Hi Ant-Bee / Billy James Fans, Their is now an official page of
Billy's on MySpace; Glass Onyon Productions. If MySpace is already a
part of your Internet life, please request being friends, and show
support.

http://www.myspace.com/glassonyon

The profile page itself is still in the beginning stages. Give it time
and we'll try to have it keep your interest.

Also, messages can be sent directly to Billy via the MySpace page.

Thanks!

Gary Brown
Coordinator of Ant-Bee and Friends.

Hey folks - sorry for such a delay - busy with all things ANT-BEE
here at the Electrik Yak Observatory.

First, I have recently been contacted by famous Dutch DJ Co de Kloet
of NPR Netherlands about doing a radio show about ANT-BEE. Also plans
are to premier ANT-BEE's version of the Beach Boys "Barnyard"
from 'Smile' on the show. Keep an eye on the Web Bizarre

http://www.antbee.com

for updated info as it comes in.

I am still working on "Electronic Church Muzik" and hopefully will
have completed this year.

Also my books on Todd Rundgren vol. 2 and Badfinger with Joey Molland
are still being worked on. If anyone has photos they wish to
contribute now is the time - you'll recieve photo credits and
acknowledgements.

Also my publicity company Glass Onyon PR is working various acts -
primarily The Lizards (Rainbow/BOC/Riot) members, NYC Blues Devils,
Ignarus, Grande Mothers (ex-MOI), Mark Gandy, and Maximum Overdrive,
amongst others. Below is the shameless plug....

GLASS ONYON PROMOTIONS

Welcome to Glass Onyon Promotions – a multi-facetted publicity
company specializing in the promotions of bands/labels/releases/tours
and gigs.

Glass Onyon PR differs from most commercial/AOR press agencies due to
our expertise in the promotions of alternate genres of music –
Hard
Rock, Classic Rock, Progressive Rock, Heavy Metal, Avant-Garde. Glass
Onyon PR has amassed a network of writers/reviewers/news sources
worldwide to achieve top media exposure; Internet – official
websites, news services, newsgroups, message boards, fan sites, etc.
Off-line media – periodicals, publications (National and
International.) Unlike other publicity companies, Glass Onyon PR
offers alternative services such as shopping material for label
deals, publishing deals, licensing and distribution.

Some of our clients:
The Grandmothers (ex- Mothers Of Invention)
Michael Bruce (ex- Alice Cooper)
Bouchard, Dunaway and Smith (ex- BOC/Alice Cooper)
Napoleon Murphy Brock (ex-Zappa)
Joey Molland (Badfinger)
Todd Rundgren /Sanctuary Records
The Lizards (ex-Rainbow/BOC/Riot)
Vanilla Fudge
Travers &Appice
Peter Banks (Yes)
Rockette Morton (ex-Capt. Beefheart)
Lamanna
Maximum-Overdrive
Mitch Mitchell
Harvey Dalton Arnold (Outlaws)
Stewkey (The Nazz)
Lito Music Group
Ignarus
Mark Gandy
NYC Blues Devils
Circle of Fear

Glass Onyon Promotions offer a wide variety of services to suit your
publicity needs. Please contact us for more info:

Antbee0@...

or

http://www.ant-bee.com/services.htm

Fax – 910-793-0650
P.O. Box 207
Carolina Beach, NC. 28428-0207 USA

OK, my Pure Electrik Honey is gurgling so I will say good-bye and in
the immortal words of Mother Ray Collins "See ya 'round the planet...'

Billy James

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Ant-BeeAndFriends

Greetings Ant-Bee Fans, For those of you who read Billy's book about
Peter Banks, here's a message from Peter concerning his involvement
recently with a band from his past called (The) Syn. Wish it was
better news.

*DECEPTION AND LIES: A TIME AND A NEED FOR PROVOCATION*


Statement from Pete Banks 24/03/05

I, Pete Banks, would like to make this statement regarding my
relationship with the band known as Syn. I have been concerned with
certain gossip on the Internet regarding my relationship with this
band.

I was originally a member of Syn, comprised of Chris Squire, Andrew
Jackman, Gunner Hakonarson and Steve Nardelli from around 1965 until
their demise two and a half years later. (These dates are
approximate). Steve Nardelli, the original singer of Syn, made a
proposal to me that the Syn should be resurrected out of 'cold
storage' and a meeting took place on the 31st of October Halloween
2003, which included Martyn Adleman, who had left the band around the
time I joined back in the midst of the sixties. The original keyboard
player and drummer sadly no longer cease to be.

