seventies
1971/2
Howard formed a Classical Rock Band called "Warrior"
Howard Jones (Keys, 18) Roger Batchelor (Bass, 19) Paul Zeisler (Guitar) Malcolm "Will" Pitcher (Vocals and Flute, 21) Graham Pitcher (Drums, 25)
1977/8
Howard had a job in a Cling Film factory in High Wycombe and married Jan Smith.
1979
Howard discovered the Synthesizer. He ordered one, but he was sent two by mistake. He was intrigued by their possibilities and began to compose music. He set his sights on a musical career, kicking off with gigs in and around High Wycombe. It was around this time that Jed Hoile joined Howard on stage providing colourful and graphic interpretations of Howard lyrics.
eighties
1980
Howard's local following increases and starts gigging further afield with some success.
1980/1
Howard & Jan pursued agents, promoters and record company people, all in the hope of securing a record deal. The general response was incredulous "A One Man band, you must be joking.. It will never work!" Howard continued, undeterred.
1982:
May:
Howard played support for acappella band "The Flying Pickets" and "The Blues Band" at Friars in Aylesbury.
Howard met his future manager, David Stopps. By November, David had become Howard's manager. David's enthusiasm and experience added to Howard's musical talents, meant that things finally began to happen.
1983:
March:
Howard performed a session for Radio One DJ David "Kid" Jensen which gave Howard his first national exposure.
May:
With only 2 days notice, Howard managed to secure the support slot on a 16 date tour with China Crisis.
June:
As a result of a 24-track demo tape of New Song and What Is Love?, Howard was signed to WEA records in the UK and Elektra Records in the US.
August:
Howard released New Song as his debut single.
September:
Howard supported OMD on a 4 date tour, and supported Peter Gabriel to an audience of 7500 people in Brussels.
Oct:
Howard's debut single, New Song hits #3 and he makes his UK TV debut on Channel 4's "Loose Talk".
1984
January:
What is Love? peaks at #2 in the UK. Howard wins the "Best New Artist" award in 3 separate readers polls, Smash Hits, No. 1 and The Daily Express
March:
Hide and Seek reaches #12 in the UK. On March 17th,
Howard released Humans Lib, and enters the UK Album charts at #1 selling 100,000 copies in its first week.
New Song reaches the US charts at #27.
And also on March 1st, The Howard Jones Fan Club was born, run by Howard's parents Thelma and John Jones.
June:
Pearl In The Shell peaks at #7 in the UK charts. What Is Love? makes the US chart #33 as Humans Lib climbs to #59.
July:
Howard supports the Eurythmics on tour in the US
August:
Like To Get To Know You Well peaks at #4 in the UK.
October:
Like To Get To Know You Well, the title to Howard's video release of a concert shot in his home town of High Wycombe.
Howard was awarded in the Smash Hits Readers Poll for the 4th Best Album of 1984 and the 7th Best Single for What is Love and 10th for Like To Get To Know You Well.
Howard says in Smash Hits when informed of the award for Humans Lib: "Did it? Bloody Hell, that's incredible! I'm really proud of 'Humans Lib' but I didn't expect it to do so well. I'm absolutely delighted because it came out in March and people still remember it now."
1985:
Howard joins Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and Thomas Dolby for a joint performance at the Grammys
April 16:
Howard plays a major concert at Wembley Arena, Wembley, London
July:
Life In One Day makes the UK chart at #14 and on July 13th, Howard flys in during the middle of a world tour and performed an acoustic version of Hide And Seek at Wembley Arena as part of Live Aid.
1986
March:
Howard released a revamped version of No One Is To Blame, which is produced by and features Phil Collins (Genesis). It reaches #16 in the UK.
May:
An album titled 'The Wycombe Compilation' is released, and features one of Howard's earliest studio recordings.
The track, 'What Can I Say?' was recorded at the Mark Angelo Studios on the 19th September 1981. The album features 12 tracks from artists from High Wycombe.
July:
The revamped version of No One Is To Blame proved a bigger success in the US, where it reached #4, (Howard highest position in the US), and then #1 in the AOR Chart.
