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DARREL TREECE-BIRCH
-KEYBOARDS-
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BIOGRAPHY

Darrel began learning piano at age seven, buying his first synthesizer KORG DW6000 at 17, joining Fleetwood based Progressive Rock Band ‘Purple on the Storm’ in 1985 (featuring long-time collaborator Michael Alan Taylor also singer with Nth Ascension). One of the founding members of Nth Ascension (which began in 2010, one year before joining Melodic Hard Rockers ‘TEN’). Darrel released 4 albums with Nth Ascension before leaving in March 2021. As a solo artist specialising at this point primarily on ambient instrumental material but also touching on his more progressive roots Darrel has also released 4 solo albums to date. Debut album ‘Celestial’ in 2015, ‘No More Time’ in 2016, ‘Healing Touch’ in 2017 and ‘The first step is to take one’ in 2018. Joining TEN in 2011 just prior to their Fleetwoodstock appearance commemorating the start of the Stormwarning mini-tour, Darrel has played on 7 albums to date. ‘Heresy & Creed’ 2012, ‘Albion’ 2014, ‘Isla de Muerta’ 2015, ‘Gothica’ 2017, ‘Illuminati’ 2019, ‘Here Be Monsters’ 2021, and ‘Something Wicked This Way Comes’ 2022. Darrel has also collaborated on fellow Ten bandmate Steve Grocott’s ‘Signal Red’ album ‘Under the Radar’ in 2018, plus Gary Hughes solo album Waterside 2021 playing keyboards and drums, and Gary’s producer project TAO album ‘Prohecy’ 2021 sung by Ten backing Vocalist Karen Fell. Darrel has also contributed keyboards on the 2021 Scar for Life album ‘Sociophobia’ 2022, and his home-town friends album Mitchell’s Kiss of The Gypsy ‘Unfinished Business’ 2022. In 2023 Darrel embarked on a more expansive song writing exploration under the guise of ‘Darrel Treece-Birch’s Atlantea’ releasing his first album ‘Choices’ in October 2023, with several guest singers and guitarists from far and wide. A sophomore release is due late 2024 or early 2025. Also on the horizon is a new project with oldest friend Alan Allcock under the band name of ‘Dark Matter Theory’. Darrel is producing, arranging and playing several instruments of this new Rock project. This is also due for release in late 2024 or early 2025. More news to follow.

 

As a fine & graphic artist Darrel has also worked on several sleeves and booklets either in painting, designing or graphic art.

Sleeve/booklets etc designed for:

Nth Ascension: Frequencies of Day and Night and Ascension of Kings

Ten: Opera Omnia (internals), Here Be Monsters, Something Wicked This Way Comes

Gary Hughes: Waterside

Michael Alan Taylor: Avalonia

Darrel Treece-Birch: No More Time, The first step is to take one (painting by Luke Treece-Birch)

Darrel Treece-Birch’s Atlantea: Choices

 

Cover Art:

Darrel Treece-Birch: Celestial (painting), Healing Touch (painting)

TAO: Prohecy: Original Sleeve Cover -Graphic Art

Darrel Treece-Birch’s Atlantea: Choices

 

 

DISCOGRAPHY (Release Order):

Nth Ascension: Frequencies of Day and Night: 11.11.05 - keyboards

Ten: Heresy & Creed: 12.10.19 - keyboards

Ten: Albion: 14.11.21 - keyboards

Nth Ascension: Ascension of Kings: 14.12.13 - keyboards

Ten: Isla De Muerta: 15.05.20 - keyboards

Ten: The Dragon & St. George (EP): 15.09.04 - keyboards

Darrel Treece-Birch: Celestial: 15.10.02 - keyboards

Ten: Battlefield: 16.06.17 - keyboards

Darrel Treece-Birch: No More Time: 16.018.19 – keyboards, programming

Nth Ascension: In Fine Initium: 16.10.14 - keyboards

Ten: Gothica: 17.07.07 - keyboards

Darrel Treece-Birch: Healing Touch: 17.10.27 – keyboards, drums, guitars, bass

Signal Red: Signal Red: 18.02.23- keyboards (selected tracks)

Michael Alan Taylor: Avalonia: 18.06.29- production & keyboards

Ten: Illuminati: 18.11.09- keyboards

Darrel Treece-Birch: The first step is to take one: 18.12.14 – keyboards, drums, guitars, bass

Nth Ascension: Stranger Than Fiction: 19.05.31- keyboards

Ten: Opera Omnia (boxset): 19.04.26- keyboards (selected albums)

