Jon Courtney

Infobox musical artist


Name = Jon Courtney
Background = solo_singer
Img_size =
Birth_name = Jonathan Courtney
Born = Sheffield, England
Origin = Reading, Berkshire, U.K.
Years_active = 2000 — present
Instrument = Vocals, guitar
Genre = Progressive rock Alternative rock New prog
Alias = Cedo Simplex
Label = Superball Music
Associated_acts = All Bangers, No Mash Pure Reason Revolution The Sunset Sound
URL = http://www.purereasonrevolution.com/

Jon Courtney, who grew up in Reading, Berkshire, is a singer and guitarist in the British rock band Pure Reason Revolution. He is also responsible for most of the songwriting and lyrics, though some songs are attributed to former band-member Greg Jong. Outside of Pure Reason Revolution, Courtney is involved in the DJ set All Bangers No Mash, with partner "Jack (Knock 'em Dead)", under the pseudonym "Cedo Simplex". [ [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=247913090 MySpace.com - ALL BANGERS, NO MASH - Reading, UK - Electrique / Electrique / Electrique - www.myspace.com/allbangersnomash ] ] .

Background

Courtney and his brother and former bandmate Andrew Courtney grew up in Reading, as did Pure Reason Revolution member Chloe Alper. In an interview, Courtney points to the precise moment, at approximately age 11, when he decided he wanted to be a musician, when he saw the band Nirvana on the MTV Awards in about 1991.Wilcox, John A. [http://progsheet1.hypermart.net/courtney.html A few words with...Jon Courtney] . progsheet1. Retrieved 15/03/08.] Courtney said, " [F] rom that point on it was like "wow!" - I was transfixed by the TV - "this is what I've got to do, there's no question." The next day I was just hassling my mom for a guitar. I have to play guitar and then I started a huge obsession with Nirvana and the whole grunge scene. So that's definitely a strong turning point for me." He credited the appeal of the moment to the passion of the music and the audience and also to the "alien" style.

Courtney began playing in bands in high school.Vermillion Media. [http://vermillionmediagroup.com/pure_reason_revolution/index.html Pure Reason Revolution] vermillionmediagroup.com Retrieved 15/03/08.] He and his brother were involved in the punk band Gel, which was scouted and briefly signed by Seymour Stein, the founder of Sire Records, although it was dropped prior to releasing any material.Loundra, Alexia. (January 6 2006). [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060106/ai_n15995936 Rock & Pop: Roll on the Revolution] "The Independent". Retrieved 15/03/08.] Courtney enjoyed the experience of touring and recording, and teamed up with his brother, Alper and several others to form the indie pop band The Sunset Sound, which received some airplay before the band members dissolved the band as not representing their style.Velocity Recordings. [http://www.velocityrecordings.com/band.php?bid=14 The Sunset Sound] velocityrecordings.com. Retrieved 15/03/08.] The band's music was also inspired by a university project in which Courtney was involved creating new original music for the 1960s television show "The Prisoner".

Along with his brother and Alper, Courtney came together with Greg Jong and Jim Dobson, whom Courtney met at the University of Westminster, to form Pure Reason Revolution. [ [http://www.contactmusic.com/new/artist.nsf/artistnames/pure%20reason%20revolution Pure Reason Revolution - Latest news, reviews and pictures ] ] The band's name was inspired by Courtney's thesis on the nature of genius and its application to Beach Boy Brian Wilson, for which he studied "Critique of Pure Reason" by Immanuel Kant.

Courtney was educated at Reading Blue Coat School

ongwriting

According to Alper, the music of Pure Reason Revolution "grew organically from Jon's songs and influences".Ridgway, Julian. (April 10 2006) [http://www.disordermagazine.com/article.php?id=259 Pure Reason Revolution] . "Disorder Magazine". Retrieved 15/03/08.] The band's prevalent use of harmony, described by "Disorder Magazine" as a "trademark", is credited to Courtney. Courtney's songwriting draws together the inspiration of such bands as Nirvana, which he describes as his "first obsession", the Beach Boys, the Chemical Brothers and Crosby Stills & Nash. In 2005, Gigwise.com, who termed Courtney the "creative force" behind the band, described the "amazingly intricate" songs as "one of the most enticing things" about Pure Reason Revolution.Einwiller, Petra. (July 21 2005). [http://www.gigwise.com/contents.asp?contentid=7447 In perfect harmony: Pure Reason Revolution] . Gigwise.com. Retrieved 15/03/08.] By contrast, a reviewer in webzine Drowned in Sound's online reviews wrote that the band "makes pop songs, which stand no chance whatsoever of ever getting anywhere near the radio" [Septic Clit. [http://drownedinsound.com/articles/13293 Pure Reason Revolution at London ICA, Tue 04 Oct] . drownedinsound.com Retrieved 19/03/08.] . Another reviewer both praised and criticized the song composition, noting that the band had grasped the attributes of Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd and: [Daure, Ben.(September 22 2005) [http://www.leedsmusicscene.net/article/4237/ Mews @ cockpit] leedsmusicscene.net Retrieved 19/03/08.]

Lyrically, Courtney expresses an interest in writing about "the less obvious", stating that he writes "subconsciously about snapshots of life, observations, moments, my and other people’s experiences, dreams". Dreams, and the time individuals spend asleep, are among what Alper describes as Courtney's obsessions, which, she notes, "kind of trickle down to us". Courtney acknowledges that his lyrics are often directly inspired by his dreams, which he frequently writes down.

Equipment

Guitars
* Sunburst Fender Jazzmaster
* Candy Apple Red Fender Jaguar
* Blue Fender Jaguar
* Blue Fender Telecaster - Rarely used. Often used by PRR guitarist Jamie Willcox.

Basses
* Salmon Pink Fender Bronco Bass - only used live for "Asleep Under Eiderdown".

Strings
* Ernie Ball Regular Slinky's (tuned to either Drop D or C#)
* Ernie Ball Skinny Top, Heavy Bottom for Deus Ex Machina and In Aurelia (Tuned to Drop B)

Effects/Amplification
* Binson Echo Unit
* Boss Effects
* Line 6 Effects
* Marshall Amplification

References