The three of us decided to go ahead with the project, the funding of
which would be provided by Nardelli. Nardelli and I spent much of
November, December, and January writing and rewriting old and
potentially new Syn material. I was recruited as producer, arranger,
and co-writer, as well as guitar player and taking care of the
personnel in the new band. Keyboardist, friend, and long-time working
partner Gerard Johnson agreed to play and engineer on a newly
proposed Syn album.

So, with the material that Nardelli and I had bashed together on
acoustic guitars, we had some ideas for songs for a new Syn album;
also a new archive album was proposed consisting of pre-historic Syn
connections. The whole band began recording early in 2004. As
producer, I wanted the project to sound like a group that had been
transported from the sixties into the 21st century, and had found out
that they could still play together.

The worrying fact that Martyn Adleman had not played drums
professionally for over 30 years and that Steve Nardelli, who is
running a sporting goods company, and had sang very little as a rock
lead vocalist--all these handicaps could be overcome--and to a degree
they were. Two pieces were completed 'Grounded' (an old Syn single)
and 'Illusion' (a more atmospheric piece masquerading as an
epic). 'Time and a Word' was begun and most sections were completed.
Unfortunately, Steve could not do full justice to the vocal as he had
to rush away to go on holiday the next day--a big headache for myself
as I had only been informed of this a few hours beforehand.

Most recording projects of such a loose structure suffer from
technical and performance problems, which often a producer can
overcome, but, the absence of the singer and the shakiness of the
drummer are impossible to fix in the mix. We overran on studio time,
Gerard Johnson and myself had to finish a bulk of instrumentation and
backing vocals at his home. The mixing sessions were difficult
because of interruptions from Martyn and Steve (having then returned
from his holiday). Comments such as 'can I hear more drums?' and 'the
vocals sound a bit far back' can be a nightmare at such times. On the
more positive side, the three pieces of music turned out pretty good,
considering the conditions under which they were made. My arrangement
and rewriting of 'Grounded' sounds very satisfactory and almost like
a real band. Likewise, 'Illusion' has become a mini-epic with its
components firing on all systems in the 'old prog rock tradition'.
Although there was a bit of a fight for prominence and domination in
the mix, it was definitely overflowing with ideas taking us back to
those late sixties values of musical freedom and enthusiasm that I
still love. A new version of 'Time and a Word' remains unfinished,
the vocal track is weak and my guitar parts are unfinished along with
the music-links that push the piece together. I hope the current Syn
do not fuck it up.

The last time I met Steve Nardelli was on the fourth of April 2004,
appropriately just after April Fool's Day. He told me how happy he
was with the three pieces and that we would finish them later on in
the year when he could gather more funds to spend on the project. He
also told me that I was indispensable to Syn and I had made the songs
live again (perhaps I had misheard him on that one!). Despite my
attempts to contact him, he has never spoken to me for nearly one
year.

To make things clear and transparent, hear are the relevant facts:

I put the band together, recruiting Gerard Johnson and several bass
players--Steve Gee was gracious enough to step in at the last moment
to deputise. He coached and guided Martyn Adleman with his drumming
and was a model of courtesy, reliability, and patience. I do not
think that he ever got paid.

I originally suggested Chris Squire on bass, to which everyone
agreed. Steve Nardelli, when I gave him Chris' number, never called.

I co-wrote all the songs.

I arranged all the songs.

I played guitar.

I sang backing vocals with Gerard Johnson.

I produced the recordings of the three aforementioned songs.

I would like to make it clear that I am no longer a part of Syn,
although nobody has officially informed me of this. I find the
suggestion that I was hired as a session player very offensive as a
professional musician. Steve Nardelli and Martyn Adleman are not
competent performers, they are amateurs and I doubt that they can
be 'roadworthy' or fit enough to play any gigs without substantial
musical and physical assistance. Gerard Johnson's despicable attitude
to my disposability has been unprofessional, two-faced, and
deceitful. I use to regard him as a friend--a piece of bad judgement
on my part.

