1905
Albert Einstein publishes a paper in Annalen der Physik (his third that year) which introduces what later became known as Einstein’s Special Theory of Relatvity.
Einstein publishes a fourth paper in which he deduced that E = mc2.
1939
A letter written by Leo Szilard and signed by Albert Einstein is sent to Franklin D. Roosevelt suggesting that United States should start a nuclear program.
1941
Start of Manhattan Project to develop nuclear weapons – Robert Oppenheimer joins the following year
1945
‘Trinity’ test detonated as part of the Manhattan Project in the Jornada del Muerto desert, New Mexico.
1971
John goes to the Barry Summer Summer School where he meets (among many other great musicians) Mike Gibbs, Karl Jenkins, Gordon Beck, Roy Babbington and Ian Carr, and puts together a band to play his music, which includes drummer Bill Kyle. Teachers on Summer School include Pat Evans (director), Tony Oxley, Paul Lytton, Dave Gelly and the great Neil Ardley, who is very encouraging. After Barry, John studies privately with Neil.
1972
1973
1974
John Walters’ Nonet play at the Bull’s Head in Barnes.
Saturday night gig at Room at the Top (South Circular Road), 240 Stanstead Rd, SE23, billed as ‘John Walters Big Band’.
Jazz In London published announcing Phoenix gig later in the month by the ten-piece John Walters band.
John Walters Band performs at the Phoenix, Cavendish Square for the Jazz Centre Society (JCS). Line-up: Laurie Brown (trumpet), Peter Thoms (trombone), Geoff Duckworth, Paul McLaughlin, John Walters (saxes/flutes), Chris Heaton (Fender Rhodes piano). John Stuart (guitar), Andy Pask (bass), Richard Burgess (drums), Helen Bryan (vocals)
‘Landscape of talent’ – rave review of Bull’s Head gig by Derek Jewell in the Sunday Times.
Preview of the John Walters Band’s Phoenix gig in ‘Look Hear!’, the Melody Maker’s critical guide to the week’s events. Also mentions that the Bull’s Head gig will be the band’s final appearance ‘this summer’.
John Walters Band swells to an eleven-piece for its final public performance, with Lewis Riley on keys and Helen Bryan on vocals. (Later, John will form a sprawling evening class band called the Gardeners to play the same charts, while Landscape slims down.)
John dissolves the John Walters Nonet, and forms a new band called John Walters’ Landscape, an eight-piece.
Eight-piece Landscape starts a weekly Sunday afternoon residency at the Troubadour in London’s Old Brompton Road, with John, Richard, Chris, Peter, Phil Lee, Dick Pearce, Harry Smith (or Geoff Duckworth), various bass players and star guests including Harry Beckett (plus star audience members, including Neil Ardley and Billy Jenkins).
Recording for the cassette album Thursday the 12th begins at Hendene Studios. Bass player is Greg Lyon, who returns to Australia soon after.
Mention of Landscape in Worksop Guardian column written by Peter Ferguson.
1975
Landscape becomes a six-piece, with Andy on bass and Phil Lee on guitar, later replaced by Laurence Juber.
Gig at Teddy’s Club, Withernsea (organised by Tony Warville, Rock Orchestrals)
Eight-piece version of Landscape plays the Phoenix for the Jazz Centre Society (JCS).
Laurence Juber leaves (and later joins Paul McCartney’s Wings). Landscape becomes a five-piece band and keeps the same line-up until 1982.
Landscape gig at North-East London Poly, Holloway Road, London
Thursday the 12th cassette album released on Gordon Beck’s Jaguar label.
Jazz in Britain broadcast featuring six-piece version of Landscape with Laurence Juber.
Review of Landscape’s Jazz in Britain broadcast by ‘BFB’ in Mansfield’s Chronicle Advertiser, aka the CHAD.
Landscape gig at Harlequin Records, 97-99 Dean Street, London W1x
Landscape wins GLAA Young Jazz Musicians Award (jointly with Joy). Photo: Paul Eric Smith, 1976.
Benefit concert for Friends of the Western Buddhist Order
John Fordham reviews Thursday the 12th in Time Out.
Miles Kington reviews Thursday the 12th in The Times.
