above: yep, that's us on top of the Harlequin Centre car park in about 1990. Who says we didn't know how to have fun!

formation: 1970

Anno Domini were formed in the late 1970s when Andy and Richard lived next door to each other. The early recordings were simple compositions performed on Andy’s upright piano but in the early 80s, more affordable domestic electronic instruments became available. Although the first keyboards were very basic, Andy and Richard were soon trying to recreate iconic tunes such as Magnetic Fields 2 (Jean Michel Jarre) and Blue Monday (New Order).

pre-midi: 1980s

Before long, they began to create songs of their own and, thanks mainly to their parents’ financial backing, the pair soon had more instruments than they knew what to do with. The problem was that there was no way to synchronise them all without the use of prohibitively expensive studio equipment. Recordings were a ‘one hit’ affair using analogue cassette tapes; the guys played live and, as a result, the finished tunes were often riddled with mistakes (mostly by Richard!).

post-midi: 1988

In the late 80s, the introduction of MIDI revolutionised domestic recording forever. It enabled all future gear to be linked and by using simple MIDI sequences and Andy and Richard were suddenly able to accurately record more than one track at a time. After several years, MIDI featured on all their equipment and, as a result, their finished songs starting to take on a whole new professionalism. Anno Domini now had the perfect platform to start producing some seriously revolutionary music.

above: the Destruction of Time concert in 1991 - pictured in the background is David Ashby who played drums during the concert. Note the spelling of the band name in the background (literal translation - up the ar$e of time)

gaining a following: the early 1990s

By the early 90s, the next generation of keyboards and been created - the workstation. Korg’s M1 was ‘the holy grail’ as far as the boys were concerned, combining professional sounds, drums, a sequences and effects all in one keyboard. Knowing it would be several years before they got their hands on one, Richard and Andy carried on pushing their existing equipment to the limit - literally. Around this time, people actually started to listen to the music and in 1991 Anno Domini performed their first proper gig.

It was a resounding success... "unsung hero in the Rock of ages" - Watford Review, April 1991.... so a success according to the press reviews, and a success in that it actualy happened and the guys didn’t get arrested for having an illegal bar serving 15 year olds! But one positive thing they took away from the event was that they could do so much better. Coincidentally, Andy’s dad thought the same but realised that Andy and Richard had clearly hit a creative barrier. The following day he bought the band a brand spanking new Korg M1!

above: if one synth revolutionised our music it was this one... thanks to Andy's dad! The M1 simply blew us away at the time and our allegance to Korg has continued ever since

the golden era: 1992

1992 was probably the ‘golden era’ for the guys. Stomping tunes were being produced regularly and, despite Andy moving further away, some mad old bloke - probably blind - had given Richard a driving license, so their creativity did not suffer. Anno Domini’s second gig, called ‘Prospects’ was the perfect showcase of their recent music. It was altogether a much more professional affair than the 1990 concert. 

Better songs, improved sound quality, more atmospheric lighting, and better organisation all culminated in a fantastic event... oh, and we had a legal bar too! As in 1990, the ‘92 gig gave Anno Domini encouragement that they might be doing something right - quite what, they never quite worked out.

above: Andy at the Prospects '92 concert... very dramatic. Photo: Steve Bush

power of the workstation: mid to late 1990s

During the mid to late 90s, the guys accumulated a full arsenal of professional equipment and were now completely self sufficient. The M1 had long since been superseded (although never replaced) by the Korg X3 and then another leap of technology, the Korg Trinity and Trinity V3. Although Anno Domini’s music never lost its unique sound - probably due to the lack of a professional sound engineer - the guys were producing ever more complicated songs, ignoring the ‘keep it simple’ approach that had served them so well in the past.

