibbert / Towner" lineup though sessions, and indeed tracks, that pre-date his joining were to be included on the first album.

Clive is a classically trained pianist and played synthesisers and piano in the band. In the early days he used a mellotron and Korg 700s mono synth, however they were replaced by the Prophet 5 synth. Clive's "image" in the band was one of "boffin / professor", probably because he often wore distinctive glasses.

After New Musik, Clive did continue to be involved in music, surfacing occasionally on the credits listing of various releases. He was interviewed by Jonas Warstad in 1997.

In more recent years Clive worked in events management, and subsequently in information technology areas.

Tony Hibbert
Bass Guitar
Albums: From A to B, Anywhere

Tony Hibbert was born in Tooting, London in 1956. He knew Tony Mansfield for quite a few years before New Musik was formed, and was a natural choice to provide bass guitar in the band.

Notable for his trademark aviator/pilot sunglasses which he was seldom seen without, even in the darkest of venues, Tony H also famously played guitar one-handed during a TOTP appearance, the other hand being pocketed in his white lab coat (which, together with white boiler suits, were essential New Musik image accessories).

Tony Hibbert left the band shortly before the 3rd album 'Warp' for reasons unknown. More recent reports suggest he subsequently worked as a taxi driver, and also for Ocado.

Phil Towner
Drums
Albums: From A to B, Anywhere

Phil Towner was born in 1955. Phil's fast, metronomic drumming is as much a trademark of the "New Musik sound" as any other aspect. Like Tony Hibbert he was an ever-present through all the early sessions, leaving shortly before 'Warp' for reasons unknown.

Like Tony M, Phil Towner was and is notoriously reclusive so information about him is scarce. He did, famously, play drums on the Buggles hit 'Video Killed the Radio Star' before joining New Musik. Drummers often sit in the background seldom seen, and Phil was no exception in that respect. Fans have, however, noted over the years how Phil's appearance often changes quite notably in photo's of the period with some remarking on "the many faces of Phil Towner". The 2nd New Musik tour (1981) was cut short with some reports putting it down to Phil Towner's exhaustion, perhaps not surprising considering the incredibly fast and sustained rhythmics the New Musik sound often demanded.

Jackie Towner is credited on the sleeve of 'From A to B'. What relation she is to Phil, if any, is unconfirmed though informed sources suggest it was either his sister or (more likely) his mum.

Like Clive Gates, Phil Towner's name occasionally appeared on various releases in the post New Musik years, but his more recent whereabouts and activities are unknown.

Cliff Venner
Drums
Album: Warp

After Phil Towner left New Musik, Cliff Venner was drafted in to provide drums on 'Warp'. If the other members of New Musik are generally characterised by their reclusiveness, Cliff Venner takes this to another level. Only one photo of Cliff exists from the New Musik days (the one here - from the small band shot on the rear sleeve of Warp) and no details of his involvement, nor comments from the man himself, have ever surfaced. An enigma indeed.

Other Contributors

Though not officially credited as "band members", others have contributed to the New Musik sound along the way...

Nick Straker (Nick Bailey) - was involved in many early New Musik sessions pre Clive Gates, and plays keyboards on several tracks that appear on 'From A to B'. Went his own way when he had a hit with 'A Walk in the Park'.

Pete Hammond - the engineer at TMC studios where the New Musik albums were recorded. Pete was engineer on all 3 albums and worked closely with Tony Mansfield during the recording sessions, with Tony drawing on much of Pete's skill and expertise to create the New Musik sound.

Jane Kennaway - credited as providing backing vocals on the track 'Sanctuary'. Some interesting info here with comments such as "Similar Stalinist style problems afflicted New Musik, the underrated electro-pop group formed by producer Tony Mansfield, who asked Jane to provide backing vocals on Sanctuary, a minor British hit in June 1980". Also The Sneaks co-founder is Tom Hibbert - coincidence? The question of whether any New Musik band members featured on any of Jane's subsequent tracks remains unanswered.

Alan Rear and Lee Jacobs - credited on the rear sleeve of 'From A to B', this duo were the band Search Party who Tony produced and most notably created the very New-Musik-like 'Urban Foxes' single. Their contribution is unclear, though most likely vocals, and informed sources suggest they were both present at the sessions for all 3 albums.

Lee Mansfield - Tony's younger brother who featured occasionally, most notably on the closing dialogue of 'On Islands' and the quickly withdrawn Planet Ha Ha release. The general concensus is that Lee would have been a big part of any subsequent New Musik projects.

Roland CR78 - not a person, but a drum machine. If one piece of equipment can be said to be associated with New Musik at the time, this is it. Extensively used on 'Anywhere', listen to tracks such as 'Areas' or 'Traps' to hear how significant this instrument was to Tony Mansfield and the "New Musik sound".

12-String Guitar - this one's for Richard M who, of course, is right to say that if any instrument characterises the "New Musik sound" it's the 12-string played so beautifully by Tony Mansfield. Just play guitars!