Welcome to
The OLLIE HALSALL Archive
Ollie may not have been the world's best guitarist, but he was certainly among the top two."
John Halsey
The Ollie Halsall Archive was established in 1998 with the aim of documenting and promoting the work of this unique musician.
The site is arranged as follows:
An antholliegy of all known audio and video music recordings.
A bibliolliegraphy of written, audio and visual artefacts from various sources.
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The Halsall Biolliegraphy
Peter 'Ollie' Halsall was born in Southport, England on 14 March 1949. After playing drums in local band The Music Students, with keyboard wizard Chris Holmes, Ollie was persuaded by bassist Clive Griffith to take up the vibraphone and, in 1965, both he and Chris went to London to join Clive in Take Five, which soon became Timebox.
In 1967, Ollie took up guitar and the band acquired the legendary Mike Patto on vocals and, finally, drummer 'Admiral' John Halsey.
Following Holmes' departure in 1970, Timebox evolved into Patto. They played a unique blend of 'progressive' jazz-rock (for want of a better term) featuring Ollie's guitar work which began to develop legendary status.
In 1973 he left to join Jon Hiseman's Tempest. After less than a year Ollie quit and did numerous sessions, including one track for Kevin Ayers. This led to a permanent position in Kevin's band The Soporifics.
In 1975, Patto staged a brief reunion comprising just three benefit gigs. The reuniting of Ollie and Mike sparked the formation of the ill-fated Boxer.
Somewhat ironically - since he was never fully credited - Ollie's most widely-known work was with The Rutles in 1978.
After a brief but highly productive stint [including a US tour] with John Otway, he rejoined Kevin Ayers with whom he stayed, on and off, until Ollie's untimely death on 29 May 1992.
For much of that time he frequented the town of Deia in the north of the Spanish island of Mallorca, commuting to and from the mainland to produce and play for numerous Spanish artistes. The most significant project during this time was his work with Swedish singer Zanna Gregma in CinemasPop.
Ollie died of an accidental overdose on 29 May 1992 in Madrid, Spain.
Deia
Traveling Show: The Serendipitous & Surreal Six-Stringed Life & Times of Ollie Halsall
This is the nearest thing to a complete book about Ollie and is compiled from a series of articles in issues 29, 30 and 31 of Ugly Things magazine.
© 2009 Mike Stax/Ugly Things No part of this publication may be reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher.
The Ollie Halsall Songbook
An online album featuring cover versions of Ollie - or related - songs.
Listen to the latest contributions here
Send us your one!
olliehalsall@gmail.com
Dean Cole talks to Ollie Halsall.
The only known audio interview.
PHOTOGRAPHIC CREDITS
Here is an incomplete list of contributors:
Peter Barber
Kenny Barral
David Baxendell
Roger Carey
Domingo J. Casas
Dean Cole
Pere Colom
TF
Morgan Fisher
Mark Gardiner
Lloyd Godman
John Greenleigh
Zanna Gregmar
Antonio Uguccioni
Colin Hill
John Halsey
Bernie Holland
Esteban Cabezos Madrid
Juan Javier Martinez
Gail Mezey Morris
Chris McGinn
Olof Öhman
David Osbiston.
Annie Partyka
Andrea Pennesi
Lawrence Reeve
Nick Robinson
Marvin Siau
John Skates
Phillip Swain
Markus Voggensperger
Ali Watson
Roy Weard
Andrea West
Acknowledgements
Ali Watson Anders Öhman Andrea West Andy Lloyd Andy Partridge Antonio Uguccioni Armand Serra Bernie Holland Bill Nelson Bob Beecher Bolle Gregmar Brian Godding Christer Bäckhage 'Prof' Chris Holmes Christian Loebenstein Chris McGinn Claudia Puyo Colin Hill Colin Johnson Dave Hopper David Baxendell Dave Hopper David Osbiston Dean Cole Duncan Goddard Eddie Gaines Eddie McHenry Emily Kapsosideris Erik Amkof Esteban Cabezos Madrid Francesco Malfatti Francis Dunnery Frank Sellers Galen Ayers George Blevins George de Albuquerque Graham Oliver Guy Mann-Dude Hamish McDonald Harri Honkaheimo Ian 'Buda' Carpenter Joerg Reinicke Jerry Hart Jorg Souto Bartolomé Jorge 'Flaco' Barral John Altman John Engel John Greenleigh John 'Admiral' Halsey John Hiseman John McCarthy John Otway Jordi Ramone orge 'Flaco' Barral.Juan Graves Juan Javier Martinez Ken Thornton Kenny Barral Lloyd Godman Manolo Jimenez Marcelo Fuentes Markus Voggensperger Martin Gardiner Martin Jenner Martin Wakeling Marty Zucker 'Starvin' Marvin Siau Michael de Albuquerque Michael Kane Michelle Amieux Mik Glasser Mike Shefrin Mike and Anja Stax Morgan Fisher Muff Winwood Neil Innes Nick Walsh Parker Goessling Pat Olkiewicz Paul Casisa Pere Colom Pete Barber Pete Fisher Pete Price Pete Moss Peter Muir Phil McCarthy Phillip 'Barnabus' Swain Reijo Lainela 'Chairman' Ralph Heibutzki Richard Elen Richard Holgarth Roger & Mary-Ellen Marcus Roger Houdaille Roman Bunka Saturo Yonemoto Susan Jane Lomas Steve Yorks Terry Eason Terry Stamp TF Tomás Graves Thomas Patrick Coffey Tony Newman Vezetek Wesley Stace Zanna Gregmar . . . and everyone else who has contributed information and archive material.