1976
Melody Maker’s Jazznews section (by Max Jones) publishes diary item about Landscape’s GLAA win.
Joy and Landscape perform a special GLAA (Greater London Arts Association) award-winners concert at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club
Guardian review of Ronnie Scott’s gig by Ronald Atkins.
Landscape gig at Romford Library.
Landscape gig at Kingston Poly.
Rave review of Landscape at Ronnie Scott’s by Christopher Bird (aka Brian Blaine) in Jazz Journal.
Rejection letter from the Bronze record label.
Landscape gig at the Saturday Adventure Club.
Gig at Sweetnighter, Putney, southwest London, a Friday-nighter named after the Weather Report album of that name.
Landscape concert for the British Council (Friday).
Landscape gig at the Phoenix for the JCS (Jazz Centre Society), which runs a regular Wednesday night there.
Annette Peacock performs a solo set, recorded by Brian Eno.
Landscape gig at Square 1, a new venue booked by film director Stuart Orme.
Rejection letter from CBS.
John buys Barcus-Berry pick-ups for his flutes.
Landscape gig for Pearl Drums at Nottingham Palais. Richard is a Pearl endorsee.
Wednesday night gig at the Kings Head Islington, where they still price drinks in pre-decimal currency.
Gig at Sweetnighter, Putney, southwest London.
Concert at The Tramshed, Woolwich.
Sunday night gig at the Greyhound, Fulham.
Downstairs at the Roundhouse in Camden.
Monday night gig at the 100 Club.
Another Sunday downstairs at the Roundhouse in Camden.
Rave NME review of 100 Club Gig by (Barry) Miles.
Gig at Sweetnighter, Putney, southwest London.
Landscape gig at Square One, Kings Arms, 254 Edgware Rd., London.
Two gigs in one day – the first at the Music Trade Fair in London’s Russell Square, and in the evening at the Hopbine.
Friday night at the Luton Royal Hotel!
Landscape gig at Square One.
Evening gig at The Windmill, Acton.
Landscape gig at the Trafalgar, Shepherd’s Bush.
Wednesday evening gig at the Phoenix, Cavendish Square, for the JCS (Jazz Centre Society).
Friday evening Landscape gig at the Windmill, Acton.
Sunday Times review of the Phoenix gig by critic Derek Jewell.
Letter of interest from Elton John’s company Rocket Music.
Letter from Betty Burns, A&R Manager, Phonogram.
Wednesday evening Landscape gig at the Man in the Moon pub.
Landscape gig at Warwick University (Thursday night).
Start of Landscape’s tour of Wales, including two workshops, organised by South-East Wales Arts Association, coming home 31/10/76. Our chief roadie is the legendary Ravi Sharman.
Evening gig at Gwent College of Higher Education, Clarence Place, Newport (College of Art).
10am-12noon Demonstration performance/class at Brynglas House, Brynglas Rd, Newport (arranged for Gwent Youth and Music).
Evening concert at Bridgend Recreation Centre, Newbridge Fields, Bridgend.
10am-12noon demonstration performance/class at Brynglas House, Brynglas Rd, Newport (arranged for Gwent Youth and Music).
Saturday evening concert at St Donat’s Arts Centre, St Donat’s Castle, Llantwit Major, Wales.
Landscape gig at a London venue we can’t recall.
Landscape’s regular Tuesday gig at the Stapleton Tavern, 2 Crouch Hill, London N4
Root de Toot, the Battersea Jazz Festival. Landscape perform at 3pm on a bill that includes Voice (featuring Julie Tippetts and Maggie Nichols), Jabula and Lol Coxhill. Bill Oddie comperes.
Landscape gig at the legendary 100 Club.
17/11/76 Recording for Jazz in Britain (BBC Radio 3).
Landscape gig at the Red Deer, Croydon.
College gig at North-East London Poly.
Another Monday night at the King’s Head, Islington.
02/12/77 Vitavox Live Sound Award 1976 finals at the Speakeasy. Presenters are Sally Ames, David Young and Neil Young (MD of Vitavox). Landscape win a pair of Vitavox Thunderbolt loudspeaker systems valued at £1500 for being ‘the best new group in live sound’.