Action Replay is released in the US peaking at #34.
November:
Howard contributes Little Bit Of Snow to the Anti-Heroin Project charity album. Live In World, with the proceeds going to the Phoenix House rehabilitation centre for drug and alcohol abuse.
One to One peaks at #56 in the US. Last World Dream and Howard Jones Live are released as videos.
1987:
Howard opens a vegetarian restaurant, Nowhere, in New York, which burns down within 12 months.
He is included in many other performances for various causes including the Hurricane Irene benefit and a performance at Madison Square Gardens in New York during the US leg of his One To One tour.
Howard joins a host of the worlds musical establishment as a member of the "Supergroup" for the Princes Trust Concerts in London. Members include Tina Turner, Midge Ure, Sir Paul McCartney, Paul Young, Mark King, Eric Clapton & Bryan Adams.
1989:
Howard tours the USA.
nineties
1990:
November:
Howard contributes to the music of One World, One Voice, the brainchild of Kevin Godley. It was first played to over a billion people worldwide.
Howard sings "We will meet again" with Bob Geldolf, and features Dave Gilmour, guitarist with Pink Floyd.
Rubáiyát - Elektras 40th anniversary compilation album is released, in which Howard contributes a cover of David Ackles' 1968 original Road To Cairo.
1991:
AAAAA: The 5 A's album was an experimental album featuring 16 tracks, of which Howard contributed 3 instrumental songs:
L'Homme Contre Danse,
Good Friday The 13th
Float 54
The album features contributions from Howard's artist friend, Steg.
1992:
April:
Lift Me Up makes the UK #52, taken from the East West released album In The Running.
During a short tour of North America, accompanied by Carol Steele, Howard plays a sell out gig at the Variety Arts Centre, Los Angeles. CA on April 28th. The show was recorded for future release.
May 6-7:
Howard Plays 2 shows at the Shaw Theatre, Euston, London.
1993:
Ending his association with WEA/EastWest/Elektra, The Best Of Howard Jones debuts at its UK #36 peak.
Dec 15th:
Howard plays at the Mean Fiddler, Harlesden.
1996:
February:
After a 2 year sabbatical, Howard has returned to live work with last years unplugged club tour across the US, followed by a performance at the Jazz Cafe in London and a show at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London with the Howard Jones Electronic Orchestra playing songs form a forthcoming release of his album Angels and Lovers. Plump Records in the US release Live Acoustic America, a live acoustic performance recorded on April 28th 1992 at the Variety Arts Theatre in Los Angeles.
Howard launches is own record label, dtox. Howard says, "dtox is a company I created in 1997 to provide a label for my own music to be released.
I found it very liberating to have so much control of my own musical and artistic destiny and then started seeing dtox as an umbrella for many other projects where other artists could have the same freedom to express their music and art."
February 5th:
Bandai release Live Acoustic America in Japan, and features a bonus track of Hide and Seek.
February 17th:
The soundtrack to the CH4(UK) programme, Party Of Five is released featuring a new track from Howard called 'If You Love' from the forthcoming release of Angels And Lovers.
June:
The soundtrack to the Japanese TV show, The Gift is released featuring another new song by Howard called 'Dreamin' On', which was released as a single in Japan.
August 20th:
Japanese record label Pony Canyon release the album Angels And Lovers. Much to the disappointment of fans, this album was only released in Japan and Asia.
November:
Angels and Lovers is released as a single in the UK on dtox records, Howard's own label.
1998:
July 6th:
Howard released on his own dtox label, the single Tomorrow Is Now. He also played the first of 2 nights at Ollies Diner in Ascot, England with his new band, Nick Beggs (ex Kajagoogoo) on Bass and Chapman stick, Robin Boult (Fish) on Guitar and Kevin Wilkinson (ex China Crisis) on drums. The Gigs continue to Camden at the Jazz Cafe (8th July) and down to Southampton (9th July)
July 14th:
Ark 21 records released Howard's new album People. With a combination of new tracks and many tracks from Angels and Lovers, it should end the disappointment for the fans who missed Angels and Lovers. The UK release date is Oct 26th
July 23rd:
The opening show of The Big Rewind tour: Culture Club, featuring Howard Jones and Human League is held at Chastain Park in Atlanta, Georgia.