The whole Syn project, which I worked on the 1st Nov 2003 to the 4th
April 2004, with so much enthusiasm and energy has become a complete
waste of time; I have never been thanked or credited and it has been
thrown back in my face. They deserve no success or credibility as a
band or as human beings.

You can find the old Syn singles and B-sides plus a demo of 'Flower
Man' on my compilation 'Can I Play You Something?' featuring Mabel
Greer's Toyshop, Yes, etc., released 1999 on Blueprint records
BP301CD.

I find the behavior of Nardelli, Adleman, and Johnson totally
mystifying. Their deceitful, hypocritical and cowardly behavior and
inability to deal with the situation that I find myself in is
something that I have never had to deal with in this profession. They
refuse to even discuss this matter and release Syn material without
any consultation with myself whatsoever. This also applies to the
compilation album which I am featured on and was asked to produce,
having already supplied a lot of archive material from my own
personal collection. Incidentally, I do not include Chris Squire
amongst this cast of villains, as he joined the band after my
departure.

This whole Syn enterprise really stinks and I would just like to make
people aware if they are contemplating purchasing any of these Syn
projects of what kind of people the aforementioned characters really
are. I am really saddened by my need to have to make this statement;
music is the foremost drive in my life and the massive hypocrisy of
these people fills me with intense outrage.

To Johnson, Nardelli, and Adleman, why not be human, why not show
emotion...(very hard for most English people)? Why not have a fucking
opinion?

Pete Banks

www.adequatesounds.com

www.peterbanks.net

Greetings Ant-Bee Fans,

Got some Ant-Bee (Billy James) news:

Billy James book on The Mothers Of Invention - 'Necessity Is...' has
just been reissued in UK with different format in size, and updated
material. The book is now available in all Barnes & Nobles. Also the
book was issued in Italy under a different name 'Freak Out!' and is
completely in Italian.

Billy James publicity company Glass Onyon PR has recently worked the
likes of the Vanilla Fudge, The Lizards (feat. ex-
BOC/Rainbow/Sabbath), Michael Bruce, The Grandmothers and Todd
Rundgren's latest CD "Liars." Any serious artists interested in the
services Glass Onyon PR provides go to

http://www.ant-bee.com

for more info.

Also ANT-BEE was mentioned in Brian Wilson's 'Smile' tour program -
the fact that ANT-BEE was the first to cover one of 'Smile's
unreleased compositions 'Do You Like Worms?' is discussed.

End of Update.

Thanks to everyone who subscribes, and reads Ant-Bee And Friends. We
here wish everyone a very happy, and healthy holiday season.

Gary Brown
Coordinator of Ant-Bee And Friends

Hello Everyone, Got a few words from Billy to pass along:

The ANT-BEE Web Bizarre is now up and running - still working out a
few bugs.

ANT-BEE's cover version of the Beach Boys "Do You Like Worms?" was
the topic of Atlanta's "Smile Convention" at Ear Candy Records in GA,
in early June.

The track which appears on the 1995 CD/LP "ANT-BEE With My Favorite
Vegetables," was originally recorded in 1990 and by odd chance was
mistaken for a rare outtake from the 1966/67 "Smile" sessions. It was
later broadcasted on a Beach Boys radio special as a rare find, and
subsequently wound up on some very elaborate Beach Boys bootleg LPs
and CDs.

Once ANT-BEE's 4th album "Electronic Church Muzik" is completed, the
next project will be ANT-BEE "Smiles" (an attempt to pay tribute to
the Brian Wilson masterpiece). Keep an eye and ear here (newsletter
and website) for more info.

Also, Glass Onyon Promotions (Billy James PR company) has recently
been hired by Sanctuary Records to aid in the marketing of Todd
Rundgren's new album "Liars", and subsequent archival releases. If
interested in joining Sanctuary's Todd Rundgren mailing list please e-
mail:

antbee0@...

Other artists Glass Onyon PR has worked with are The Grandmothers,
The Lizards (ex-BOC/Rainbow/Riot), Rockette Morton (Beefheart),
Napoleon Murphy Brock (Zappa), Michael Bruce (Alice Cooper), Joey
Molland (Badfinger), Bouchard, Dunnaway and Smith (BOC/Alice Cooper),
Stewkey (The Nazz) , Ron Lamanna and others. For more information, or
if you are an act interested in "promotion", please contact me at:

antbee0@...

