Lee Jason Simeone[1] (born 20 March 1980 in Rochford,[2] Essex, England) is an English musician, who joined the independent record label Le Coq Musique in 2008. Other artists of the label include Kevin Mooney of Adam and the Ants, Gary Asquith of Renegade Soundwave. Simeone left the label in 2012 to set up his own Vernal Equinox Records in London.
Lee Jason Simeone | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | 20 March 1980 Rochford, Essex, England |
| Genres | Electronic, pop, dark wave |
| Occupation(s) | Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, record producer |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, keyboards, drums, guitar, harmonica |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Labels | Sony Music, Le Coq Musique, Vernal Equinox |
| Website | simeone |
Solo career
editSimeone released his debut album The Dream Weaver on the Le Coq Musique label in 2010.[3] The album won rave reviews from Rough Trade Records and Future Music. The album also featured Kevin Mooney of Adam and The Ants on bass for one track titled "Epica".[4]
Productions and collaborations
editSimeone's career as a freelance producer/performer had begun when collaborating with various popular artists in 2010, most notably: the electro-pop pioneer Karel Fialka,[5] Kevin Mooney, Paul Reynolds (ex-A Flock of Seagulls), Gary Asquith of Renegade Soundwave, and Alan Rear (Tony Mansfield, Miguel Bosé).
Mooney, Asquith and Fialka featured on Simeone's 2011 release An Introduction to Simeone. A further collaboration with Fialka was to follow where Simeone guesting on drums and backing vocals for his live shows between 2010 and 2011.[6] Simeone's 2016 offering Best Seat in the Dream EP contains six new tracks and featured guest artists namely; former original Cockney Rebel bandmate Milton-Reame James.[7] Simeone has also appeared in an episode of Ashes to Ashes alongside Steve Strange.[8]
In mid 2014, Simeone made a contribution towards production and mastering duties on the Australian rock band Men at Work's Still Life EP, released the same year via Sony/ATV.[9] He also recorded and performed a song for it titled "Star Lane". It came with a remastered vinyl reissue of their 1983 album Cargo.[10] Its A-side also featured the original band album recording of "Blue for You", remastered from the original masters at Abbey Road Studios,[11] with mastering engineer Simon Gibson. The EP also featured an interview that Simeone hosted with the original band member Ron Strykert.
In 2015, Simeone became the executive producer for the award winning documentary film You Better Take Cover.[12] A film about Men at Work, their hit single "Down Under", and the "Kookaburra" controversy. You Better Take Cover won best documentary short at the Melbourne International Film Festival (2016)[13] and winning again at the St Kilda Short Film Festival.[14] A further premiere screening at the Manchester International Festival (2016) was met with rave reviews.[15]
Simeone produced the You Better Take Cover soundtrack album at Abbey Road Studios[16] released via PledgeMusic in 2018 as a tribute to Greg Ham.[17] It successfully reached 105% of its funding goal. The album featured collaborations with three original band members of Men at Work. Simeone composed two original songs for the album and produced a cover version of Ham's "Still Life" from the 1985 album, Two Hearts. You Better Take Cover OST also featured band interviews and material that Ham had worked on before his death in 2012. A percentage of the albums sales were donated to Ham's chosen charity; Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre.[18]
Charity work
editLee was a former member of staff at Rock 'n' Roll Rescue in Parkway, Camden. The aim of this shop is to support the local food banks and mental health charities. The music charity shop is owned by Knox, founder member of the punk group the Vibrators
Simeone is a member of Neurofibromatosis Inc. (a nonprofit organisation working towards Neurofibromatosis patient support) and supports the charity by making donations from his releases. He is also involved with supporting the Depression Alliance and Turning Point.[19]
Discography
editThe Dream Weaver (features guest musicians: Karel Fialka and Kevin Mooney)
- Released: 24 August 2009
- Format: CD / MP3 / FLAC
- Label: Le Coq Musique (2009)
- Writer: Lee Simeone
- Producer: Lee Simeone
- Tracks: 6
An Introduction to Simeone (features guest musicians: Gary Asquith, Kevin Mooney and Karel Fialka)
- Released: 13 June 2011
- Format: CD
- Label: Le Coq Musique
- Writer: Lee Simeone
- Producer: Lee Simeone
- Tracks: 21
- Singles: Translucent Track
Men at Work Still Life EP (features guest appearance: Ron Strykert)
- Released: 27 September 2014
- Format: 12" blue / splattered vinyl
- Label: Sony Music Entertainment
- Writer: Colin Hay, Lee Simeone
- Producer: Peter McIan, Lee Simeone
- Tracks: 3
Men at Work You Better Take Cover (OST) (official soundtrack to the 2015 documentary short of the same name)
- Released: 19 April 2018
- Format: CD
- Label: Vernal Equinox Records Ltd. via PledgeMusic
- Writer: Ham, Hay, Strykert, Simeone, Williams, Fox, Scealy, Lowe, Mulry, Phillips
- Producer: Lee Simeone
- Tracks: 15 + 4 video tracks on bonus disc
Best Seat in the Dream (CD version features guest musician: Milton Reame-James, ex-Cockney Rebel)
- Released: 24 May 2019
- Format: Digital / CD
- Label: Vernal Equinox Records Ltd.
- Writer: Lee Simeone (alias: Future Synth-Smith)
- Producer: Lee Simeone
- Tracks: 5
Before the Internet (features artwork by Charlotte Rainger-Dingle)
- Released: 31 December 2022
- Format: Digital / CD
- Label: Music LCD
- Writer: Lee Simeone (alias: Future Synth-Smith)
- Producer: Lee Simeone
- Tracks: 10
| Year | Title | Role | Production company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Ashes to Ashes | Dancer | BBC |
| 2015 | You Better Take Cover | Executive Producer | Vernal Equinox Records Ltd. |
References
edit- ^ "Simeone, Lee Jason Raymond". ASCAP / ACE Title Search. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ SoundClick artist: SIMEONE – Ambient electronic, think Gary Numan with a mix of John Foxx & Jean Michel Jarre. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
- ^ "Le Coq Musique". Discogs. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ "Kevin Mooney". Discogs.com. 20 October 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ "Karel Fialka". Discogs.com. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ "Karel Fialka – "The Eyes Have It" Live 2011"". 26 March 2011. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2015 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Simeone". Best Seat in the Dream by Simeone. Discogs.com. 1 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "BBC TV series". 1 January 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
- ^ "Men at Work". Still Life EP by Men at Work. Discogs.com. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ "Cargo LP". Still Life EP by Men at Work. Discogs.com. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
- ^ "Men at Work". Still Life EP by Men at Work. Discogs.com. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
- ^ "You Better Take Cover (2015) – IMDb". IMDb. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ "The Melbourne Documentary Film Festival". Beamafilm.com. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Past Winners – St Kilda Film Festival". Stkildafilmfestival.com.au. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- ^ "Documentary Shorts". Maniff.com. 17 February 2016. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
- ^ "You Better Take Cover_ Abbey Road Studios _ Video Update _ PledgeMusic". PledgeMusic. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Men at Work: You Better Take Cover on PledgeMusic". PledgeMusic. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Turning Point Sydney PledgeMusic". PledgeMusic. 8 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Men at Work :whocanit.be – CARGO". bigcartel.com. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