Gary Hughes: Waterside: 21.03.12- keyboards & drums

Tao: Prophecy: 21.10.15- keyboards

Ten: Here Be Monsters: 22.02.18- keyboards

Scar For Life: Sociophobia: 22.07.22- keyboards

Mitchell’s Kiss Of The Gypsy: Unfinished Business: 22.09.29- keyboards

Ten: Something Wicked This Way Comes: 23.01.20- keyboards

Darrel Treece-Birch’s Atlantea: Choices: 23.10.06 - keyboards, drums, guitars, bass

FILE - FAN FACTS
PLACE OF BIRTH
Fleetwood, Lancashire, UK
EQUIPMENT
Roland D.50
Korg M1
Korg Trinity
Korg Triton Extreme
Korg Kronos
 (Although I tend to use 2 on stage with TEN)
FAVOURITE TEN TRACKS
Ten Fathoms Deep
Spellbound
The Robe
(And Apparition, A Smuggler's Tale, Glimmer Of Evil, Centre Of My Universe, Love Song, After The Love Has Gone, Through The Fire, Lamb To The Slaughter, Goodnight Saigon and Wildest Dreams and of course THE NAME OF THE ROSE! :) )
FIRST MUSICAL HEROES
Jean-Michel Jarre
Rick Wakeman
Tony Banks
TOP 3 FILMS
Blade Runner
Shawshank Redemption
Avatar
TOP 3 BOOKS
Emerald Dawn
Blackest Night
Rebirth
TOP 3 CITIES
York
Edinburgh
Cardiff
TOP 3 FOODS
Chicken
Fish
Steak
(All served with a nice plate of chips and NO peas)
TOP 3 DRINKS
Tea
Irn Bru
Dr. Pepper
DESERT ISLAND TOP 5
Marillion - Misplaced Childhood (My Daughter's name is there!!)
Genesis - Foxtrot
Porcupine Tree - Fear Of A Blank Planet
Dream Theater - Scenes From A Memory
Frost - Milliontown
Could easily change my mind tomorrow though ;)
DREAM LIVE VENUE
Red Rocks - what a venue!
FAN Q&A
1) Which are your main musical influences?
I think that a cocktail of styles and genres has influenced me. The obvious ones are really ambient synthesizer music of the mid to late 70’s and progressive rock from the same era. I also feel however that the keyboard layers and approach to AOR also played apart from the likes of Foreigner, Toto, Survivor etc.
2) Which are the most challenging TEN tracks to play live?
That would be Valentine. 2 reasons. It’s not easy to play anyway and that is compounded when you’re on your own for umpteen bars :) Regardless of that it is a wonderful song, beautifully composed with an awesome guitar lead. What else is needed for a timeless ballad?
3) What's your first childhood memory of doing something rock related?
Skipping stones out to sea and seeing how many bounces I could get before it sank!
4) Which are your favourite three songs of all time?
Awaken (Yes). Numbers 2 downwards changes a lot depending on what I’m currently playing. At the minute N02 would be San Jacinto (Peter Gabriel) and N03 Black Light Machine (Frost*)
5) Who would play you if a movie about the band was made?
Hal Jordan!
6) What was your first day job?
Delivering Milk – 14yrs old.
7) Which hobbies/interests you have that could surprise people?
I have nearly 3,000 DC comics. Being a bit artistic I always loved the superhero graphic comics and the way they were drawn. Once you get hooked into the story lines and that universe though it’s a bit hard to stop. I still paint and draw but no were near as much as I would like to, music takes up so much of my life these days with all the projects I’m in. It is a wonderful place to be though, no complaints. I owe Gary and TEN a debt for giving this musician the opportunity to spread my broken wings.
8) Which are your favourite sports/teams?
Not overly interested in following a particular sport or team. I used to play a lot of English football and Rugby at school. (I know I’m a skinny weed but I was quite fast on the wings). I’ll watch England play but never expect much. I’m English, you have to get used to it!
9) Where is your favourite place in the world?
I’ve not traveled much, apart from with my brothers in TEN so I’ll stick with home and the Lake District, Cumbria, England.
10) Who is your favourite musician?
Right now that would be Jem Godfrey of Frost*. Uber-talented, comical, excellent performer, composer and producer. A total spawny git. :)  That’s me being utterly jealous. He seems a decent bloke too. 
11) What is your favourite breakfast cereal?
All Bran Golden Cruch or maybe Shreddies.
12) What is your favourite music guilty pleasure?
I like what I like (in my wardrobe), I’m not ashamed of any of it. Some others would see it as an issue not me. I love early Genesis, but I also love all Collins era Genesis AND his first 3 or 4 solo albums.
13) What is the proudest moment in your musical career so far?
My first night on stage with TEN in my home town on the same stage I played my first public performance. I had played it before but that was a totally different experience, nervous and elated at the same time.
14) Which would you say have been your role models in life?
My Mother.
Life Motto:
You're only here once, why make enemies?
Life's too short so in the words of Woody from Toy Story "Play Nice".
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