Friday night at the Luton Royal Hotel.
Landscape gig at the Railwayman, Putney.
Nice letter from Sunday Times critic Derek Jewell.
‘Letter of interest’ from potential manager Laurie Jay (who managed Billy Ocean).
Piece in the Sunday Times Magazine saying that Landscape is a name to watch in the coming year (1977).
Landscape Xmas Party, with Lol Coxhill and Spiteri … and Rebop joining in on congas. Admission 80p
Late (10pm) Sunday night gig at the King’s Head, 115 Upper St., Islington.
Even later (10.30pm) gig at Ronnie Scott’s Upstairs.
Brecknock gig – attended by several record company A&R people.
Landscape’s regular Tuesday gig at the Stapleton Tavern, 2 Crouch Hill, London N4
Offer of recording contract from Gull, whose nice MC David Howells suggests Robin Lumley as producer.
BBC Radio 3 Jazz in Britain
1977
Beat Instrumental news item about Landscape’s Vitavox award.
Landscape recording session at John Loder’s Southern Studios.
Gig at The Nashville.
Three sets from 9.30pm to 1:30am at the Speakeasy, Margaret St., W1.
‘Sounds great!’ – picture caption news item about Andy and Landscape in the Palmers Green & Southgate Gazette.
Talentscene section of Music Week includes a picture caption for Landscape, reporting on the recent Vitavox win.
Self-promoted gig at Fulham Arts Centre, 20a Dawes Rd. Fulham.
Landscape gig at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London.
22/01/77 Sounds review of Landscape at the Speakeasy by Linnet Evans.
John buys ‘Tootle bug’.
Landscape gig (Klook’s Kleek).
Landscape gig for Queen’s Jubilee at Barnes Common (for Castlenau Concerts), with Gallina Brass Quintet and a local school choir.
Landscape gig (Stapleton) Live recording of ‘U2XME1X2MUCH’, later released on Event Horizon EP.
Polite rejection letter from Decca
Landscape’s regular Tuesday gig at the Stapleton Tavern in London.
Landscape’s regular Tuesday gig at the Stapleton Tavern in London.
Landscape’s regular Tuesday gig at the Stapleton Tavern in London.
Landscape’s regular Tuesday gig at the Stapleton Tavern in London.
Landscape’s regular Tuesday gig at the Stapleton Tavern in London.
Landscape gig in London.
Landscape gig in London.
Landscape gig in London.
Landscape’s regular Tuesday gig at the Stapleton Tavern in London.
Landscape rehearsal and gig at the Swan in London.
Landscape gig in London.
Landscape gig in London.
Landscape’s regular Tuesday gig at the Stapleton Tavern in London.
Letter from the pressing plant manufacturing ‘U2XME’, whose owner tells us that he is ‘struggling with the stamper’.
Landscape gig in London.
Landscape gig in Luton (Friday)
Landscape gig in London.
Landscape Xmas Party at the Music Machine (now Koko) in Camden, plus Sore Throat, The Caboodles and fire eating clowns. Admission £1
Landscape’s regular Tuesday gig at the Stapleton Tavern in London.
1978
Landscape gig in Basingstoke.
Landscape broadcast for BBC World Service show Matthew on Music with Brian Matthew.
Landscape gig in Norwich.
Self promoted concert, North Peckham Civic Centre, joint venture with Camberwell School of Art Students’ Union
Concert at The Stables, Milton Keynes for Wavenden Allmusic, founded by John Dankworth and Cleo Laine. (70% of door = £150.50, 50p more than guarantee)
Open-air lunchtime gig at Jubilee Gardens, Southbank (opposite County Hall).
Release of 7-inch EP Workers’ Playtime (Event Horizon Enterprises)
Lunchtime gig for the music technology trade on the NORLIN stand.
Lunchtime performance at Strand House (WH Smith).
Landscape appears on BBC1 schools programme Rock Around Baroque with the Academy of Ancient Music at 11.45am on Monday 6 November 1978.
Landscape performs at the building site for the new Bankside Globe Playhouse
Self-promoted concert at Hampstead Town Hall. Support act is Roger Ruskin-Spear and his Giant Kinetic Wardrobe.
