Icarus Peel

Peel was raised in London Town and listened to The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Cat Stevens obsessively as he grew up. In his late teens he helped his West Indian friends with their huge "sound systems" blasting deep roots reggae across the shebangs and dark dives of South London. The throb and space of those days have stayed with him.

The first band he made any waves with were The Tattooed Love Gods who managed to mess up their big chance of being signed when one of their guitar players OD'ed just prior to the most important gig. At this time Peel was lead singer and tambourine thumper. He first met Crystal Jacqueline when they were together in Daylight's Burning, Peel playing bass during those years which included a long stint in Dubai.

The clock moves ever onward and we find Peel in Devon playing guitar with local heroes StemRoach who blended original songs with individual takes on cover versions. It was in this band that he first played with future Honey Potters Iain Crawford and Simon Fear, future Crystal Jacqueline/Acid Reign drummer Brian Rushbrooke and current Acid Reign drummer Jay Robertson. He began to dabble in psychedelic recording encouraged by friend Bruce Woolley of The Buggles. Eventually, as a bet, he produced an album of short psyche songs with friends and The Honey Pot were born. Successful recordings and gigs followed and the thought occurred that perhaps something new was needed and Crystal Jacqueline as a solo performer was born, such talent and beauty demanded it's own outlet.

Peel discovered that writing for the two different entities worked well but performing with them live was, albeit great fun, a little stilted, too many keyboards and singers!! So on a trip to London Icarus Peel's Acid Reign appeared in his head as a complete idea. A power/psyche trio based on good songs and with lots of guitar. The record company liked the name so much they signed the band unheard. Now he can play in any one of three formats and enjoy them all. O what a lucky man...