Simon Crab

Born left hearted in Liverpool, England, Simon Crab started off as a precocious young lad who founded Bourbonese Qualk with his brother in the late 70’s. They were not sure about the meaning behind the name but figured that moniker was as good as any. Crab was often in scuffles with authority be it in or outside school, this theme would be echoed later in life and music, only with more defined theory behind his resistance. In the early 80’s, Crab appeared at local radio stations in and around Liverpool to promote the nascent UK electronic and Power Electronic music scenes. He took out ads in local magazines for a call to submissions and founded the Recloose Organisation with the debut compilation, “Sudden Departure” (1982). Recloose was to be a collectivist label with new artists and releases to provide ongoing funding. Alas, not all artists who joined shared said ideals and some 13 releases later, Recloose went bust in 1986. By the time the first Bourbonese Qualk album was released, “Laughing Afternoon” (Recloose, 1983), Crab’s brother was no longer a member, but instead was joined with Julian Gilbert (vocals, theatrics) and Steven Tanza (percussion). For the next several years members would come and go with constant always being Crab until the dissolution of the band in 2001. As Bourbonese Qualk, Crab played mainly electronics and later did vocals with the departure of Gilbert, but also learned traditional instruments like guitar (acoustic and electric in African ethno-styles), Gamelan, wind instruments, among others. Bourbonese Qualk operated out of squats and played any venue (both sides of the Iron Curtain) that would allow them.