Landscape gig at the Music Machine, Camden
1979
Release of single ‘Japan’. B-side is ‘Gotham City’.
Release of Landscape, the band’s first vinyl album
Landscape plays ‘Japan’ and ‘Sonja Henie’ on the Old Grey Whistle Test
Landscape plays Eric’s, Liverpool. Support band is Inside Out.
1980
Recording session at Red Bus studio with co-producer Colin Thurston to start making ‘European Man’.
Vinyl cutting session for ‘European Man’
Landscape TV appearance at Pebble Mill, Birmingham.
Landscape’s live gig at Nottingham. The band performs ‘European Man’ with a tape backing for the drums and computer part.
Richard and John go to Tomorrow’s Wold to demonstrate the Fairlight CMI (off-camera).
First Fairlight CMI session at Abbey Road with Kate Bush.
John and Richard program Fairlight CMI for Kate Bush on the Never for Ever recording sessions produced by Jon Kelly and Kate at Abbey Road.
Release of single ‘Sonja Henie’. The B-side is‘Neddy Sindrum’ (RCA, PB 5259). Both tracks are taken from the Landscape album.
Release of Kate Bush’s album Never For Ever, which includes several tracks on which Richard and John programmed Fairlight CMI.
1981
Release of Landscape’s single ‘Einstein A-Go-Go’ (RCA 22). B-side is ‘New Religion’. Both tracks taken from the forthcoming Tea-Rooms album.
‘Einstein a Go-Go’ video shoot with director Brian Grant.
Tom Johnston ‘Pied Piper’ cartoon published in the Ad Lib column in The New Standard.
All-day shoot with director Brian Grant for the ‘Norman Bates’ video.
Video editing session for ‘Norman Bates’.
Landscape poster in Smash Hits magazine (also lyrics ↙️).
Lyrics to ‘Norman Bates’ in Smash Hits.
TOTP ‘recording session’ at Utopia.
John and Richard fly to Los Angeles to record rhythm tracks for the (still unreleased) Hot Gossip album Hollywood Jungle.
Landscape promotional tour begins: Holland, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Re-issue of ‘European Man’ single in 7-inch and 12-inch formats with a new picture sleeve.
Recording sessions begin at Alvic for Manhattan Boogie-Woogie.
1982
Chris Heaton ‘Fact File’ published in Electronics & Music Maker, January 1982 (alongside columns about Dave Stewart and Thomas Dolby).
Release of ‘It's Not My Real Name’
1983
04/01/83 Cut 7-inch and 12-inch versions of Landscape III single ‘So Good, So Pure So Kind’ at Trident, London.
Landscape III video shoot for ‘So Good, So Pure, So Kind’ with Ruby Turner and Barbie Wilde.
Landscape III recording session at Mayfair Studios, London
1992
First CD – From the Tea-Rooms of Mars and Landscape, with liner notes by Tony Bacon.
2005
Nathan Barley (Channel 4) episode 2 features ‘Einstein a Go-Go’.
2008
John meets Anthony Burrill in Breda, Holland, at the ‘European Championship of Graphic Design’ (see Eye no. 68).
2013
RIP Ralph Dyck, inventer of the Roland MC-8 MicroComposer (Sept 28, 1941 – May 20, 2013). Interview with Ralph in Vintage Roland MC-8 Sequencer Archive.
2017
Landscape ‘Landmarks’ article in Electronic Sound mag
2018
2019
2020
Article in Classic Pop – ‘Rise Of The Machines: Pioneering music devices of the 80s’
2021
2022
Landscape signs a joint venture with record company Cooking Vinyl
Article by Rachel Kupfer about the origins of EDM on (appropriately enough) edm.com, ‘Inside the origins of Electronic Dance Music’.
Launch of Landscape.band website, designed by Anthony Burrill, with Anthony Peters and Gareth Jones.
Interview with Richard on the Vintage Roland MC-8 Sequencer Archive
2023
First single release in 40 years – a four-on-the-floor remix of Einstein a Go-Go. Buy from Bandcamp.
First Landscape newsletter.
Landscape newsletter with official music video for ‘Einstein a Go-Go’ remix.