 Inevitably, the guys fell head long into yet another creative barrier - time. The technically advanced equipment meant that songs were taking more and more time to produce; Andy and Richard started to find it increasingly hard to devote enough time to their music and soon they began going their own ways.

above: now here's something not many people have seen. It's Richard's bedroom (Oi!.. not may people have seen the floor! - RM) AD's studio in the 90s. Note the Korg M1 in pride of place!

going their own way: 2000

By 2000, it was all but over. They had been so near to fame, but never quite got the lucky break they deserved! The guys never lost touch and always remained friends. Andy was Richard’s usher at his wedding to Jackie in 2002 (yes - proof if ever that there is someone out there for everyone) while Andy was busy, well, living in sin with Nikki and, in 2003, adjusting to fatherhood after the birth of his daughter, Emily.

regeneration and revival: 2005

And then, in 2005, Richard and Andy got together to talk about old time. The story goes that while Andy was at Richard’s house, Richard started to play Andy a piece of music he was having problems with. Four hours later, “Revival” had been recorded; within four months several other tunes had been either finished (from earlier unfinished work) or created (mostly based on Richard’s new found creative genius).

above: Andy & Richard working on Sync in Andy's basement, 2006

and a new album: 2006

By 2006, the guys now have enough material to record a new album, a project they work on throughout 2006 and into 2007! Their new work has taken them back to basics; two guys, two keyboards; two speakers (well, headphones now as they get told off for making too much noise) and plenty of rude commentary.... just like it was in 1978!

looking to the future: 2007...

Andy & Nikki now have a son, Oliver, who was born on 12 January 2007.... the new album is temporarily on hold as Andy is devoting time to... mixing baby formula! Richard, meanwhile, is busy playing with virtual synths and a more stable platform for the guys to base their new music on.

07-07-07 (July 7th 2007) Anno Domini release their first album in well over a decade - "Revival"

2008

A busy year - new music, new equipment and some big plans for 2009... plenty of new music for a second full album.

2009/2010/2011 and beyond

Andy Dundas

Andy getting some, er.. inspiration.

Born: 1975
Instruments: Synths, Drums, Piano - and one *******ing huge Korg Triton Studio

Best quotes: If it's not in tune, it's art! - The trouble with instrumental music is the words - Just after the Buncefield explosion... "what was that?" (parp) "WHAT WAS THAT????"

Musical influences: Jean Michel Jarre, The Sisters of Mercy, The Pet Shop Boys

August 2006 (studio AD)

Richard Massara

Richard, a rare serious moment (and not drunk either...oh no!)

Born: 1972
Instruments: Synths (one or two), PC Synths (We love Computer Music magazine!) Guitar, Big Briar (Moog) Theremin, 

Best quotes: My old man said ...    - That's going to look good from behind ! - hang on a sec, I have had this keyboard for 12 years have have never pushed that button!!!!!

Musical influences: Jean Michel Jarre, OMD, Erasure, Depeche Mode, Andy

August 2006 (studio AD)

And the support team

Nikki Dundas - Andy's wife and long suffering sounding board for new Anno Domini tracks.

Jackie Massara - Richard's better half (wife) and even longer suffering make-shift sound engineer (she has to listen to the tracks being recorded over and over and over and over and over.....)

Other Thank yous

Mr Dave Ashby for your drumming skills around about 1990/1991 - some of these skill actually took place during tunes.. some... (sorry Dave).. Oh, and for fudging up the Prospects '92 video.

Mr John Evans for some superb lighting and show control skills for the Prospects '92 gig in Garston. Still one of our highlights.

Thank you for all the support to just about every family member / friend / colleague who has let us rehearse in their houses / flats / basements / offices etc - its not easy getting your pad filled up with electronic gizmos, wires, 2 enthusiastic guys, beer, etc

Hammonds of Watford - this fantastic music store is sadly no longer with us, they sponsored Anno Domini in their early days.. and the lads have spent more money than they had in there too... a sadly missed shop.

Whilst we are doing the special mentions - Mr Leon Watkins (ginger tosser), thank you for smashing Richard's main keyboard just before the Prospects '92 gig - that really helped!

Mr Steve Bush for employing your expert photograph skills at the same gig.

and finally, a big thank you to Andy's Willy that has been with the band (and on the keyboards) for just about every recording since the 1980's

Korg Triton Studio
Our opinion: A true power house of a workstation. Korg fitted the Triton with massive amounts of sounds, programmes and combinations, together with a sampler and 16 track internal sequencer. Fully expandable and has the ability to record directly to CD... not that Andy has this yet, but is keeping an eye on ebay! This is by far the best Korg yet!