1999:
February 8:
A new year. Howard releases the first single from his album, People entitled Let The People Have Their Say.
Despite huge airplay on BBC Radio 2, the single only manages #99 in the UK charts.
On the 15th, Let The People Have Their Say - The Sequel is released.
February 22:
A day before Howard's Birthday, the long awaited UK version of the Album People is released.
February 27:
Howard and his band perform at Borders Music and Book Store in London's Oxford Street.
March 4th:
Howard and his band embark on a 23 date UK tour.
June:
Howard signs to German record label Seven Days Music, and releases Let The People Have Their Say in Germany.
July:
Howard and his band return to the US for a 5 date tour.
August:
Howard plays 8 dates in the US, and 6 dates in the UK. The People album was released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on 2 August.
October/November:
Howard plays 8 dates in Germany Austria and Switzerland. Due to prior commitments, Nick Beggs and Guy Richman were replaced by new drummer Geoffe Holroyde and bassist Steve Lawson.
November 15th:
Tomorrow Is Now is released in Germany.
the new millenium
2000:
February:
At the RSH-Gold Award Show in Germany, Howard won the award for Best Comeback of 1999.
April:
Howard plays several music festivals in Europe.
June 13th :
Howard releases his long awaited single, a re recording of is 1986 hit No One Is To Blame in mainland Europe. The track was re recorded with the Munich Philharmonic String Orchestra.
July 10th:
Howard releases perform.00 in mainland Europe. The album consists of new songs and reworking of his older hits.
October - December:
Howard embarked on the Nokia Night Of The Proms tour around Europe, covering Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Holland. He was backed by a 72 piece orchestra and 50 piece choir
2001:
January 31st: The world's first Howard Jones Flash Animation on a Howard Jones website. The unofficial Howard Jones website run by Glenn Kelly, named howardjones.europe features an animation that consists of a layered section of Howard's track Let The People Have Their Say.
March 1st:
The website howardjones.europe becomes howardjones.com. Glenn Kelly becomes the Official Webmaster, taking over from Tim Davis.
April 5th:
The dtox webstore was officially opened.
The webstore is Howard's own online store where items from different "dtox" artists can be purchased.
July 26:
Howard plays keyboards for The Beatles legend Ringo Starr during the 28 date US Ringo Starr AllStar Band tour. The 2001 All Starr Band boasts an entirely new line-up of luminaries, including ex-Supertramp frontman Roger Hodgson, dance-music percussionist Sheila E., former Mott the Hoople singer Ian Hunter and King Crimson/Emerson, Lake and Palmer singer-bassist Greg Lake.
September 26:
Howard embarks on a UK tour which becomes known as The Peaceful Tour. During this tour, Howard attempts a ground breaking first. At each gig, fans were able to purchase on the night a live recording of that gig on CD.
December 31st:
Howard plays to 5000 people at the Bournemouth International Centre on New Years Eve.
Bournemouth's Biggest New Years Eve 80's Party!
2002:
Jan 1st:
Howard releases The Peaceful Tour Live via his label dtox records.
March 31st :
Following Thelma & John Jones' retirement from the Howard Jones Information Service, Howard performs a tribute to his parents at The Norden Farm Centre for the Arts in Maidenhead England.
An acoustic concert with Howard on grand piano and Robin Boult on acoustic guitars.
April:
Howard joins Headliners Hadley Norman and Keeble (Spandau Ballet) ABC, Toyah, Go West, China Crisis and Belinda Carlisle on an 8 date Arena tour of the UK for the Here & Now tour 2002
August:
Howard headlined at the Northampton Festival, England where he played to nearly 5,000 people
September:
Howard returns to Salt Lake City in the US where he plays 2 sets, one acoustic and one electric. He is joined on stage by Robin Boult on guitars, and Shaz and Robbie from dba on vocals and live mixing.