Landscape newsletter about Record Store Day
Richard James Burgess presented with MBE at Buckingham Palace
Re-release of re-mastered vinyl version of From the Tea-Rooms of Mars … for Record Store Day 2023
Synthetic Dreams podcast: Scott Zverblis interviews Richard and John about Landscape A Go-Go.
Release of the remastered 7-inch version of ‘European Man’, ‘computer programmed to perfection for your listening pleasure’. (First digital release, via streaming and downloads, including Bandcamp.)
Landscape newsletter about video for 7-inch version of ‘European Man’.
‘When the Chips Are Down’ – previously unreleased single, with lyrics video, https://youtu.be/9NHouucHAQo
Landscape newsletter. We have found a tune in the Landscape archive that was meant to be a single but never came out. Now fitted out with a new mix (and extra trombones), we’re pleased to let you know that ‘When The Chips Are Down’ is now out on all streaming platforms and digitally on Bandcamp.
Landscape newsletter. The second Landscape LP, From the Tea-Rooms of Mars …, has been remastered for the first time and pressed on natural coloured vinyl and packaged in a facsimile sleeve and inner bag alongside a newly designed insert sheet with sleevenotes by Classic Pop founder Ian Peel and all the lyrics.
‘Futurist anomalies.’ Read Ian Harrison’s ‘Cult Heroes’ feature about Landscape in Mojo, August 2023
Landscape A Go-Go review in DJ Magazine, July 2023.
Sounds of the 80s with Gary Davis: Landscape A Go-Go, with Richard talking about his favourite 1980s tracks.
The show includes Landscape (listen from 38 mins in) Aretha, Living in a Box, Spandau’s Landscape-influenced Chant No. 1, Colonel Abrams, Kirsty MacColl, B-52s, etc. Richard’s choices are The Valentine Bros., Chaka Kahn, Prince and Grandmaster Flash.
Landscape newsletter. There's less than two weeks to go until the release of Landscape A Go-Go: The Story Of Landscape 1977-83, the definitive 5CD box set collection! Watch the full Landscape A Go-Go unboxing video with John L. Walters.
Review of Landscape A Go-Go in Electronic Sound no. 103
Newsletter – out tomorrow! Be sure to watch Richard’s brand new ‘unboxing’ video, where he takes us through the contents of our new 5CD box set. It’s a must-see for all fans (and you can still see John’s unboxing video here).
Release of Landscape A Go-Go on all formats including a 5CD box set, Bandcamp and streaming …
Listen to John and Richard on the Robert Elms show, Radio London Friday 21 July 2023
Feature in Retropop magazine, August 2023
August newsletter. Back in the charts after 42 years!
The Landscape A Go-Go 5CD box set went straight into the Independent Album Chart at no 11.
Thank you to all our colleagues at Landscape Music and Cooking Vinyl and the many friends, fans, supporters … plus the creative and technical collaborators who helped make the release finally happen this summer.
‘Classic Album’ feature, Future Music, September 2023
Landscape A Go-Go review in The Midlands Rocks website
Landscape September update. All five of us have now made little videos about the box set: the most recent ones are by Peter [Watch HERE], with indoor plants a go-go, and by Chris [Watch HERE], who remarks that: ‘Listening again, the interaction between us all on the live tracks is a joy; and the experimental approach we brought to recording is lovely to hear.’
December newsletter. Andy has just written his ‘Influences’ piece for our website, and put together a playlist of some of the music he listened to as a very young musician – we think you’ll enjoy it.
2024
Landscape February newsletter. Read Peter’s memories of the inspirational musicians he encountered in Melbourne, Sydney, New York and London here, on the Landscape website, and listen to his feelgood playlist.
One year since the re-issue of From the Tea-Rooms of Mars … on vinyl, see John’s Instagram post … Order at the Landscape shop.
Anniversary time! It’s been a year since we released the box set Landscape A Go-Go, a five-CD box set with 84 tracks. We were so pleased to get this music out into the world, and it has been great for the five of us to work together in the run-up to last year’s release, and on the promotion of the box set. The critical response was heartening, and it’s given us access to a whole new set of listeners via streaming and social media. The box set is still available from our shop. Thank you!
Landscape newsletter to mark the first anniversary of the Landscape A Go-Go box set.