Acid Brass

Acid Brass is the brainchild of concept artist Jeremy Deller. It is the unlikely fusion of Acid House anthems with the sound of a traditional British Brass Band, the result of which has received much appreciation from varied audiences across Europe and beyond. Since its conception in 1998, Acid Brass has been performed in locations such as the Tate Modern (London), The Louvre (Paris), and at many large popular music festivals across Europe. It continues to be enjoyed by music and art lovers and provides The Fairey band with the opportunity to reach new and unfamiliar audiences.

The foundation for this music is explained by Deller's own drawing entitled 'A History of the World', showing how although despite first appearances the two movements are clearly linked through their social and political settings.

'A History of the World' by Jeremy Deller © Jeremy Deller

How it Began

By Jeremy Deller

My first contact with the Williams Fairey Band was through telephone conversations with John Cresswell. I'd been given his number by Brass Band World but I have to admit that I was nervous about approaching him with the idea for "Acid Brass". I had expected the Brass Band community to be totally dismissive of the project and I couldn't believe it when he happily agreed to the idea. Admittedly I didn't mention the words "Acid House", I called it "a new commission for Brass Bands involving contemporary dance music". What I also didn't tell him was that not one note had been transposed and the budget was around £2,000 short. Minor details as far as I was concerned, I'd managed somehow to get myself the best Brass Band in the country through a single phone call.

The first face to face meeting was at Kenwood Bowl on a wet Bank Holiday weekend. It was also the first time that I had met Rodney Newton, sheltering under an umbrella. His enthusiasm was such a lift and everything that night was falling into place. This was especially the case when the Band struck up: I was blown away by their playing, and I'm not ashamed to say that it brought a tear to my eye. seeing and hearing them reminded me why I had wanted to do this in the first instance.

I later found John and he took me backstage to see the Band. I didn't really meet anyone at this point, I just stood in a corner with my cup of tea and digestive trying to be invisible. I have to admit that the first few times I was around the Band, I was petrified by them as I felt such an outsider, it seemed to be such a tight knit group of friends like a football team or army brigade even. Also I thought they might resent playing the songs - what if I caused a mutiny in the Band? The next time I saw the Band was in Birmingham, it was there I became aware of what the Brass Band movement is up against. The Band was playing beautifully to a respectably sized audience, but in the front row there was an elderly woman doing her knitting, hardly rock and roll! It was at this point that I began to realise why John was so up for taking a risk with me and "Acid Brass".

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