October 24th:
Howard received an award at the BMI awards at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
The award is for No One Is To Blame. It is in recognition of the song No One Is To Blame as being one of the most played records on US radio in 2000/2001.
March:
Howard performs live in Germany during an 8 date tour with German singer 'Nena'.
April 28:
Howard releases his long awaited piano solo album titled Piano Solos - For Friends & Loved Ones.
June 14:
Howard performed with Robin Boult at the Munich Olympiapark, Germany. The show was supported by Charivari 95.5.
July:
Howard heads off for the US East coast to perform dates in and around the New York area. Howard performs on the WB11 TV stations "Morning News" performing Everlasting Love and No One Is To Blame on the piano.
2003:
September 20th:
Howard performs one of his most important concerts to date. Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the release of New Song, Howard plays a sell out concert at London's Shepherds Bush Empire.
November 17th:
A special double CD release to coincide with the concert from Warner Music which includes a brand new 'Very Best Of' and a second limited edition CD which features single B Sides and other rare tracks never before released on CD, which fans and collectors have been demanding for years. The Very Best Of also includes a brand new track especially recorded this year titled 'Revolution of The Heart"
2004:
April 2nd:
Howard received the Radio Regenbogen Award in Germany in recognition of his 20th year in the music business.
The dba mix of Revolution Of The Heart was included on the album "Deeper Shades Of Euphoria"
May:
Just Look At You Now was released as a promo to clubs earlier this year and entered the UK Upfront Club Chart at #30.
Look Mama - Megamamamix was included on the Retro Active 2 album. This is the first time the track has ever appeared on CD.
September:
Dance duo Mohtio release 'Slip Away' a track based around Howard's hit single Like To Get To Know You Well. The track was a huge hit in the clubs worldwide.
November:
Slip Away reaches NUMBER ONE in the Norwegian Prime Cuts Club Charts.
2005:
March 18:
Howard releases his DVD - The 20th Anniversary Concert. This DVD is a recording of Howard's spectacular 20th anniversary concert at the Shepherds Bush Empire on September 20th 2003.
April 02:
Howard performs on UK TV for the first time in many years as he takes part in the ITV show "Hit Me baby One More Time". He performs What Is Love? and a cover of the Dido song White Flag. He was also joined on stage for the first time by his daughter, Mica Jones on Backing vocals on What Is Love?
May 13th:
Howard makes a triumphant return to Scandinavia for his first live concert since 1993. Howard performs a full on electronic set to an ecstatic crowd at the SAMA music festival in Gothenburg, Sweden.
June 16:
Howard performs on US TV for the US version of the TV show Hit Me Baby One More Time. He again sings White Flag and his US number 1 hit No One Is To Blame. Although Howard did not win the vote, the NBC TV website ran a Viewers Poll, which declared Howard as the Viewers favourite!! The Howard Jones Website received over 45,000 hits in the few hours leading up to and after the TV show.
September 5:
Howard releases his long awaited new electronic album - Revolution of The Heart in the US. Subsequent countries release the album in September.
September 9:
Howard performs back at one of his old gig haunts - the Civic Centre in Aylesbury where he performs the new album Revolution Of The Heart in its entirety for the first time. The Concert is to celebrate the release of the new album.
2006:
A busy year for Howard as he embarks on one of the most hectic touring schedules since the 1980's. He performed countless Acoustic shows in North America, Italy, Sweden, Germany and the UK,
February:
Howard re-records Things Can Only Get Better in Simmlish for the EA Game The Sims 2.
April:
Howard records a track with Ferry Corsten for his album LEF. The track was originally titled 'In Love' but was remaned 'Into The Dark'
August:
Howard performs a 4 night acoustic concert at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
November:
Howard tours the UK with Martin Fry / ABC & Toyah Wilcox on the Hitmakers Tour. Howard's set features a brand new rig and a new Drummer, Simon Edgoose
2007:
Another busy start to the year as Howard performs a month of acoustic shows in the USA between January and February, 2 dates in Dubai and a welcomed return to Australia. After a 20 year absence, Howard returns with Robin Boult to play a 9 date acoustic tour.