Best track: 2006

Korg Electribe ER-1
Our opinion: Let's face it, Anno Domini's problems has always been their drumming ability and this nifty piece of kit really had an impact in the early 00s.

Best track: 2006

Korg Electribe ES-1
Our opinion: This is a great piece of kit - it adds some seriously crazy effects to the rhythms in our music.

Best track: Eastern Sunrise

Korg Electribe EA-1

Novation A Station
Our opinion: Brilliant thing - some seriously cool effect and sounds straight out of the box

Best track: Integration

Korg Trinity Plus & Trinity V3
Our opinion: Another giant leap forward in technology was the Korg Trinity range. The band had two versions at one point. Andy with his Trinity Plus and Richard with the improved V3 version, which had a Korg Z3 MOSS board installed. Still in use today, the V3 is used as Richard's master keyboard. 

Best track: Eastern Sunrise

Yamaha CS1X

Korg Prophacy

Korg X3

Korg MicroKorg
Our opinion: Yeah baby! Richard is gadget king and this little piece of kit does some fab stuff. The arpeggiators are fab and we just love it!

Best track: Ask Richard (anything from 2005 onwards, its in most of them!! - RM)

Korg M1
Our opinion: Erm... put it this way, many kids had pictures the Ferrari F40 and Lambourghini Countach in the early 90s (which one was the best?) but meanwhile, this god-like keyboard was idolised by both Andy & Richard. It was simply the best leap forward in keyboard music since Yamaha introduced the Clavinova - joke.

Best track: Our website could not be able to cope with the full list of best tracks, so here's just a few: Anno Domini, Lunar Eclipse, Existence, Prelude, TV Media and, oh, did we forget it's part in the ultimate Integration remix?

Alesis SR16
Our opinion: Not to be confused with the SR71 Blackbird Stealth Bomber, the SR16 gave the band a really distinctive drum sound. Purchased originally in about 1991, this drum machine really kicked arse, and for the first time, the drums began creating tunes - for example Progressions. In conjunction with the M1 and TQ5s, it propelled the band into its golden era (1992). And expect a come back. Richard has just reinvested in a new one some 15 years after the original was purchased... still in production and still the best!

Best track: Progressions, Lunar Eclipse, Anno Domini, Kaoss

Boss Dr Rhythm DR550
Our opinion: The DR550 was the perfect partner for the SR16. Although it did not have quite as many sounds, the DR550 was responsible for many of Richard's creations in the early 90s and several of Anno Domini's great tunes.

Best track: No Go!, Anno Domini (Remix), Alarm! (Ryks mix)

Yamaha RX5
Our opinion: Now here's an interesting fact. Did you know that at one point there were three members in the band? Dave Ashby, a long standing good friend of Andy was temporarily a member, although differences in musical tastes (he didn't have any!!) led to it being a short term relationship. However, Dave's RX5 certainly made an impact and made Andy & Richard realise that, after Dave's departure, they really needed a good drum machine (enter the SR16 and DR550).

Best track: 1991

Yamaha TQ5
Our opinion: OK, where do we start? This crappy looking piece of kit was never very successful in the general market, but it cannot be stressed enough just how big a step this thing was for the band. Eventually owning two of them (called bric & brac) the TQ5s just about sum up AD's music. Turn it on, pick any sound and you'll find an Anno Domini tune being played in your head. This was the guy's first foray into midi sequencing and it sparked their creative juices (yes creative). To put it into perspective, the TQ5's sounds are so unique, during the remix of Integration in 2006, the band just couldn't recreate the bass line, so reconnected a TQ5 to perform the track. Oh yes, and some 10 years since it was last turned on, the date, time and seconds were correct!

Best track: Precisely, Alarm, Integration (all versions!)

Roland PC200
Our opinion: Wow - look at it! The only piece of Roland kit we owned at the time. Richard used it as his master keyboard to control the TQ5s... and that was about all it could do. But let's not be too scathing. Many AD tracks were created on its ivories. But we couldn't not mention the build quality of this kit. The pitch bend wheel got stuck half way through AD's Destruction of Time concert giving a few tunes that distinct 'out of tune' feeling. Live music eh? Who'd consder it now?!

Best track: Erm, genuinely none - it had no sounds. But on the positive side, it was responsible for creating just about every AD track from 1988 - 1995.