Ok - Thanks as always,

Billy

http://www.ant-bee.com

Sent: Friday, April 09, 2004 1:09 PM
Subject: Update

Hello folks, after a temporary spell in limbo, the ANT-BEE Web
Bizarre will soon be revamped with new features and design in places
(I bet you're thrilled).

Currently Billy James has been hired by Sanctuary Records US to aid
in PR/marketing of the new Todd Rundgren CD "Liars" (Yer ANT-BEE
says, 'Go buy this wonderful disc now!!!!'). Anyone on this list (or
anyone you know) who wish to be added to the Sanctuary Todd Rundgren
mailing list please e-mail: antbee0@...

I'm still working on ECM (bit by bit) - there's is a review of some
of the material at www.united-mutations.com

Likewise, still working on both Badfinger book with Joey Molland and
TR vol. 2 book (interviewing Prairie Prince this coming week)

OK, in the words of Mother Ray Collins "See You Around The Planet"

Billy James

http://www.ant-bee.com

Hi Ant-Bee / Billy James Fans,

A quick update from Billy:

1) Anyone wishing to contribute photos of Badfinger or Todd Rundgren
(1976 to present) for upcoming books on both artists please contact
me. You will receive appropriate credits.

2) Anyone wishing to recieve a CDROM catalog of over 300,000 imports
CDs and DVDs please contact william@...

3) I'm still working on both Electronic Church Muzik and Smile albums

4) I'm still looking for a label or financial backing for the above
titles.

In the immortal words of Mother Ray Collins, 'See You Around The
Planet.'

End of update.

Till Next Time,

Gary Brown
Coordinator of Ant-Bee And Friends

note: E-mail Gary Brown at; muziklistener0816@...

Good Day Everyone, Just got this update from Billy, in which he asked
me to pass it on:

from Billy James:

Both the Peter Banks and Todd Rundgren books will be available in
book stores within the next week (Barnes and Nobel, Borders etc.).

Also I will most likely do a book signing tour this summer.

Thanks for the support.

Billy

Coordinator's comment:

Very good news! Will pass along more information as it becomes
available.

Till next time.

Gary Brown
Coordinator of Ant-Bee And Friends.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ant-BeeAndFriends/

http://www.ant-bee.com

helpful links:

http://www.bn.com

http://www.bordersstores.com

Hi Subscribers, Just got this from Billy. A quick update on what he
is up to in the beginning of this new year:

From: Ant-Bee ( Billy James )
Subj: Re: Update
Date: 1/6/03 4:25:32 PM Central Standard Time

For the Ant-Bee And Friends Mailing List:

The Todd Rundgren book is finally out - for more information, go to:

www.goldentreasurespublishing.com

Just finished the basic manuscript to the Badfinger book now
called "When I Was A Boy - My Life With Badfinger" - Joey Molland
will be making the corrections and additions etc in the coming weeks.
Also just got a set of Temple Blocks and will be putting them
everywhere on Electronic Church Muzik - the new ANT-BEE album, not to
mention my Smile project. Also waiting for Bill Nelson to let me know
if he wants to do a book on Be Bop Deluxe.

Thanks for the support.

Billy

coordinator: Along those lines, here's a statement from Billy that he
posted on his website Ant-Bee's Web Bizarre back in February of 2002.
The topic is his up and coming Ant-Bee project; Electronic Church
Muzik:

Artist Disclaimer   

I realize it has been a number of years betwixt the release of ANT-
BEE - Lunar Muzik and my new album (still unfinished) Electronic
Church Muzik. Many of you have expressed concern as to why such a
delay in my work. It is true that I have been working on my new opus
for an exorbitant amount of time - I am very aware of this. But I
feel now is the time to explain why my spiritual extravaganza has
taken so long to finish. For one important reason -- when I do my
work it is done with great assiduous articulation. Therefore,
countless hours of studio time is required to accurately execute the
recordings. These hours translate into a considerable amount of
money - ah yes, money - the golden rainbow at the end of an artist's
sky. It is no secret that the ANT-BEE has been screwed more than once
from his former record labels, as well as many unsavory characters in
the music business that have detained, detracted and sucked much
precious energy from the downtrodden artist of the avant-garde.
Similarly, concurrent to the recent muck of innocuous muzak sprouting
from every corner of the globe - record labels are not willing to
sign an artist like ANT-BEE - "too progressive" - one label told me
that my work was way ahead of its time and to come back in 20 years
and we'll discuss it then (yuk, yuk). 