April:
Howard releases Revolution - Remixed and Surrounded. The album features a CD and a DVD with 5.1 surround sound mixes of tracks from his Revolution Of The Heart album.
May:
The first official Howard Jones Podcast is released.
July:
Revolution of the Heart reaches #1 on the Podmusic top 10 countdown.
October: Howard performed at the Tribute to Elton John at the Carnegie Hall.
Howard performed 'Tiny Dancer' on an electronic keyboard. But when a cable kept causing static, he stopped, retreated to the grand piano on stage right, and played the song the old-fashioned way. It was received with a standing ovation, too!!
2008:
September:
Howard performs a ground-breaking concert at The indigO2 in London, celebrating his 25th Anniversary. As Howard performed, the show was recorded and made available on 3 CD's within 5 minutes of the concert ending. Special Guests include Jed Hoile, Nick Heyward and Nick Kershaw.
2009:
November:
Ordinary Heroes, Howard's first studio album not to feature any synths.
Written and recorded over the past two years, 'Ordinary Heroes' is being regarded as Jones's best album for 20 years and is the album that fans have been waiting for. Featuring a string quartet on every track and focusing on Howard as a songwriter, the album celebrates the heroism of people in everyday life, and includes thesingle 'Soon You'll Go', which is the most moving track he has ever recorded.
2010:
February:
Respected music publication MOJO gave a 4 star review of Howard's Ordinary Heroes album in their March 2010 (issue 196) edition.
Reviewer Johnny Black writes:
"80's sytnth-pop icon re-emerges as mature singer-songwriter.
Jones The Synth, thankfully, has outlasted the barmy barnet that made him hard to take as seriously as he deserved in the 80's.
Eschewing the expectations of his original fanbase, he has allowed himself to age with grace. The overwhelmig sound here is piano accompanying voices and string quartet, while Jones's lyrics focus unerringly on the trials and triumphs of daily life.
The Celtic fiddles on poignant opener Straight Ahead might set Van The Man alerts flashing, but fear not, Jones still sounds like he give a damn, and his use of teh string section throughout Ordinary Heroes is exemplary.
The soul whoop of Collective Heartbeat and the bittersweet heartache of Soon You'll Go provide just two of several high points on an album that's not just his most consistantly fulfilling but also his most promising.
March 22nd:
Straight Ahead is released as a single from the Ordinary Heroes album.
Howard remixes 'Devestated' by 'Space Cowboy for their EP 'Electro Pioneers'
April:
As a part of the Earth Day (April 22nd) enlightenment movement, Howard Jones has teamed up with National Geographic Channel (Japan) and made their collaboration music video to send the message "Think the Earth environment".
September:
Due to public demand, Howard performs at Bestival on the Isle Of Wight.
October:
Howard performs a 6 date tour of North America.
November:
After securing a licensing deal with Warners, Howard releases digital remasters of his multi platinum selling albums Humans Lib and Dream into Action. Howard also performs the albums in their entirety for the first time at The indigO2
2011:
April:
Howard has been part of the launch of the stunning new Roland Jupiter 80 Synthesiser, launched this week at Germanys Musikmesse.
You can watch videos of Howard in his home studio with the Roland Jupiter 80:
http://stereoklang.se/blog/?p=13151
http://www.rolandconnect.com (on youtube)
Howard releases digital remasters of his albums The 12" Album and Action Replay.
October :
Howard is joined by Robbie Bronnimann and Jonathan Atkinson on a 13 date tour of North America performing Humans Lib and Dream Into Action albums.
The Humans Lib and Dream Into Action live DVD, recorded in 2010 is first released on the US Tour.
November:
The Humans Lib and Dream Into Action live DVD, recorded in 2010 is released on The Howard Jones Music Store.
The 8th incarnation of The Official Howard Jones Website is launched.