But hey, this is not a note of discouragement, rather encouragement -
for the album is a testament to GOD and therefore GOD alone knows
when, where and how it shall be released!!! So fear not - for you
will soon drink from the fountain of pure electric honey again - for
it is predestined...

ANT-BEE, February 2002

(Electronic Church Muzik confirmed guest appearances: Daevid Allen,
Gilli Smyth, Bunk Gardner, Don Preston, Michael Bruce, Peter Banks,
Jan Akkerman, Zoot Horn Rollo, Rockette Morton, Napolean Murphy
Brock, Moogy Klingman, Roger Powell, Motorhead, Bob Harris.)

More to come.

Gary Brown
Coordinator of Ant-Bee And Friends

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ant-BeeAndFriends/

Hi Ant-Bee - Billy James Fans, Ever since I decided to create this
mailing list, I've been racking my brain with the question of how to
start this off.  For the longest time I really didn't have a clue.
Should it be about Ant-Bee? One of the many books that Billy has
written, or been a part of? Maybe about a musician that Billy has
associated himself with? Frankly I'm not Mr. Know-It-All when it
comes to Billy. I read a few of his books. Have a few CD's that he is
a part of. Bitten off more then I could chew starting this list, the
little voice in my head told me time and time again. Then it dawned
on me. Thank you.

About a month or so ago, I received a CD in my mailbox. The name of
the CD is "Balls". The artist is Napoleon Murphy Brock. I remembered
the name. Received a e-mail one day from Billy telling me about this
guy. I didn't know who he was. "Worked with Zappa," replied Billy. I
grew up in the seventies. Was into rock n' roll. Of course I knew of
Frank Zappa. Who in the seventies that was into rock n' roll has not
heard of Frank Zappa? Was never a huge fan. Not like Billy. Over the
years I've collected a few Zappa releases. After Billy mentioning the
name, I looked for Napoleon in my Zappa collection. For a short while
afterwards I managed to get a hold of several releases Napoleon was
on. I even found a bootleg at a record show. While listening to all
this stuff, I researched Mr. Brock on the Internet. A couple months
later if the name was mentioned, I could at least tell you a little
about him.

I play the CD that arrived unannounced in my mailbox. I hear some
Zappa influences.  I read the booklet. Chester Thompson on drums. I
knew who that was. The voice. Not that I'm a huge fan of vocalists,
but Napoleon has a good voice. A strong voice. Stands out. Not all
the same music song after song. A little rock. Might even call it
progressive rock at that. Some R&B. Even has rap. Includes
instrumentals, and even good old fashion whistling. No one whistles
anymore. More people should. After giving the CD several plays, I can
say over all I enjoy it very much, and that it has something for
everybody. If one track don't get you, another will. For the
ZappaHeads, a cool CD to add in that ever growing Zappa related
collection.

Thank you. Oh yeah, almost forgot. That's how this started off. The
subject line here is "thank you". In the booklet of the Napoleon
Murphy Brock CD called Balls, reads this; "Special Thanks - To the
following who are friends and more and without this project would not
been possible:" Ten people mentioned, one being Billy James. After
much thinking about how to start this off, it dawned on me. Thank you
Billy. Because of Billy, I know more about Frank Zappa then I would
ever have cared to know. That's written in a good way. I appreciate
the music of Frank more now, and the musicians who helped him create
that. Doing a mailing list about Billy, which includes being
subscribed to a mailing list about Billy, it's apparent that other
musicians are going to be discussed. That's why the name "Ant-Bee and
Friends."

Subscribers: Thank you for joining and holding on until something
went out. Hard to say at the moment where the future will bring us.
If anything I'm sure it won't be boring. Feedback is more then
welcome. Got a lot to do. Since I've done virtually no promotion for
this list at all, right now we've got one of the best kept secrets on
the Internet. That has to change. Tell your friends. Send in idea's.
Lets see where in the wonderful world of Ant-Bee we land next.

Gary Brown
Coordinator of Ant-Bee and Friends.

Check out:

http://www.napoleonmbrock.com

http://www.ant-bee.com